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

[ruppe]

Hey, I really would like someone who understands what I am going through to message me.  I think it would help, no one in my life understands and its hard to keep my spirits up at times.  I feel like I am fighting a loosing battle.  Since my first neck fusion in 09' it has been hard and have had two more surgeries since.  Now I have c2-c7 fused and in pain all the time. Anyway sure could use a friend...thanks.

[ruppe]

Hi, just want to say I hate there are so many people in pain with neck problems, however its nice to know I am not alone.  No one around me has neck problems so they dont understand.  I am fairly young..low. But I have had three neck surgeries in the past four years...I now am fused from c2 - c7. Thw pain gwt s better for a little while then it starts again.  I am like the most of you on the pain meds, muscle relaxers, and migraine meds. Bit again its not even been a year since my last surgery and its all starting again.  Can't sleep because of numbness, tingling, and burning down my left arm.  If I actually do to much down with migraine for days.  I know I need to go to doc but honestly I am scared to I mean what else could be wrong there is nothing else to fuse and been told that all fusions took.  I am like most of you just looming for some relief but sure nice to find people who understand when I say !y head is heavy.

[ruppe]

I have had three neck surgeries in the last for years. I have had c2-c7 fused together.  He is looking at a rough road ahead and honestly the is a good chance that he will still be in a lot of pain even after the surgery.  I still have the numbness, tingling, and burning sensation down my left arm and also still have migraines but will have to say they are not as often as before the surgeries.  I wish him luck and hope its a success.

[Ceefairy]

I just happen to stumble across this site as I was looking for exercises I could do for muscle strengthening a little over one year post op.  I had a cervical fusion at levels 4-5-6 in October of 2012.  Don't know what caused my damage but at the time of my surgery I was having severe muscle spasms in my left arm and hand, numbness and tingling in both upper extremities, barely no rotation in my neck, and the pain during minimal exercise was unbearable.  I really had no choice at the time it was either pain management or surgery.  The option of injections or other conservative treatment was not even discussed because my situation was just that bad.  I opted for the fusion using donor tissue and the bone stimulator and I have had great success.  My only problem is slight left shoulder pain which should diminish with strengthening exercises.  So, to everyone out there experiencing issues, pain, problems, etc., I wish you good luck in trying to get some resolution.  
Ceefairy

[stunia]

Hi, I have had two neck surgery's and still have pain, in fact it is worse. neck, hand, underarm, arm pain is intolerable. In pain management now, nothing they can do. Just have to live with it. It is terrible.

[chillywilly713]

Hi my name is Cassie. My fiancee Mark was just diagnoised with a Frature between c2and c7. The worst being c5 through 7. The doctor said he will be needing surgery. I have no idea what this intails. Can someone please let me know what to expect with the surgery. He ia taking the news pretty hard. I would love to hear from someone. He was diagnoised on october 29 2013... thanks. ...