after c6 fusion surgery

Can someone please help me.  I had surgery April 10 and my pain never went away.  I'm in Physio and have been on several pain meds, currently Lyrica soon to be Gabapentin.  My pain is in my upper back and neck area and gets worse with the use of my arms at all, or being up unsupported for more than 1 hour.

I just had a follow up MRI to look for residual compression and it showed the surgery did exactly what it needed to do and there is NO compression at all.  My surgeon said that it was a 50/50 that the surgery would relieve the pain and the numbness in my left upper arm.

My question is this continued pain normal?  Will it ever get better?  How can I recover from the pain if there is nothing left causing it?  My physio said that it simply comes down to finding the right pain block... does this mean I have to be on strong pain killers for life?  My employer says no more problem then get back to work ** I unload trucks for a living**.  I know the pain is real so what now?

Please help me.... I feel like I'm losing my mind on these meds and without them the pain is to strong.

[MZ33]

Sorry to tell you that most of the time your left
in pain.If your not getting better you need to talk
to your neurologist.After they tell you your surgery
Success,your next step is normally pain management.

[Lisaclark2]

Thank you for your reply. I'm set for an initial evaluation for pain management March 3rd.  I'm currently on Lyrica and I don't like the side effects.  When I get the dose high enough to control the pain to a manageable amount I become consumed with swallowing the whole bottle and feel like I'm drunk or at least heavily intoxicated.  I know it's the meds and I'm due to switch to Gabapentin next week but I've lost all hope.

I hurt so bad before the surgery and took the 50/50 odds of relief and had the fusion.  No relief, my surgeon said it wouldn't get any better but my DR and my physio said I would get better so I had hope.  I had a near fatal reaction to my pain meds as my DR kept adding things to control the pain and I felt hopeless again.  My physio said that if I could find the right med (block the pain but keep my head clear) I could have my life back.  I had hope again.  

I just had my follow up MRI and all is healed, no compression anywhere but the pain is so bad I can't live a normal life.  I can't shop, push a shopping cart, I can't even clean my house and I need pain meds to wash my own hair.  Anything that requires the use of my arms or leaves me unsupported of any period of time makes the pain worse.  I've been on several meds and they all screw with my head and cause depression.  I had just gotten married about 8 months before my accident and I can't even sit on the couch with my husband without pain and sleeping in the same bed is hell.

I don't know how to handle knowing that there is nothing to heal, nothing to fix to take the pain away.  I truly have lost all hope.  I have been couch bound for almost 2 years and can't imaging going back to unloading trucks or anything but I can't stay confined like this either.

How do I stop the pain?

[MZ33]

I am truly sorry for your pain and feelings
of no hope! Your problems sound like so
many others and myself included.I wish
I had some advice other than hang in there.
Your pain management doctor will try to help
you but there are no magic pills out there.
If you happen to find one remember I am
also looking for it.Meds at best mask pain
and they all have side effects. I am now
looking at a spinal cord stimulator implant.
It may or may not be right for you, I'm even
worried about this surgery if I can find it in
me to have it . I wish you well and hope to
hear back from you.
MZ33

[MZ33]

The neurotin will help some I take it also,
but I think it works by making everything a
little fuzzy.It will also make you gain weight .
I was losing weight on lyrica and was switched
neurotin and it seemed like overnight I started
to gain weight,side effect very common.
MZ33

[bev62]

I know exactly how you feel. I am a 48 year old female. I had a ACDF (C5-C7)  four years ago.  I have been in constant pain since the surgery. I have pain in both of my arms and weakness in both hands.My neck and shoulders hurt and I have terrible headaches everyday. I have been seeing a  pain management doctor for a year and a half.  I've had several epidural injections, nerve blocks, PT and I am on Fentynel patches 100mcg and Oxycontin, and I'm still in unbearable pain. I've not slept in a bed since I had surgery due to the pain and both arms and hands being completely numb. I may get 2 or 3 hours a night sleeping in the recliner.  I recently had another MRI and it said that the disks above and below the fusion are buldging. I also have DDD, but my surgeon says that surgery would not benefit me at this time.

