Continued pain after anterior cervical fusion

[NurseCheryl67]

I was involved in a car accident and later had to have anterior cervical fusion at C3-4 & C4-5 with a titanium plate. I am 5 wks post op and have terrible pain in my neck and shoulders. I wsent for my 2 wk post op appt, got my neck brace off and that was it. No return appoinments needed. I went to my family physician and he is sending me to physical therapy now. I hurt all the time, therapy doesnt seem to be helping. My family physician continues to have me take percocet and soma for my discomfort. There has to be an alternative to the pain. I am at the point where I wish I would not have had the surgery. Should I go back to my neurosurgeon or just keep going the way I am now and hope it gets better. I am open for anything at this point.

Thanks,
            Cheryl

[Sugar Fairy]

Have just found this website, and I am so relieved to find that others have the same post-op problems that I have.  I had an anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (titanium cage) in December 2004.  Did not expect to have the amount of problems and excruciating pain for such a long time (my surgeon said I would be fine after approximately 4-6 months).  It was 18 months before I managed to get more than 5 hours sleep a night.  Had persistent neck pain until 18 months also, and then it finally started to subside.  Neurosurgeon could not understand why the pain was not settling as everything appeared to be O.K.

After my 2 year check he finally said that it could have been due to the implanted cage having been too big.  I would have appreciated his honesty a litle earlier and then I would not have thought it was just me.  Has anyone else had this problem?
I still have dreadful headaches and feel as if my head is going to explode with the pressure, they last for about 3 days at a time and analgesia seems to have very little effect.  Having a  desk job seems to be the problem with having your head down for prolonged periods of time.  I don't know why this should be, does anyone out there have any explanation?

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[soccermom1996]

I had cervical fusion, plate and cage c5-6 and c6-7 Aug 2004. I was in a car accident and right away had pains, I did pt and drug therapy and my pcp sent me to a neurosurgeon and I had surgery 3 weeks later. I am telling you that this was the worst thing ever and 17 months later I am worse off than before. I have started pt again and my surgeon said I would just have to live with the pains. I am sorry I am 32 not 92 and I have constant head aches all day no relief. I have worse weakness in the right are and it is always tingly. I am gonna get 2nd opinion but findin some one you can trust is very hard. I just do not know what to do. I hate living like this and no one should have to regardless of their age.
What to do????????????????????????? any suggestions is appreciated.

[The Writer]

I had an anterior cervical disectomy and fusion in April 2004 to relieve severe aching and tingling on the LEFT side of my body (neck, arm and torso). The surgeon said I had a combination of bone spurs, a herniated or bulging disc and arthritis. He fused C6 and C7 with a titanium plate. I wore a neck brace 24/7 for five weeks, and followed up with eight weeks of physical therapy three times each week. I also was instructed to walk one to two miles per day which I did. The surgery and recovery were successful as far as my surgeon, physical therapist and I were concerned. I was pain free and 100% back to normal. The scar on my neck, after about eight months, became practically invisible.

About two days after Christmas 2005, I noticed pre-surgery-type pain and tingling on the RIGHT side of my body. It is almost as aggravating as that which I experienced on my left side prior to the surgery of almost two years ago.

I will see my doctor this week.

While I don't want to experience surgery and recovery again, I DEFINITELY will if my surgeon suggests it. The past two years without pain and tingling were well worth all that I went through, and I will gladly do it again.

Good luck to all of you!
- The Writer

[irishangel507]

Dear cjhoss...
Good luck on your surgery tomorrow...
I hope everything goes well for you...everyone heals differently...
After spending the last year and three months suffering daily in pain...I am looking forward to the day I am scheduled...I know it's soon...I'm counting the days down...here's to a speedy recovery...let us know how things go...

