Neck fusion recovery

Hi jo and everyone, I'm going to have my c/5/6 disectomy on Tuesday.
However my severe trancing arm and neck pain is getting less.
Although the pain is there I can work and lift with it, my right hand is week but still useable.
Do I cancel this op or do I have it to prevent it happening again.?
There is a disc bulge/herniation there on the root nerve, but the next vertebrae down have bony spurs which may be a later problem.
So right now I'm going to try and play tennis ,if it brings the pain back at least I have a reason to go for it, plz plz give me your thoughts , I'll be back on here later today,
Thx all. :(

YEA!!!!! I am so glad to hear this from you! I was wondering how it went! Be careful not to overdo it, you're right about the meds! I have 3 months now, and as you come off the meds you really notice how much slower you need to move! I'm still doing physical therapy twice a week and have a lifting restriction of 15 lbs., but all in all it was SO worth it! Are your kids helping out? How about the smoking? I'm still "not participating" in tobacco, and the longer I go without the better I feel, although I'll be glad when my lungs are done "cleaning out" as the doctor calls it! Keep me posted, it's nice to have someone else going through this also to compare notes with!

Hi, I go through ups and downs. Im a HGV Driver and find that some days I can work fine and others Im struggling. Are you due to have a consultation with your surgeon before Tuesday? if you have met with him already, what did they say? How did the Tennis go? Did you suffer afterwards? I don't know how old you are, im 43 and feel that I cannot go on for another 20 years feeling like this. Let me know how you get on.

Hi, I had the C5,6 fusion surgery on 10/2/12. I had the Right shoulder pain, Right Arm numbness and right hand tingling prior to the surgery. I can honestly say those symptoms went away right after the surgery. Well with the exception of some minor numbness in my right arm. 3 weeks later I still feel some slight pain in my neck from the surgery and feels like someone has their hands around my throat squeezing and not letting go. I also have problems with being exhausted throughout the day.

Was it worth it... did I make the right choice? Right now I can say yes, still in recovery. Still have a ways to go. But everyday seems to be better than the day prior. :-D

to dray, i had a anterior neck fusion on 9/25 i had numbness in left side, arm and hand i could not even open my hand, the doctor sadi i was becoming paralyed if i didnt have the surgery i had c4 .5 done only one level but i need all three but this one was the worse so i had it done, i felt grest the  first twor weeks except for the hard collar and the incison itching ehich i still have but my hand and arm are better, i wear a soft collar i bought  from wal greens a few ,funny how you said you are so exhausted i went to my primary todya telling

her how exhausted i am all day a and wand cant sleep well at nigth i havent been doing much of anything except the computer shopping on ebay heyand watchang tv, i wonder why i am so exhaisted but they did blood wrok today and gave me a b 12 shot. i also have to wear the neck stiulator for 6-8 momths 4 hours a day cause i smoke . i also have neck and shoulder pain since the surgery i didnt have before but they neck to lowered my pain meds and i  am afraid of what little they will give me on wed when i go to pain managemnt then i have to go for a xray of my neck to see how it is healing. my neck is stiff alot hoping it will get bettr soon i have to fly  form my home in florida to nj to see my mom is sick on nov 15th i am wearing the hard collar for the flight, do you wear a  collar nice to hear form people goign thru thr same thing sorry about thr tping my computer is having issues

 

I hate to be the bearer of bad news I have had a total of 3 surgeries first was c-5 c-6 then c-4and c-7 then finally c-3 all the way to t-2 and I would feel better for the first few weeks and I am about 5 almost 6 years out from the very first cut and I wish I would have never had done them I am in pain everyday.when it rains or when it is damp out or the air preasure is high I am not woth anything.
I truely hope that you get relief. I have been on major pain meds and being a mother of 2 teen girls I can't be out of it. So as far as your question I thought I did better for few weeks then , was it worth the surgery I would say no. I would love some feedback please.

jo wrote:

KCafaro wrote:

I had my neck fusion on 10/8/12 and I am doing amazing. I got myself all worked up and expected the worse. Physically I am doing wonderful I can move my neck from side to side without any problem, but because I still have the huge bandage on my neck it makes it difficult to move my head up and down. I get to shower on Friday and replace the bandage with a plain bandaid. Because I am feeling so good I have to stop myself from doing light things around the house. Being that the pain meds mask your pain you thing you can get ack to your normal everyday life. Let me tell you NO not a good idea. So I will relax for the next 10 days as the Dr. order. I am so happy with how I am feeling!!

Thank you for this info. I have read your prev posts and I must say, for someone who was petrified, your doing really well. Lets hope im the same!!

So K, how are you feeling these days? I'm still out of work, as the dr. won't clear me to lift 50#, but I feel good. I'm off the pain meds, and rarely take the muscle relaxers, and am still not smoking! So far so good! I hope you are well!

