Post surgical pain after cervical disc replacement

[Tammyin Saipan]

Pain after having an artificial disc replacement~
I had ruptured discs at c5, c6, c7 and the surgery was to use an artificial disc at c6 to alleviate pain.
Right after surgery, I felt great, but about 2 years post surgery, started having pain again.
Now, and dealing with severe headaches that start at the base of my skull, and are like tension headaches.
Also, severe muscle spasms in upper back and shoulder areas (both sides) that are not responding to muscle relaxers, exercise, massage, or ultra sound therapy.
Help! Need some advice!
Had an MRI and MRA about 3 weeks ago, that show no reason in the brain as to why I am having such bad headaches, there is no rhyme or reason to the episodes either.
They can happen in an instant and can go away quickly or linger for a day or two.
The disc is the Prestige artificial disc, and I am involved in a study group.
The doctor that did the surgery says that the pain I am experiencing is not from the disc itself, so he is no help.
I feel like my shoulder and the sides of my neck are constantly tensed up, and I can crack or pop my neck sometimes and that relieves the pressure, but some days, the pain is so intense, I just want to take something to make it all go away!
I do have an office job, but try to get up and walk around the office often, and I do exercise often, walking, SCUBA diving, light weight lifting.
Any suggestions would be great!
Thanks

[Louosmundson]

Hey Everyone,

The doctors made me feel like an idiot but finding this forum, I realized that I am not the only one (in a weird way, I feel so relived that I a not alone). I was injured at work in mid June of 2013 which rendered me with absolutely no feeling in my left arm (as a musician, this took away something near and dear to my heart) and partial feeling in my right arm , between June and October I was under the care of workmans comp and for the entire time they treated me for a pulled muscle or  strain, the doctors a lot kept me in work without a care (I work in a warehouse where lifting is my main objective, so you could image how that went). After multiple X-rays, "second opinions'' PT visits and epidural injections they finally did an MRI which reviled that I had 4 ruptured/Herniated discs and crushed nerves. At this point workman comp and the doctors had suggested a full disc replacement. I fully accepted the offer after being in so much pain for so long, On November 18th I had the surgery for only one disc out of the 4 , thinking all was going to be alright- about 3 weeks following the surgery I felt a pop or break in my neck and the pain instantaneously returned, at my follow up appointment the doctors told me that it was normal sent me on my way and back to work. The following weeks produced more intense pain, headaches, vomiting, fevers, sweating and dizzy spells until I couldn't handle it any more. I went back to the doctors and he did an xray to find that the disc has shifted and dislocated. My workmans comp rep is now sending me to another doctor and this doctor is saying that there is nothing wrong with me and and the disc is fine. I guess what I'm trying to say is I am scare, and I am in pain and I feel like I am falling apart. this injury is ruining my life, my marriage and ruining my life with my daughter. I just do not know what to do anymore.

[Keitkris]

I had c56 disc replacement in February 2013.  Surgery was great I don't have numbness tingling or pain in shoulder or back, but I had cracking and popping constantly in neck and aches in my head near where the skull meets the neck. Weirdness thing right after surgery, I would go to bed fall asleep, move and not right after but 3oo 4sec later my neck would pop. So loud my husband could hear it.  It seemed to have gone away 6 months after but has now returned since I have started doing more activities. To help .  I go back to what the pt told me in stretching my neck.  It helps instantly rid me of headaches. Sometimes I have to do it for awhile but it is worth it.   The stretch is simply pulling you chin up and back to the back of ur head. U can feel the stretch  Kinda like someone is pulling your jaw from the back. Posture has a lot to do with how you feel. Keep your shoulders down and head pulled up.  If you are on a device  or phone all day looking down. I found I have more headaches. Try keeping head and eyes forward.  Riding the lawn mower also bothers me with the bumpy ride so I have decided it isn't worth it.  You now have to limit yourself on activities.  Never thought I would have to do that.  It has only been 8 months. But I am trying to get stronger with  exercise and I believe it helps   I am hoping I will feel normal again soon.  Just keep trying to strengthen your muscles .  

