Posterior Cervical C7-T1 Fusion

[alpierce]

It has been almost two years since having a posterior procedure to fuse the C7-T1 vertebrae.  Prior to the procedure I underwent two separate procedures to fuse the C6-C7 and C5-C6.  Both of those procedures were performed from the anterior.  In all three procedures, the underlying symptoms were resolved 70-80%.  After the last procedure and following about a six month recovery before starting any weight bearing activities, I felt great for about a year.  
It wasn’t until the summer of 2010 that I started to notice a burning sensation between my shoulder blades and where the incision is located.  At first the pain would start as a sharp pinch or sting that would be gone as soon as it started.  Over the course of a couple months the pain started to last longer and longer to the point that each occasion would result in tears from the pain.  On July 2nd 2010 it happed and ended with a slight popping feeling.  This was the final act of what turned out to be a four to five month piece of muscle tearing off the spine.  All of the muscle in that area had been bisected during the procedure to access the spine and I would have assumed that over a year to eighteen months the wound would have healed.  Guess not?
I felt great, was working out at the gym and life was pretty much OK until this happened.  I went to see a back surgeon who confirmed the tear but stated that since my spine and fusions were stable there was very little he could do.  I am in good shape and muscular and he advocated against surgically repairing the tear given the low success rate for people with muscular builds. ???
Ultimately I was referred to a headache specialist.  Not sure if this is the right route to take or not but it is a start.  There is still a big divot between my shoulders where the muscle should be and a balled up piece of muscle under my right shoulder blade.  Over time it is supposed to go away….RIGHT.  Until then it is very painful and the headache specialist is recommending Botox injections for Cervical Dysotnia??
Has anyone experienced something like this?  How about the botox injections?  I am currently on lyrica to help relieve the neuropathic pain and it seems to help but I am just wondering how stable the incision site should be two years and why would muscle start tearing now?  Any ideas or recommendations?

[Dakota57]

Have had 2 anterior fusions  1st surgery C-5 to C-7 2nd C-4 to T-1
3rd posterior fusion (bolted C-7 to T-1). 1 - Cancer surgery. Seven years of HELL...pain, pain and more pain...Going in tomorrow to have nerves burned out of my neck. Living on high dosage of ocycotin. Work long weeks and travel the world doing my job. On top of that I drive 400 miles every other weekend to be with my daughter and have done so for 10 years. Crazy to respond to old comments but needed to vent! Thanks!

[c2TOt1]

this is exactly what I am going through,,, my surgery was only 8 months ago,, I to have a divet in my back where the muscle WAS, I am not getting to the point where my arms dont want to raise w/o tons of pain,, i am the drug oxycotin and codine for the pain and wish i had a morphine drip. ( IV )  I pray that the more I read the more I find good results. So far,, not so. I do have to say I am about 70% better than before surgery,,, but 60% worse in the op site pain  it is something you need to think long and hard about . This is not a broken toe,, it is life changing,, cant turn your head  try driving  or backing up from a parking spot, its not fun. I know my fusion is strong but I have bad dreams of being in a car wreck,,, my God,,,, drive safely eveyone.