Numbness post-op c-5 c-6 cervical spine surgery

I just had a 360 fusion cervical on C-4-C-7 front and back incision, hip stem cell mended with metal hardware and screws, I am four weeks out of surgery today... I woke up from surgery with severe arm pain like i had been beat up or in a car wreck, and numbness in my thumb, index and third finger on left?   Was put on Lyrica for the past 3 weeks, last 3-5 days i am having pain in the back of my neck, I assume tht is normal? like a bit of stifness, deep muscle pain, just overall "sore" feeling... Pain pills help for a bit then they put me to sleep and it starts over again, so i tend to take the muscle relaxers then the pain pill if I am really hurting, usually it makes me cry...now im using an ice pack to releive the inflammed feeling before i try pills. I really want to go back to work, I have a desk job wih some walking. I am house bound and cant drive yet, got a call today tht the dr ordered a bone stimulator to wear a few hours a day, tht happens Friday of this week. Just wonder if eveybody is different on healing... will this get better, I can turn to the right really well, but the left is a mess, I have to wear this brace for 3 months... anybody????:-|

First few months are hell, then it gets better. Hang here there. Don't let the pain get ahead of you. Pain overload causes problems, so take the pills and if they are not strong enough, talk to your doc. There are at least 3 choices for muscle relaxers and pain pills. Some will be better than others for any individual. Ice is your friend. Sleep a lot. The nerves heal very slowly, glacial pace. Our doc says 9-12 months before you Are recovered and have heard of others making progress after that. 

 

Dr. Vivek Mohan

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 at Complete Orthopedic Care Lincolnshire, IL He did my surgery almost 9 months ago on C2-C7, as well as stabalized my neck which was collapsing by putting a rod in. I would highly recommend him and I did not have any complications what so ever. The extreme pain is gone. The nerves are still recovering - some numbness and tingling now and then, but no pain. The numbness is usually worse after work as I am keying all day. But he said that the nerves can take about a year to completely recover especially since I had had the pain/numbness for so long (almost 5 years before I did anything about it and the discs completely went). Wish you luck!

I am 36 and just had a two level Mobi-C total disc replacement. This is a newer surgery in the states. It was performed by Dr. Greggory Hoffman in Fort Wayne, IN. I am 3 weeks post op. and feel really good. I haven't taken any pain mess since the 1st week. My arm pain is totally gone and I only have slight neck pain. This pain may go away once I am fully recovered (12weeks). This surgery is a superior surgery to a fusion! It places less pressure on the surrounding discs and reduces the risk of future surgery on surrounding discs. I'm so thankful I found out about this surgery.

Hello Friends , I fell at work in 2004 shattered my c-3 thru c6 vertbrate all replaced with a bone from cadaver  for the last few years since 2009 it's 2015 now I hav gotten numbness in both legs from knees down my right foot is almost numb of all feeling. I went back to same surgeon  and he took all the test and said I was over doing myself I was given 48% disability but the government says I'm able to work so i went on this was 07 6 yrs later I can barely walk more than one hour but they still say I'm ok what a crock .

I had the same surgery at Emory University Hospital in December 2012. After almost 3 years, I still have numbness of the fingertips in ring, middle, and index fingers and inside of thumb on both hands. Surgeon said this is carpel tunnel syndrome. Sorry! Sorry, right. If the numbness is still there after 6 months, you hAve it for life.

Read ur post; the Machinist. My pain is similar if not more areas & unbearable. I am also ? so disappointed with the medical world. I feel , stay as far away from surgeons as possible, many people I have talked with are far worse off after surgery and a friend has had 9 spinal surgeries, and is only 59yrs.young, & doing very bad. She continued to believe the Surgeons could help her , but to no avail. I believe , if u can find a decent pain management dr. w/out doing injections, which degenerate the bones further, are painful, do not last long , are useless for me. I wish u the best, there are other ways: Andrew Weil 4-7-8 breathing, massage, pt, med's and careful how you move , walk, limit lifting, & best to you.

I've had two spinal surgeries with year,first lower lumbar,4 level fusion,12 screws bar and cage,7-9 months after I had to have neck surgery,2 screws and cage now 6 months later right hand fingers are numb and alot of swelling in Back of neck and both shoulders. Wait i g for CT scan, feels like it will never end,but I trust my Dr and hopefully can figure this out.

Hi guys! I hope this gives some of you some mental relief. I was in a car accident in March 2016. I was told that my spinal cord was being severely indented and that surgery was the only way to fix it by my Neurologist. I wanted to try conservative treatment for months and finally the neurosurgeon I was seeing was worrie about pemenent nerve damage in October. I finally scheduled the surgery and he did a single level artificial disc replacement on Nov 23, 2016 with no fusion. So I'm about 10 days out of surgery. I'm not going to say it's been a breeze but everyone said Dr. Cannestra at Lyerly Class mic was the best. My arm pain and numbness are gone and I'm off all meds at this point. Mine was definately a success. Look into artificial disc replacement without fusion. I was in excutiating pain prior and now just have a small amount of healing pain.

Lyerly Clinic. Sorry I mispelled. Stupid auto correct. Btw. I'll be going back to work on Wednesday so the recovery is incredibly quick.

Lyerly Clinic is in Jacksonville, FL. It's worth a second opinion if you are able.

It's been awhile so I don't know if you'll see this but here I go. I had AC/DC 3 months ago. Still having neck/shoulder pain which was suppose to be gone after a couple weeks. Hard to do anything as I tire easily and ache even more. Now the numbness in my hand is returning so I don't know if I'm "fixed" or not. I too feel like I can't do much. Luckily I retired early so didn't have to g back to work. I don't know how I could have even though I was told I only neede 2 weeks off. I know this isn't giving you any answers since I don't have any yet either. Yes I was told the fusion takes a year to heal but I was also told the pain would be gone in a couple weeks. So far I've just. Been trying led to give it more time. I haven't yet been back since the numbness returned. Anyone else out there having similar problems?

Find another doctor!,

Hello, don't get a fusion. Research the disc replacement. I have the Mobi-C. Was 90% better in the recovery room. It's outpatient. Search YouTube for Mobi-C.

Donna, I have exactly the same things you have. My pain,numbness, aches are WORST than before! August 1, 2016 my woman doctor Laura Pare' Eureka, California put a titanium cage in my neck. I'm STILL waiting for another MRI too see if there's any more compression against my spinal cord...I can't type normal anymore, nor can I play guitar! I could hardly move to take care of myself! My long time girlfriend tells me to friggin exercise alot! My life is not doing too well since after the surgery....I don't know what to do.....My name is Robert Szymanski (sha-man-ski)