To the woman above signed in as a guest, I feel your pain, as you can see from my previous posts, I have had 2 surgeries. I originally hurt mine in work 10 years ago. I am now 42. My first surgery was through the front of my neck, I had C-4 and C-5 fused. To make a long story short, after 4 years of the first surgery I started having problems again. My original doctor moved his practice and I had to find another. I decided on Rothman. I was sent for an MRI and cat scan. I found out that my fusion never healed correctly and 2 of the 4 screws I had in where beginning to loosen and I needed to have it fixed. As I was so afraid to put myself and my family through this yet again, I had too. I ended up being cut thrift the front of my neck so they can remove the place, and refuse the bone again. This time it was C- thru C-7, because over the years, my herniated discs worsened. Then I was flipped over and was cut in the back of my neck straight down and rods and Screws were placed in. I woke up with drains hanging off me I was terrified. This was July of 2012, I went through months of no driving, wearing a hard collar and then finally in the winter of 2012 was able to start PT. I know how frustrated you are, I too, feel the same way. I now have weakness in my left arm and shoulder, limited range of motion. My life has changed dramatically, I'm still not working, I can't turn my head like I used to, can't sit for long periods of time. That is frustrating in itself. I agree that no one understand the pain, because they physically can't see it. I have been going to pain management for over 5 years now and this is what my life has become. There are many things I can't do anymore, but I take one day at a time. That's all I can do.
I really feel for you. I suffered for five years before giving in to get the surgery done. From all the stories I've read here, I realize my situation is different in that I didn't have cord compression, just nerve compression. I know what it's like to be in pain constantly. I can remember even getting angry at my dog for wanting to be pet when I just wanted to be left alone. My temper was so short from being in pain and not sleeping for more than an hour per night. It's so frustrating when you feel no one believes you and you're so miserable. I saw more than one surgeon before settling on one. I had two friends who had surgery with this guy and were very happy with him. I also had one who treated me like an id**t and I refused to even get the x-rays he ordered. I KNEW there was something physically wrong with me and all he wanted to do was say I was suffering from depression. Keep looking, there's a GOOD surgeon out there for you!
I am too in this situation. I will turn 50 next mth. and had my surgery in 2009. I also say I fill 80 yrs old. It is so depressing watching people older than I do things and fill good while I hurt all the time. I have been having problems finding a pain clinc to understand where I am coming from. So if you have any advice Please help.
Thank you.
Belinda Duke
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Nov 2010 had anterior cervical discectomy with titanium plate inserted. Continued to have pain and my neck hurt most everyday. Also developed frozen shoulder in my right arm. Almost 2 years later, went back to my NS. myleogram revealed I did not fuse 100% so went back in Nov 2012 and had posterior fusion with a rod. Had been doing great the last couple of months, no pain and my neck hasn't hurt hardly at all. Last night out of the blue, my neck began hurting and the nerve pain has returned in my left arm all the way down to my hand and feels very weak. Just when I was telling people I felt great! Looks like we are all in the same boat! Can't improve on what God made no matter how much we try! Hoping this isn't going to be permanent! Wish I had better news for you but I am glad to know I am not alone in this fight. I at first thought maybe I had done something that caused the rod or plate to moved out of position! Looks like this is normal!
I do really think it matters very much when and how long the surgery was done from when the issue or injury happened. ?? My doctor did not properly see this issue and I had a shoulder surgery first then the fusion a year later by that time i was almost rushed to have the surgery as is very well could have been a very serious issue leading to paralysis.
i have nerve damage to this day but the surgeon dod a fine job, but the longer this goes the worse off we are. I think you just have to deal with it and find you solutions for dis comfort when they arise.
After reading the post dateted 9/20/09 and all the replies it make me afarid to have my surgery which is schedule for this June. I have damage to my C6-7 and the surgeron is doing the infusion with bone graft.
I am in constent pain morning noon and night. For the past 5 years my life have been miseriable. My age is 62 feeling like I am twice that age with no desire to do anything. I have tried injections, pain killers, and nothing seems to help. I am totally at a lost.
If I am going to still be in pain after the surgery tell me what point is there to having it. All I know is that I need some type of relief. Please give me some advice.
Omg! Ur story sounds so familiar ! I have had 2 acdf's in the last year ! The first one was failure to fuse ? The last one has the jury still out as far as fusion, however , pain is so intense sometimes that I can barley function! Migraines have appeared after this last surgery!was doing a lot better after seeing pain management md and taking tramadol bid with Tylenol and norco at night and weekend prn. Don't take norco during work or driving. Until last week ..... Had dental work done and the pain and migraines have been unbareable ! I have been in so much pain that I can't even describe it! I honestly think its because they used a drill around my nerves again!
Just needing hero to understand my situation
I've had 2 surgeries 2yrs ago. 1 was to remove stenosis and the other was to do a fusion on C5 and C7. I have had a hard time breathing now I cannot take any kind of big breath, Iam still heaving pain in the rear shoulder area left hand still has very little grip, and most of all my diaphragm is in continuous pain.
I've been to 7 Drs and not one can diagnose me or find anything wrong. I know my body I've always been able to work now that I had to go back to work my body is 7 to 8 levels of pain of 10 bring the worst. The priamary Dr had told me that going back to work was my best interest due to ssdi would not help and I was denied it.
Thank you
Matthew
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