Neck and Shoulder pain after C5-6 fusion.

[Roonie5038]

A little over a year ago, I had C5-6 fused. With a plate and screws inserted. Since then I am having trouble with pain in the neck and shoulder area just below the fusion area. I wake in the morning with a headache then turns to pain in lower neck and shoulders.
I have talked to the neurosurgeon who did the surgery and he shrugged his shoulders and said I have no idea and sent me back to my neurologist. He gave me a series of injections in both shoulders and the pain stopped for a couple days but then came right back. Then we tried message therapy, it helps but only for a short period. And I have tried changing my pillows on my bed and sleeping in different positions and nothing seems to help for long term.
What can I do?
Thanks
Maureen

[Maewest2]

My comments are in response to Maureen's neck and Shoulder pain after C5-6 fusion.  I had a neck disectomy perform 8 months ago on C4-5, C5-6.  I also had the plate and screws inserted.  Like you, I experienced headaches, neck and shoulder pains.  Fortunately, through trial and error, I found out that my sleeping position had a lot to do with my pain.  Maureen, you mentioned changing your pillows, which I did also.  However, it depends a lot on the type of pillow you are using.  Try purchasing a Memory Foam Cool Contour Pillow (currently, on sale at Target) ... not only will you sleep much better but you will awake feeling less pain.  Also, determine which side (left or right) is your best sleeping side.  For me, it's my surgery side, which is my right side and/or flat on my back.  Hope this helps ...

God Bless,
Mae

[Kasemodelk]

I also have neck and upper back pain after C5-6 fusion.  An Oropod did my surgery.  I eventually went to a Neuro in Rapid City, SD but it appears that there is not a problem.  I have had another MRI. No problem.  My new Neuro is doing an Intrathecal CT on Jan 3, 2007.  My guess is that he will not see anything.  The pain that I feel, generally a "burning" sensation in between my shoulder blades, along with headaches, upper neck pain, and nitetime pain in both the left and right neck is becoming debilitating.  I have not worked since August of 2006 and am starting to get desperate.  Along with this I just started (two weeks ago) right Iliac Crest pain.  Not sure what to do about that.  I did use my own bone for this surgery. The hip pain is just another in the whole thing. Why has it started after about 4 months?  I am a smoker but am on Wellbutrin to quit ad my Neuro says this may help. Any help would be appreciated.

[whazzupwillis]

I also had the same surgery due to a blown disc in C5,6 and arthritis in c7... I had the fusion with donor bone, this was in Feb 2006. I was out for 8 weeks and felt pretty good. I was in the hospital only over night! I was amazed at how fast I felt better. It is now July 2007 and I am in so much pain and so many headaches that I want to scream! I have been seeing a Chiropractor and that helps some, but relief only lasts for a few hours. I just had another MRI done today and hope to see something so that I can get it fixed. I have good pillows and do stretching stuff, but no relief. I hope that I can find some help, I am getting so depressed from the pain. I also have numbness in my arms at night now also. Let me know if you all get some answers.

[greeter]

Hi All,

I am 44 yr old female.  I just got home from DR with results of MRI... I too have probs at C5-C6.  Dr now tells me there is a surgery to fix my prob but he recommends that I just stay on pain meds and muscle relaxers so as to avoid scar tissue later on from surgery.

I was wondering if you all have great relief from surgery and if you had to do it again would you?  Reason for question is, if I can quit taking pain meds of course I would like to do so...But life is not so bad on pain meds...I still work and life if going good so far.

Thanks
G Wilson (Greeter from New Orleans)

[vann_clan]

I would like to say, Greeter, if you can live without the surgery, do it.  I also had this same operation as the rest of you--donor bone (C5-C6), osteoarthritis in the rest of the cervical spine.  I don't understand how this is happening.  I have always exercised and follow a balanced diet.  My Neurologist seemed offended and kept repeating that the surgery was a sucess.  I agree the surgery was a sucess, I have no pain in the front of my neck and have good mobility.  Before surgery, I was myleopathic and was losing bladder and bowel control.  They are back to normal.  What isn't normal is the pain I am in.  I also get the burning pain down my spinal column and into my shoulders.  Sometimes it radiates down my back.  My Physical Therapist got to the point that he wouldn't see me anymore because the exercises were causing me too much pain.  The memory foam pillow worked for about six months to reduce the pain at night.  I am seeing symptoms of compression on the left side of my body as well as the right.  According to my neurosurgeon, only the right side was compressed.  It would seem with so many of us out here asking these questions, there would be an answer somewhere.

