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problems after a neck fusion
is anyone out there that has had a fusion and isn't better? im going through hell trying to defend myself to attorney's and dr's.they tell me its all in my head and im faking it! I was struck by a fork lift while grocery shoppin and fractured 2 bones in my back and have numerous disk problems.I had fusion c-4 c-5 and now im worse!! please if anyone couls tell me their stories and prepare me for whats to come please,please contact me.***@**** my name is sheryl.I know im not crazy.I take muscle relaxers and pain pills now for 2 years and my pain is worse since the horrible surgery,i feel a hard extremely painful lump right above the site i had operated on and twitching,numbeness,headaches,swallowing issues and i can go on and on.I will listen to all that is offered.thank you.
I can relate to you very much. I too had a fusion done in April of 2014 and am worse off now than before. Had disk disease and it would ache in winter but injured my arm at work Ortho said had to fix nerves in neck before could fix arm. The doctor explained nothing, sent me home with no caregiver ( I live alone and know no one) Now I get headaches that make it where I am always wearing my sunglasses. Never had any low back aches but now cannot even stand to wash dishes without having to sit down due to the pain. I too feel as if I went through this for nothing due to the fact my numbness in my fingers is back and I hurt constantly and if I had it to do over again I NEVER would of let him touch me.
This study followed fused patients for 11 years post fusion, and compared to a similar group that was treated with medication only.
The result -- no difference in outcome.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24200413
Avoid surgery unless absolutely necessary to protect the cord and long ligaments.
The result -- no difference in outcome.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24200413
Avoid surgery unless absolutely necessary to protect the cord and long ligaments.
I had a two level cervical fusion done in 2008 -6 and a half years ago. I am a 20 year veteran nurse and no longer practice. I am determined to enjoy my life.
I have daily pain but I only take naproxyn when I need it -as soon as I need it, and I hit the pain hard and fast. I dont take it regularly-maybe for three or four days religiously then I taper off (about three or four times a year-sometimes more if I'm particularly active. I have not taken pain meds since 2008. Its not that I dont have pain-but I tolerate it better now than I did back then, and I know to rest when I need it. Usually I lay down once a day for about 15 minutes to get me through until night. At night I hurt awfully but If my dear husband will rub my skin anywhere for 5 minutes, I will focus on that sensation instead of the pain-and I will fall asleep. It is a skill I have perfected. Sometimes I use music to distract myself so I can sleep.
Most of my limbs are numb and I have difficulty grasping things and sometimes drop pots, but essentially, I am functional. I have three adopted kids and 2 foster toddlers. I am 49 years old. I ruptured L1 in my early thirtys, and L4-5-S1 -along with the cervical, when a 300 lb. patient fell and I tried to lower him with my body to the ground. Stupid-but I guess I would still do it again because he would have hit hard. Thats what we nurses do.
I still drive, turning my whole body to see, but not daily if I can help it. By the end of the day, I am pretty hunched over but the bed feels so good...
All this to say that it gets better. My family is supportive, and my husband hates that I will push myself sometimes, but he knows that my stubborness is why I am still functioning because he can see the pain and the problems that are occuring because of the disability. Things such as, my memory has been drastically affected by the constant pain. Memory problems that cause me to book and pay for two hotels for the same night and overspend-something I would never do before. I will be talking and the pain will shoot across my body in a wave and I will forget what I am saying. this is getting better now though. I think my nervous system has been in so much pain that it doesnt work as well as it used to and consequently, I dont get all the sensation of pain that I used to get.
The last time I went to the doctor, he diagnosed me with rheumatoid arthritis with thrombocytosis. I'm staying away from doctors.now. I dont complain if I can help it. I believe that God has a purpose for my life and I refuse to lay down and give up. I know, by my pain, that there is more of the same in the future, but I'm not wasting my time sitting in a doctors office anymore. I realize there really isnt much that anyone can do, so I make the best of the situation and plunge forward. I pray that many of you get strength to do the same by reading this post.
