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Fusion at c-5-6

I had a disc removed between c5-6 in Sept. 2001. I am still in alot of pain and having trouble moving my head from side to side looking up or down. My x-rays and MRI both show everything is healing, my Dr. is now sending me to a pain management center for some kind of shots in my neck. I am very concerned about this and worried. I thought once i had the surgery done I'd be on my way to getting my life back to normal. I don't get a full nights rest everytime i roll over i wake up. Will i ever be pain free what about my ROM? this has been a very upsetting time for me. Now to top it all off my job is at risk they have told me that if i can't come back 100% then i no longer have a job with them. My job requires me to look up for long periods of time I am a smoke and fire tech. removing smoke and odor from burned homes. It also requires alot of heavey lifting. I am in a panic. any words of wisdom?
Thanks,
P.J.
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Avatar universal
Hello. I don't really know how this works, but I wanted to talk to people who have had spinal fusions also. I am a 15 year old girl who has scoliosis. I was diagnosed with it a little over a year ago and it has changed my life dramatically. Within a matter of 4 months I was put through bracing(which is a horrible thing for a freshman in highschool to have to wear to school everyday)and was told that even though I was being tortured with wearing a brace, it wouldn't even help and I would have to have a spinal fusion. Before this, I didn't even know what scoliosis was(for those of you who may not know it is severe curverture of the spine)and now it was a big part of my life and there wasn't a day that went by that it didn't haunt me.Most peoples spines have a 0% curve and I had 57%. It was very noticable and I was very self consience. My surgery consisted of putting rods, screws, and hooks in my spine and keeping them in place with bone which would fuse over a year.This means no sports or activities with my friends which is very hard to deal with.It has been 3 months since my surgery and I am doing wonderful now. But it was not easy and I have never been through anything more difficult in my life. Though everyone I knew tried to be very understanding, no one truly understood and I would like to hear from someone who had been through this also. Please comment back and I would like to email anyone who is willing to talk with me about this. Thanx a bunch.
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Avatar universal
rut
I have also had 2 fusions on c5/c6 the first one they used doner bone and my body asorbed it so the dr waited about a year this one was done in 1999 he wated tell 200 for the 2nd one and they took bone from my hip and plated it i have had nothing but problems with it from pains in my arm to bad headaches after they let me take my brace off from the second one the left side of my neck has this red bloch on it like a bad sun burn the surgen said it cant be from the plate they used it must be from medication and the sun this is through L&I so i have been waiting for 2 years now to get in to a dermatolagest to try to find out what is goning on and in the mean time it has sprad to the other side of my neck I have been trying to work part time sentendary work and it has been hard the headaches i have and neck pain make you want to end it all to be done with the pain i havent had a day without pain or a headache in almost 4 years now and it is getting old. let alone dealing with L&I and there **** i would do any thing to have a normal life agan but i think thats impossable i am only 42 years old and i take more pills to survive then any body i know if there is any one out there that has a ida please let me know  I feel for all you other people out there because i know what you are goning through thanks (rut)
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Avatar universal
I was having pain and numbness in my right hand and fingers. Went to see an Orthopedic, wh at first said it was Carpal Tunnel. After the third visit, he decided that I need to go to a Pain Center because he didn't think it was Carpal Tunnel anymore. He wasn't sure what it was. After 3 visits and three steroid shots, MRI and nerve test, the Pain Center decided that I needed to go see a Neurosurgeon. WHo, right away said "oh, yes, you have a heniated disc and a degenerative disc (C5, C6, & T1). We need to do surgery. The sooner the better. Well, I was not having any pain in my neck. I had surgery done June 3, 2002. Came home the next day. I could not move my head at all and could not raise my right arm at all. I had to return to work on August1, 2002. I am still in severe pain and mobility is still limited. My right hand and fingers are still bothering me. I did go to see another doctor, who has now told me that I had a bad surgery and to fix it, I will have to have surgery again. I will have to have C5,6,& 7 removed and a fusion done in my neck. What am I suppose to do? I am gunshy of surgery right now. But I can no longer vacum, work in my flowers, mop my floors, nor turn to back up in my car.
