Arm pain after cervical fusion surgery

i had the ACDF spinal fusion surgery in June 2010 on the c-5 c-6/ c6-c7 disks i had to have zimmer cage fitted on my spine (2) as my neck wasn't stable enough after the surgery. for the 1st 8 months the pain was manageable now it has got really bad. i have permanent nerve damaged due to my nerve and my spinal cord being compressed for so long that i have been told its permanent nerve damage. i have been on gabapentin (300mg 9 a day) since my surgery. my nerves am not being restricted now my my spine yet they want to operate again to try and relieve the pressure on the nerve but if its not restricted i don't see how the surgery would help me, but on saying that ive saw my GP again last week and they now say its time i reconsider more surgery. i can't use my left arm properly half of it is numb, tingling and get alot of shocks and twitches which i was not getting before the surgery. i opted to have the surgery as it was that bad for me i was close to being paralyzed from the neck down. i would give it some serious thought before you go ahead with the surgery if the pain ain't that bad i went 13 years with mild pain before it got so bad that i had no choice but surgery.

I have the same problem as you. I am 17 months post op from c4-c7 acdf surgery, and I still have pain, a "new" disc is already protruding, and my EMG results 17 mos out show "acute and chronic denervation" in my arms. I would be curious what your doctor told you as the explanation for a worsening of nerve damage post-op. I'm just now trying to figure that out in my case.

YES...I HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS ON MY RIGHT SIDE AND HAD SURGERY FUSION WITH TITANIUM ON C-5,6,7 IN 2008. I ALSO HAD GREAT RESULTS FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. THEN, IT CAME BACK--EVEN WORSE. I HAVE HORRIBLE NECK PAIN, ELBOW PAIN AND NUMBNESS AND TINGLING DOWN MY ARM INTO SOME FINGERS. I'M NOW HAVING HEADACHES. A NEW NEUROLOGIST/PAIN CARE DOCTOR WANTS TO DO EPIDURALS, BEFORE DOING ANOTHER EMG NERVE TEST. I'M DONE! I WON'T TAKE PAIN MEDS, AND I'M NOT RISKING MY SPINE ANY FURTHER WITH EPIDURALS, EITHER. I'VE DECIDED TO LIVE WITH IT. GOOD LUCK!

17 months out and have all the same pain but it's worse. Unlike you,, my doctor has repeatedly responded to my complaints of pain by saying "the nerves are just regenerating." Never been told that the nerves would get worse so I'll have to look into that.

Lauren wrote:

Quote:

Guest wrote:

I had a C4-5,5-6 discectomy with fusion 6 weeks ago. I originally went to a Neurosurgeon because of severe shoulder and upper arm pain, with tingling and numbness in my hands. The diagnosis was stenosis, causing nerve compression. The surgery went great! I spent one night in the hospital and was released with a soft neck brace, which the doctor said I really did not have to wear. I went back to work in one week and started driving at 2 weeks. I was feeling pretty good at that point, then the arm pain started coming back! It has progressively worsened until it is now as bad as it was prior to surgery! The doctor says that there is nothing left to compress my nerves at the levels he operated on, but is ordering another MRI to see if anything was possibly missed. I am beginning to feel like I made a bad decision in having surgery, but the doctor told me that my nerve damage would only continue to progress without the surgery. How long will this pain last? It is especially bad at night while trying to sleep, yet subsides during the day, if my arms are at my side, not lifting, gripping, etc. Putting my arm into a shirt or coat sleeve hurts the worst and I have little or no strength when the pain occurs. Anyone with longer post-surgical experience?

YES...I HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS ON MY RIGHT SIDE AND HAD SURGERY FUSION WITH TITANIUM ON C-5,6,7 IN 2008. I ALSO HAD GREAT RESULTS FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. THEN, IT CAME BACK--EVEN WORSE. I HAVE HORRIBLE NECK PAIN, ELBOW PAIN AND NUMBNESS AND TINGLING DOWN MY ARM INTO SOME FINGERS. I'M NOW HAVING HEADACHES. A NEW NEUROLOGIST/PAIN CARE DOCTOR WANTS TO DO EPIDURALS, BEFORE DOING ANOTHER EMG NERVE TEST. I'M DONE! I WON'T TAKE PAIN MEDS, AND I'M NOT RISKING MY SPINE ANY FURTHER WITH EPIDURALS, EITHER. I'VE DECIDED TO LIVE WITH IT. GOOD LUCK!

17 months out and have all the same pain but it's worse. Unlike you,, my doctor has repeatedly responded to my complaints of pain by saying "the nerves are just regenerating." Never been told that the nerves would get worse so I'll have to look into that.

My surgeon said it takes nerves the longest to come back over a yr...but i had the dr. burn them thinking it would numb the area that hurt....numb sounded much better to me than pain!...sadly, now i just have a different area instead........so iam done with the shots and the burning...i've given up in that area......expensive and things just "change" never any improvement and i've lost too much time at work over it....!..i do believe ones lifespan is shortened after these surgeries and plates!.......apparently they cant just cut nerves and have your neck just be numb...frankly, i thought that was the answer...if it was numb i couldnt feel the pain and life would be better.....sigh...simple enough sounding but apparently not!!!

