Pain in between shoulder blades following Anterior Cervical Discectomy Fushion Surgery-2 weeks Post

Hello,
I have had cervical fusion on levels 3-4,4-5,6-7 to T1. The only one left is 5-6. I know I have bone spurs, narrowing there now also.
The problem I am now having is this:
Sometimes I will have pain in the middle of my shoulder blades that feels like a knife for a few days that is followed by alot of muscle spasms ans soreness.
During that time, I get these severe Charley Horses in the middle of my chest that last for about 5 minutes and take my breath away.
I spoke to a few doctors about it and the answers I got was that it wasn't my heart, and they seemed worse than the normal Esophagus spasms. I feel it has something to do with my neck, but noone can shed light on it and when the pain comes, it stops me in my tracks.
Has anyone ever had anything like this? lepew

I had surgury back in december of 2009. From my shoulder blades down my arms feel like they are burning. I have muscle spasms and unable to get comfortable. I am in extreme pain. does anyone know how to ease the pain?

Hey All
I have just had a nerve sleeve injection of the nerve C6 nerve root compromise not as drastic as youall but when the injection was happening the doc touched on a nerve that shot down between my left shoulder blade and spine in the muscley area, of which I often get severe pain after lifting and manual work. All I can offer is that with the surgeries you have had could this nerve have been compromised whilst in surgery? I am now trying to find out which nerve it is that is causing my pain in that area. I thaught it was romboid pain untill the injection touched or went through that nerve that caused the pain you are discribing. Maybe a nerve block in that nerve will help with this pain, although it is as you will know a cruel proceedure. If anyone can relate this could be helpfull to you all.
Sorry for all your discomfort
Kind regards Rob

I have read alot about pain, headaches twitching and just overall return of symptoms after the surgery and even worse than they were before. I would just like to suggest did anyone have an MRI to check their thoracic spine. Reason I asked is I have something called dextroscoliosis and I just found out about it about a couple of months ago by ordering my medical records but was never told about the diagnosis. In 2004 I started have chronic pain in my right arm from neck to hand and fingers being affected as well. I was having the most intense muscle spasms that one could imagine to the point the doctor could physically see my arm moving by itself. I couldn't let anyone touch it or anything and the only way I got relief was laying on my back, seriously. Dextroscoliosis means my spine is turning to the right as opposed to it's normal position that it should be in. This can cause some serious problems and some times can be fatal if left untreated. It is the reason for the weakness I still have in my right after the cervical surgery I believe. You can also have your spine turn to the left as opposed to the right and of course have the same problems. Bottom line it can cause a series of issues like hip, back, neck and arm pain. If left untreated it can (if the spine continues to move to the right or left), eventually it can put pressures on the organs and cause major issues: breathing issues, etc. I hope this helps someone and if you all have not have that examined by MRI maybe you should as sometimes thngs are missed or we just aren't told about them. I wish you all the best of luck!!!

FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR POSTING THEIR INSIGHTS, COMMENTS AND EXPERIENCES ON HERE, AS THEY ARE VERY HELPFULL FOR THOSE IN NEED OF LITTLE MORE LIGHT BASED ON REAL FACTS, EXPERIENCES AND CURRENT SITUATIONS. I WAS OPERATED IN 2001 FOR A C4 FUSION HELD WITH 2 SCREWS TO THE SPINAL CORD. UPON, EXITING THE HOSPITAL THE SURGEON STATED THAT I WILL RECUPERATE MOST IF NOT ALL OF MY SENSIBILITY ON MY SHOULDERS AND PART OF MY ARMS, AS TIME PROGRESSED, I DID. HOWEVER, HE DID MENTION I WILL HAVE ETERNAL DISCOMFORT WHETHER ON MY ARMS, SHOULDERS, BACK OR NECK. I AM A HEALTHY INDIVIDUAL WITH AN EXCELLENT DIET AND NO HISTORY OF HEART ATTACKS OR ANY OTHER DISEASES IN MY FAMILY.

RECENTLY, I CHECKED MYSELF INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WITH FEARS THAT I WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK AS ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF IT, I WAS FEELING. AFTER A LONG 12 HOUR STAY AT THE EMERGENCY UNDER THE EKG AND SEVERAL OTHER TESTING IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE ER DOCTOR THAT THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK AND EVEN BETTER HE STATED THERE WAS NO REASON FOR HIM TO EVEN SUGGEST FOR ME TO GO TO A CARDIOLOGIST. ALTHOUGH, THAT WAS GREAT NEWS I STILL DEAL WITH THE ALMOST EVERYDAY SENSATION AND SYMPTOMS OF A HEART ATTACK, I.E. CHEST PAIN, ELECTRIC SHOCKS DOWN MY ARM (SOMETIMES BOTH), SHOULDER BLADES DISCOMFORT AND EVEN SHORTNESS OF BREATH AT TIMES. HONESTLY, I KNOW THAT I HAVE A GREAT DIET AND DON'T ABUSE ANYTHING THAT I KNOW WILL HURT MY TICKER.

