healing time after bone fusion c4/c5

Hi there! I had a fusion done 3 years ago and to tell you the truth, it took me more than a year to recover completely. I had to take oral meds after the surgery in order to relieve the pain I had. I stayed in a hospital for a few days and some more at the rehabilitation. The fusion process varies in each patient as the body heals and incorporates the bone graft to solidly fuse the vertebrae together. I had an evidence of bone healing apparent on X-ray six weeks following surgery. During this time, my activity was generally restricted. Substantial bone healing does not usually take place until three or four months after surgery, and it was something like that for me as well. I was off work for 4 months but this depends on age, type of surgery and work. I did some rehab exercises and now I feel as good as new. I hope you will too! Good luck!

I just had the surgery 2 weeks ago. I am doing great actually. Although mornings are rough. I wake up feeling like someone drove a Buick into the middle of my shoulder blades. I go see my NS tomorrow for my 2 week follow up. I can honestly say I feel a lot better and am ready to get out my house and back to work. But I know that isn't going to happen because I work in a rather dangerous field. But as far as the surgery goes it will feel like you swolled a golf ball for awhile. But the worst of the pain is over. The nurses I had at the hospital wondered if i even had surgery because when I got to my room I literaly hopped ou t of bed to use the restroom. I haven't hopped out of bed in a month due to pain. But I can say this don't be scared of the surgery embrace it and let the man upstairs guide you threw it. He sure watched over me.. Kari

Yes I can answer a few questions you might have. I am 57 and had disc fusion on my C4-5 on Dec 28,2009. I have thought that I would be much better know. I'm in almost constant pain and am not sure this is what I should have done, but the pain in my left arm and the numbness in my fingers was so severe. 3 weeks before the surgery my orthopedic dr. gave me a steriod shot in my left shoulder and a Tordol shot for pain. It got me through Christmas and then I was returning back to all the heavy arm and numbness. Wished I'd tried one more pain block and nerve block and researched this more. I may have chosen a disc replacement because of the problems above and below the surgery. Today I had another MRI and I will return to the doctor to see what to do. Problem is that I have bone spurs, arthritis, etc. that is close to my spinal cord and base of the brain. I may be stuck with this pain forever. I am never comfortable and hate to even take the pain medicine. It makes me feel worse. I cannot sit or lie down comfortably and I sleep on a heating pad still. I'm probably not bouncing back like a younger person would. I have always been active. I've been diagianoised with degenerative disc disease and spinal spondylosis. An accident on a trampoline at 13 did damage to my neck area and I hate those things. Hope this is some information for someone my age or maybe someone can tell me if I'm going to feel better with more time. :-( :-( :-(

Hi.  I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, spondylosis, spinal stenosis, arthritis of the spine, scoliosis and bone spurs.  I always thought my back pain was due to an automobile/motorcycle accident I was in back in 1992 when I was 44.  I am now 63 and the pain steadily become more unbearable by the year.  The first doctor I went to was in about 2005, a rhuemotologist.  He treated me with a dose of prednisone and hydrocodone 5. and said I simply was born with a bad back.

The pain became so excruciating in 2011 that I couldn't even walk, an MRI disclosed all of the above, in January of 2011, my toes went numb.  My neurologist put me on 225 mg of Lyrica per day, and I finally had surgery on 2/17/12.  I have 2 rods and 10 pins I think the doctor said he said L2-L5 fusion............anyway, I am still wearing my brace, the spine looks good on x-rays.  When I went in for my 2nd post surgery checkup, I begged him to let me go back on my Celebrex for the arthritis, but he told me that Celebrex actually works against fusion, so I still suffer from the arthritis in my back, hands, shoulder, knee - and still am not allowed to vacuum, sweep, mop, change my sheets, bend, twist or lift anything more than 10 pounds.

I was told by my neurosurgeon that full healing could take up to one year.  Also, if you are a smoker, that also works against fusion, so stop smoking for awhile so you can fuse quicker. 

 

i had this surgery may1 2012. i am without pain. i do feel pressure at the surgery site. i still cant walk for long periods but at least i can sit sleep and stand without pain.