[boyers]

I was experiencing excruciating and debilitating headaches associated with severe neck pain.  For over five years I was required by my many many doctors to endure many many medical procedures and tons of different medications, to which was not only a waste of time but put me into so much debt with co-pays.  I had my fusion (C4-C6) with a plate and six screws done in March 2007 and was so impressed that I was feeling so much better for about two months after my surgery.  No more headaches!!!!  I was so happy.  Then about eight weeks after my surgery I began my physical therapy – twice a week for six weeks at $50 a pop.  I felt horrible, so I stopped, I felt horrible.  I bought a new mattress and several new pillows, I felt horrible every single morning.  I tried physical therapy again, I felt horrible.  I have resorted to using pain pills three or four times a day and now after reading this page I have lost all hope.  I do plan on printing this all out and taking it to my PCP in hopes I guess that she will continue to prescribe the pain pills I take.  I would like to know though if there was anything (any one thing) that brought some type of relief to the horrible pain in your back and neck.fg

[pmanness]

i also had surgery at c5 an c6 i hurt my neck at work was in therpy for 5 months an got surgery at c5 an c6 with a plate an suffer from headachs an lower neck pain an shounder pain  on the right side headachs last 3 days an neck pain that goses into my right shouder  the dr sent me back to therpy witch makes it worse.he looks at me like im makin this up he said i shoundnt have any pain its been 3 months senice surgery he said its not his job to get rid of my headachs i just looked at him he thinks i just dont want to go back to work but i live with this pain everyday somedays its pretty good but otheres i cant even do anything am i the only one with this kind of pain i feel like im the only one out there

[sunshine921]

I want to say how relieved I was when I read your comments.  I'm not alone.  I had a cervical neck fusion, C5-6, with plate and screws December 2005.  After the surgery I had pain and the pain gets worse and worse.  It took me years to get the courage to have the surgery and now doctors tell me there is nothing they can do and refer me to doctors in larger cities.  I have to admit I'm scared to think what can or cannot be done for me.  I take oxycodone twice a day, it helps me to tolerate the pain or I would be crying most of the day and be unable to sleep.  Physical theraphy does make it worse, for me, before and after the surgery.  I feel the memory foam pillow, from Target, is a must.  I've used one even before the surgery for relief and have been thru three of them to date.  I'm open to any suggestions out there.

[annmike]

My husband had a C5-6 fusion in February of '06 and for the first 6 months post-op, he had major headaches, which his surgeon said would go away after the 6 month period.  They did disappear but for a short time.  He now suffers from neck pain, shoulder pain, pain and numbness on the front of his bicep and then numbness in his hand including all fingers but the "pinky".  We have since revisited the Neurosurgeon only to find that the disc in the C6-7 level is now bulging and pressing on a nerve.  He claims that this is COMMON as this level now takes the brunt of the work for the other level that was previously fused.  He has scheduled my husband for (marcaine) local injections near the C7 to diagnose if this is actually where the pain is originating.  15 minutes after the injection, his pain level has improved atleast 50%.  He is now looking at having the C6-7 level fused as well.  I am amazed at how many people have had this surgery done, and then returned to their surgeons with great pain and have not been told how COMMON the breakdown of the C6-7 level becomes after a C5-6 fusion.  I hope this points someone in the right direction as after watching my husband go through his ordeal, heating pads, pain meds, ibuprofen, losing many hours of work etc. is exhausting for both of us.........hopefully we are headed in the right direction.  Prayers for you all.

[pms1975]

i had a neck fusion in 2003 fron a car accident i was good up untill 2 mouths ago,now i get lighting voults in my neck when i lift somthing,i also get headachs,both my arms fall asleep,i have sharp pains in my neck iam a mess and scared!!!!!!!!

[k517]

I had a c5-6 fusion with plates/screws/donor bone in June 2008 - following a fall in Jan 2007.  I too put it off as long as I could and was initially thrilled postop.- no pain, no headaches, still had the arm and hand numbness but was finally able to sleep at nite which makes almost anything more tolerable.  
That lasted for 3 mos. When I began the rehab with weights, I returned to all the symptoms I had before surgery and am now scheduled for a neurologist consult.  I guess I too am amazed at how many of us there seem to be - don't remember my surgeon giving me a # on how many fusions seem to fail but it appears to be many.
Has anyone had additional fusions to try to fix this problem (ie if the discs above and below the fusion are too stressed and causing this pain)?
Good luck and prayers to all,
K

[froglegs25]

I can relate to everyone here.  I have had C6, and C5 fused, then C5 and C4 fused later on.  I have screws and plates, and I wake up every day in agony with a headache and blurry eyes.  Something is very wrong and I can not get my physicians to listen to me.  The leg sysptome should be clue enough that it is pressing on my spine, but all they want to do is argue with me.  I have had similar shots(as the ones mentioned)  in the shoulder, and it only brings a couple days of relief and the pain is actually worse than before.  Now they want to do the same to my neck and I am getting livid with anger at these people.  Why can't they just prescribe the appropriate amount of muscle relaxers?  That is my big beef with the whole thing.  I disobeyed my doctor and used the PDR to prescribe it properly and lo and behold, it worked.  Tommorow I plan to put it to her this way, either follow the portion of the PDR I am going to print out or refer me to someone else.  Am I doing the right thing?  Doctors generally do not like it when I get "smart" with them, should I play my hand?  Any advice is welcome!
Kate in Oregon

