Cervical Fusion C3,C4,C5,C6

[rmoore007]

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.

[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

[QueenBD]

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.

[dirtforce]

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.

[Surviving613]

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%.

[JMRIZZ]

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

[Streethawk]

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.