Neck fusion recovery

hello i waited for 4 years tried everything from acupunture, physio etc until nothing worked and pain got worse so opted for surgery. im not saying to rush into surgery but can you live with this pain for the rest of you life. what surgery has been suggested??

hi, had 3-5 fused in April 2012. I've had steroid injections in all areas in and around my neck. Had an epideral and facet joint injections a few months ago. None of these injections seemed to work for pain relief. Doctors say a year to a year and a half for fusion recovery. Why do some people recover more quickly. They have no answers for any questions i have. I feel like a guinea pig at times. This was my third cervical surgery. had 2 artificial discs at c5-6 and c6-7. they don't have the answers i'm looking for . Try this do that, even tried massage . Temporary relief at best. Wish i had better info. for you but good luck and give it time!!

I tried for over a year not to have the surgery. The neck pain was something I'd had ongoing for much longer, but what got me into surgery was the pinched nerves, and loss of strength in my left arm. Started at the chiropractor once a month, then I was in a sling for 4 weeks, I went to physical therapy for traction and massage and range of motion once a week for a year, and if any relief it was temporary. I'd read too much about cortizone injections, and the people I knew that had them said they wore off and you could only get three. The surgery relieved ALL of that. My neck is still sore, especially on rainy/cold days, but the nerve pain is gone and that is SOOOOO worth it. I thought I had carpal tunnel for the last 3 years, but my symptoms went away after my fusion. (C6/7) Dr. said it was probably nerve damage all along! (Thank God I didn't have that surgery first!) I move a little slower, and am DEFINITELY more careful now, but at almost 50 I guess that's not a bad thing. I work in a school cafeteria, so had the surgery in June thinking I could go back to work in August. If I was at a desk job I could've, but I am required to lift 40-50# frequently at work so couldn't go back until after Christmas. There are things that concern me about having dejenerative disc disease, and I've read alot of posts where the fusion puts extra stress on the discs above and below the sight, but even with that said I would do it again. Now I just have to find a job that I can do that's not so labor intense!

Hi Louise,
Hope things are going well for you.

I went to the dr on Wednesday. Dr said the fusion is taking but I need to continue to wear the bone stimulator. He asked about my smoking and I told him I was down to 4-6 cigs a day and of course he asked that I continue to work on that. Which I expected.
Sometimes it's so discouraging. I try to have a postive outlook on this by telling myself, I'm better today than I was before surgery and that's helps. You know as well as I, we have so many don't, can't pick up the grandkids, grocery bags, etc. Do you have those moments?
Do you work outside the home? If so, have you been able to return to work?

Hope you have a awesome day, No pain, No boredom :)

TRACY HOW LONG DID THEY SAY YOU HAVE TO WEAR THAT NECK STIMULATOR THEY TOLD ME 9 MONTHS I FORGET TO WWEAR IT FOR TWO DAYS NOW I HAVE BEEN WEARING IT 4 HOURS A DAY SINCE SEPT 26TH I HATE IT AND I SMOKE A PACK A DAY
ANNETTE

The dr hasn't said how long. He just said continue to wear it. I was never total any time frame. I go for a follow up in 3 months so....who knows??
Yep, I don't care for it either. I placed by charger in the bedroom where I will see it everyday. Where do you have your charger? Maybe you can put it in a placed that you would see it daily.
I know smoking is very hard to quit. I had went from a pack a day to 4-6 cigs per day. I think that's a big accomplishment butttttttt..... I know I need more. Try your best to a least cut back, chew gum, tic tac, suck/chew on a straw, take a walk. A straw in my glass of water really helps.

Remember: A.R.K. (Acts of Random Kindness)
Hope you have a awesome day!

Hi Tracey Glad to hear that your fusion is taking but that you still have to wear a bone stimulator. Our docs dont use them much here in Australia.I only have my hard collar on which I can only remove while showering and sleeping. All surgeons are different regarding collars etc and I think it depends on what surgery youve had. I think its great to hear that youve cut back on smoking - I gave up 6 years ago cold turkery , I know it isnt easy but yes tell yourself constanly its worth it. Go to see specialist on Monday 4th (nearly 7 weeks post op) feeling fine a few aches and pains - literally want to sacrifice and burn this collar absolutely hate it and is aggitating me as we speak. Yes I am very frustrated at the moment cant do washing ironing groceries etc hubby and I love night clubing and dancing(cant wait for that) still not driving and yes I do work 3 days per week but havent been given the ok to return. What about you? Are you driving? Are you back at work? Main problem at the moment is this anxiety I have - hopefully after Mondays appt with doc things will get better. Hope things continue to improve for you.

