I had great results! I had my surgery in the afternoon and was released the next morning. My surgeon asked me in recovery if I could feel any difference and I could. It felt like a giant splinter had been removed from my neck. I had the surgey done when I was 53. I started having pain in my neck at the age of 17. Every day since I was 17 I had pain which only grewworse. In my 40's they told me about surgery and the thought of going through the front of my neck scared me. Finally the pain was so severe I didn't care what the risks were. Like you they told me my recovery would be easy. It was easy for me, but it was a long time. My throat dries out really fast and when it is really dry I can't swallow and breathing is hard. Simple fix I always have water, gum or a mint with me. The length of time before my throat gets dry increases with time. Long conversations were not fun the first year, but after that it wasn't so bad. Along with the dry throat it feels like there is a large heavy ball in my throat. I suspect this is from the scar tissue. It isn't painful it is uncomfortable and if I rest my throat, relax and drink some water it goes away. Also, lifting anything over 25 pounds the first year would result in the feeling of a rock in my throat. I can now pick up 35 pounds and not have any uncomfortable feelings. In summary, I am so happy I had the surgery, I never have that pain in my neck, traveling up the side of my head and down my arm and leg. Side affects, dry throat, feeling like there is a lump in my throat. Oh one more thing, my scar is so well hidden in one of the creases in my neck, the benefit of having surgery after 50! Good luck....
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Had my first acdf c5-c7 in May 2008 and by August was diagnosed with 2 broken screws and non fusion. Had a poster fusion done in April 2009 (due to the first anterior surgery paralyzing one of my vocal nerves we had to go posterior this time). Fusion is now successful but still having pain, numbness and tingling in hands, headaches, arm pain etc. I don't want to be on narcotics anymore especially since they barely work...just help me function. Have been reading everyone else's stories and broken hardware seems to be a BIG issue. I thought titanium was one of the strongest metals in the world but if it breaks so easily just from neck movement...is it possible it's not really titanium or that it's flawed? My first surgery was awful and my surgeon made mistakes...ended up with an infection 6 days later. Then he disappeared and I had to get a new surgeon who has been wonderful. Unfortunately this is all due to a work accident and worker's comp insurance while well meaning has a very limited network of doctors. Good luck to all and keep us posted of any news in this area. :-( ?
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Hi to everyone,
I've had fusion lower down on L3-L5. Still a lot of pain. I had a dorsal stimulator put in. Still pain. On Sept. 1 I had a rod and screws put in my right leg, with a plate and screws and wires and pins in my right ankle after a fall. Now pain there. On Dec. 16, the screws in my ankle broke. What's up? Why are doctors getting paid for surgeries that don't work and is the equipment shoddy? What is our recourse?
I've had fusion lower down on L3-L5. Still a lot of pain. I had a dorsal stimulator put in. Still pain. On Sept. 1 I had a rod and screws put in my right leg, with a plate and screws and wires and pins in my right ankle after a fall. Now pain there. On Dec. 16, the screws in my ankle broke. What's up? Why are doctors getting paid for surgeries that don't work and is the equipment shoddy? What is our recourse?
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have had 2 surgery no good now broke screw dr giving me a run around pain everyday of my life what a good life
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I too had 2 level cervical spine fusion (c 5-6 C6-7) using cadivar bone by a neurosurgeon and I had screws break that started pressing on my esophagus (very dangerous) The second surgeon said the cadivar bone did not heal to mine the reason the screws broke. Required another surgery and this time by an orthropedic surgeon fusing (c-4-5) and redoing C5-7) His philosophy is "no bone heals like your own bone" so he took the bone from my hip this time. Used Cylinders to keep me from loosing height, and put in new plate and screws. He was not able to get one of the screws out which was embedded in my vertabrae. I did good for a while and now I am feeling the same sensation in my throat as I did before when I had the first broken screws. I go for a follow up next week and very afraid of what I will hear. I have heard others say the screws are not made to last more than 3 months. They are only put there to stablize the spine until you heal. I wished a thousand times over I never had this done!!!!!!!!! Hindsight. . .
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I just found out that I have 2 broken screws in my neck and that I have another ruptured disc above the disc I had fused in 2005. I am going to the neurosurgeon on 3/16/10 and hopefully he can tell me more about my problem and what can be done. I am in a lot of pain and have had trigger point injections, which didn't help for long. I had a Cervical ERI Wednesday to help get me thru for a while. I don't want to take the narcotics they don't help with pain. My biggest question is how in the world can you break 2 screws, I have not had any trama to my neck.
Is this common? I don't recall my doctor telling me this could happen, and to tell you the truth I'm really upset.
Is this common? I don't recall my doctor telling me this could happen, and to tell you the truth I'm really upset.
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I also have 2 broken screws at c7 from a fusion at c5-c7 which happened because I did not fuse the first time and there was movement which caused the screws to fracture. I've since had a second successful fusion surgery but it took 6 months for the doctor to be sure that the fusion was successful. Since he was fixing another doctor's mistakes he was very diligent in making sure it was right this time. Since you have another ruptured disc it sounds like there is some movement going on that shouldn't causing strain on the screws which made them break. Hope you get good news from your doctor and good luck.
