Neck fusion recovery

Hi, I posted several months ago. I had the C5/6 surgery on October 2nd. I went back to work yesterday. Slight pain still in the neck, and right hand slightly numb at times. Other then that. The surgery was the best thing I could have done. Stopped taking any type of pain meds about 5 or 6 weeks ago.

Right after the surgery, I was walking around the hospital room that same night, any chance I could get up and walk I took a walk. When I came home from the hospital. I would walk to the local 7-11 and get myself a slurpee - take a 10 min break at the store then walk back. My family thought I was nuts walking instead of driving to get the slurpee. But I believe that helped me recover faster then normal. I am not a teenager anymore, 54 years old, out of shape (unless round is a shape). I would get stared at when I was in the store (they would notice the incision on my neck). No neck brace per the Dr instructions unless I was in a car. He stated I would become dependent on it and my neck muscles would get weak and dependent on the brace.

Dpn't give up, and don't think surgery is the only answer. Yet it has helped me.. but It was the last choice after the other options were tried.

 

Thank you for your input. I'm so glad to hear when people do recover and feel better after surgery. I have just read my last x-ray report and several of them say just about the same thing, And they all say that I have anterolisthesis on C6-7, but the surgeon said he was going to do an ACDF with donor bone and a plate at C4, 5 & 6 in the front of my neck. He doesn't sound like he plans on doing anything with the C7 or T1, Or C3-4. I hope once he gets in there and sees if there are problems there he will go ahead and fix them. I don't want to have to go back for another surgery later. I personally know the radiologist that interpreted my x-ray and an MRI of mine and I trust his opinion, So I'm hoping it all goes well. I am tentatively set up for surgery on Jan 22, 2012. Yes I'm nervous, but also ready to have it done. I have really been getting adverse side affects from my nerves, spinal cord being compressed/impinged. My leg doesn't want to work right when walking, it misses the queue to move, my hand is always numb and tingly and fine motor skills like buttoning things and my reflexes are super hypersensitive! which is not normal. The surgeon made sure to mention this and ask if its always been like that or just lately.....and of course it was just recently that that had begun. But I think it will all work out. Thank you again...your thoughts and input are very much appreciated. Oh and I'm not young anymore either...I'm 52! So that plays a factor too...so proud of you for walking all the time after the surgery. Yay for you!

hi im fixin to go for the pain shots that spine doctor says i have to do first before have neck surgery .this has been like hell for me

i have been experienceing pain that starts in my neck and continues into my hands and down my back for a year now and havent been able to sit ,stand in one place for ttwenty minutes at a time without pain and connot lay flat either or my arms will totally go to sleep .the doctor told me i have lots of bone spurs and that c5c6 disk is paperthin ,i was wondering if i will ever be normal again .movies, restaraunts , were a fun part of my life but i cant do those things and even would like to know if i will work again havent worked since july if anyone can share there knowledge about this nightmare please share with me .:-|

I have the same problem, but haven' t had my surgery yet. It feels like I have a thousand pounds on my shoulders. Mine is also on the left side, I get real sharp pains going down my arm, I cant walk in a straight line hug my husband or son (or anyone)'. I am tired of being on pain killers for 8 going on 9 months now. This is all from a lady running a stop sign and wasnt paying attention. I was coming down the highway as t 60 and she hit me at 55

hi all

had acdf on c5-6 in 1996 very successful

then also had acdf on c6-7 in 2008 but union failed - all original pain returned

have now had surgery 5 weeks ago - posterior cervical laminectomy/foraminotomy with 2 rods and 4 screws

pain easing was a horrible op compared to acdf

main problem at the moment is fatigue and i feel as though my nervous system is about to burst

still in hard collar

has anyone encountered these problems??

 

 

 

WHY DID YOU HAVE TO HAVE TWO MORE SURGERIES THIS SCARES ME CAUSE I HAD C 4-5 IN SEPT AND I AM STILL HAVING PAIN AND WEAKNESS IN MY LEFT HAND AND HAVE TO WEAR THAT BONE STIMULATOR FOR 9 MONTHS I HATE THAT THING, I DONT WANT ANOTHER SURGERY AND MY PAIN MANAGER ISNT VERY GENROUS WITH THE PAIN KILLERS I AM ON ONLY 70 MG OF MORPHINE A DAY, THEY ARENT WORKING TO TAKE AWAY ALL MY PAIN SORRY FOR ALL YOUR TROUBLES ANNETTE

I had my surgery (fusion C4 & C5) in March 2012. The fatique is still a ongoing thing for me. At times I wondered if I'm going to make it through the day due to the fatique. Pain is gone but still have the nerves in the back on my neck and muscle spams are bad at times. My PA has told me this is normal.
Are you taking naps during the day? I don't take naps during the day to sleep better at night. At times I dont sleep well but for the most part I do.
Are you walking for daily exercise? I walk several days a week and that seems to help me but I've been able to walk lately due the weather in my area.
Wish you well, Hope this information is helpful.