[cjhoss]

Well surgery date is tomorrow 1/18/06. Having c-5 though c-7 cleaned up, fused with a titanium plate which should cover all disk numbered.  2 yrs ago c-5 shot craps on me and i blew off the operation then, it got better in time, but the little nagging pain was bearable so I past on the surgery. Now c-7 shot craps and the pain was far worse than c-5. The doc says now I need medical assistance to correct these problems. I have an aunt who went through this yrs ago. they went through the front of the neck as they will do on me. They also used her own hip bone to do the fusing, her only complaint is that her hip still hurts, some days worse than others. They will use cadaber bone tissue on me as the doctor thats doing the surgery says the advancement in someone elses tissue taking has increased dramatically over the yrs. Im a non smoker and very light drinker so as to say I was told I have the better chances of healing quickly. Im so close to cancelling this operation after reading of so many patients having more or different problems afterwards. The pain in my neck and arm have dropped of dramatically over the last 6 weeks. Im basically taking pain pills when needed and muscle relaxers, but I havent really been using them this last week. The doctor told me this is one of those things that the body cant fix without the assistance of surgery. My wife says I shouldnt read all this negative m,aterial on this procedure, but I told her I want to be well informed about what could be if theres problems. I want to thank all that have written in with their comments as they have helped me in what could be expected if things dont turn out as good as expected.

[NeckBone]

I was injured in Iraq and sended up having a C5-C6 Cervical Fusion in April 2003.  I am currently having headaches every day and get very sever ones about 4-5 times a month.  I do still run, and in fact it seems the more I run the less sever my headaches are.  I also get Botox injections in the head and neck every 3 months and we are still working on ways to reduce the daily pain withour narcotics..  I am currently still in the Army but not sure for how long - looks like retirement is in my near term future..  

My Neurologist just perscribed Neurontin for the daily headaches, anyone else taking this?

NeckBone

[irishangel507]

On october 1, 2004 I was in a car accident (hit by a drunk driver) I've been in pain since then. I am curious as to how long everyone has/had been in treatment before surgery. I've had you name it done to me...at this point I am begging for surgery...I just can't take the pain anymore...I just want to be like I was before the accident...don't you think a year and four months is a long time to wait...if I had the surgery before...geez...maybe I'd be close to healing....at this point nothing but surgery is going to work for me...I've done all non surgery option...I'm putting all my hope into this...the last thing I had done was a discography on Jan 4...

[Organdonor]

Wondering if any of you tried facet joint injections for your cervical pain. If so, any relief?

Thank you.

[CamelotTwo]

Same thing I told coach_mike............go back to PHYSICAL THERAPY.........and stay in it.  Learn how to do ALL of the exercises at home and do them RELIGIOUSLY.........they are the only thing that will give you relief from your symptoms.
U have now recognized that I will be doing these exercises for the rest of my life to control these symptoms and keep the pain at bay.
Good luck.

[edwards1992]

On June 23, 2005 I had a major auto accident.  Among other things, my neck was broken (due to 60 mph impact) which led to a involuntary neck fusion at C5&6.  I'm really getting frustrated with the whole recovery process.  It's now been over since months since my fusion.  I will find out later this month if the fusion is complete or not.  My last visit with my neuro. showed I lacked about a millimeter.  My problem is that I'm still experiencing so much discomfort, loss of range, continued arm and finger numbness and shooting pains throughout my neck shoulders and back.  I went to PT for a couple of months and found improvement.  My Dr. said I no longer need PT, but I'm so aggrivated with my continued problems.  Does anyone know if my continued issues could be due to the overall accident or if I need to be concerned my neck isn't healing properly.  I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm finding my Dr. to be of little help with the recovery end of this.  Thanks for your help.

[CamelotTwo]

I am a 47 year old registered nurse with years of critical care experience.  I had C6-7 fusion with plates and screws July 25 05. I just want to tell you (since I read your surgery is Jan 11th) that I would NOT do this again if I could go back.  This surgery has made all my symptoms WORSE.  I did have periods of no pain but ONLY because of MAJOR PHYSICAL THERAPY.  I am now 6 months post op and last Tuesday, once again, I have pain in my neck and arm along with numbness and tingling down in my arm and shooting into my chest at time, just like I did pre op.  If I knew then what I know now I would tell you without a hesitation....DO NOT HAVE SURGERY...........go to Physical Therapy until you think you cannot stand it anymore.  It is the ONLY thing that takes the pain away.................

