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Cervical Pain after 2 surgerys on C5-6
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MedHelp Member's Question

Cervical Pain after 2 surgerys on C5-6

by jojo40, Jan 28, 2007 12:00AM
I have had 2 neck surgerys & I am still in pain. I have had C5-6 fused 8yrs ago & last yr I had C6-7 & I am still in a great deal of pain in my shoulders & down both arms & in my neck. I am still under doctors care but he is telling me there is nothing more he can do for me that I have to live with this pain. I have no life because after I get off work the only thing I want to do is use the heating pad & lye down to rest my neck. I do data entry 40hr a week & it is killing me to do that, I am not sure if I am going to be able to continue. My doctor is telling me that the data entry will not make me any worse than I am & I am finding that hard to believe since my job is hurting me so bad so I would like to know your opinion on that, Please. I have a copy of my last MRI it says there is mild facet hypertrophy in C2-3 with no signifcant central canal or neural foraminal narrowing. Then C3-4 There is very small left paracentral posterior disc osteophyte complex, unchanged. Associated mild facet hypertrophy results in mild left neural foraminal narrowing. No signifcant central canal or right neural foraminal narrowing. In C4-5 a very small broad based disc bulge minimally flattens the anterior thecal sac without signifcant central canal narrowing. Mild facet hypertrophy contributes to mild bilateral neural foraminal narrowing. C5-6 There is mild left neural foraminal narrowing. No signifcant central canal or right neural foraminal narrowng. C6-7 post interval anterior discectomy & fusion w/mild left neural foraminal narrowing. I can fax the MRI report if needed t rest . Thank U
Doctor's Answer

by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH, Feb 19, 2007 12:00AM
First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes.      
   I am sorry to hear that you are in so much pain.  It is unclear to me why you would have so much pain given the MRI results that you have included.  There are many things that can help the pain (and I am not sure what you have tried at this point).  The is first is medications that control neuropathic pain such as neurontin (at does of at least 2700mg per day), lyrica, elavil, cymbalta, etc.  If you have not had a trial of these medications, this is the first step.  Physical therapy should also be employed to strengthen your neck muscles and improve your flexibility.  Changing your work environment can also help with your neck pain.  You should have your screen at eye level (not looking up or down) and centered (not looking right or left).  Your posture should be relaxed, but well supported.  In the proper positions, I do not think that data entry will be detrimental to your neck health.  More aggressive measures to control your neck pain may be needed and can be obtained by seeing a pain specialist, who can evaluate you for epidural steroid injections, spinal cord stimulators, etc.  
I hope this has been helpful.
Member Comments (16)

by bev62, Jan 28, 2007 12:00AM
JoJo40, I am experiencing the same thing.  I had a bi-level cervical fussion in Nov. 2006.  They fused C5-C7, going through the front of my neck.  Before the surgery I had pain in my neck and down my right arm and into my hand.  I had some numbness in my right hand.  The surgeon told my that he was sure my pain would improve by at least 80%.  I have done a lot of research on the surgery and it seemed very successful for most people.  So I went ahead and had it done.  Now I have pain and tingling in both arms and my ring finger and my pinky on both hands are totally numb.  I don't have control of my hands.  I can't pick up small items or even turn the pages in a book.  My neck and between my shoulder blades burn like fire.  I have a headache every day that runs from my neck all the way up.  My doctor said that my post-op MRI and xrays look great.  He said that I already had some bone formation.  All that sounds great but why am I in more pain now than before the surgery?  He put me on Neuroton 300mg 3 times a day about 4 weeks ago.  All it does is make me very dizzy.  I've been in PT for 4 weeks and that hasn't helped either.  I am taking 2 Percocets 7.5 and muscle relaxers every 4 hours to try to control the pain. I am still sleeping on the sofa, because if I lay down in the bed, even elevated both hands are totally numb within 15 min. I called the doctors office last to get a refill on my pain meds and all the nurse could say was I should be coming off of these pain pills by now.  If I wasn't having so much pain I could do that.  I have 2 small children ages 6 and 3. I can't even care for my children without help.  Do you have any suggestions?

by mike1105, Jan 28, 2007 12:00AM
Keep in mind, I am not an MD, and this is an opinion based on my experience as a patient, not a diagnosis. to me, in view of the lack of obvious MRI findings that would explain your pain, your problem sounds muscular, and in my experience as a patient with this type of problem, likely related to your work and your failure to stretch tight muscles. release trigger points, and do the proper exercises to strengthen weakened, elongated muscles in your mid back areas. hunched over, rounded posture causes spasm, tightness, and shortening of certain neck muscles (scm, upper traps and especially scalenes) shoulder muscles ,adn even chest muscles that can refer pain to many places, including shoulders and arms. I'd strongly suggest you get a trigger point manual by Clair Davies, and a book by Jolie Bookspan called "How to fix your pain without drugs or surgery". Bookspan also has a great website, as does Erik Dalton whose site is very detailed and explains the anatomy very well. You have a lot of reading to do. Doing all this, it took me 4-6 months to fix myself after 2 1/2 years of pain and a few unnecessary surgeries. I was a dentist. (similar working posture to you). I am pain free except after 20 minutes or so on the computer, or after a prolonged time of sitting flexed, or if I don't stretch/exercise enough to keep the tightness and sapsm away.



If you are able, I would highly suggest seeing a therapist named Sharon Sauer in Chicago (Myopain.com) or The Myofascial Release Clinic in Paoli Pennsylvania (search John Barnes). the latter is more expensive. Sharon Sauer is incredibly knowledgaeble about these muscular syndromes-- she used to work with Janet Travell who wrote the bible on muscle pain, and who was JFKs personal therapist (janet is no longer living).



good luck--- feel free to email me ***@**** if you want more info. I want to help you--

by jojo40, Jan 29, 2007 12:00AM
Mike & Bev62 Thank you both for your suggestion anything is worth a try. Bev62, I also have children my youngest is 10 yrs old & I do need help at times which gets aggravating so I do know what you mean. My daughter does feel she lost her mother to a heating pad & the recliner chair this has been going on too long I need my life back. I also get headaches daily. I have a lot of pain & burning in my shoulders & between my shoulder