Hi Really sick of it, I was hoping to write to you earlier today. How was your dr appt today? Hope you received good news today? I totally under the anxiety about the upcoming appt. I felt the same way. I didn't receive bad news but wasn't as good as I was hoping for. So I'm sending good thoughts your way and hoping for good news. I would love to have a sacrifice and burn my collar. Wish we could do it together. Then laugh at all the frustrated moments we had :) I also understand all the frustration about don't do this and don't do that! My husband had to do it all. I felt terrible seeing him do things, cook, cleaning the kitchen, etc. My daughter would come over every two weeks and give the house a good cleaning. Men don't clean like we do. My doctor didn't want me in a car for a few weeks. So then I was stuck at home, too. OMG, I was wondering it I was going to make it to my three week follow-up. I thought I was going to go crazy. Yes, I have returned to work. At first, it was part time at the office and I would also work from home. At home I would work a little then go lay down for a while. Work again......lay down again. My own schedule. I have great bosses, I couldn't ask for better. I work for two brothers at a flooring store. I do a little of everything, payroll, billing, collections, etc. Well.....You name it, I do it. That's OK, I like staying busy. I hope you anxiety gets better soon. I know it will. Stay strong, physically and mental. It's tough sometimes. Just drop me a line or time if you need to talk. Hoping for good news for you :)

I waited for about 10 yrs, living with the pain. I was scared to death to go back to the doctor. I finally did cause the pain ws extremely bad. Well,,,,,,,Something I shouldn't have put off. I finally had the surgery. Remember I was scared to death having the thought of walking out of the room the morning of my surgery. Crying like a baby. I was told by several people do it, have the surgery....
Would I do it again? Yes, I would. If I could go back in time. I would have had the surgery 8-10 yrs ago.
I'm not telling you to have or not to have. Yes, you may dealt yourself at time but listen to your dr most of all. Get a second opinion. Listen to you most deeps thoughts and feelings.
Hope this gives you another point of view.
Hoping for good results for you. Surgery or no Surgery.
Hope you have pain free days :)

Hi Tracey
yes went to docs appointment and so far so good. can remove collar (yippee) and gradually return to driving and work.
going to have physio etc then return back to work a few hours here and there in a couple of weeks. doc wants to see me in June to see if fusion has worked till then very nervous. he told me I could hang out washing and do some housework. but just changed my sons sheets and have neck pain as I type, going to lay down now. here we go again.
hope you are going well
Louise

OMG, My heart goes out to you. Hope you're feeling better my time you read this. I checked the time zones on my phone for your area (Melbourne, Australia not really sure of your town). Anyway, It's roughly 12:30am tomorrow which would be Wednesday for you. It's 7:30 am Tuesday here. WOW, I didn't realize the difference was so drastic.
Anyway, When the dr released me I still didn't do housework for a few weeks. I started back to work at that time so I was saving my entergy for work, picking up a staple machine and pens :)
The funny thing about returning to work some days I laid on my bosses sofa (in his office) more than I sat at my desk.
The dr has not order physical therapy for me. So I'm looking at that to be a good thing. I hope I'm right.
Hope you have a awesome day without pain.

Tracey R.

suppose I should hahve mentioned it was fusion with brackets and screws of course. Single 6-7 fusion. He said it should be successful and not be problemmatic but also said lets try other ways for comfort first, I have met a lot of people who had this done successfully. Seems here a lot of people are not doing well

hi Tracey
You are absolutely right - because I got the collar off and felt great yep what did I do (which normal woman would do) start housework, well not today God did I pay for it last night and this morning. Have been wearing collar on and off now and just walking today. Go back to work in 2 weeks so need to concentrate on saving energy for that. Its just so frustrating and boring not being able to do much when you are running a house, kids, work and dog.
Thankyou for your kind words and hoping tomorrow will be a better day.
Oh by the way start physio on Friday.
Louise

Yes, taking it easy was the hardest for me. Enjoy the pampering and no housework for awhile long. It will benefit you in the long run. I know.....it's hard because we (women) always think we are super women.

Have a awesome day and be pampered.
Tracey R

My wife is going in for this type of surgery next Friday. She does not want to read anything about people who have done this for fear she will be scared and not want to get it done. She has been in major pain for about 2 yrs now and has exhausted all the other typical options, the shots and the PT (which gave her no relief) I feel so bad for her and of course will cater to her for the week following the surgery. I feel so elated when I see the good results and then get a little freaked when I read the not so good. I know it is always a c**p shoot, but I can only hope for the best at this point as she is adament on getting this done. Nice to see this forum, I just wish she would have a look at it to gain some insight.

Worried