Neck and Shoulder pain after C5-6 fusion

[Wendy587]

I had fusion at c5-6 five months ago.  When I awoke from the surgery I had awful shoulder pain.  I was in recovery screaming my shoulder and bicep was killing me.  When I went to neuro for post op he sent me to a doctor to look at my shoulder.  I  did not have shoulder pain before the neck surgery however, now I have pain in both shoulders.  Eight weeks ago I had slap and rotator cuff surgery because I was told my shoulder was torn.   I am not getting any better!  It was my left shoulder they  operated on however, now both are hurting without any relief.  I don't know how my shoulder was torn bad enough to have to have slap and rotator cuff repair without knowing it........I woke up after neck surgery this way!  If i indeed had this type injury I would have known it now that I have spoke to other doctors!  I don't know if something happen to me on surgery table, or I never had a tear in my shoulder, now that both are doing the same thing.  Could the plate be pinching a nerve?  I am in awful pain, the shoulder surgery post op is wearning me out  & now the right has started the same.  The pain is in the bicep and in the rotator cuff area on both arms.  HELP Thanks

[DrNavneetMD]

Hello Dear,

After rotator cuff repair, 80% to 95% of patients achieve a satisfactory result.Certain factors decrease the likelihood of a satisfactory result- Poor tissue quality ,large or massive tears.
After the fusion the pain could be due to weakness and it would take some time to get the strength back. You should do physiotherapy.
If the symptoms worsen .get a MRI to see if something could be causing the pains.
Best

[Wendy587]

Do you believe it is possible that I did indeed had such an injury without knowing it?  I am so confused due to the fact I went into neck surgery without any right arm pain and woke up with my left shoulder torn badly enough to have rotator and slap repair?  And now the left arm is doing the exact.  I am lost because I went into surgery without any of this and now both arms are alike?  no right arm pain before surgery, now both arms of which one they have done the operation on the right one.  Thank you so much for your reply.

[patsy10]

I had c 5/6 fusion 3 years ago.  Problems from this area do cause pain into the arm and shoulders.  There is always scar tissue.  I have permanent neck and shoulder pain since my surgery (and before).  As well as pain into my shoulder blades.  I had all these problems before surgery.  So really, the surgery did not help me at all.

[Wendy587]

Oh that isn't good news!  If I am in this pain forever I am in trouble!  This is a lot worse than the pain I had Prior!

[Wendy587]

I have been in pt now since neck surgery. First Neck now shoulder

[Wendy587]

I still don't believe that had my shoulder could have been torn so badly prior to neck surgery without knowing it.  I find it all very weird to know I went onto the table for neck surgery and woke up with worse pain from an all the sudden torn shoulder and now the right is doing the same???? It has to be coming from the neck!