Mary, I am so happy to have read your post, now I know that I am not the only one out here like this . I had c4/c5/thru C6/c7, with plate, on June 7, 2007... I could have written your post myself. I followed the same after procedure, I wore a Miami hard collar 8 weeks, showered and slept in it, etc. My problem worsen when I moved out of state from my surgical and primary physician and had to choose another doctor in the new state. Unfortunately, this doctor thought perhaps the pain was all in my head and wanted to give me crazy pills, "citing you should be well by now.
I am now under a wonderful doctor's care with a pain clinic that prescribes pt as well as meds. I have pain 24/7 and, I am now on 10 milligrams of Percocet and a 72 hour pain patch that helps me get through my days and nights. Everything I do tweets my neck and I can hear clicking in my ears when I try to move. I am still using a cane, which I hate; nevertheless, realize it is better than a wheel chair.

After my surgery, I also developed the Lhermitte's sign which is an electrical sensation that runs down the back and into the limbs. Which is just as horrible especially at night. I have to take Lyrica for this. I truly regret having my surgery. It is like someone pushed a button and my life stopped or was put on hold for the last five years.

on 10-5-11 i had a C3-4 discectomy and fusion fused to my previously fused discectomy of C4-5 and C5-6. At first I was relieved to not have the horrible boring burning pain between my shoulder blade and upper neck but then about 8 weeks post op I tried to go back to work and noticed that when I wasnt sitting on my recliner chair with my head supported that i got pain not only in my neck and arms but my back and legs as well! And I tired extremely quickly. This got worse in stead of better i was given Cymbalta and told that maybe I was suffering from Fi bromyalgia! The legs got gradually better but then the arm pain worsened especially the left one. It hurts bad to hang it down, extend it, use it at all, and sleep, forget it. I am now taking Ultram Extended release two times per day, the Cymbalta every morning and Melatonin to help with sleep at night and its still painful. I hate to think how much worse it would be without those two pills

I amexleriwncing a lot of the same issues posted here!
I had a car accident in 2007 that resulted in replacement of C5-6. That went well but since I am an RN my job required a lot of leaning over patients and assisting in surgery. I ended up having further nerve pain which ended up being a herniation at C3-4. I had that one fused June 2010. I had problems swallowing and choking and was unable to eat many foods. A swallow eval verified this difficulty saying that the plate was interfering with my swallowing. Therefore I had the plate removed Nov 2010. I have had pain since on many meds and a diagnosis of fibromyalia.
I am at the Mayo clinic now and they diagnosed a non-fusion at C3-4 in one day from a CT scan!!!!! My neurosurgeon has repeatedly reassured me that it is fuses and the pain will go away. Oh Really?!! So now I need a FOURTH surgery!!!
If you are experiencing post surgical pain and neuropathy like I have for TWO years, ask your dr for a CAT scan. It shows the non fusion rather than an x-ray or an MRI!!

At age 49 I had anterior discectomy fusion on C5-C6-C7 on 1/17/12. In addition I had a bone spur causing pressure on my spinal cord.  Prior to the surgery I had sever shoulder pain, which shot down my left arm and tingling and numbness in my fingers.  The surgery was a success.  I was in the hospital for 3 days and 2 nights. The surgeon required a J-Collar for 10 weeks 24 hours a day; after 4 week without the collar I started PT.  This schedule was based on the surgeons protocol. 
After my two week post op appointment, I decided to take my healing into my own hands.  I started walking 2 miles a day (I gradually worked up to 2 miles), changed my diet to high protein, 6 servings of fruits and veggies, cut back on gluten and simple carbs and drank 60 oz water a day.  I continued taking hydrocodin 5/325 2 x a day and 500 mg Naproxin at night. 
I saw a PT 2 x a week and each time she focused on strengthening my arms, neck, back and core.  On July 10, 2012, I was released from PT, not because I felt I was ready, but United Health did.  Understanding that my PT was coming to a close, I had the PT write down a routine for me to continue at home.  I was a very good patient.  I would push myself but became aware when I was pushing myself too much.  I become very aware of pain vs soreness.  Today I still have pain between a 2-5.  I don't think I'll ever be back at O.  I also noticed that when I'm cold my pain increases.  Thank God I live in South Florida.  I still walk 2 miles a day and have started doing yoga with instruction and will continue to get deep tissue massages.  According to the PT, the way I feel in the next 6 month will be how I will feel the rest of my life. 

Challenges:  I most likely will have arthritis set in - in C4, C3, C2, C1.  I'll have to exercise for the rest of my life and will have to be careful that I do not push myself beyond my own abilities.  I travel for a living, therefore, I have a great roller bag and a lumbar support pillow that I purchased from the back store.  I sleep on a temperpedic bed and pillow.  I'm very cautious not to lift more than I should and I will continue to lift weights every other day to keep my triceps and biceps strong.  I still have a protein shake every morning to guarantee that I get the maximum amount for the day.

