neck surgery c5/6/7 cadavor bone with fusion

[walkmoo]

Is it normal to have this burning at the graft site and pain into the right shoulder area 8 weeks after the surgery. The doctor has advised I don't need to return for 6 months, but I can't do any walking or excersie, lifting, cooking, anything with causing this pain to become severe. I have to rest in a recliner to calm it down by supporting my head/neck.

[LLWB]

I had C5-6 fused with cadaver bone and titanium plates in June. I do have pain in my shoulderblads. It was explained to me that the muscles in your neck now have to re-learn how to stretch over the fused parts.  Like stretching a rubber band over a big stack of newspapers thatn a littler stack. I made sense to me. I too was told it takes a year to heal, and for fusion to be complete. I was back at work in a month. Yes it hurt, but not working or exercising exacerbates the problem. The more I sit, the stiffer I get. Start slow. Massages also helps me. Good luck. On the dr issue, they need roasted!

[RBinVA]

I had C5 through C7 anterior fusion using cadaver bone and although I've not seen the results I was hoping for, I haven't had any worsening.  The PT tells me that my neck muscles are still in a "guarded" condition.  I have been told by many people that you really cannot judge the the success or failure of the procedure for 9-12 months.  I haven't experienced anything like you're going through.

I do hope your situation improves.

[besharpone]

It has been 8 months since I had my C-5,6 and C-6-7 ACDF and I am having worse symptoms now than I did before. I have lost all of the up and down, ear to ear motion in my neck and have terrible pain in my upper back, shoulders and arms.

Like you, my life has changed dramatically. Being fit was number 1 or 2a in my life, but I can no longer do any of that...no yard work...nothing that requires use of my neck, shoulders and arms!!!

On top of that, after seeing two other doctors besides my surgeon, I know no more now than I did befroe the surgery. They appear to be afraid to touch me...just humoring me. One says to wait for 6 months...it has already been 8 months...and the other says to wait a year. Meanwhile, they have refused to address my symptoms.

They seem to be worried about malpractice or whatever. As a matter of fact, the last doctor made the comment that my surgeon is responsible for me for the next couple of years because that is why he pays malpractice insurance. I don't care about that...I just want some relief...to know what the hell is going on.

My family doctor was pretty upset about the liability hint because he stated that the reason that he sent me for the other opinion had nothing to do with liability, that is his obligation to help resolve the issue and that is what the surgeon should be doing. He also stated that the reason patients file law suits is that no one listens to them.

They don't listen to what I say and always come back with the fact that is was serious surgery and that I can't expect things to be better in only 3 months...or in the case of the second doctor, 6 months.

They also want to tell me that I should expect some loss of motion...totally ignoring that I have said that I have lost ALL of the motion. Of course, they don't know because neither has ever examined me to find out!!! Neither have my surgeon for that matter.

As a matter of fact, the last time that I saw my surgeon, he never bothered to schedule me for a follow-up...only scratched his head as usual, saying that the x-rays look good and everything appears to be healing ok but with that, he can't dispute that I am having the problems that I mentioned!

I told him that is fine, but what about the symptoms that I am still having?  He never answered the question, just as he hadn't anytime since I have had the surgery.

Meanwhile, I am missing too much work because even with the limited duty job I am doin, it bothers me and now they are threatening me with discipline.

Surprisingly, I was told by a Pain Management Specialist that I needed to go to a different city for care because all of the doctors here a either good buddies or associates and they are not going to go against one another.

I even consulted a lawyer and it just so happens that he wouldn't help because he evidently uses the clinic doctors as expert witnessess in malpractice suits!!!! He did suggest that I go to a different city as well though.

If I had known that I would be treated this way, I would never have had the surgery.

I wish that I knew what to suggest to you, but it seems that we all are experiencing some of the same issues and with no one to help figure out what is going on and what to do to fix it.

[alinpain]

how old are you,and what exactly was done.im not sure what your saying.did you have a fusion.i also had 7 surgurys since sept 1, 06............five of which was discs,two in my neck which i had a titanium plate and bolts put in.and im fine,and on oct 26,07 was my last surgury l4 l5 fusion ,but before that they tried two disectamys(spelling)..it hurts a little ,im still on pain med.and i dont have much pain,my worse is getting started after laying down from sleeping.getting srated hurts.but im so used to taking these damn pills.i cant  semm to stop taking the same dose when i was in a lot of pain.and its not like im getting high.ive been on pain meds sincelast july06.but i also read on this site that graft **** hurts even after surgury,they put a cadaver bone in me

[bev62]

I had ACDF (C5-C7) 13 months ago and the burning in my neck, right shoulder and arm has never gone away.  I also feel like I have to support my neck.  I have not been able to return to work and don't know if I ever will. I don't want to sound discouraging but I hurt worse now than before the surgery.  My doctor has just released me saying he has done all he can, so now I go to pain management to try to deal with the pain.