[Martina64]

Hi Kate I just typed up my experience and tips since my 5/6 fusion and the misery I felt.To keep it short incase that comment should appear?? dont see ityet!! My gp put me on zoloft for headaches. Had a pain clinic doc tell me burning and sore running down my arm caused by the nerves at c5/6 were blocked and causing the neck shoulder pain have had a epidural steriod injection big improvement,another this Friday 5th and I hear it will make a much bigger difference. I take neurontin 900mg three times a day muscle relaxants and pain meds but im way way better since the diagnoses and first shot. I use a water pillow love it!! Dont give up! I also stopped the phys ther it was aweful.Will tell you how the second shot goes on Friday.They take you to day theatre for it and can sedate mildy.I also tried my chirop and massage no luck. Martina Oregon      

[Marika68]

Hi there :)

  I am new to this forum and have been reading all of your posts. I am living with Cervical Dystonia which caused disc disease ( degeneration) in my 3/4 5/6. I had surgery 2 weeks ago today, he fused the 3/4 with a donor's graph and replaced the 5/6 with plastic.I also have a metal plate and screws in my neck to help stabilize my spine. I've lived with severe chronic pain for many years but still worked a great deal up until this point. My neurologist has treated me with Botox A for many years to help pain, headaches,tremors and spasms that I dealt with on top of the disc pain....had bone spurs and arthitis on both. Sadly I had no alternative but to go through this process and the spurs were pressing against my spinal cord and the pain was more and more severe.

Since surgery I've found a great sense of relief on the left side and hoping it continues as I recover. Yes I am experiencing headaches as well but it is difficult for me to know whether it is surgery related or from Dystonia.

I find using a good pillow helps as I am not experiencing the shoulder and back pain like others.....I tried stretching the other day but felt I am not ready to start yet :) to early.

I hope that all of you find some relief in one form or the other....living with pain is debilitating and not many people understand unless they are dealing with the same thing.

Take care and try to keep smiling and laughing- it helps :) Have a good day, bye for now.

[deannelily]

I am so glad I found this forum,sounds like alot of people are experiencing the same thing.(Maybe I'm not going crazy!)I had c4,c5 discetomy,fusion and fixation on Jan.19th.I had numbness in my left leg and was quickly loosing control with left arm.The surgery went well,better than expected!Incision healed well,and really no throat swelling ,but I am still having alot of pain in shoulders and back of neck.Sometimes worse than before surgery.

I am still using pain meds ,but don't like them.I really need to get back to work .Am I being impatient ?Is the 6-8 window the time that you guys notice a difference?Any advice would be appreciated .
Deanne from Ohio

[meatball819]

I was in a car accident last May. Have 2 Bulging discs in neck. I have severe pain in me neck and back and shoulder. I had a nerve block done on Wednesday, dont feel to bad. Drs saying its not herniated and not pinching any nerves nothing they can do. Doed that mean I have to wait for them to herniate before anything can be done. Nerve block will only last a couple of weeks. On muscle relaxers and migraine meds. never had this problem before dont know what to do.Is there surgery for Bulging discs?  Any information would be appreciated Kathy Pa

[squib3]

I had a C5/6 discectomy and fusion with cadaver graft, plate and screws on 2/18/2009. Had no radiating pain until six weeks after when my husband stopped short in the car and my head snapped forward. I also have a large ruptures at C7/T1 and C3/4 which don't hurt currently. My surgeon said that neuropathy often happens after as the nerve roots get damaged from the pressure from the ruptures. Fortunately, mine is managable and gets better if i watch my sleep position. I'm looking at some really bad fusions in the future if the other ruptures act up. In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the relief I got. I hope everyone else gets relief.

[koalaj]

Hi everyone,
I had a discetomy and fusion of the c5/c6 in febuary of this year. I to am in terrible pain and feel worse now after surgery than before it. I take strong pain medicine every day, I suffer from servere head aches which leaves me bed bound for days. I have lower back pain and still have severe pain in the right shoulder and arm. The only thing the surgery did do was stop the pins and needles sensation I had in the right arm to which I have developed now in the left arm. I have started physio and hydrotherapy which I find very painfully and cant complete a whole sessions as I end up in tears. My doctors can not explain what is going on. I have had numerous mri and xrays to which the doctors all say look normal. So what is going on I have no idea!!!!! I wish there was a solution to all these problems if anyone has and answers I would really apreciate them. Good luck to all hope everyone gets the answers they are looking for

[jessa1104]

my dad had this done a year ago the pain is so bad he is lucky to get out of bed. the pain meds help but only a little. its so frusterating. im so annoyed so many people are suffering i really really wish someone had some answers. the doctors all have no answers and just say im not sure try this try that. its ******** the heating pads and stuff only help for awhile no long term relief.dad and i used to go snow mobiling and ride the rocket bike we sold everything. he wont be able to use them. we would have never done the surgery had we known. a word to anyone looking into this surgery stay away, my dad would have ended up loosing the use of his arms and legs and they also told us he would never breath on his own again. well quality over quantity because this is no way to live.