I don't think I'll ever be back to normal, but I will do my best to keep myself strong and health.  I still take the hydrocodin when I have level 4/5 pain, but can go as long as 5 days without taking one.

I recommend taking your health into your own hands.  Eat well, exercise and stay strong.

Since you probably have hardware in that area, a CAT scan may be helpful in addition to an MRI. The hardware typically causes shadows on an MRI but not so much on a CAT Scan. Both can mask certain issues. I just found out I have a fusion that never fused 9 yrs ago and am suffereing from the same pain so I think you should make sure to do both. Also, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia now, too, so that pain causes similiar pain and can be confusing as to which is causing which.

I had c4 c5 plate surgery went good came home next day arm felt fine week later pain my sholder arm all way to my wrist about kill me i had 4 weeks pt but had stop getting worse ended up er for night swollen so bad and pain they ended up giveing me morfin dr told me stop pt for a while put me on meds no better pain unreal.please any one have any answers beem 10 weeks sence my surgery.

I had cervical fusion in c-4-5-6 in 2000 and fusion in c-6&7 in 2011. the last one I had they put a titanium plate in and no cervical collar at all! I had my first x-ray 4 months after surgery and they said it's starting to fuse and takes along time to heal in that level and was released. Since then I started therapy after the 4 months which started arm pain in the inner arm and they said I had tennis elbow. Had to stop my neck therapy and start arm therapy which didn't work out. They did a MRI on my elbow and said nothing there. I also have slight carpal tunnel in same arm. Now, I'm starting therapy on neck again and have they say it's bad...lots of knots and tension. But I still have very bad arm pain and they can feel the inflammation in the inner elbow which confuses the therapist cause MRI came out fine. My neck hurts-arm hurts and just frustrated with it all. Haven't gone back to surgeon yet cause I think just scared! I do have degenerative disc disease- herniated discs all thru back- and stenosis in c-3 and lower back and I believe it's in my thorasic area too. they haven't done an MRI on my thorasic area and I can feel the pain by touch between shoulder blades. Still on meds and anti-depressants for pain. This is ridiculous!! I had laminectomy in 1989 in l-4&5 and nothing since but once in awhile and refuse to ever get a fusion unless emergency! I totally sympathize with everyone out there with this kind of pain cause it does change your life! I did get disability in 2009 for stenosis, so anyone that was denied disability for this condition get a lawyer cause this is on going condition. One more thing... my mother was on medication for epilepsy while pregnant and back in the 50's they didn't know about folic acid and the effects it has not taking it while on these drugs, all five of my siblings have the same spinal problems....interesting! It's sad to see how many people have the same thing and it's not just me! Take care all you post-surgical patients. 

Hello, ok so I have had a anterior cervical fusion done 1st time back in November of 2002, 2 levels done, C-4 thru C-6. They did use my own bone from my hip which I may say was very painful. Was in a collar for months and out of work for 16 months. Went thru PT for several months. Wasn't doing bad, in April 2008 started having pain again, was told my fusion never healed right and needed more surgery. I chose at that time to see pain management and hold off on surgery. In the time span of over the last 4 years, I had numerous injections, which some helped for a short period of time. In March of 2012 I decided to get a second opinion, had an MRI done and a CAT scan, was told not only what I already knew, fusion never healed, the disc below and above were now herniated and also 2 of the 4 screws were popping out. Over the past 10 years, I have been through so much it's frustrating. The numbness in my right arm and hand was overwhelming. In July of 2012 I underwent a triple anterior fusion and they also did a posterior cut to insert screws and rods. It's only been 6 weeks but the numbness in my right hand is back, my left shoulder and arm are so weak, and I now have numbness in my right shoulder. I am so aggravated and feel like this will never go away. Still in a collar, no way I can drive, can't even turn my head. Hopefully PT will start and help. I have never felt so helpless. Good luck all, know you aren't alone!!

I had a two-level anterior cervical fusion at C4-C6 3 months ago. Before the surgery I was experiencing pain in my neck and shoulders, headaches every day and tingling and numbness in my hands. My surgeon was very upfront with me about what I could expect from this surgery-he said it needed to be done to prevent any further damage from occurring in the future such as paralysis and it probably would not fix any symptoms that I had. He was right in part--my daily headaches are gone although I do have them from time to time, my shoulders still hurt but not as severely and my hands are still tingling and numb (I actually think they are worse since the surgery), with the symptoms escalating severely at night. I do believe my surgeon was right and that the end result of not having paralysis outweighed what I am left with after having the surgery. I think all surgeons should be very clear and upfront about what to expect from a surgery such as this, but most are not. Good luck to all of you-I certainly know how you feel.

I had the surgery on May . The pain is worse than ever and my neurosurgeon says there is nothing she can do. I did PT now I am going to a pain management dr. So you are not alone I feel like this drs are just making money of us.