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When I went to get some more trigger point injections the PA read the MRI and said that the fusion looked like it was mature. I just assumed it means the fusion was successful, but I'm not sure. I guess I will find out tomorrow.
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Yes. I have heard of it happening and it happend to me except now my plate has fused into my esopogus and it can't be taken out. These plates should not break. I think the manufactors should be held accountable and have seen other posts from this happening to others
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YES.... I WAS WONDERING .....WHAT IT FEELS LIKE WHEN A SCREW IS BROKE .... I HAD SURGERY IN SEPT 08 , IN C4-C5-C6 . NOW I HAVE A TITANIUM PLATE AND SIX SCREWS... I HEAR SOMETHING INSIDE WHEN I TURN MY HEAD AND AM IN PAIN 24HRS A DAY. CAN SOMEONE WHO HAS BROKEN A SCREW IN THERE NECK PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IT FEELS LIKE ????
HELP TIRED OF THE PAIN.
HELP TIRED OF THE PAIN.
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Hi, i had cervical spinal fushion in april of 09 c3,4,5,6,7 with a plate and 8 screws 2 months after the surgery still in alot of pain and had a x-ray that showed 5 screws had broken. so in nov 09 the doctor went in to remove the hardware and as he was removing it another screw broke. so i still have 6 broken pieces of this unbreakable titanium in my spine. and not to mention i am still in alot of pain , all they can do is refer me to pain management. can anything be done? anyone else in this situation?
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I AM RECOVERING FROM CERVICAL FUSION C-2 THROUGH C-7. IN 2007 I HAD C-4 THROUGH C-7 DONE. RESULT OF AN ON-THE-JOB INJURY. RECOVERY WENT WELL. NO PAIN. THEN I WAS RECENTLY REAR ENDED BY A TEEN TEXTING AND DRIVING. MY PREVIOUS FUSION WAS DISLODGED AND DISCS BETWEEN 2-3 AND 3-4 WERE HERNIATED AND BONES WERE CRUSHED CAUSING THE OUTER LAYER OF MY SPINAL CORD TO BE SHAVE OFF.
I HAD IMMEDIATE PAIN IN HEAD, NECK, UPPER AND LOWER BACK, BOTH ARMS (MORE SEVERE ON RIGHT) AND RIGHT KNEE AND ANKLE PAIN.
ON 10-20-2010 I HAD PREVIOUS FUSION REMOVED AND HAD C-2 THROUGH C-7 FUSED AND REPAIRS DONE AS COULD BE DONE. NEUROSURGEON WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE BONE SPURS AND WILL DO THAT AT ANOTHER TIME. RECOVERY HAS BEEN AMAZING. I HAVE NUMEROUS RESTRICTIONS. BUT AS OF YESTERDAY, 10-26-2010 I HAVE CEASED TAKING ALL PAIN MEDICATIONS. STIFF SHOULDERS AND SORENESS AT INCISION SITE AND DIFFICULTY SWALLOWING SOLID FOODS...BUT I CAN HANDLE THAT!!
I AM EXTREMELY RELIEVED AND GRATEFUL.
I HAD IMMEDIATE PAIN IN HEAD, NECK, UPPER AND LOWER BACK, BOTH ARMS (MORE SEVERE ON RIGHT) AND RIGHT KNEE AND ANKLE PAIN.
ON 10-20-2010 I HAD PREVIOUS FUSION REMOVED AND HAD C-2 THROUGH C-7 FUSED AND REPAIRS DONE AS COULD BE DONE. NEUROSURGEON WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE BONE SPURS AND WILL DO THAT AT ANOTHER TIME. RECOVERY HAS BEEN AMAZING. I HAVE NUMEROUS RESTRICTIONS. BUT AS OF YESTERDAY, 10-26-2010 I HAVE CEASED TAKING ALL PAIN MEDICATIONS. STIFF SHOULDERS AND SORENESS AT INCISION SITE AND DIFFICULTY SWALLOWING SOLID FOODS...BUT I CAN HANDLE THAT!!
I AM EXTREMELY RELIEVED AND GRATEFUL.
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I had the surgical repair on C 2-5 11/2 year ago. I just found out that 2 of the screws are broken. I have not had an accident or fall. Has anyone else had them break with no trauma to explain the breakage? Marj
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Hi, I had a one level fusion C 5-6 in October of 2007. About a yr ago I started having a similar pain in my left side so I went to an Orthopedic spine specialist to find out my C-4 is now needing a fusion. so I chose to have the surgery to replace the plates in c 5-6 and do a two level fusion c-4 to c-6. Surgery went well however at my first pro-op appointment the Dr noticed a broken screw. The screw was broke at the head of the screw. The Dr blamed me for not wearing my brace and said it was something I did. Well I chose to get a second opinion from another specialist. The new Dr said there is no way I could have the strengh to break a titanium screw.. Especially with my neck!! He then took new x-rays to find out how bad the break is and in doing that noticed the head of the screw is missing. Next week I have a ct scan to find the missing screw head!! Does anyone know who is liable for this?? why should I be dealing with this and going through another surgery to fix the problem is something I am not looking forward to. So far the answers I get are.. Its not the Dr's fault unless he knew the screw could be defective or possibly a product liabilty case. My insurance paid a lot of money for this procedure and I was out of work for 4 weeks. what a nightmare to do it all over again.. Any advice??
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