[Bingo41]

hi sufferers,

had several level cervical neck surgery this summer
(05).  everything good until i got one of those
new-fangled pillows.  hurts like hell.  good doc
looked at x-rays after 2 months, and seemed surprised
at how quickly the titanium plate and 4 screws fused
with the bones!    PT is a must.  still have numbness
in my hands, but my legs no longer fell like "jello".

heck, i went back to work about a week after.  got
tired of sitting 'round the house.  i even attemted,
but did not succeed, a summersalt the other day.

those of us who have had this need to stick together -
it's going to be with us for rest of our natural days.

keep on keepin' on...

regards,

Daniel in Texas

[islandblowingale]

Hi I'm a 42yr Old Policeman recently injured playing NBA Street Ball breaking my C5 and C7 discs resulting in anterior cervical disectomy, fusion and plating of c5-6 and c6-7.
Surgery was Dec 8 2005 and was successfull. My question to anyone here is my left shoulder blade bares the brunt of the pain now, right index finger still cold and a little numb and I'm feeling a little loss of neck mobility ie. side to side and up and down. I stayed active right after surgery and do a little more every day. (sleeping is always a project) But I am shooting BBalls again. Unfortunately, I'm a little worried of the 100% full recovery I'm going to need to return to work as this did not happen on duty. My Doctor is a super man but isn't committing to that 100% phrase. Is it the reality That after fusion and plating it can't be 100%? Any comments would be greatly appreciated and I send a prayer to you all...TIA

John Welch
***@****

[trevski]

Greetings from the UK. I had my operation on the 6th December too. I had a c4/5 fusion, using artifical bone. I am surprised that many of you from the States have had this type of operation from an orthopedic surgeon and not a neurosurgeon as I had.
My problems are weak right leg, with pain in the thigh and a weakness in my right arm and hand. I had this problem 3 months prior to the operation. I am told that this could take 6 months to fix. I am walking on crutches. Have any of you had this problem.
I also have lost the ability to talk in a high pitched voice. This may not seem important, but I use my voice professionally. Anyone else with this problem?

[coach_mike]

Currently scheduled for this type of surgery on Jan 11 06.  Having second thoughts????  I'm a Gulf Vet with a lot of medical problems and I'm just not sure about this surgery any longer?  Have 5 young kids and I try to be active with them and I worry if this surgery will really help and I wonder if I will be any different than I am now?  So tell me would you have this surgery done knowing what you know now?  Good luck to all in pain and for those that are recovering.

Mike

[bowmanka]

My neck problem started in April 2005, I had numbness in my index fingers and thumbs for around 2yrs. In April, I started to get lightheaded, nauseated, numbness down my arm. I thought it was a stoke, went to emergency room, doctor stated it was a panic attack. I then went to my medical doc, who tried to give me antidepressants, I tried them, made me spacey. I went to another medical doc for a 2nd opinion, he agreed with the 1st doc and tried to put me on another antidepressant for anxiety. I knew something was wrong, I was not depressed. I then went to a neuro doc, he did MRI of my brain, nothing was wrong. He sent me to PT for stress reduction, never got any better. I then tried a Chiropractor, who did the x-rays and MRI on my neck, I had bone spurs on c3-c6, and bone degeneration, stayed with him for 6 weeks of treatment, did not get any better. He then sent me to an orthopedic doc for epidural cortizone injections in my neck, had 2 of them, did nothing. That doc, sent me to another orthopedic doc, who specializes in cervical surgery. He is my surgeon. Had the surgery on Dec 6th.                           I am starting a walking program, which seems to be helping with the headaches. My neck and shoulders are very sore though. I did take a pain pill last night, which did help. I thing the ticket is to stay postive and keep moving. My surgeon never mentioned pt. I haven't seen him since the hospital, I go back for a 6 week checkup. I hope I will be able to return to work them.