[Walt52196]

Hi I'm a 44 Male.
So after reading this forum makes me feel good to know that theres others like myself with the same issues I have. I had the c5c6 fushion work done in Jan of 09 stayed in the hospital for 3 days the surgery didnt go as smooth as they wanted you see when he went to remove the bone from my neck there was a bubble and in it burst and fluid my spine leaked and the surgery ended up to be like 4 hours instead of a 45 minute thing like they said. I stayed in the hospital for 3 days.
When I wake up in the morning from my neck to my shoulders feels like its very stiff then from my shoulders down to my middle of the back feels like its on fire then from there the lower part of my back right in the belt line area I can feel my disk move they tell me that I do have  bulding disk in the L3 L4 area And then when Im sitting on the toilet my right leg goes numb when Im walking my left foot feels like there someone grabbing it just has that pull on it and my right legs feels like its gonna give out on me.

So like theres many things going on with me including the fears I never had before and also my eating habits changed Im weigh more then I did  and there other things going on as well maybe talk about them later on

So in the mean time back on the farm I driving my poor wife crazy with this garbage any suggestion for that I dont want her to suffer either with the stress level any help would be great thanks..

[alicat007]

Geeze, I am sooo glad to to find you people and know this is not all in my head or that I should be further along in my recovery according to the dr's. At the three year mark they finally admitted that I probably "dinged" my spinal cord during the roll over and that is why I still have nerve damage in my left arm. I can't lift it very high or hold much weight without it going "out" on me. My finger tingle and hurt. It worsen's with over use. My neck and shoulders are so tight all the time and want to spasm.( I have been in the ER several times due to my neck locking from spasms) I have pain down my neck and spine to the middle of my shoulders and lower. Headaches off and on. Sleep is so hard can't find a place that is comfy. I have gone to PT and had the blocks and the tins unit and nothing works for a long period of time. they don't want to give you pain meds they want you to learn to deal with it. I go every Jan and try to get them to do something and we go around in a circle and I get a few months of pain meds and then I am left to deal with it again. I finally gave up on going back to the dr for help. I fell a couple of years ago and now have a herrinated disc I think at the C5 they say its the norm because the fusion weakens the others around it so it is to be expected. I have to wait this one out too. geeze, when do they just take care of you and help you out of your pain!?!  When do they treat you like a human and not a cattle call branding each person the same!?!  We PAY them to tell us to wait and deal!   This is the only Hospital my insurance allows me to go to. The ortho surgeon is the best but the dr's I have to see for pain suck! I can't even work a regular 8-5 job anymore.

[alicat007]

Oops....Had a fusion at the C6-7 with plates and screws. Broken collar bone with plate and screws.

[katechr86]

I had a c4-6 fusion with cadaver graft too, like many of you, but mine was in 2000.  I still have pain from my neck to my lower back, sometimes down my leg and arm too, almost daily migraines, and it is reassuring to see that so many other people are having similar "non-physiologic" symptoms.  So, I also learned that physical therapy makes it worse, so does pretty much any kind of exercise except for 1) walking, if I keep my posture good, and 2)  belly dancing.  Great core strenthener, gentle graceful movements, no jarring movements, and it's so much fun.  Also anti-depressants like nortriptyline and bupriorion (wellbutrin) (I tried one then the other) help turn down the temperature on the pain.  Motrin helps, twice a day Vicodin gets me through.  I doubt I'll ever be pain-free, but I hope to be less pre-occupied by it in the future.  At least when I'm dancing I'm not thinking about it.

[lulu152]

Hi like you all I to had a C5- C6 spinal fusion in Feb 06 plates with 4 screws and used my own bone. All was good for about 2 months after the surgery. Then the pain started, after extensive rehab ie physio, exercise programme, and seeing a physolgist to learn how to live with the pain, Still no good. Accident Compensation in New Zealand then sent me to a specialist who medically cleared me to go back to work. Still in pain just coping some days at work. I was seeing a chiro whom I got short term relief. Then Accident Comp sent me to a rehab specialist who said I have permanent nerve damage. Named chronic pain syndrome. And that there is not alot I can do for it except to learn to cope with it. I wake at nights with pain down my right arm, have a numb thumb and have neck pain shoulder pain which in turn causes my whole spine to feel pain. Headaches all the time. A friend advised me to take high doses of vitamin bcomplex and vitamin b6 I also found a product in NZ called nerve nurse made by a herbalist in Newzealand Malcolm Harker, touch wood but I am so far finding some improvement but it has only been a couple of weeks. Will keep you all posted
Lucelle New Zealand

[Dr Vinod]

It is good that you are getting relief from vitamins but always go through proper medical channel as this short term effect may mask your symptoms.
If it is an approved drug and the compostion is clear there is nothing to worry. Take care

[bigtwist]

I have just had a fusion of 5&6 last week. I did notice some improvement in my fingers and legs. My  doctor said that I will notice baby steps later on as time passes. A woman is comming by to give me a dervice to help my bone heal faster and reduce the risk of future problems. I will let you know what happens.