I am new to this forum/post. I am sorry you are going through all of what you are going through as I have just about the same stuff now...I know what you are going through, I'm only sorry I don't have the answers you are seeking. but If you get any good answers, please let me know as I need some answers to all of your questions plus some. I am looking at surgery as I was told by my family doctor and the radiologist as well as waiting to see the neurosurgeon but not until next yr!. So, I don't know what kind of surgery the Neurosurgeon will do. I have several things going on with my neck and lower back. And I was just told yesterday that I have both Carpal & Cubital Tunnel Syndrome! The Cubital Tunnel being the worst. My whole hand is numb/tingling/pins and needles and hurts I have a lot of the same stuff you have and at my C5-6 I'm at 6 mm and have edema in my spinal cord as well as my ventral cord and spinal cord being flattened in about 3 places. My worst spots at the moment are C4 through T1 and my spinal cord is being "re-positioned" , pushed to the left and backwards from bone spurs. I have had several cortisone type injections in my neck which helped with the headaches and a Neurologist gave me a pamphlet about MSG causing headaches as well and to stay away from it as much as possible (it has many hidden names). So as for the arms falling asleep/numb tingling and hurting...I guess mine is partially from the Carpal & Cubital Tunnel Syndrome? I have yet to see the neurosurgeon, which means I most likely won't be having surgery this year, thus will have to wait until late next year after we meet our "out of pocket deductible" because we can't afford thousands of dollars to pay for surgery. Hopefully I don't have paralysis or permanent damage due to having to wait several months. However, it scares me to think that after you have one surgery, it seems as if you have to continue to have them...as I have read from several posts. I think the only difference in what you have and my situation is that part of yours is being caused by a plate pushing against your cervical spine and the bone removed from your hip. I have several broad disc protrusions and spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, anterolisthesis, retrolisthesis, broad disc protrusion that flattens the ventral cord and displaces it posteriorly. I also have spondylosis, sclerosis, and the thecal sac being flattened. I too would love to know where to turn to for help and getting a life back to somewhat of a norm? I am at a loss and I live in the country and feel very lonely as I don't have a whole lot of activity with other people.

OMG, My prayers are with you. My dr told me i did not have a choice about the surgery. Either do it or look at being paralyzed in 4-5 yrs. Have you seen another doctor?

i agree i had one level i think c4 or5 done sept 26 it is three months now and they want to cut my meds which they have already i am in more pain now and my hand and arm still gos numb, after the surgery i felt good i wa on 90 mg of pain meds now i am in p.t which helps especially the massages but i needed possibly all three levels done but i only decided to do the worse one but i will not let them do it again to me, i started having problems one month after the surgery i am ow only on 75 mg of pain killers and that is not enough for for after the surgery plus 6 herniated disk a brsain cycyst ands sever fibro but my pain maanger doesnt believe in prescring alot of meds before the surgery i was on 150 mg.

MY DOCTOR TOLD ME THE SAM,E THING HAVE THE SURGERY NOW BEFORE YOU BECOME PARALYZED I SYMPATHIZE WITH YOU HAVING TO WAIT 1 YEAR AND YES MY SURGERY BILLS ARE ROLLING IN BUT I APPLIED FOR CHARIRTY CARE AND ONE BILL WAS 900 THEY GOT IT DONE TO 50.00 THE OTHER BILL IS LIKE 20,000 WAITINF TO HEAR ABOTU THAT ONE. I A, NOT SORRY I HAD THE NECK FUSION ONE LEVEL CASUE IT DID RELEIVE THE PRESSURE AND NUMBNESS ANSD TINGLING IN M,Y ARM WAS LIKE DEAD JUST HANGING THERE NOW I HAVE STEENGTH IN THAT ARM, I WOULD SAY IF IT IS PUSHING ON YOUR VENTRICAL CORD LIKE MINE WAS TO HAVE THE SURGERY YUO WILL GET RELEIF BUT DOTN GET ON TO HIGH A DOSE OF PAIN MEDS CAUSE THAT WILL MASK THE PAIN AND YOU COULD UNDO WHAT THE SURGEOUN HAVE DONE, BUT I DO WANT TO TELL YOU THE RECOVERY IS SLOW I AM A SMOKER AND I HAVE TO WEAR A NECK THING FOR 4 HOURS A DAY FOR 9 MONTH IT DRIVES ME CRAZY IT HAS ELECTRICAL STIM GOIGN THRU IT THEY SAID 6-9 MONTHS CASUE I SMOKE IT HAS BEEN ONLY THREE MONTHS GOOD LUCK YOU AND IF YOU WANT TO EMAIL ME TO CHAT YOU CAN AND I ALSO HAVE A DOG GROUP ONLINE WITH THE MOST AMAZING WARM PEOPLE IN IT MY EMAIL IS 