I have been to the point to where I was ready to blow my brains out. I've been seeing a mental health therapist for about 6 months, but the antidepressants or the therapy are not helping.  I have not worked since before the surgery, nor will I ever be able to work in this kind of pain. I finally was approved for SSD. I have two young children and I can not even care for them. I depend on my husband and family to do everything for me.

Finding a good pain management doctor and getting the right combination of meds could make a world of difference.  When I first went on Fentynel it really did help.  Good luck.
  

[MZ33]

I have some of the same problems as you also.it's
funny how so many of us suffer from same problems
and surgeons continue to lead us to surgery.I also
lost my voice on my 2nd fusion.
MZ33

[Lisaclark2]

Thank you again for the responses.  I know I should be happy there is no more compression but it left me scared and confused on how the pain will ever go away if the initial problem is solved.  How can you fix a problem (pain) if there is no longer a clear source except "it's nerve pain and if surgery didn't help then nothing but a life time of meds will"?

I understand what you both are talking about with trying to live life with pain.  I have two children but thankfully thy are older.  My 15 year old is a typical teen and has learned that if she pushes I can't push back or I snap at her and take my pain out in her direction.  I don't want her to become afraid of me because my mood is short due to pain or meds.

I hate the fuzzy feeling of the meds and I do want to get back to work but don't know how I can until I get this pain thing under control.  Today I would be happy if I could just stop crying about how much this *****!!  I need to find some hope, something to hold on to at least until I get to pain management.  1 month feels like forever right now.

I wish you all the best and if I find that magic pill I'll be sure to let you know  :)

Thanks for responding, I know it sounds crazy but it helps to know I'm not alone.

[hurtinkurt]

hi ,i to had a spinal fusion..done in june,still in alot of pain ,,even triing the lightest of work..i agree the meds can wear a person out...hang in there

[Lisaclark2]

Thanks.  I hope you are starting to feel better too.  

I'm trying to hang in there but everyday my difficulty dealing with the pain seems to get worse.  My pain is never better always constant with periods of intense spasm like sharp pains with any activity.  I honestly don't know if I can spend the rest of my life like this?

4 weeks and counting until pain management assessment..... 2 days until I get to talk about new meds.... yeah!!!! Doesn't that sound like the life!!!  I'm running out of reasons to face this.

Stay strong and keep up with the program... it has to work for someone.

[MZ33]

Was this your first fusion and what level was it?
I hope you continue to improve.
MZ33

[Lisaclark2]

yes it was my first fusion and it's at c5/ c6.  I just want the pain to go away.  My surgeon said that if the surgery didn't take the pain away nothing would but then he said there is always hope.... and meds.

I want my life back.  My job, my marriage and everything else.

[MZ33]

I am truly sorry but unfortunately you are in the
situation as me.I can tell you pain management has
helped me to keep working but I don't know how much
longer my employer is going to keep my.It has totally
changed my life also. I also know how you feel when
they tell you there's nothing else they can do.I spend
hours trying to find that person that has found help
get my life back!
MZ33

[bigrob2053]

Hello Bev62,
I understand ur pain...My frist surgery fused me from C3 to C6 in the front of my neck...the second surgery fused me from C3 to C6 in the back of my neck....these surgeries were only 6 months apart...now almost 4yrs later  MRI findings a pinched nerve at C2/C3 inside the fusion....I have had pain every since the first surgery and still have it now...I have been told that if I do not have surgery #3 I will be in Danger.....I need real help...

[L5Pine]

Hi, your pain is VERY NORMAL! You are only 5 1/2 weeks post-op. You're gonna hurt. It can takes months, so relax. Best advise? Follow your exercise regime like it was the bible and make VERY sure that your nutrition is good. You've got screws in your bones, OK?!! Give yourself a break, and give it time to heal. And use heat, ice and as few pain pills as possible(Don't let yourself hurt real bad tho)., because there is some evidence that pain pills can sometimes aggravate your pain. Check with your Doc.

Best, Des