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Avatar universal
Hello everyone, I have read over all of you comments, and I also have had a disc fusion at C6-7 with bone from my right hip. I was left with minimal weekness in left arm. other than that, which my doctor did warn me could happen; I was completely out of pain as they wheeled me out the the recovery room I was praising the Lord, my family couldn't believe how quickly I had recovered. The Doctor also was very pleased with my progress.  I had very little pain in my hip, nothing to be remembered, not enough to stop me or even limp. I was very cautious with my lifting and movements, only because I KNEW what a serious operation it was, not because i was in any pain.  My Doctor's name is Dr. Samuel Neff in NJ, a wonderful Neurosurgeon, that is very conservative and will not do anything he doesn't have to do.
I pray the best for all of you. I think it does have to do with having a good Neurosurgeon and being very careful to keep your limitations where they belong until you are completely recovered. Hope I have helped. Mom of 5 that also went back to work soon after and returned to a normal life without much restriction in my rotation and movement of my neck and head.
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Avatar universal
Hi all! What a great forum! I was hit from behind at a light by a drunk going 60 miles per hour. He hit me 2 times(second time when he tried to leave the scene) causing me to hit the car in front of me 2 times also. After being inappropriately treated by a Chiro for 6 months I got wise and saw Ortho. I have herniations from c3-c7. C6-7 being the worsed (as well as L3-5). I have simply tried to be tough and put up with the pain. (all meds make me too sleepy and I am a nurse and obviously have to be able to concentrate). My Neuro symptoms started 10 weeks ago. I now have limited use of my right arm and can barely write some days. I am embarrased and feel like some of the people at work think I am trying to just whine and get attention so I guess I act like a Martyr and don't ask for help and just do my job even though I am "sedentary duty" (meaning I can't lift more than my pen practically). Like many of you my job is now at risk. I HAVE to miss time due to Dr and therapy appointments and have been told that I cannot call off at all. I sobbed at work today due to the pain and spasms. I have had 2 cervical epidurals that have sadly made my pain 50 times worse ( not that I think other people should not consider it simply because it did not work for me) It somehow disturbed my vision in my right eye after both injections ( CAT Scan was normal thank god). Now they want to do a Cervical Fusion. I am very nervous of course. I don't want this to be one of many surgeries that I am going to need. I am 33 but feel like 70. I have lost my sense of humor and have gained weight due to lack of exercise. I am in pain and just plain miserable. I have to make a decision soon about the surgery but am just so unsure! Help!
                                           Danni
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Avatar universal
I had an on the job injury in August of 2001 that started all my problems.  The pain started in my lower back and then seemed to get better.  Later it spread to my hip and leg.  My Doctor ordered a MRI after steriods did not help.  After his review he refered me to a neurosurgeon.  I had my first operation December of 2001 fusing vertebra in my upper neck area.  In May of 2002 I had lower back surgery so they could remove bone to take pressure off of my nerves. I had another MRI this September due to continuing pain and tingling in my hands.  My new doctor, the previous doctor (Joseph Stern) left his practice here in Greensboro, is now Mark W. Roy.  He now tells me I need a third operation.  The fusion in December was not sucessful and the donor bone between one vertebra did not fuse and I now have a space and I have had additional narrowing.  He will remove the first plate and replace it with another larger one.  I was told if I did not have the operation I would be Christ Reeves roommate.
Does anyone know anything about Doctor Mark W. Roy or a website where I might be able to get information?  I am really depressed about this and do not want to have to take pain medicine the rest of my life.  I have cervical spondilosis.  Will it continue to get worse and I will need more fusions?  Has anyone had a similiar event??  I would be more than willing to discuss my experiences after each of my operations if that would help anyone. It took me 3 months to recover from my first fusion and I had to sleep in a recliner for 3 weeks.  
Thanks and best to all.
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