Hello everyone many thanks for replying to my post Annette I did level c5-6 in 1996 due to a car accident and had acdf all went well, but usually if you get one level done chances are you have to get another level done due to the strain it puts on the spine. level c6-7 then went on me so had another acdf to fix that but fusion was unsuccessful and didnt fuse, so then had surgery to fix that problem just 5 weeks ago. I have a different surgeon now who operated posterior with rods and screws. I had horrible pain the first 3 weeks but the trick is to keep walking as much as you can. pain now is minimal no arm pain etc sleeping well, hard collar driving me crazy - was napping about 4 times a day now only once a day but lay down and rest alot during the day(watch tv and read) BORING Anyway many thanks for your reply - Im from Australia - Where are you guys from??? wish you all well

How long after your surgery did you and dr realized the fusion didn't work?
I'm from Louisiana.

Hi Tracey
I had an x ray done 6 weeks after surgery and it showed some fusion was starting to happen. I never felt right after the operation and continued having arm and neck pain. Saw dr after about 12 months who confirmed by mri and xray that fusion had failed.
Thats why Ive had to have revision surgery but this time he went from behind the neck.
was surgery did you have???

My surgery was done through the front of the neck. The scar is not bad but I'm not a vain person.
I have an appt next week to see my dr. I have a few questions that I'm hoping to get answered. I'm hoping it will calm some of my fears whether the fusion was a sucess or not. My spasms are VERY bad this morning.

Hope you have a pain free day :)

Hi Tracey
Is this your first op? May I ask how old you are? And do you smoke?
fusion depends on all of this. Please dont fear if you are only having muscle spasms and no other pain then your fusion has worked. One thing my doc told me that if you still have constant arm pain then surgery has failed. I was still getting these pains on and off . Your muscle spasms will in time get much better.
Please let me know outcome of docs appointment. My next appointment is Monday 4th february .
Im bored out of my brain and cant wait to get this hard collar off. weather here in Sydney has been in the high 30 degrees so neck feels like its in a sauna bath.
have had a good day - trying to control the fear and anxiety as well.
God bless - thinking of you
Louise

Yes, this is my 1st and yes I am/was a smoker. I smoked a pack a day before the surgery. I quit about 5 weeks after surgery using the nicotine patches. I stayed off the cigs for 2 1/2 months, started smoking again. Quit a week later using the patches. Smoked a cigs here and there, most of the time 1/2 cig or less.
Well.....I did some research on the nicotine patches. That's just as bad for me as the real thing with the surgery I had. So now.....I'm not using patches. I 'm smoking 4-5 cigs per day. Also I'm 52 yrs young :)
Yes, I didn't care for the neck brace either. I was wearing mine in the middle of summer here. The temps were getting near 100 degress each day. I hope you can get out of it soon.
I don't have arm and elbow pain like before the surgery. I still fear that my fusion has fail. The muscle spasm and the c**p with the nerves in my neck are horrible. Dr and PA has said in the pass that my X-ray look good butttttttttttttttttttttttt.....
We stress,have anxiety and fear the unknown. Thanks for the word of encouragement :)
I hope you have a painfree day :)

I had C6-7 done in 1999 my pain and numbness were gone when I awoke. I was up and eating with no throat pain. I did fall and crack my fusion 3 weeks after coming out the of neck brace. Had repair done in 2000. Never felt the way I did after that first surgery. Had 5-6 done in 02 and then 4-5 and 5-6 redone in 06. Once you have one disk fusion the ones above and below are weaker and can heirnate. I had C 3-4 done in 08. I was told that was a rare disk to have heirnate without having a accident causing it. Now fused from 3 to 7. Still have numbness in my left arm on occasion and weakness in both arms. I slept in a recliner from 2002 to 2012 because it hurts to bad to lay down flat. Now the bump at base of neck is causing issues it was always tender. I had to have massage therapy on it because the scar on back of neck was so tendor it helps. But now years later I think I have scar tissue and extra bone around 6-7 causing pain down shoulder blade and left arm also. For some people they have the surgery and it fixes the problem but for others like me with little bad disks it starts you down a path to more surgeries.

Hey,

Would like to follow up with you if possible? I am trying to not have the surgery. C-6 C-7 singular disk is herniated so I am hoping. A lot better than I woke up that morning when it happend. doc says you get better til lyou don't then its time to decide if its surgery or you live with it. He did not as a surgeon push suregry so that was cool. anyway supposed you have left arm shoulder issues I have the right. Email is

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

. Write if you can would appreciate it.