[Dr Vinod]

Yes  when your spinal nerve problems are fixed due to the fusion of vertebra you would have improvement with symptoms as you are feeling now with your hands and legs.

Proper balanced diet with protein and some extra calcium supplements would help you. Try to be in the BMI range for your height,weight.

For back problems always wear proper footwear in future, control your weight and Physiotherapy is important. Take care!

[carlybell]

I just had cervical fusion on the 16nth of July of 2009 and how long is it that I will stop feeling the arm and neck pain? I had a severly herniated disc in my neck and I had underwent 7 epidural shots and nothing and then I went to my orthopedic surgeon dr. and he told me I needed to have surgery. I hope this solves it but I am not able to go to work until 8 weeks from now which I am not going to argue that because I have disability ins. I just want to know if this pain is going to go away.

[Dr Vinod]

The surgical pain will decrease in 4 weeks.

But the back pain will decrease over a period of 12 weeks and you come to normal with Physiotherapy. You can join work after 8-12 weeks but continue the Physiotherapy as in 6 months time you will feel normal if everything goes according to plan. Take care!

[Tickleticky]

I had c5-c6 fusion in 2006. I am now having more numbness in my left ring and pinky finger( I have had numbness before and after surgery). I had a nerve study and I have issues with my deltoids and biceps all the nerves are good. I am also having a few random muscle spasms all over my body (these are minor to me). I do not show to have any pressure on my spinal cord like I did before surgery in 2006, but I am concerned about what is happening now. They said that I might have screw loosening but if I am fused that should not be important, right?  Having and MRI on the 20th. Ugghh!

[Dr Vinod]

The numbness can be due to anything. This might be due to the muscle and tendon issues you are having presently.

After 3 years of surgery you need to re evaluate your case. MRI is a good idea and it will throw light on the soft tissue issues. An X-ray will reveal the result of the fusion and the present day condition of the spine at c5 and c6.

How long did you do physiotherapy? Physiotherapy helps in relieving the nerve numbness and tingling issues.

Take care and follow up the basic investigations ( X-ray & MRI) to know the present status.

[SHIRL401]

I too have been through the gamut with pain.  I am a born again Christian, if it were'nt for the cross I would have killed myself or been
in a mental hospital a long time ago from pain and marriage problems.
I had a fusion in 1988 from an awful fall which could have paralyzed me,
but instead herniated disc, whiplash, broken rib, and broken collar bone.
Husband fell with me, he was fine!!  Anyway, since then (honey moon)
it's been a hell moon, except for the Lord.
I have found a routine that is bringing some hope lately.
HERBS., NECK EXERCISES, NOT TO KILL YOURSELF THOUGH, ICE, HEAT, COLD...HERE IS MY HERB REGIM.  aLSO WENT THE ROUTE OF CHIRO. (LOTS) NO HELP.  MASSAGE  THEREAPIST,
PRESENTLY GO SOMETIMES, HELPS TWO DAYS ONLY.
NEUROLOGIST.  TRIGGERPOINT INJECTION....DON;T LAST.
I'M A TEACHER, SO MUST HAVE SOMETHING MORE SUBSTANTIAL SO I DON'T KILL THE KIDS OR PRINCIPAL.
SO THIS IS WHAT I LIKE BEST:
A.M. 8 MIN OF STRETCHING NECK EXERCISES.YOU TUBE:
MONICA WITH SCALENE STRETCHES, TRAPEZIUS, ETC.
THEN:  I TAKE:  ZYFLAMEND:  EXCELLENT HERB COMBO,
CAN GET IN HEALTH FOOD STORES, SOME PHARMACIES.
GLUCOSAMINE CHONDROITAN FOR DISAPEARING CARTILAGE,
AND A PRODUCT CALLED "AMAZING ARTHRITIS REMEDY".
LOOK FOR IT ON RICK SCHIFFLET'S AMAZING ARTHRITIS REMEDY.COM

AT LUNCH TIME:  I TAKE 1 ZYFLAMEND AGAIN, AND AMAZING ARTHRITIS REMEDY, MY OWN COMBINATION OF NEW IMAGE
CHROMIUM, ETC. HERBS FOR DEPRESSION, EXHAUSTIAN, ETC. AND SOMETIMES 1 DEVIL'S CLAW.


