I know that there is considerable pain in the muscles in the upper back after cervical surgery BUT, I had this pain BEFORE the surgery and it is still there and worse.  Now that I have had surgery(and fusion) the bones must knit but it has been over two weeks since surgery now and the pain is the same as it was before.  I did some pretty heavy lifting and am wondering if this is what is causing the pain, and if so, what could I have injured?  Did the heavy lifting cause the arthritis?   The arthritis and the spurs was supposed to have been taken pain of by the surgery and yes, I do have relief from the slight pain down my arm and up the back of my head.  But this (muscular? nerve?) pain in my upper back is horrible.  I am taking pain medication but do not think I should be on it with all the back side effects i.e. constipation    I see no other options.