Fusion at c-5-6

[P.J.]

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.

[bobbiegrl1]

Hi my name is Linda

I have been to 5 Neurosurgions
I have not had surgery yet
The surger would entail a 3-level anterior cervical discectomy

My doctor told me the risks....I could have failed fusion at the 3rd level.  I also need titanium plating.  He wants to use part donor bone and part hip bone.  The risks include, but are not limited to infection, bleeding, hoarseness, both permanent and transient, difficulty with swallowing, pain at the hip site, meralgia paraesthetica that can either be permanent or tempory, weakness, paralysis, and etc.  The 5 doctors told me I can become paralysed if I don't have surgery and I also can become paralysed after the surgery...with c4-5,c5-6 and c6-7 the only thing I was guarenteed was pressure off the spinal cord.  I was told I still could have pain forever and headaches. I was told it could get worst and effect the bowel and bladder and I could wake up one morning cripple. Again, I was told I could have failed fusion, failure of improvement, vocal cord problems, paralysis and more.  

I am in a lot of pain...it changes I can do very little and I am very scared to get this operation because of the risks.

If anyone knows of a SURGION with a great record of success with no paralysis afterwards please tell me.

I am still looking for a surgion who can say all of their patients came through surgery without paralysis.

No one on the board mentioned paralysis....how I found out I went to a Dr. Heary in NJ and he is the head of the Neurosergions in this State and he told me if a surgion does not tell you there is a chance you can wake up paralysed he is not being honest with you.

I need a GREAT Neurosergion...can anyone help with some Dr. names?  and the State please ...I will go anywhere for help.

I want the right doctor.

I used to work out 3 hours a day, 1 and a half was swimming at my health club...other was yoga, running, biking I was 35 lbs thinner but now I am not suposta move my neck much and I cannot lift much.  

I was very independent...I was a massage therapist and colonic therapist...

Owned my own business...I have my own house still don't know what I am going to do about that as I can't even water the lawn.

I am not even supost lift a gallon jug of water so I have a friend drop off a couple of cases of small bottled water.

LIfe stinks like this...I went into a surgical supply yesterday to look at a walker with wheels because my balance is off a lot of days and I almost fall.

Still I don't want to have the operation and maybe wind up cripple sooner then if I don't.

I want to be able to swallow and not chance I might have to be injecting liquids through my belly because I had an operation and it ruined my swallowing.

Well, I took up enough time....

I will never be the same and I am not sure what to  do
the only way I will get the surgery is if I get the BEST surgion.

Can anyone help?

[Antigone]

It's been five weeks since my anterior cervical decompression and fusion, fixation at c5-6. I have minimal pain now in my neck except for stiffness and no pain at all in my arm and shoulder. I am finding that the area that was grafted from my hip is still quite sore and have been back at work (nursing) for the past two weeks. I have been walking heaps but still find it hard on my hip and right leg when I am at work on my feet all day. My fusion has been progressing successfully and my neurosurgeon is happy with it and says that it will keep getting better. There is just a lot of nerve healing that needs to go on in my leg and my neck. I made a decision, along with my GP to commence antidepressants as a result of the trauma and pain I have been in. I am really glad I did as it has helped me to focus on my recovery and help me with the intense anxiety I was experiencing after the surgery. I am really pleased with my progress and know that it will take time, patience and perserverance with living a healthy life - lots of walking, stretching, eating well and changing priorities in my life. I wanted to share my experience as I am really grateful that I am having positive results from the surgery I have had.

[Hook]

Wow, I suddenly feel alittle normal compared to all of you.  I am 35 year old female.  I was in a car accident almost three years ago from which I loss consciousness. I was seen in the ER, told to take some Advil then sent home.  Two days later I returned to the ER knowing that something was wrong. I was intially diagnosed as having a Basilar Skull Fracture and Concussion.  It took awhile to feel alittle better, but my problems never went away.  Finally, an MRI revealed a c6-c7 herniation for which I had surgery last April.   I did feel quite a bit better but still had alot of shoulder pain.  After a year of asking the doc, "Are you sure there isn't something wrong with my shoulder"?  He finally focused on that area.   Well, two weeks ago I had another surgery to repair a Labrum Tear and Bicep Tear, also known as a SLAP lesion.   As of right now, I am doubting that I will ever feel back to normal.   I have ALOT of shoulder pain still.   I am hoping that with PT I will be able to relieve the pain I have every day.  It is frustrating because you have approximately 15 minutes to plead your case to the doctor and if you are not educated on what your symtoms are they seem to shrug it off.  You have to be proactive in your treatment and do not give up on it.  It has been a learning experience for me.   I am still not convinced that they have fixed everything.  I am currently seeing Ortho doctors, I think it may be to my benefit to also find a good Neuro Doctor.
I would also like to post a question on this site but have been unable to do so.

[butchlaura]

i had l-4-5-6-s5 and bone graft I was doind pretty goog until sept 2001 3spacers came out,my first surgerywas 16th of aug 2001 the day after 2nd surgery a potty chare dumbed me in the floor so I had to have surgery again oct 23rd, I cannot get over this when I walk it is like hotwater hurting in my left leg and my back still hurts can't bend over reach up and riding in a car makes me so sore I can'thardly stand it  I am so sick of hurting please any help you can give me I am on pain killer which don't help when I try to walk. I am about to give up put I am only 51 years old I don't want to spend my life like this please help if you can or any information on what to do. thank you

[able]

I would seriously suggest you give your healing process some time, some of the symptons sound like post surgery healing.. I was under the understanding that it could take months to really know if pain after surgery will go away..I am faced with neck surgery also, am tring to delay this, but I was told that time is of essence with this kind of surgery.....hang tight and good luck.......

[rondude]

i had an anterior cervical disectomy with fusion 3 levels, one week ago today. before the surgery, i had pain radiating down my right arm. i had had pt, nerve blocks. i was sent to this neurosurgeon by my neurologist. after a 5 minute exam, he said, i can fix this. do you want this fixed? well after dealing with recurring episodes that could last months, i said yes. he made it sound like no big deal.i still cannot swallow anything but liquids, even they are hard to swallow. my pain is now on both sides of my body, at least as bad as the pain before the surgery, if not worse, the doctor walked into the hospital room, asked where the pain was, turned to the colleague he had with him and said, "well, this ones not going to get any better, i'm really surprised too, i took out a good size chunk" i immediately started asking, what do you mean, i'm not going to get better, he just left.no one after that would say anything about the condition i was in. i developed pneumonia. they gave me tylenol and discharged me the next day. i am going to call him today to make the follow-up appointment but does anyone think this is just healing, or should i go to someone else or what? ican't even think straight after being in so much pain for so long. i would really appreciate any advice.