AT ABOUT 5 P.M. TAKE ANOTHER DEVIL'S CLAW.  MAKE SURE YOU ARE DRINKING COFFEE, WATER, ETC. AND TAKING SOME FOOD WITH THESE HERBS,OR YOU MAY HAVE HEART BURN WHEN YOU TRY TO SLEEP AT NIGHT.  LIQUIDS AND SOME FOOD OR FRUIT ETC.

AT ABOUT 9-10 BEFORE i GO TO BED, MIGHT DO MORE STRETCHING OR "POSTURAL EXERCISES' CAN'T DO MANY OF THESE THOUGH AS I ALSO DEVELOPED BICEPS TENDONITIS OVER THE SUMMER AND PAIN DOWN THE ARM FROM THIS STUFF, SO EASY DOES IT.  AT THIS TIME I ALSO USE MY
RELIV CLASSIC VITAMINS, WHICH HELPS OVERALL HEALTH.
AS i ALSO HAD A KNEE ISSUE AS WELL.
MELATONIN IF DIFFICULTY FALLING ASLEEP.  JUST ONE HALF TABLET HELPS ME TO ZONK OUT.
I FIND THESE PARTICULAR HERBS, WITH MAYBE AN OCCASIONAL HOME ULTRASOUND, OR MASSAGE, ONE TIME PER WEEK, HELP YOU TO "GET THROUGH".  I TOO HAVE ANOTHER BULGING DISC AND DISC DEGENERATION BUT DON'T WANT MORE SURGERY.  TRACTION DID NOT HELP ME AT ALL, MADE THINGS WORSE.  HOWEVER, THERE IS A THING CALLED A "POSTURE PUMP:" I AM ASKING MY CHIRO
TO APPROVE THROUGH MY INSURANCE, OR YOU MIGHT FIND ONE ONLINE.  THEY SAY THIS REVERSES YOUR MESSED UP NECK CURVE, ABOVE THE FUSION.  THE NECK STRAIGHTENS OUT AND REMAINS SPASTIC FROM THE FUSION AND PAIN.

THE HERBS SHOULD GREATLY HELP YOU, THEY GOT ME THROUGH THE WHOLE YEAR LAST YEAR, BUT LATELY, THIS SUMMER I DEVELOPED SOME ACUTE SITUATIONS I AM GETTING OUT OF GRADUALLY.  MOSTLY:  CRY OUT TO GOD.
THERE IS NO TEMPTATION THAT IS NOT COMMON TO ALL MEN,
BUT GOD PROVIDES THE WAY OF ESCAPE YOU CAN BEAR IT.
ALSO, HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT.  AND REMEMBER:  CHIROS,
ACUPUNCTURE, AND DOCTORS TREAT SYMPTOMS.
MASSAGE, HERBS, LIGHT EXERCISE,PHYSIOTHERAPY OR ULTRASOUND SEEM TO GET MORE TO THE CAUSE,
AND REVERSING THE CURVE.  THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
I HURT LESS NOW IN THE MORNING FROM SLEEPING ON A
NECK CURVED PILLOW, AND SLEEPING ON MY BACK.
TO TREAT CAUSE.

[sweetpea2009]

I had a C5 -C6 cervical fusion in August of 2008. So just a little over a year ago. My spinal cord was almost severed so we did the bone with plate and screws. I went through therapy before and after surgery. I did the tins machine, the ultrasound therapy, I have had the ESI at the shoulder area closer to the neck. Nothing, and I mean nothing helps the pain and numbness. I have changed all of my pillows, added more pillows, taken pillows away, tried different sleeping positions. However, the pain is not just during the night when trying to sleep. It is ALL of the time. I can't clean my house, it is very hard to cook, some days it is hard to even get out of bed. WORK is NOT an option.

I have had numerous MRI's done post-op that all come out looking really good. I have had all of the proper testing done for every kind of arthritis. Nothing. I ask my neurosurgeon what is causing the pain if everything looks so good, and she has no answer. She tells me that this is very common after having this surgery. She says that the surgery was important to have to keep from paralyzing myself from the neck down, and that I may be in the percentage of people who have life long pain after this. I have degenerative disc disease as well so she says that this may not be the only fusion I ever have to have! Lovely. I had no injuries that caused the problem to begin with. I just woke up one day and felt like I had slept on my neck wrong, and from there the pain increased over time until I decided to have it checked.

I just seen my neurosurgeon yesterday and I am scheduled for a nerve conduction study on wednesday to determine if there is any nerve damage that may also be causing the pain. We will see how that goes.

My end result basically came down to this yesterday....
I have to take Amitryptaline before bed. This actually does give me some form of relief from the numbness. I don't wake up as much with tingling arms and hands and severe pain. However, it does make you very drowsy and very sleepy. Sometimes for a long period of time. I took 2 ONE time because it seemed like taking the one pill had started to not work as well. Doctor told me to take 2 if needed. I tried it and I kid you not I slept for 16 hours! So I will never take 2 of them again. Also, the doctor finally told me that I may only be able to find relief in long term pain management. So she is sending me to a long term pain management doctor. I will see them as soon as they call me with my appointment time. Which it couldn't get here fast enough. I have only been on Lortab 7.5 for months and they do nothing for me and never have.