Hi There, I had cervical discectomy cage and fusion 7 days ago. On a pain level 1 to 10 I would say a '2'. I have a 75cm cut in my lower neck. 2 days in high intensity and one day in ward. Discharged after 3 days in hospital. Very little pain at all except after removal of drain had a sore throat which made it difficult to swallow, that after 7 days seems to be gone. My neck was stiff before I went in and my symptoms were tingling and numb fingers on my right hand including stiff forearm. Surgeon was contemplating C5/6 too but said that this work was not totally necessary but warned me that it may have to be done in 5-10 yrs time. I am 70 years old and in the last 2 years have had 2 knees totally replaced, found these ok too . Maybe I have a good tolerance to pain. Very important to have a good surgeon too. Mine was a well known nuero spinal surgeon who has a great reputation. Good wishes

It is exactly 3 months since I had my surgery to remove a bone spur in my spinal cord, C4/C5. I have very little pain, although I feel pain in my neck when I sit in front of the computer. I sit, sleep, and stand without pain. My left leg and my left leg still has a lot of numbness and pain. I cannot walk properly. When I walk, I have a lot of pain. I'm hoping and praying I will overcome from this difficulty. Wish you guys God's blessings and hope you all get better. Does anybody has an answer for me? I was walking good before the surgery. Now I have a difficult time to walk. My question is why I am facing this problem.

i had my c4 and c5 infusion....in 2008...iwas born with rickets and have had so many operations all over my body..i was in hospital for nearly one year.. after the operation i had severe inferctiobs as there was a hole in the back of my neck that was not closing...i ended up having plastic surgery in which my left trapezious muscle was taken out..tro cover rthe whole...i have an on going situayion and am still in pain..however.. i am having acupuncture to relieve some of the pain

I am not a doctor, however I had similar effects before I had a laminectomy lower in my spine. I have recently had
a disectomy & fusion at C45 and 5 but the only effects I had were numbness in my right hand and forearm.Best you get this checkled out before going to much further. May I suggest you get referred to a good nuero spinal surgeon who really know what these symptoms are all about and know how to fix it. Please don't let a chiro muck around with you. Best wishes.

Make sure you don't have ALS.

I just had surgery on March 28th 2013, prior to my surgery I too had numbness in the left hand 2 fingers and arm soreness. I had 2 disk c4 & c5 disk repaired and I'm having a terrible time with pain in lower neck along with stiffness, pain in upper shoulders and uncontrollable shaking in my right hand. I'm not due to go back and see my Dr. for another couple of weeks. What I don't understand after reading other people's comments is that I was treated as a outpatient , never spent 1 day in the hospital not to add was not even given a neck brace nor was I scheduled for any therapy. All of this seems to be real odd to me. I don't know what to do nor what to exspect.

WOW Im scheduled to have this surgery on May 9th but c6-c7 too with a titanium plate mine is also considered Outpatient 23 hours in the hospital. I have full confidence you are gonna be ok. it kind of sounds to me like you are having muscle spasms did they give you any muscle relaxers if no definitley give them a call and ask for them specifically but im sure once your surgeon hears that they will probably give you Robaxin it really does help
I hope you feel better soon, and dont hesitate to call that Doctor I kind of felt like a number with my neurosurgeon, but sometimes they know what to expect they just forget to relay that to the patient :) Good Luck you are going to be okay..... I promise

Hello I had c4/c5 fusion on 12 Feb 2014 I have no pain the weakness in my left shoulder is gone. My kid says I don't know my own strenght in my left hand anymore. I feel great best thing I ever did should have done it sooner, but to busy being an ARMY Ranger. Now I can get back to 400lbs beanch press now both of my shoulders work again. Best of luck to whoever is having this done it was well worth it for me.

That's great to hear I'm having the same surgery next tues I have already had a c5/6 6 years ago now my disc has ruptured and is compressing on my spinal cord and nerve root. I have been in servere pain for neally 7weeks and have numbness in both arms now. I've never had so much pain even last time it wasn't as bad. It's great you have had such a great result!!