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Avatar universal

Cervical Fusion C3,C4,C5,C6

I was hurt  at work 10/28/05.  On 08/12/06 they fused C3,C4,C5, and C6.  I know it takes time  to heal but 13 months later and I have more pain now then before the surgery.  Workers Comp is now trying to get me to come up with a settlement amount.  First question, why so much pain still, sharp shooting pain from C2 down and neck and it doesn't take much to get the shooting pains.  Also sick to stomach now 24/7 and left arm goes numb about 2-3 times a week.  Second question, would you consider a settlement when your still having so much pain and how much.  I already told them I am not talking settlement until I know why still so much pain and that it's worse than before surgery.
I am 57 years old and was in great health until I was hurt at work.  After surgery they had me back at work in 2 months and I worked (light duty) until I was laid-off on 09/13/07, due to plant closing.  I live in Michigan if that helps at all.
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Avatar universal
Not sure why you are still in pain.  I'm in Indiana. I'll try and keep your thread alive.  Hope everything works out.
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Avatar universal
Do not settle until you are 100% better! I settled in a car accident, a long, long time ago.
Had an artificial disc surgery (*clinical trial) and am STILL IN PAIN!
Muscles are very stiff, and am trying all the things I have read here on the forum, exercise, posture etc....feel a little better, but have a long way to go.
I feel better when I correct my posture, and am remembering more often now to sit correctly, and stretch when I need to.
Good luck, but don't settle!
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Avatar universal
Just wanted to give an update.  I was scheduled for an MRI last Wednesday, but they couldn't do it.  They said to much metal in my neck was messing up the MRI.  I now I am scheduled for a CAT scan with dye on the 8th of October.   This has me a bit worried since after the CAT scan I have to stay flat on my back for 24 hours so the fluid they took out of my spine to put the dye in can rebuild it self.
I will not settle until I I have no pain and then only for $$ not medical.  Since I am not long able to do my normal trade (Industrial Maintenance) which I have been doing over 30 years.
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178107 tn?1315947630
Yes be sure you lay flat as much as possible.  When I had it done as I was leaving the hospital I received a call that my brother had been killed in an accident.  So I was unable to lay down at all.  I ended up with a spinal headache and it took going back and getting two blood patches to get rid of it.  Good luck.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for the information, & sorry about your brother.  We are planning on going on our first vacation in 10 years on the 11th.  Sure hope I am ok by then to go.
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178107 tn?1315947630
I'm sure you will be fine.  The first 24 hours afterwards is the most critical.  
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Avatar universal
I know how you feel. I had the same ones fused. I still need C7yet. It was 7 months ago. I won't get
the other one done. I still hurt all the time. The pain is so bad still. My neck hurts constantly. I get headaches all the time. I had to have the blood patch done before. The headache from the spinal tap hurts something awful. I wouldn't settle until your completely better. I wonder when that will be? Cause like me I still am no better. I feel worse.
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Avatar universal
On 10/28/08 it was 2 years ago I was hurt.  On 08/12/06 I had the surgery, some things are better some are worse.  I go to doctor on the 5th of this month to see what CAT scan with dye shows.  I hope it shows why I am still in so much pain all the time but at the same time hope that don't say need more surgery.  I am not ready for that and not sure I would go through it again.
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Avatar universal
OK, here are the results of the Myelography CT
C2-3 No Disc herniation or bony stenosis
C3-4 There is a ventral epidural impression which may represent a small central                
          protrusion versus a prominent posterior longitudinal ligament.
C4-5 Mild uncovertebral ridging is seen resulting in mild right neural foraminal
          stensis.
C5-6 Mild uncovertebral ridging is identified resulting in bilateral mild neural forminal  
          stenosos.
C6-7 Mild right uncovertebral ridging is seen resulting in mild right neural foraminal
          stenosis.
C7-T1 No disc herniation or stenosis.