My suggestion to you all, since we all seem to be in this together, is that you ask about something like I am taking at night, and then ask for a long term pain management doctor that can give you something to help relieve it during the day as well. Truth seems to be that we will have this pain now for the rest of our lives if the research and study is right. I am only 34, have a 15 year old daughter, and I would love to be a lot more active. I hope pain management can make that possible. I have opted to file for SSI, as I have many many more health problems that also keep me from working, however, if I didn't, this alone makes sure to guarantee that work is not an option. I can't sit, stand, walk, reach, bend, turn my head very far, etc etc.... between the cervical pain and lumbar pain as well.

I hope someday we all can find a answer! Good luck to all of you, my thoughts are certainly with each of you. You are NOT alone!

[clarson3]

Please read my story:

I thought I was the only one living in this chronic pain.  I had my first signs of pain when I was 19.  Started having pain in my right shoulder, sometimes it was just nagging pain, other times it was shooting pain.  Went to a sports medicine doctor who said it was rotator cuff tendonitis and he gave me two cortisone injection shots into my shoulder several times.  They lasted like an hour. Then went to physical therapy, cervical traction seemed to help a bit, but not much.  At this time I was desperate so started seeing a chiropractor.  I saw a chiropracter from 1999-2004 and was generally pain free!  Then it hit me....like a train, one morning I woke up and was in such excrutiating pain I couldn't lift my right arm, couln't get dressed, etc.  Drove myself balling to the hospital, and we found I had a herniated disc that was pinching my nerve.  C5/C6.  

So in May 2004 I ended up having a disc fusion. (discectomy with metal plate and four screws)  In 2005, started having neck and shoulder pain and went to physical therapy.  They had be doing neck strengthening exercises, that put me in terrible pain.  So then just tried to live with it.  In 2006 it progressively got worse, I started having symptoms in the left shoulder and down the left arm in partnership with the muscle and neck pain already.  Many physical therapy appointments, trialing different pain meds, and other items....I decided I wanted it to end....the pain.  I bougth a Chronic Pain Relief book and took charge of my own life.  

I highly recommend a book like this.  It showed me foods to eat that block nerve pain and other pain as well as foods that make it worse.  It also talked about exercise, etc.  Let's just say, I quit all of the other meds and therapies and read this book, changed my diet and exercise routine and was basically pain free!!!!  However, in May 2009 I was doing some painting and other home remodeling.  Feeling as good as I was...I forgot I even had neck issues!!  So I spiraled down very badly.  

Long story short, I am now going in for C6/C7 artificial disc replacement to correct the herniated disc I have right now.  It has been pinching on my nerve for years and now I have nerve damage in my left arm.  I am in so much pain now with that nerve pain down my arm, and I'm also experiencing pain, inflammation, spams, and a general feeling of "hotness" in both of my shoulders and my neck...headaches too.  I did a lot of research on artifical disc replacement and am hopeful that after my surgery on September 11th and living and breathing by my chronic pain book...that I will lead a normal life.  

Another thing that has helped me a lot is my faith in God to get me through.  I had my grieving time.  The why me syndrome.  You do need to deal with that, but then get right back up, and determine that this pain is not going to rule the life that God intended for you to enjoy.  I think some day I'll write a book on my journey...because as you all may know, it's lonely often times.  People cannot see the pain...and if you are like me, you try not to let it show.  Isn't that the most exhausting thing ever?

I hope you all buy a Chronic Pain Relief Book that details meal plans, foods to eat, foods not to eat, supplements to take, and other types of therapies to try.....It's worked for me and it will again after my surgery. :)

Take charge of your life!  Don't Let the pain rule you!
Crystal

[robc20]

OMG! I really thought there was something wrong with me. I also had surgery at c5-6 with cadaver bone in 2005. The area under my surgery is extremely painful and feels like someone is taking a screwdriver and jabbing me. Recently, I am experiencing numbness in my right index finger and middle finger. I've seen a chiropractor, had the epidurals, can longer get mri's because they show up fuzzy so I have to get something called a mylogram (or something like that). All I know is it is painful because they have to put you on your stomach jab you with a series of needles than one big needle in the middle of your back, turn you upside down and let the ink flow to your head. I came online to check out any new technology and so far the only thing that shows promise is disc replacement. I am just glad I came across this sight because the doctors were telling me it may be mental. Nice huh? Thank you everyone for posting.

