Cervical Fusions

[bev1945]

Had cervical fusion a few months back came out the operation room woke in recovery with excruciating pain in the back of my head, stayed for a day, sent me home.  They gave me ultram, did not touch the pain, pain in jaw causing numbness of skin under chin.  Pain radiating up to back of ear from jaw, pain then started down side of left neck going into left shoulder blade and left forearm.  As the time went on during the week couldn't move neck  straight side to side, couldn't get comfortable in bed with my head, the back of my head right in the middle could not stand it against the pillow, I can't even put my hair up without being in pain.  4 months later, they send me for another MRI, it showed spinal stenosis in the same spot in the first MRI before my operation showed except now I have a plate so they can't take it back out and are going to operate in the back of my neck and take those bones out, I have to see the neurologist again for test before I go in to see if there is a pinched nerve.  I tried to tell them I am in pain and I finally got some vicadin.  Now I take Vicadin, Skelaxin, and Neaurontin plus a sleeping pill at night and guess what I still wake with pain two and three times a night.  I ment to tell you that 1996 I had a fusion on C5-6, this time I had fusions on C3-4 C4-5.  Please let me know if I am making the right moves and if this has happened to anyone




This discussion is related to shoulder/ shoulder blade pain/muscle weakness.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

How are you?
Cervical fusion is done to decompress the nerve by fusing the vertebrae together. Since you still have cervical stenosis which is causing debilitating symptoms and excruciating pain, there seems to be no option other than surgery.
However nothing can be said for sure without looking at the reports and clinical examination. I would suggest you to seek a second opinion before you take a decision as you have already undergone two spinal surgeries.
Take care!