I HAVE LOST MOST OF MY FAIT TOWARDS MEDICINE THEREFORE I DONT TAKE ANY, I RELY STRICTLY ON MY OWN RESEARCH OF ANY HEALTH TOPIC OR SYMPTOMS. I ONLY RUN TO THE DOCTOR ON EMERGENCIES THAT REQUIRE SURGERY AND/OR EQUIPMENT WHICH I DONT HAVE, BUT I DO MY OWN PROFOUND RESEARCH AND CONCLUDE BASED ON THE SAME. ULTIMATELY, I HAVE BEEN HEALTHY FOR MANY YEARS AND IT HAS BEEN MANY WITHOUT ANY DISEASE, INFECTIONS, ETC. AS YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE, THIS IS WHAT DOCTORS DO; RESEARCH AND CONCLUDE AND IF "THAT" PILL DOESNT WORK THEN TAKE "THIS" ONE AND BY THEN "THAT" PILL THAT DIDNT WORK WILL EVENTUALLY MESS YOU UP SOMEWHERE ELSE IN YOUR BODY, BEWARE OF HOW OFTEN AND HOW QUICKLY YOU FOLLOW DOCTORS ORDERS.

I absolutely cannot believe what I have been reading! I just came home from an appt. with an orthopedic surgeon for the pain in my shoulder blades. I had the c-6 c-7 discectomy and fusion 5 months ago, I to woke up with the severe pain in my left shoulder (blade) area. I was told it was either positional, or from over compensating for my right arm (my protrusion was to the right). But I knew they were wrong, because my pain started in my left side when I was having spinal epidurals, and everyone of my doctors literally shrugged it off. My right arm, doesnt hurt anymore, and no more tingling or weakness. My pain is between both shoulder blades with gripping spasms and shooting pains in the same certain spots, anyway i guess there is no point in explaining all of my symptoms because they are the same as ALL of yours. When I came home from the ortho today in tears because he said he thought it was still in my neck not my shoulders, my husband got online to research, and found all of you guys. Here I am crying again at the frustration i feel for me and all of you. Heres the kicker though I just turned 29 last week and have never had any kind of trauma or accident to cause my hurniation. I have worked the same physical, laborous job for 10 yrs. and now am having panic attacks when i get to work cause i know the pain and torture i am going to have to endure, and then come home to my 7 and 2 yr. old children. I will be starting PT again with this new orthopedic Dr. hopefully this time i can get some relief, but i wontlet myself be dissapointed again, I just don't expect anything. But I will keep trying and hoping to feel better. Does anyone else have a constant achiness as well, like when you have the flu, or a fever? I used to only feel that way after my massages, now even after 4 days off work, with as much rest as possible the achiness will not go away. Best of luck to all of you! If I happen upon some miracle cure You ALL will be the first to know!

KAM

Thank you for the positive words. Gave me some hope that pain will improve. I am only two weeks out of surgery and pain is still strong in shoulders and arms.

Thank You. I've been searching all day. You for sure helped one person. I was just told I need the surgery. I'm trying to ask the right questions to find the right surgen, you completed my search.
Thanks again, God Bless and I'll pray for all of you. Mike.

I had surgery to fuse my C5-6, C6-7 2 years ago. I feel great, except for a random slight nagging pain in my left shoulder. It really doesn't hurt but it's just always there (especially if I'm jumping I can feel it). I wonder if it will ever go away. I wonder if I should even go to the doctor to get it checked out. I'm 30 years-old. Thoughts?

Charlotte your not alone. I had surgery on C6+C7 disc replacement and decompression 3 weeks ago about a week ago i started having pain in my neck and shoulder like very strong aching. Really is a painful aching thats how i can describe it. I have not even been given a follow up appointment for this which has shocked me a little. My op was for decompression but they ended up full replacing the discs. Im 45 and have two kids all grown up now. i was getting pain in hips low back right arm and pis and needles they also found my cervical nerve was trapped by 1/2 an inch. i dont know if thats a lot but the consultant stated it to me as though he was a little shocked. I dont know why they replaced the discs either i was not really with it when i left hospital two days later but your not alone in the pain area. bye the way if you have the neck scar Manuka honey is brilliant. within five days my scar has gone to a thin line. My nurse advised it as i asked about bio oil. She said it was better than that so i tried .

I had 2 level c5/6 c6/7 ACDF surgery in mid July and have the same pain and concern. Neurosurgeon is one of the best and assures me that due to

Severe inpingemint for such a long this is expected. I have had neck for a long time and this, though similar, is caused by something else. Oh, and anyone can after five minutes of searching that seems to happen, in most all cases.

Look up Tietze's syndrome. It is sometimes caused by surgery. I have this and it is very painful.

Hi, I had surgery on my c7.. I try to be optimistic.i have 2small kids.i feel bad that you have to work. I feel sick and sore all the time. I am hoping in a year it will all go away.good luck,you are young, u have to rest. If you can. It's important you heal.so you can be with your kids. I have to forget the person I was before the surgery on my c7and live with a new body.it is tough.i believe I will get stronger and so will you.good luck I am 43 yr s old but active. I hope I can be strong ang and not weak like this. Bbye

hello I to have pain behind my shoulder blades after the same operation....Only three months down the line so I hope it improves   

For those who indicated they think they may have a failed fusion I just wanted to say there's only one real way to know, that is to have a CT Scan. MRI's and Xrays do not show a fusion fully. I was told for years I was fused only to find out months ago 2 of the 3 fusions I had did not fuse and are not healed. I had a CT done. All MRI's prior never indicated this. So, when in doubt have a CT.