[painintheneck357]

I hope you check back and let everyone know the outcome. Alot of us are going though the same thing and same tests.

[kamenn19]

Had a constant knot on my right shoulder and started to get tingling down my right arm.  MRI showed herniated disc between C6 & C7, so, had the Prestige cervical disc surgery in April of 2009, four years ago.  Knot is gone and tingling is better.  Prior to the surgery the doctor had put me on Valium to help alleviate muscle tension, which did help.  After the surgery the doctor switched me to Klonopin, a different Benzodiazepine.  While these medications do help, I strongly urge you to research the long term effects of the family of Benzos.   I found this web site: http://www.benzo.org.uk/ that really help me wean off of Klonopin, which after four years had taken over my life.  I’ve been off of the Benzos for 4 months.  I feel more lucid, but the headaches have gotten much worse.  I initially thought the Artificial disc was the root cause of my headaches, but after reading everyone’s entries, It appears these headaches occur with fusion too.  I find the longer I lay my head down the worse my headaches last, much the same as krazeekook4u’s May 12, 2010 entry states.  If anyone has a non-medication cure for the headaches please post it ASAP.  thnx

[campjuls]

Had cervical ACD using Pro-disc C at C5/C6 on 12/19/12.  I'm a Dentist and "head forward" posture is how the majority of my work day is spent.  After the surgery, I had pain/stiffness as to be expected and took 3 weeks off from work. I can say with confidence that after 7 months I can function at work and play without pain.  I do not work out with heavy weights anymore, but instead stretch daily.  I also use a home device called the " posture pump" for about 15 minutes every other night.  The thing that was hardest for me was knowing that I literally "broke my neck" due to my workaholism and bad posture.  Everyone on this blog with pain remember to arm yourself with 2 things; knowledge and persistence.  If your pain is real and your surgeon or family Doctor wishes not to acknowledge it then move on.  Do not watch and wait as this is what resulted in chronic irreversible damage to your spine.  Find someone certified and well educated to review your MRIs/ x-rays, preferably someone that is not involved in capitalizing on your procedures!  With all that said, trust your gut and listen to your body.  Use medication as a temporary solution while relentlessly pursuing a CURE

[writerman45]

My wife had an accident 20 yrs ago and had c5 c6 replacement 1 & 1/2 yrs ago. She had 9-10 pains in arms, shoulders, scapulas, with some numbness just before surgery but now the numbness is gone but she has 2-3 pains everywhere. How much time elapsed between your injury and your surgery? - I suspect that the longer that period is, the longer the recovery.

[lonnie17]

Hi there thank you for you post. I have been scrolling thru trying to find the most recent post that is similar to my own situation. I had c5,6,7 neck fustion - titanium plate & 6 bolts with spreading and cleaning out of discs cemented with cadaver ground bone on Aug 20, 2012. I did not have an accident... just usage, work and genes. Now 4mo's post surgery I am experiencing now and for the past two months acute spasms behind my neck that radiates out to the ears. Plus right should pain/ache down to my fingers, etc... My Neuro says that I'm fitting into the 20% of patients that have this done and have this problem. He said it's my muscles and related it to a lady who wears stilettos all her life and then goes to flats. That the muscles regect the idea of not having to work so hard, better room for them and try to stay where they have been trained to be over the years. I have an extension from him from work for another 12 wks. I sure hope I feel better by then. I miss my job and co-workers, feel guilty all the time and most the time feel alone in this situation. I have never taken pills before or had any type of medical problem. I'm 60 going on 30 and have always been active. Such a drag. I read the posts just so I can find that tunnel of light from someone in our situation that has broken thru the post surgery pain and are now doing great! So if there is anyone out there that is doing great now, let us know. I'm just looking for a timeline to recovery.