Damaged Cervical Fusion

[Lillian1]

In 1998 I had consulted a neurosurgeon regarding neck pains that was experiencing. He ordered an MRI for my neck and informed me that I had a herniated disc and needed surgery. He informed me that he will take a bone graft and use the graft to replace the hole in my neck. And after the surgery, I will not have any further pain. After the surgery, my neck become worse and he informed me that with physical therapy the pain will go away. That did not help. I consulted another neurosurgeon who informed me that the surgeon had put a metal plate in my neck and that the surgery was not performed properly and that is why I have been in chronic pain. I have gone to several neurosurgeons for help in fixing the surgury but none wants to help me. At this stage I fill that I will die soon and I am afraid to leave my 5 little children behind. Does anyone know of any specialist that can help me. Please this is very urgent. I want to live for my husband and kids. Thank you in advance for your help.

  Lillian

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Unfortunately, neck pain that persists (and is sometimes worse) after surgery is not uncommon. One thing you can do is try a spine specialist at a major academic hospital to see if anything can be done surgically.  Ed Benzel, Iain Kalfas, and Melvin Whitfield are all excellent spine neurosurgeons here at the clinic that you may want to see.  However, keep in mind that there's a very large possibility that a second surgery may not make the pain go away and at best it might just stop it from getting worse. Another thought is to get an EMG to look at the integrity of the nerves and muscles in your neck and arm.  If there is active damage going on, this may help the surgeon decide whether or not to do surgery. In the meantime, find a good chronic pain specialist who can help you deal with the pain.  There are many different modes of treatment out there that may relieve some of your symptoms. Good luck.

[jim-here]

please dont give up  your not the only one  i swear to god i hear you  im in the same boat with you  im ready myself  the pain i live with everyday is also unbelievable  i wake up every morning with tears in my eyes   keep lookin for help  someone is out there to help you  you said it yourself your kids need you   make sure you try every dr in the world  i know how dumb i sound and im sorry  but god knows i care

[flicka]

You've had the same surgery I did. Except my dr.  did use the bone grafts. If you do find anyone to  help you, let me know. Yes,before the surgery the neurosurgeon was all sweet and kind and assuring. After the surgery, I was ignored and pushed aside.
It's been 3 years and I can't do as much as I did before the surgery. when I do go to sleep, it's with the thoughts, perhaps in the morning it will be better. No such luck. All I want to do is sit with my head in my hands, lean my head up against a wall or pull on my throat to relieve the choking sensation. Remember there are others feeling the same as you. talk toyour doctor about antidepressants (watch out for the weight gain) and keep the faith that you are special and needed by your children and others. Good luck and God bless.

[wmary]

Don't give up.  Do not hesitate to find a Neurologist that you like and trust.  I was lucky and found one on my second try.  Fortunately, I did not have to have fusion, just disk removal and bone spurs removed.  My Neurologist is the head of the Neurology Dept. at the Brody School of Medicine in NC.  I had surgery in March after a year of trying every other possible treatment.  I'm still healing and am not suppose to lift anything over 10 lbs. (right!) and nothing heavy overhead.  I work at a computer all day and do get some muscle strain, but nothing compared to the pain prior to surgery.  Ask for referrals.  Most times if fusion is in order now, they take bone from the bone bank and also put metal plates on both sides with screws to be sure the fusion takes.  I am told that smoking decreases the chance of a good fusion.  If there was a mistake, it can be fixed.  In the meantime, try adding Flax Seed Oil and Evening Primrose Oil as supplements, the essential fatty acids help with stiffness and find someone who will at least treat your pain.
Good luck and hang in there.
M.