Life is good....
BTW, my daughter gave birth to twins last week and I was there to cut the cords: a boy and a girl!
I have daily pain but I only take naproxyn when I need it -as soon as I need it, and I hit the pain hard and fast. I dont take it regularly-maybe for three or four days religiously then I taper off (about three or four times a year-sometimes more if I'm particularly active. I have not taken pain meds since 2008. Its not that I dont have pain-but I tolerate it better now than I did back then, and I know to rest when I need it. Usually I lay down once a day for about 15 minutes to get me through until night. At night I hurt awfully but If my dear husband will rub my skin anywhere for 5 minutes, I will focus on that sensation instead of the pain-and I will fall asleep. It is a skill I have perfected. Sometimes I use music to distract myself so I can sleep.
Most of my limbs are numb and I have difficulty grasping things and sometimes drop pots, but essentially, I am functional. I have three adopted kids and 2 foster toddlers. I am 49 years old. I ruptured L1 in my early thirtys, and L4-5-S1 -along with the cervical, when a 300 lb. patient fell and I tried to lower him with my body to the ground. Stupid-but I guess I would still do it again because he would have hit hard. Thats what we nurses do.
I still drive, turning my whole body to see, but not daily if I can help it. By the end of the day, I am pretty hunched over but the bed feels so good...
All this to say that it gets better. My family is supportive, and my husband hates that I will push myself sometimes, but he knows that my stubborness is why I am still functioning because he can see the pain and the problems that are occuring because of the disability. Things such as, my memory has been drastically affected by the constant pain. Memory problems that cause me to book and pay for two hotels for the same night and overspend-something I would never do before. I will be talking and the pain will shoot across my body in a wave and I will forget what I am saying. this is getting better now though. I think my nervous system has been in so much pain that it doesnt work as well as it used to and consequently, I dont get all the sensation of pain that I used to get.
The last time I went to the doctor, he diagnosed me with rheumatoid arthritis with thrombocytosis. I'm staying away from doctors.now. I dont complain if I can help it. I believe that God has a purpose for my life and I refuse to lay down and give up. I know, by my pain, that there is more of the same in the future, but I'm not wasting my time sitting in a doctors office anymore. I realize there really isnt much that anyone can do, so I make the best of the situation and plunge forward. I pray that many of you get strength to do the same by reading this post.
Life is good....
BTW, my daughter gave birth to twins last week and I was there to cut the cords: a boy and a girl!
Has anyone had their hardware removed with no issues? I had a spinal fusion in 1995 on C4-6 with a plate and again in 2010 on C3-T1. I have 2 rods a plate and 14 screws. I have very little pain but some of the screws are loose and causing problems in my facet joints at C6-T1 and C2-3 has narrowing in the foramen. Also my hands and arms are going numb and I get this weird sensation when I turn my head.The Dr. Said he can take the two rods out because they are causing problems but he's going to leave the plate since it's not a problem.
Hey Fred,
When you settled your comp did you give up medical? I am curious who is paying for your current treatment. I was fused a year ago 2 level - arm pain decreased immediately but I am still dealing with chronic bone pain near the fusion area as well as spasms - I also developed throat issues that cause a gag reflex if I bend forward for more than a few seconds or lightly press on throat area. I also get violent sharp pains that come and go and in new spots along the ulnar distributuin
When you settled your comp did you give up medical? I am curious who is paying for your current treatment. I was fused a year ago 2 level - arm pain decreased immediately but I am still dealing with chronic bone pain near the fusion area as well as spasms - I also developed throat issues that cause a gag reflex if I bend forward for more than a few seconds or lightly press on throat area. I also get violent sharp pains that come and go and in new spots along the ulnar distributuin
just above c67 you had done is it burn and shock filling if yes your c56 is bad and you do not wont to touch dis you will never get batter try laser spine if any thing
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