[Cherie762]

wow we could form a club me to c4, c5 c6 all discetomy /grafting donor bone/fusion/titanium plate screws the whole 9 yards..and yet I still cant turn head to far to left mobility is 100% to the right I have zero numbness had a lot before but still pain,,however Ive gone from vicodionHP to just darvocet or tylenol 3 or 4,,would like to get to nothing not so sure thats gonna happen...the right sholder pain seems to be a common link

[wileyman]

Hello to all.
I did a search on multi level fusion and found this thread. I am a 45 year old man and like many here I had a c5-c6 (and c7 additionally once they got in there) fusion in 07 due to an auto accident (pain and weakness in my right arm and neck/shoulder with very bad headaches) and after a short time my symptoms returned much worse with additional symptoms on the left side as well along with trouble swallowing, a muscle spasm of my head to the right side, loss of fine motor control in both hands along with numbness and a weak voice. As a guitarist and singer in a band that was tough to take. 12 weeks ago I had to have additional fusion c2-c4 with a redo of c6-c7, two plates and many screws. The doctors had a hard time figuring out what was going on but finally got a good view of where my spinal cord was being compressed. Once they got in there they found more damage than anticipated which caused them to have to do the additional levels. It took them 8 hours, my wife said that both doctors looked exhausted when they came out to talk to her after the surgery and told her that they had opted to do all they could in one shot so that I would have the best chance to play my guitar again but that going back to work was unlikely at best.  I am lucky in that one of the worst symptoms are gone, no more pain shooting down my arms and my range of motion is quite good considering.  I have been working my way out of the neck collar and doing PT for the last two weeks and as I have been getting more active the neck spasms have returned along with some pain on the right side of my neck and arm. The more I do the worse it gets, I had worked my way off of most of the muscle relaxers and painkillers, just one of each before trying to sleep as sleeping has been difficult even using the good old water pillow but now the only was to stop the spasms is to take the pain killers every 4 hours. I was hoping to return to work next month, although this was “my” plan, the doctors have been somewhat skeptical of me doing so but were willing to let me try and see, I am thinking now that they were just humoring me a bit. I guess really I am wondering what my expectations should be, more so how long of a recovery other folks have had and if they were able to return to work. My current job is pretty physical, lots of lifting and bending ( I build testing apparatus for a research lab) I see my ortho doctor next week and hope to get some answers then but they had been somewhat evasive so far.

Any advice and experiences would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Bob

[thecbomb5252]

Wow this is amazing. Same story here. I can't type very long because of the nerve pain. I had a c5/c6 fusion because of a car accident in May 2008. The pain never really went away afterwards and I wound up in a chronic pain hospital for 35 days, along with a rehab for painkiller addiction. I had only taken painkillers once or twice before this because of other non related surgeries 10 or so years ago. Since then I started developing pain in the other side of my neck which I thought was just a pulled muscle at first. I have stabbing pain down into my shoulder blade and down my arms, into my fingers. I had another MRI done, and in one year, the c6/c7 went out, 4 bone spurs formed, and a bunch of arthritis showed up. And I'm only 36. So now, they want me to have a c6/c7 disk replace ment surgery, which I will porbably have because I can't live like this. I'm afraid to go to sleep at night because I know I'm going to wake up at 3 or 4 am in unbelievable pain. The past year and a half has been a nightmare. My life revolves around this pain and what I can't do. I'm only able to work about 20 hours a day and probably will wind up loosing my job when they figure out how to get around the laws.
Now I see so many posts of people who have had these surgeries and still are not getting relief. I'm wondering now if there really is no "cure" for this for some people. My Dr. said in reality they really know very little about the spine.
I'm crossing my fingers that this next surgery works, and I can finally move on with my life.

[rosie92]

I had c5/c6/c7 fusion with cadavor bone a year and three mounths ago was doing realy good with it until about 2 weeks ago. Know I am so much worse the before the surg. going for a ct soon hope every thing is ok . I dont wont to go though the surg. again I am so scared. I just dont understand why after so long it all comes back and the pain is so much worse. I will keep you all posted

[jewelzzz]

Thank You so much. I was starting to think id lost my mind. Drs tell me only 3 % of the people continue to have pain. I had surgery c5/6 with fusion plate, cage etc 01/09. I was injured at wrok for the postal service in a freak accident.I was feeling much better, wanted to go back to work, but within weeks with only a twenty pound limit my pain returned and 10x worse. It now radiated down both arms, across my shoulders and for the last three months Ive been having severe leg pain too. Wound up in the ER seveal weeks ago for severe lowere back pain radiating up my back.

My original surgeon basically told me they wish they had a majic pill.. NICE... I find a new neurosurgeon, who a month ago I went to for pain management. Her solution was to send me back to work. This mind you after I re-injured it at work when the first dr wished he had a majic pill.  Today I had a CAT scan. hopefully that will give me some answers but some how I doubt it. I also had an EMG. which of course shows normal as did the second MRI after i Re-injured it at work. My job is very physical and requires heavy lifting,twisting, turning, bending etc. and I should return?? This is why doctors say they practice medicine. Never again on me is all i can say.  Honestly, if I had it to do again, NEVER!!!