Help in alot of neck pain!! Had ACDF of C5 C6

[daylont86]

I had a ACDF of C5/C6 two years ago. I did great until about 3 months ago. I have been experiencing severe pain in my neck and across my upper shoulders. Left arm is going numb again to my thumb and first two fingers. I can not gert comfortable at night to sleep and it feels like my head is to heavy.

I had regular xrays that stated : Normal alignment and stable hardware at the cervical spine fusion site. However there is a thin lucency through the graft site, with sclerotic margins, concerning for incomplete fusion.

They then did an MRI which states: C3-C4 there is mild uncinate spurring on the left with relatively minimal encroachment on the neural foramen. The spinal canal and right foramen are clear.
C4-C5, the disc is partly obscured by artifact but does not show any gross protrusion. The spinal canal and neural formina apppear clear.
C5-C6 is the level of fusion. The central spinal canal and right foramen apear clear. The left foramen is less well seen and there is suspicion of disc or osteophyte causing moderate compromise. The artifact limits detail here.
C6-C7, there is suggested minimal posterior disc bulge but no significant compromise of the spinal canal. The neural formina are clear.
C7-T1, there are normal findings.

Impressions: 1. status post anterior fusion of C5-C6 2. Suspect moderately narrowed left neural formen at C5-C6. A CT scan might be able to give more detail at this level. 3. Relatively mild degenerative change at other cervical levels. 4. Slight scoliosis, and straightening and minimal reversal lordosis.

Anyone understand what this is saying in laymen terms? Please help. I need to understand what is happening to me and why I hurt.

[kittyluv1]

It would be beneficial to get the CT scan to better visualize the status of your fusion.
The MRI indicates that "artifact" is limiting the ability to determine the extent of foraminal narrowing on the left side.  This narrowing is thought to be caused by either disc material or osteophyte (bone spur).  The hardware is in place and intact.
The foraminal opening is the channel through which the spinal nerve roots travel and the narrowing of this channel is producing nerve irritation.  This would be directly related to your present symptoms.
I am six weeks postop ACDF C4-C7 and currently experiencing a "honeymoon" period.
All of my preop pain and symptoms are essentially gone.  Dealing mainly with muscle spasms in my shoulders due to the positioning on the OR table and a mild neck strain (trapezius muscle) from increased activity.  Hoping these will resolve with some PT.
It is very hard to endure recurrent symptoms, especially after nearly 2yrs post fusion.
My neurosurgeon told me that I might need additional surgery at some point if the adjacent discs continue to degenerate.  I am hoping that doesn't happen too soon, but I really trust this doctor --- he did an amazing job.  Too bad you can't see the same neurosurgeon, but the military does have very well trained surgeons (from what I have heard).
Post again after seeing your new doctor.  Our thoughts and best wishes for you!

[daylont86]

Thank-you for the support. I too have other issues that cause me a great deal of pain. I have military docs, so I don't  get the pain meds very easily. I see the nuerosurgeon on the 14th of April. I am just anxious about the MRI. The regular xrays and MRI are kinda contradicting each other, so I am really confused. I have suffered with this for the past 7 years. When I had my ACDF I woke up for the first time in 5 years with no pain in my left arm. I wanted to kiss the doctor. But now almost 2 years later, I feel I am right back where I was. It doesn't help that we have moved due to the military and I can not see the same nuerosurgeon who did my first surgery. I will keep you posted. thank-you again for responding.

[bev62]

I'm sorry your having so much pain. I'm 46 and I had ACDF (C5-C7) two and a half years ago. My pain was worse immediently after surgery. I have pain in both arms, across my shoulders and my neck.  I have terrible headaches everyday.  Both hands are numb and weak.  I've had X-Rays, MRI's, CT, Mylagram, nerve conduction tests, and all they can tell me is my fusion looks great, I have DDD and since the surgery the disks above and below the fusion are herniated and will eventually require more surgery.  My surgery was delayed almost two years due to workers comp, which has caused perminate nerve damage. I am in pain management but they continue to have to increase my meds, which really scares me. They have tried everything to help with the pain, but nothing works. So on top of the chronic pain I also suffer with severe depression.
I have two young children and they would love to have their mother back, but I've been like this for almost three years and I don't have much hope of any improvement.
I know how you feel to be in pain all the time, it totally turns your world upside down.
They may want to do a CT to get a better view. If you have a none fusion that would probably cause the pain you describe. I wish you the best and anytime you just need someone to talk to, this is a great place to get support and talk to others that can relate to what your going thru.