 ***Post is edited by moderator *** Private e-mails not allowed***Please read our Terms of Use

ANNETTE

Hi, OMG. so many people with the same stuff. And I wish all of you the best in your recoveries, surgeries, and health in general! Also hugs to all of you! And I hope your New Year will be much better and healthier! As for me, I just saw the Neurosurgeon today and he said I do have subluxation (vertebra separating-causing instability in the neck) as well. The report said I didn't! Go figure! But he showed it to me and it measured almost 3mm! Wow, not cool and kinda scary! Anyway, he wants to do surgery. Not a surprise on that! A ACDF on C4,C5,&C6, also add a donor bone (mine bones are no good as I have osteopenia) and I can't remember what all other things he said he would do. So glad I had my husband there with me to remember it all. It seems every day I have more symptoms from my nerves being compressed. While I was there and he wanted to observe me walking, my leg/knee just started shaking so bad I had to laugh instead of cry! He also said my reflexes are abnormal which made me think of a cartoon character getting their reflexes checked and the cartoon character kicks the Dr in the head or other unmentioned places...hahaha Yep, my reflexes are extremely sensitive right now and a couple hardly want to work at all! Anyway, at the rate of the progression of all this stuff I'm thinking money shouldn't matter because I rather not be paralyzed. He did suggest to wait on any carpal or cubital tunnel surgeries as he thinks a lot of these symptoms I'm having are contributed from the nerves being compressed and most likely the decompression of the nerves in my neck would help alleviate a lot of these. I totally agree with that. So that's my news for now. After I finish processing some of this I'm sure I will have more questions or answers. Thanks to all. Oh Annettini...I'm a smoker and have been for 40 yrs and I'm working on quitting and I have been on prednisone for a long time too, so it alone is causing a whole set of other problems too. I've been working on getting off of it for a few months! Now down to 5 mg and the surgeon wants to kick it back up again for the surgery! Ugh! I really do appreciate all the information people give on here and a couple other sites. It gives us all great information to go off of on what to expect....always expect the worse and hope for the best! :-)

Lunchdiva here...I had my surgery on June 22, and have not had any carpal tunnel symptoms yet. I was told earlier that I had on both sides and sleeping with them in braces did nothing. Thank God I didn't go for that surgery first! Anyway, I smoked for 40 years as well, and have only had three since my surgery. I missed driving more than smoking after the first week, and even though I miss it after steak dinners or alcohol, I believe now if I lit one I would throw up. They said smoking would reduce my chances of the bones knitting to the cadaver bone down to 40%, and he said it in front of my family, so they watched me like a hawk for the first month or two. Actually, with the medications he gave me and the other things going on pain and recovery wise, I didn't miss it much until I was cleared to drive at 3 months. By then it was more of a matter of how stupid would it be at this point... and now I start back to work Wednesday.(believe it or not lunch lady is a very physically demanding job as everything we get is in 30-50# cases) Good luck to you. This site helped me, both by seeing what others were going through, and by giving me someone to talk to about fears and such. I didn't know anybody that has had this done and was brought up skeptical of dr.'s and their pharmaceutical friends, so I was appreciative of other people's input. As for the $, if you make arrangements with their billing dept., most hospitals will take monthly payments. Mine lumped everything together and I make a reasonable monthly payment.(Thank God) Don't let the money stop you!!!

i go to pain mangement which is in the same office as my neck and brain surgeoun, he is handling both of them for me i have a arachnoid brain cycst also at 49 years old i am falling apart, just remember one thing they told me the more levels you have fused the less mobilty you have later down the road but not having them all down could led to more surgery, i am going to ask when i can get rid of this neck stimulator around my neck for the cadivior bone can be finished i was told 6-9 months i a, faithful to it i do it 4 hours a dya but hate it but i still smoke tryingto ut back. i bought a feather down pillow i got it todaY GOOSE FEATHERS see if that helps my neck also i use my tens unit which helps and the best thing is heat when i go to physoical therpey they give me heat then massages i love the massages, i am still having trouble turning my neck all the way to the left i drove for the first time the other day it was a little difficult and caused some pain but i dont drive cant afford a car i use a electrci bike to get around.best of luck to eveyone annette

I want to thank Everyone for the help and support and truly hope the best for everyone. Treedschafer, I don't think I really have a choice, nor do I think I have 5 yrs! My hands and legs are already affected by it...and I think if I wait even a few more months I will start to be partially paralyzed! My leg wants to give out on me or starts shaking really super bad, my hand is numb, tingly and hurts constantly. I have spasms, charlie horses and electrical shocking sensations shooting down both my arms from my neck when I cough, laugh or move just the slightest bit in the wrong way...I would really hate for one of those times that I move just the slightest bit in the wrong way that it paralyzed me because I didn't get the surgery....I think I rather put up with the pain...I deal with pain anyway along with all this other stuff. So I think it's a better alternative to paralysis...don't you? I understand that after you start getting surgery, the other parts go too...heck, they are already going...it's just a matter of time. What will be done on this surgery is an ACDF along with the things I mentioned C4,C5, & C6...they will be fused, have a plate and a donor bone since mine aren't any good. He will also decompress them.... And if he see's more that needs immediate attn, then I'm sure he will take care of that too. I hope yours gets better. I also have a teen son at home and I feel so bad for him...he seems to get the brunt of things :-( he's a wonderful help and I wish I could do so much more for him. maybe some day I will? Who knows.