Fusion at c-5-6

[P.J.]

I had a disc removed between c5-6 in Sept. 2001. I am still in alot of pain and having trouble moving my head from side to side looking up or down. My x-rays and MRI both show everything is healing, my Dr. is now sending me to a pain management center for some kind of shots in my neck. I am very concerned about this and worried. I thought once i had the surgery done I'd be on my way to getting my life back to normal. I don't get a full nights rest everytime i roll over i wake up. Will i ever be pain free what about my ROM? this has been a very upsetting time for me. Now to top it all off my job is at risk they have told me that if i can't come back 100% then i no longer have a job with them. My job requires me to look up for long periods of time I am a smoke and fire tech. removing smoke and odor from burned homes. It also requires alot of heavey lifting. I am in a panic. any words of wisdom?
Thanks,
P.J.

[able]

I read your posting, I to am 39 yrs-old and on long-term disability.......depending on your policy with your work,,,it should cover you up to 18months, not one year...cobra serve???I would check to see if your work has a retirement plan....My did and my long term lasts 18 months and if the doctor says I cant work after that period doing any job within my restricstions, the policy for long term disability has to carry me until ssd picks up........also I can not be cobra served until the end of the year when my long term expires...so they have listed my health insurance plan under a retirement group and pay a fraction of the cost it would be if I was cobra served!!!!

[Dallen]

I've just reread everyone's comments.  The similarities of symptoms and consequences are amazing.  In response to the question of Long Term Disability.  I am currently collecting long term disability benefits through the company I work(ed) for. You might want to check with them. Also, you can check with Social Security / Disability.  However, I was told that I had to wait a year after my doctor determines that I have a significant disability.  I thank God that I was able to get this benefit though my job. I have these benefits for up to a year.  I am also continuing my health care benefits through COBRA.  I am only 39 years old and I feel like my life has been put into cold storage.  My ACF surgery was in October of 2000 but I am still having a lot of pain.  My doctor however does not seem to be very interested.  In fact, his nurse told me that they prefer patients who get healed the first time and don't come back.  I thought that was a pretty lousy thing to say.  So, I am sending him a letter outlining my concerns and, in a way, begging for help.  On top of everything else I just got a letter from my job saying that they only want me back if I am 100 percent cured.  I need to find the rainbow.  I wish the best to all of you.

[peppermint pattie]

Hi Everyone! I had 4 cervical fusions and a titanium plate in Jan. 2000. I went back to work only 3 months after surgery. I worked for one full year until I collapsed. I started getting blurred vision, severe constant headaches, and left shoulder and arm numbness and pain. The doctors discovered that my body was rejecting the titanium plate and screws that held it in. The infection was so bad that it was going into my brain and down the left side of my neck, into my heart. It almost killed me. They tried to stop the infection, but now it is 5 months later, and the neurosurgeons say that they can not operate on me again. Because it could kill me when they open up my neck, it would make the infection spread. So, all they can do for me is send me to pain and headache management. Of course, I have to wait over a month to get an appointment, because they are so booked up. I could literally die waiting just to see the Pain and Headache Management doctors. So, I have to go out on permanent Disability Retirement at the age of 45, and sit at home waiting for this infection to kill me. The pain is almost unbearable each day! I have a low quality of life, because I am constantly on pain medication. I try not to take it, and just live with the pain, until it becomes unbearable.
Now I just put it into GOD's Hands! I know that I was not in an accident to cause this injury. It was caused by my job at the University of Delaware, where I answered over 300 phone calls a day for 5 years, holding the phone with my neck. Never hold the phone with your neck! I could be the poster child for this problem. I only hope and Pray that GOD will heal me from this!

[able]

i've read alot of different stories hear... Question how bad was the pain before your fusions?  I've had 2 rounds of physical therapy with no good results, pain pychology only gives me what I already know from Yoga classes years ago.. been in almost constant pain with ANY and ALL attempts of activity.  Herniated c3-4,c4-5, bulges at c5-6,c6-7, severe degenerative changes to both disks and vertebraes at c4,c5,c6, spinal cord canal narrowing.  Just went to see a neuro this a.m.  says due to pain and severe degenerative diease to the neck, I could not would benefit by having him fuse c4,5,and 6.. 70% sucess rate....questions...what was the sucess rate of fusions to all that has had this done given at....with neurosurgeon not ortho....could use stories in excess in order for a sound decision to be made, just the thought of decreased pain is almost enough to gamble with... living on muscle relaxers isn't as cracked up as it would seem to be..!!!!!!!!!!!!

[able]

i've read alot of different stories hear... Question how bad was the pain before your fusions?  I've had 2 rounds of physical therapy with no good results, pain pychology only gives me what I already know from Yoga classes years ago.. been in almost constant pain with ANY and ALL attempts of activity.  Herniated c3-4,c4-5, bulges at c5-6,c6-7, severe degenerative changes to both disks and vertebraes at c4,c5,c6, spinal cord canal narrowing.  Just went to see a neuro this a.m.  says due to pain and severe degenerative diease to the neck, I could not would benefit by having him fuse c4,5,and 6.. 70% sucess rate....questions...what was the sucess rate of fusions to all that has had this done given at....with neurosurgeon not ortho....could use stories in excess in order for a sound decision to be made, just the thought of decreased pain is almost enough to gamble with... living on muscle relaxers isn't as cracked up as it would seem to be..!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tony31]

I have tried to post a question here for a while now and have been unable so I am breaking the rules here...SORRY..I had a Fusion done 3 years ago, C5-C6 by an injury that was caused at work. The experience can only be understood by others with the similiar symptoms and surgery. Muscle Spasms in the right upper back that drive one crazy. Almost constant neck stiffness and finally right arm pain that is nearly excruciating.  After surgery, my recovery was faster than what I thought it would be but never really got rid of the pain in my back or the neck stiffness. Although it was lessened by the surgery but never really gone. About 6 months ago, I again started having right arm pain and numbness and the pain in the back area was getting worse. After another MRI, another ruptured disc was found ! C3-C4 UGHHHH ! According to the MRI, the disc is calcified meaning that it has been ruptured for some time. For the first time in my life, I am at a standstill and what I am curious about is LONG TERM DISABILITY. This is going to be our problem it seems for the rest of our lives and finally, I am willing to accept that. My question....Can we get LONG TERM DISABILITY and does anyone know where to start with this.  I would appreciate any help I can get.