Need some advice with making a decision on a TRIPLE LEVEL CERVICAL FUSION

[J_P_]

I had my follow up visit with the Spine Doc after my Discogram. The Discogram reproduced all of the pain that i have been expieriencing for the past two years, also the was significant leakage of the dye out of the disc. The Doc today said that he thinks i should have all 3 disc fused. I guess my question to any of you would be if i should have the surgery, what is the recover like,has anyone ever had it done and what is your life style like now?

I am going for a second opinion, but i have a feeling he will say the same thing. Can anyone help?

[inslady]

Gabpentine is the generic to neurontin & I believe that the gabpentine does not help much so at next appt I am going to ask for something different. the gabepentine makes me so woosy I don't drive when I take it not to mention the mild double vision that comes with it. I was on amitriptyline for a long time and for some reason they took me off it. ??? they also had me on soma's for a long time and then took me off it also, I am not on any muscle relaxers at this time. The spasams or jerks that feel more like electric shock is the one thing I wish would go away as well as the pain.
Thanks for the reply's, and the info I will let you know if it helps next month. inslady

[linzie1965]

i recommend that amitriptyline works against the head problems etc dizziness and massive headaches...this with pregabalin  works a treat ... i can only tell you that these working together avoid me having to live on oral morphine 6daily ,  gabepetine made me feel zombied were as pregabalin that is its sister drug works miracles for me... i can only emperthise with all your pain and suggest what works for me , if it just helps one person, this would make me extremely happy to know....good luck all xxx i dont no if gabapentine is the same as Nuerotin,but gabapentine did absolutley nothing to help me... were as pregabalin is my miracle drug. thank god// xxx

[bev62]

Is gabpentine the same as Nuerotin?  If it is, it didn't do anything for me.  I'm on Demeral and Robaxin, and it only takes the edge off.  I'll have to go to something stronger soon.

[inslady]

I have had c4-c7 spinal fusion and I tried lyrica really bad double vision! 24/7 I am on gabpentine which does not work as well plus pain meds but I can see ok for a few hours a day in am , the rest of the day blurred /doublevision. Do you have swelling along with intense pain? my right arm down to hand swells as well as right leg. they get fevered as well hot to touch..and then they sweat ,it is weird. another sufferer/victim of spinal cervical fusion...ins_lady

[linzie1965]

spelt the drug wrong it is called lyrica , pregabalin, sister drug to gabepentine, which made me feel like a zombie, but lyrica , pregabaline you wont even know your on it ok , good luck , fellow sufferer linzie xx

[linzie1965]

if your pain is unbearable try lyric, it is my miracle drugs and believe me u wont even no ur on it....it changed my life could change yours please ask your pain team so you can try it....it is an epilepsy drug that confuses the signals that your brain is recieving and tells it there is no pain linzie1965 all the best ... worth a shot got nothing to loose xxx

[rmoore007]

Due to whiplash @ work  on 10/28/05, I had C3, C4, C5, C6 fused on 08/12/06.  Since that time I now have shooting pain down back of neck off & on, sick to stomach 24/7, and arm left arm goes numb 2 to 3 times a week.  Had to go back on painkillers 24/7 and Ambien to sleep maybe 5 hours a night.  Went 09/25/07 for MRI to try and see what is wrong but they couldn't do it.  Was told to much metal in my neck.  Now my pain management doctor has scheduled at CAT scan for 10/09/07.  If I had know I would hurt this much more after surgery I would NEVER of had it done.  From everything I have heard I did have the best neurosurgeon in this area. I live in Southwestern Lower Michigan near South Bend Indiana.

[linzie1965]

could some one please answer the question of my case, after having my mri scan that gave the results of a massive intrusion to c6 c7 area, also repair fusion needed c5,how mush time scale should be left before the opperation , as i had mri 16th sept 2004 and finally got the opp 11th nov 2004, i had to take myself back in hospital because of horrific arm and leg pain that was constant form admitted hospital date , back in sept 2004.... they were quiet happy to leave me on a waiting list that could take two years...if i hadnt of taken myself back to my hospital.25thoct 2004, i would of been parrellised, as advised by neuro surgeon oct 28th 2004... why was i left to self diagnose....i am now on a coctail of drugs morphine day n night , and leg pain, spasticity, i think thats what im referred as now ...should i have been left so long, why wasnt i opperated on as sson as they got my mri scan results as massive as they explained to me sept 2004 thanks linzie age 42 and needs a full time carer now with problems i think that could of been prevented thanks for any comments linzie xxx

