Headaches after cerivcal neck fusion

I had c45&56 surgery in 08'.  Had headaches before and alot of nerve pain. Neck broken.The best med. I have found is a combo of  1,2 or3 ibuprohen and 1/4 -1/2 flexeril(muscle relaxer any muscle relaxer would probably work) First I had a migraine med. fioricet.  I started w/1 and built up to taking 3 at a time.  They can actually cause a headache as well if taken too much.  And so I quit with them.Then I had a seizure med. depakote.  It worked really well after it was in my system but then my hair started to fall out, so I stopped.   this wasa couple of yrs ago. putting cold packs on head and neck area helps.   I also take vit. B's and magnesiem for nerve pain.   Just something to add, I have prayed many times and the Lord took my headaches away. Boom they were gone. But now I am having alot of stress and they are coming back again. Plus my work is physcal and I use my hard collar when I work to not get headaches, it works and then it doesn't.  Diet can help don't take alot of caffiene and sugar.  Eat fresh foods.  Lots of vegies low fat & oils.   The Lord did take away my headache last Sun. But now it's back.  Don't ask why just believe and trust Him.  

Thank you for sharing this. May I suggest you talk to your doctor about Gabapentin. I started it in April and while it doesn't take the neck pain/nerve pain away, it helps make it manageable. Unfortunately, for me, I have now applied for SSI Disability benefits as I can no longer work. Best of luck to you. God bless.

Yes exactly the same problems... i had 2 discs burst.. req immed surgery. Woke up eye pain pressure behind left eye has never went away.. neurologist said need surgery but no surgeon will touch me. Any good news on ur end? None here. Help? Email me

Yes! Mine are at the back of my neck, moving up to the top of my head. I hate to keep complaining to my Dr but.....dang :( I am 5 weeks post c4 fusion.

it creates lot of problem but proper caring is mandatory such fusions creates headaches

I had C4 - C6 fusion 6 weeks ago.  Now getting headaches on base of back of head and across forehead.  I've been told its stress.  Cannot take advil/aleve because of the prolonging of healing the fusion, tylenol just doesn't help.   I've been using ice packs and heat, it does help some.  Think sitting to much and laying doesn't help the muscles on the neck when healing, but noticed when I put the collar back on it supports the neck more and relieves.  Hope it helps some. 

I also had neck fusion, c-6 & 7 back in Dec. 2012. The headaches started about 3 months later. I've tried everything from migraine meds to seizure and blood pressure meds. Nothing helps. It's progressively got a lot worse. I'm getting a brain mri this Friday to find out what's going on in my head. It's excruciating.

Yes I have severe headaches now. After 3 months of a c4&5 5&6 fusion. I have them in the middle of my forehead to the pounding in my eyes now. Meds don't help. I have to lay down in a dark room with heat on my neck. Lots of rest and they go away but it's everyday now more frequently than a few weeks ago. My fusion took perfectly. Tension and stress triggers mine.

YES. They thought it was my sinuses and I went throught drainage which did no good. It hurts across my forehead and at the bottom of my skull. I have had 2 fusions. Last one very severe. Does your headaches cause nausea? I'm about to go crazy. Seeing my neurosurgeon in November. I'm also having pain down both arms. I feel for you!!!

I had fusion 2 years ago and am having shooting pain into my aching head and mostly behind my right eye. And, yes. Dizziness when I turn my head to the right when laying down. The docs thought that was an inner ear problem. Maybe not! We call it "feeling wonky".

Hello all!   I too have had c/3 c/4, c/4 c/5 fused back '06. Same pain issues as most of the post on this thread.  I live in Houston, Texas, I am fortunate that we have some of the best Doctors in the country down here.  With that & my Faith, today I am 99% pain free & no more Meds.  Stress is what flares up my pain. This is what I do on a weekly basis; I go see a muscle Munipulater (works out my stress in my neck & upper shoulders) every Wednesday & every other I get an adjustment with the Chiropractor.  Keeps my range of motion flexable.  I hope this helps.  

i have had cervical spinal fusion the doc told me it would help a great deal with my headaches .these doctors are crooks my pain is now worse than ever, i have tried everything. my migraines last for days . i go to pain management and all they want to do is give me shots ,the first one was a nerve pain block, felt like i was 21 again then they changed the shot to a steriod shot which, did not give any relief, please if anyone has answers pleas help me

I had c5, c6, c7 fusion November 2014. it has been helpful for the muscle spasms and nerve pain in my back however I'm now starting to get headaches that start at the base of my neck and work up my temples, sometimes on both sides, sometimes just one sided. is this typical and will it eventually resolve itself? I do have some issues with range of motion, particularly nodding forward and back.I understand this is common and should improve during the healing process. My concern is the headaches.

Car accident in 2006 and several doctors blew diagnosis then found Neuro that recommended ACDF - I am 8 years post ACDF of C5/6 and now 5 months post ACDF C4/5 and 6/7 and then separate surgery 4 days later of Postior rods on each side of C4-6 to T1 (C7 was too small to attach to rods)  Before both ACDF(s) I was having severe symptoms that were debilihitating.  After 1st one I was pretty well pain free within a month then after 2 months I go back to work as a paramedic and symptoms return  - job change for a year and PT and symptoms are tolerable.  Then symptoms start again slowly at first then over the last year and a half the symptoms become severe to the point of not being able to think.  Try PT and Pain Clinic (not on any meds except excedrin or tylenol) - no help.  Neuro says dizziness/headaches not from neck and sends me everywhere else.  He finally decides to fix C4/5 and C6/7 - a week before surgery we find a congential problem of a C7 rib that has been missed through at least 9 xrays, 2 cat scans, and 3 MRI - so rusion may not work, if not will have to go to Dallas to have Cervical ribs removed!!!  I go through ACDF and the first plate cannot be removed so put in mesh and need to put rods in back of neck - about to lose insurance so no time to consider unstable spine - and went through with posterior placement of rods to stablize spine.  Results - muscle relaxants at night with tylenol or excedrin, only slight relief of other symptoms, can think now except when totally exhausted (most of the time), new headaches to back of neck most of the time and cannot work because cannon lift anything, sit more than 20 minutes or stand in one place or use computer because after about 20 minutes with arms in one position muscles start spasming, I am always off-balance again (cannot even walk across my house without grabbing a counter or chair) but remember the dizziness is not from my neck.  I live 30 minutes away from anywhere to work so cannot drive if take pain pills or muscle relaxants, but since I am 56 Social Security says I should be able to return to work somewhere in less than a year.  So after seing ENT again for a goiter that grew with the ACDF in November, I know that Neuro is going to want to send me to Dallas - Not sure that is will be worth it with the way things are going now and with the results of the studies that I have read about removal of the Cervical ribs.  Very confused at this point!  Not able to enjoy life and now my husband is afraid to touch me - he thinks I will break!  Does anyone have any suggestions?

I'm 5 months (dec 2014) out 6-7 fusion. I've been having I gues what u would call "residual" nerve pain since surgery. They did another X-ray, MRI, and EMG and said they can't find anything wrong. Oh..... So it all must be in my head right?!?!?! There is a burning now between my shoulder blades that pain meds nor Advil will even touch. Heating pad helps but only till I got off of it. And this week I'm one my 3rd migraine that I've had the pleasure of waking up to. (Sorry sarcasm is my middle name) or maybe I'm tired of feelin like I'm STILL grounded inside this body for the last 4 yrs. they also diagnoses me with fibromyalgia (I hate that but whatever) Has anyone found relief from their headaches after surgery? I think im gonna make my dr give me a trigger point shot between the shoulder blades to see if that helps. Any suggestions??