Continued pain after anterior cervical fusion

[NurseCheryl67]

I was involved in a car accident and later had to have anterior cervical fusion at C3-4 & C4-5 with a titanium plate. I am 5 wks post op and have terrible pain in my neck and shoulders. I wsent for my 2 wk post op appt, got my neck brace off and that was it. No return appoinments needed. I went to my family physician and he is sending me to physical therapy now. I hurt all the time, therapy doesnt seem to be helping. My family physician continues to have me take percocet and soma for my discomfort. There has to be an alternative to the pain. I am at the point where I wish I would not have had the surgery. Should I go back to my neurosurgeon or just keep going the way I am now and hope it gets better. I am open for anything at this point.

Thanks,
            Cheryl

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[soccermom1996]

I had cervical fusion, plate and cage c5-6 and c6-7 Aug 2004. I was in a car accident and right away had pains, I did pt and drug therapy and my pcp sent me to a neurosurgeon and I had surgery 3 weeks later. I am telling you that this was the worst thing ever and 17 months later I am worse off than before. I have started pt again and my surgeon said I would just have to live with the pains. I am sorry I am 32 not 92 and I have constant head aches all day no relief. I have worse weakness in the right are and it is always tingly. I am gonna get 2nd opinion but findin some one you can trust is very hard. I just do not know what to do. I hate living like this and no one should have to regardless of their age.
What to do????????????????????????? any suggestions is appreciated.

[The Writer]

I had an anterior cervical disectomy and fusion in April 2004 to relieve severe aching and tingling on the LEFT side of my body (neck, arm and torso). The surgeon said I had a combination of bone spurs, a herniated or bulging disc and arthritis. He fused C6 and C7 with a titanium plate. I wore a neck brace 24/7 for five weeks, and followed up with eight weeks of physical therapy three times each week. I also was instructed to walk one to two miles per day which I did. The surgery and recovery were successful as far as my surgeon, physical therapist and I were concerned. I was pain free and 100% back to normal. The scar on my neck, after about eight months, became practically invisible.

About two days after Christmas 2005, I noticed pre-surgery-type pain and tingling on the RIGHT side of my body. It is almost as aggravating as that which I experienced on my left side prior to the surgery of almost two years ago.

I will see my doctor this week.

While I don't want to experience surgery and recovery again, I DEFINITELY will if my surgeon suggests it. The past two years without pain and tingling were well worth all that I went through, and I will gladly do it again.

Good luck to all of you!
- The Writer

[irishangel507]

Dear cjhoss...
Good luck on your surgery tomorrow...
I hope everything goes well for you...everyone heals differently...
After spending the last year and three months suffering daily in pain...I am looking forward to the day I am scheduled...I know it's soon...I'm counting the days down...here's to a speedy recovery...let us know how things go...