[cdm787]

I have had chronic neck and head pain before and increasing after two surgeries in Feb and May 1999. The first to remove a benign (Swanoma)  tumor under the occipital and a C1-C3 Laminectomy  (11.5 hours), and again two months later, surgery to treat Hydrocephalus by placing a peritoneal ventricular shunt. The resulting pain was severe enough to interfere with any work and especially sleep.  Even strong doses of  hydrocodone (10mg @  4-6 hrs) and Oxycontin (10mg @ 12 hrs) did not bring sustained relief. After finally seeing a Pain Management Doctor (other docs don’t deal well with pain treatment including Nuro doctors)  who combined physical therapy and steroid ejections I had a 20 to 30 % decrease in pain. The greatest benefit came from a  relatively new procedure called (I think) Radio frequency rhizotomy. After this procedure with medication I was able to return to work full time. I can sleep up to 4-6 hours at a time. I still need to use Hydrocodone. Sometimes up to 10 to 20 mg every four to six hours but it beats the heck out of laying in bed in constant agony and I have returned to work full time.  Hope this helps and God bless you.
dm

[torrey]

I had a cervical fusion done in 2000 at C5-6. I was pain free for about a year and a half. Then all of a sudden I began experiencing sharp pains down both arms and in my upper back. I did receive physical therapy which helped the pain in my arms but nothing else. I am now experiencing alot more tingling/pain in my arms. Alot of pain in my upper back and throughout my rib cage. I am also taking hydrocodone but it doesn't seem to be helping much lately. I have asked the doc to up the dose but she is hesitant. I have recently found a new drug for neuropathic pain named neurontin. It is supposed to help. Have you heard of it? I plan on seeing my doc soon to see if it helps.

[paininneck]

3-2002 MVA,  tried many doctors srays, traction, phys therapy, voioxx, baclofen, flexeril, diclofen,vallium, hydrocodone, oxycodone,.... nerontin, methyl pred, etc...  none helped...
Just had c5-6  anterior fusion in april 2003, starting back to work now part time but still have loss of sensation, weakness left arm hand... continued neck pain spasms, numbmess ---- neurologist says muscles and nerves in arm are ok but have spinal cord scarring --- does this get better.....

[dotboy]

I had a anterior cervical fusion and discectomy at C5-C6 in January 2003.  I spent one week in the hospital, 3 days in ICU, and was on Percocet for about 3 weeks.  Had to wear a collar whenever I was up and about for almost a month.  My doctor used calf bone from the bone bank rather than taking a graft from my hip.  Apparently if they do a graft it slows down your recovery significantly.  In Canada very few doctors do grafts.  They prefer using animal bones.  I am sorry to hear about people who have had the same procedure and the problem has been made worse.  Before my surgery I had no feeling or strength in my left arm.  Within a week post-op some feeling and strength were returning.  I was able to go back to work 2 weeks post-op.  I am still feeling very good (knock on wood!!) and I am glad I went ahead and had the surgery.

[Christiana]

I had a Cervical Fusion C5,6,7. They put a bone graft from the bone bank, and Titanium plate. They have stabilized by neck however I am also like many others disappointed with the outcome. I have new symptoms which I did not even experience before the surgery. I seem to get severe muscle spasm in the neck which radiate to my headache, like a pain attack in my head. This wakes me up in the morning and comes on just a certain way I turn my neck. I also have problems swallowing. It seems like the fusion is too tight perhaps the way the bone as grown. I have been undergoing PT and it helps me but I feel my Clinic is getting frustrated with me because I cannot hold this therapy. However, by going to PT, I am able to take only Tramadol instead of any heavy duty narcotic pain killers.  Without Therapy I don't think I will be able to make it. I don't know what to do. Now the pain in my shoulders has returned and goes down my left arm. I have been undergoing PT for 2 times a week since 4/10/03. I need some advice. My neurologist seems to think we need to continue to keep me in therapy for another 4 weeks, however the PT dept is less than sympathetic to my symptoms because I am not seeing any marked progress. From looking at this forum, it seems many people have found that these surgeries were not as successful!
Everyone looking at this please don't give up. I think we all heal differently. I feel the neck region is much more complex than the back surgery I had 20 years ago. I put off this surgery for 2 years because I had met other people who were not very satisfied with the results.
In my case I had to have this done, because of all the terrible symptoms I was having.
I am unable to work  and this is very depressing.
Pain can be depressing. I was a very active person, hard worker and I am a mother of 3 teenage sons.
I need some advice. I don't want to undergo anymore surgery. I just want to figure out a way to live with this, and have a good quality of life.
Could someone please let me know if they have any recommendations. Do you think I should consider asking for a referral to a Pain Clinic.
Thank you for listening!