Can someone put this in english for me.
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Avatar universal
Hi, I wished I knew what it meant. Hopefully your Doctor will explain it in laymans terms. I hope you find the answers and the treatment to help you. I know the constant pain is hell. I can't afford the medical cost anymore so I suffer. Good Luck!!! Let me know what happens? I hope your family gives you the support you need. It sucks going to bed in pain and waking up in pain. As much as I hurt, I doubt if I would have another surgery. It is worse after the surgery than before I had the surgery. By the way I am 45 years old. I am from Ohio. Keep in touch, and good luck,  corkybrat
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Avatar universal
Ok, what all that means is vertebrates are narrowing which is about normal in anyone my age (57) and is most likely from arthritis.
My surgeon who I saw on the 12th looked over both x-rays and cat scan and said everything is normal.  I am healing nicely.  The headaches and upset stomach is because the nerves are still healing and should get better in 18 to 24 months, although so people due take longer.  He also said that I will always be in some pain for the rest of my life and need sleeping pills to get a good night sleep.  But the pain should be much less within another year.
Also asked the doc again which ones were fused.  The correct ones  C4, C5, C6, & C7.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Glad to hear things are getting better for you. Maybe in time you will feel better. I hate to think we will always have some degree of pain,some is to much. So after what the Doctor said are you willing to settle your suit? Talk at you later corkybrat
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Avatar universal
cvl
had c4 to c6 done 4yrs ago had a excellent doctor.they used cadaver bone all healed very well.went back to my work as machine oper been back 2 yrs....before surgery had headaches 24/7.now very few.,but i take meloxicam,skelaxin,vicodin to work .i have arthritis in neck the  meloxicam is great with that..i tryed for aweek to stop all mrd and was so stiff and headaches came back..the doctors said they couldn't conferm that the headaches came form the neck..even tho they stoped after surgery.don't know what school he went to..also had elbow surgery after that..neck surgery was suppose to have fixed that but didn't..THe one thing they told me to do is walk the best thing to strengthen the neck and shoulders..when my neck and shoulders get realy bad i will stand up and do stretchs and it does help....so hang in there  clyde
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Avatar universal
I had my C3/4 fused on 14 March and I am feeling better but my neck is starting to really hurt.  I am not having the pain in the left shoulder like I did last month.  I also have trouble sleeping.  I take Tylenol PM to help me go to sleep and I also have to have the Pain meds nightly to relax me.  I am just concern about the amount of time that it will take me to fully recover.
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Avatar universal
I had cervical fusion feb 06 fron of my neck c3, 4, 5 and 6 ended up with mrsa in the inscions site and in my lungs after 6 months went back to work even though the pain never got better, was told that it did not heal and that now i needed to have it done again, but this time they went from the back and did c3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 this was done in nov 07 went back to work in Jan, now I am still in severe pain have very limited movement of my neck and now they the hardware has moved and they are going to have to go back and do it all over. I just wonder if this happens alot and if it will ever be any better. I am 39 and am not able to work have 2 boys and don't reall feel like doing anything unless i take pain meds.
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508080 tn?1210791797
I had surgery on Feb. 20th and am still in pain.  They fused my C5-C6 together, utilizing a cadaver bone where my disc had ruptured so bad it couldn't be repaired.  It is now May 14th, almost 3 months after surgery and I still have a hard time getting out of bed, due to the pain and stiffness.  I take Lyrica, Oxycodone, and Oxycontin for pain.  I also take Ambien CR for sleep.  I saw my pain specialist on May 9th and he advised me that I would probably need to be on these medications for the rest of my life, as the surgery has increased my chances of getting severe arthritis in the fused area by 48%.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had a three level fusion of c5-6, c6-7, and C7-T1 on Aug. 2, 2007.  I felt great for about three weeks minus the incision pain.  Then the neck pain and shoulder pain increased.  The neurosurgeon felt this was normal healing and it would take time.  Now I have constant neck and shoulder pain, headaches, and numbness returning in my arms and hands.  My only option at this point is an epidural facet joint injection, but the insurance will not approve it.  I failed PT and pain med (Vicodin) does not do much at all to help.  Daily life increases the pain, so I am forced to feel useless because I am unable to help out around the house.  My neurosurgeon has told me that if the injections do not help, I am going to be stuck with the pain and there is nothing that can be done.  I have now started a social security disability claim because the neurosurgeon has provided no hope and just says he will support the claim.  I am only 39 years old and I feel helpless and most people do not understand what we are going through because there is not an outward injury.  My family and friends are great.  Because they are close to me, they can tell by the way I move as to how much pain I am having, but strangers are clueless.  I hope that in time someone will find an answer to all our problems.  Take care of yourselves and try to keep your spirits up.  Jo
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Avatar universal
I was injured on 09/24/2000. They fused my neck at C5-6 w/  cadaver bone, and it has been unstable since. The insurance companies tried to get me to settle quick also, but I held out. Do not settle anything until you are completely satisfied that all has been medically done that can be done. My workers comp settlement was for 6 figures, but now I would have to spend that much of my own money in medical bills to again qualify for workers comp assistance. I'm over 7 years from my injury date and still have a great deal of pain as well. I take enough Oxycodone and MS Contin to put down an elephant and still have pain. They have tried everything from PT, to facet injections, epidural injections, second opinions, accupuncture, etc, but all have failed. But don't let that discourage you, what failed for me may work for you.

The "system" is supposed to be there to help good people like us that have been paying our dues over the years. So don't feel bad about being down and receiving benefits. That's what it's there for. And don't let them talk you into a settlement until you are ready, then get what you can. My settlement is set up to pay every month for life, increasing every 5 years.
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Avatar universal
Well, I guess I'm just getting started with all the "fun." I am in the Army and I was hurt in a roadside bomb in Iraq. It herniated disc C3, C4, C5, and C6. They tried meds, PT, trigger point injections, and steroid injections and then decided I could no longer serve. So I'm currently getting a medical discharge which I'm dealing with. I'm on Vicadin for pain which I could eat like candy, but I don't like to "fly" all day so just take it at night. So my pain doc said he'd write a referral for me to give to the VA doctors when I get out of the Army to send me to neurology. My question now is, what's next? Is surgery the next step?