[linzie1965]

hi bev ... i had the same problems as you ... from carryin a full delivery of barrels at work ..im a barmaid and had no training , i shouldnt of done the work , but it left me with a massive intrusion on c6 c7 c5, after an mri scan 16thsep 2004 and home traction , they finally decided to opperate as i was living on 6 morphine a day for 6weeks,,, my pain was in my left arm , horrific head aches, then pain started to present itself in my legs also ... after been sent home from the hospital in lincoln uk .. i was fed up with morphine 6 constant for 4wks,  i took myself back to hospital because from the reserch that i had done i could tell my leg pain meant parralisation was setting in . after been admitted for surgery eventually, they told me that there was a good chance of parralisation in my legs , which i had been shouting about. had disc fusion c6 c7 , nov 2004, still presented massive leg pains..yet my left arm had cured. i asked for another mri scan as i knew something wasnt right, then found out my orthopedic surgeon wouldnt give me my results 2005 january... asked for a second oppinion and found out that my opp had been done too tight, so when they sat me up my c5 disc went straight back to my spinal wall .   as you can imagine i was deverstaed to think that i had to go through this horrific opp again , to repair what the orthop doc had messed up... after nine months grace i had the opp to repair c6 c7 and had to have c5 n c4 clipped too....i am now on a massive cocktail of drugs including morphine every day, im only 42yrs of age and this act has deverstated my life...my most effective drug is an epilepsy drug called    lyric   [pregabalin] and it has worked to an extentthat i have the abbility to live and manage my pain , amitryptline for my headaches which are like horrific mygraines also does the job...try to cope with pain by less work, no arm strength work as this will trigger more pain .... good luck ... pregabalin is my miracle drug n quite new...however i doe nedd to take more than reccomended doseage for quality life ... good luck ***@****

[bev62]

I had a 2 level fusion (C5-C7) in Nov of last year.  I also started out with shoulder surgery, with no relief.  Since my fusion I have had worse pain than before the surgery.  I have also recently had surgery on my elbow.  My doctor thought that I may have damaged my ulnar nerve.  This all started 2 and a half years ago when I slipped and caught myself with my elbow.  I had a torn rotator cuff and two herniated disks.  I have constant pain and burning in my shoulder, neck and arm.  The doctor was hoping the elbow surgery would relieve some of the arm and shoulder pain. It's been eight weeks since that surgery and I've had no relief yet.   I had three different opinions before the fusion and they all said I should have it done.  My doctor also said that the longer you put it off the more difficult it could be to recover.  The reason it took so long to get it done was because I was dealing with workers comp, which is a joke.  My doctor said that by the time he finally did my surgery that my disks had totally collapsed.  So time may be a factor in how well you recover. Good luck.

[inslady]

I HAD A 3 LEVEL CERVICAL FUSION C4-C7 AND WELL I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE. I WAS TOLD RECENTLY THAT THE SCREWS WERE TO TIGHT. I HOPE YOUR SURGERY IF YOU HAD IT WENT WELL. I WOULD LIKE AN UPDATE IF POSSIBLE.
ins_lady

[Chris_M]

I'm actually in the Chicago area.

I would highly recommend Gunnar Andersson at Rush.  He is known to be one of the best orthopedic spine docs in the area.  http://www.rushortho.com/Gunnar_Andersson.cfm

Other good options are Alexander Ghanayen or Julie Wehner at Loyola, Srdjan Mirkovic or Mark Nolden at Northwestern, Edward Goldberg or Howard An at Rush.

Chris

[J_P_]

Hey CHris,

I have seen a ortho spinal guy who recommended the fusion. I am getting a second opinion from a neurosurgeon out of Northestern Hopital in Chicago.

Thanks for you feedback,

JP

[Chris_M]

Neck and shoulder pain can often be hard to diagnose as these areas are closely connected.  Before you go the route of a fusion I would get another opinion with a respected orthopedic spine surgeon or neurosurgeon that is on the faculty at one of the better hospitals in your area.

I would be glad to point you in the right direction.

All the best,
    Chris

[J_P_]

It all started about 2 years ago while work i basicaly caught a person who was falling, im a firefighter. Initially i was having shoulder and neck pain. The doctors found that i had a labral tear in my left shoulder. Two surgeries where done with no relief in pain. I sought a second and third opinion which determined that i may also have an issue with my neck. The MRI revealed herniations of C 3-4, 4-5, 5-6. My pain is from my neck down my arms and between my shoulder blades.

[mike1105]

what are your symptoms? how did this happen? what does your MRI report look like?