I know I'm going to be in pain for the rest of my life and I've accepted that but it ***** cause I'm only 28 yrs. old and I have a long life to live and I can't get worker's comp from the Army. But I can't complain cause I knew what I was getting into and I love the Army with every bone in my body and would go back to Iraq in a heartbeat.
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Avatar universal
in 2005 I had c/5-7 fused, it was pretty sucsessfull up untill now. Since early in the year I started haveing alot of familar pain in my neck, shoulders, arms and hands and continued to work untill the end of march i just got to the point where i had zero strength. I seen my neurosurgeon got an mri and found bone spurs and arthritis in the fusion site. He sent me to pain management to get a series of 3 nerve blocks meanwhile work laid me off and cancelled my ins. so i had to cancel my appts. for nerve blocks and also cant get pain meds because i cant afford the office visits. I finally listened to my wife and got my lawyer on this he also helped me get my first surgery i did not know that bone spurs and arthritis in the fusion area could be veiwed as aggravating circumstances or results of the origanal injury. Has anyone heard of this before and any idea of pain relief besides heat, ice, motrin i was on fentenayl patch and vicodin.
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Avatar universal
I just read all the comments and I am seeing a surgeon tomorrow for 4 cadaver disc replacements in C3,4,5,6. I am pretty scared to death at this point and am feeling pretty sure that surgery is not the answer. What is the point when it seems that it either does more harm than good and if it does any good, the "healing" process is so lengthy?! Oh my God!!!! What do I do? I have been in pain mgmt for 8 years and a car accident 2 months ago completely blew my discs. I have pain radiating all the way down my left arm to my hand and intermittent pain shooting down my right arm. I am a hairstylist, so this double *****! I have suffered from chronic pain for so long and I was so hopeful that I was going to get relief, and now I feel more discouraged than ever. My appt. with the surgeon is tomorrow at 1pm and now I don't feel I can trust ANYONE! I also suffer from fibromyalgia and RSD. I just try to make every day as positive as I can, but I always have a gorilla on my back. PT only worsens the pain and they told me I can't continue it....WHAT IS THE ANSWER????? I hope you are better and just try to stay as positive as you can, be patient and do anything you can do to improve your quality of life. Also, the most important thing is to surrround yourself with people who support you. My family is not understanding and think I have a drug problem because they can't see my pain....GO FIGURE. I just stay away from them and anyone else who is judgemental. I am very lucky to have a husband who suffers from chronic pain and 1000% understands. We just lean on each other.........
GOOD LUCK
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1 Comments
Please let us know. I had my 3rd fusion in 2016 and i'm in extreme pain, even to the touch. I was considering cadaver vertebrae because of a very rippled degenerated vertebrae and discs feel like they are bulging.
Thanks
Avatar universal
The point of surgery is to relieve the pressure on the discs, and the possiblility of permanent damage or paralysis.  You should get some degree of relief from the pain. No one can say how much. But at some point, your condition outweighs the choice of waiting any longer. You don't want to be paralyzed from the neck down, which another MVA could cause. Good luck girl, hang in there.
What you read hear are mostly the surgerys that go wrong. If they go right, people tend to move on, and stop posting. I'll pray that you are one of those. My replacement was cadaver bone also, and mine fused fine.

<oore....I was injured in 1991, while milking cows on a dairly. I had severe injuries to my shoulder, neck, ribs, and back. After 2 years, and surgery, worker's comp closed my claim declaring me "medically stable". They explained that didn't mean I didn't have pain, just that I wasn't going to get any better than I was at that point. I took them with an attorney, and got a settlement. Unfortunately I wasn't smart enough to hold out for future medical problems, and for medications to stabalize pain, muscle spasms etc. I wish I, and my attorney, had been smarter. Now I have a lot of other problems directly related to that injury, but can't go back on WC, and have to go thru my general health insurance, with all of the co-pays etc. Please don't do what I did! If you need more surgery, now is the time to get it, not when they have closed your claim. At your age, you may never be able to work again, so you want to be sure you will have an income if that happens.The good thing about WC income, is it isn't taxable!! Best wishes.

Maggie
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Avatar universal
I had a C4-5-6 fusion in 1999, the pain never goes away, it only gets worse. I have had some relief from PROLOTHERAPHY. There are very few doctors in the U.S. that do this. I won't name him, but one of the best is in Milwaukee, use google and start searching.
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Avatar universal
I went in on Friday and they want to do surgery on Tuesday after Labor Day.  I am not sure whether to go for a 2nd opinion or not. I have had 3 other relatives/friends who are doctors advise that I go forward and not wait and do it with this particular doctor (Dr. Holly of UCLA Neuro Center).  I went to dry cleaner today and I was blown away when she told me he is having surgery with same doctor in Oct. for her back. (not as urgent & he is so busy).  My problem is that my 'moving xray' showed that the disc was not stable.  I am 35, 115 lbs, and NEVER had a pain in my life, so to come back after my honeymoon 2 days later and find this out is so scary. We were looking to start conceiving right away and I am frightened that the pain meds will delay that. What concerns me most is the follow-up surgeries that some have to do because other discs after years - need work because of the fused ones. He is using cadver bone. I do know that you cannot be a smoker and go through fusion and that you must must must lay low for a solid month to allow fusion to heal. Anybody got any other info?
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