Neck and Shoulder pain after C5-6 fusion.

[Roonie5038]

A little over a year ago, I had C5-6 fused. With a plate and screws inserted. Since then I am having trouble with pain in the neck and shoulder area just below the fusion area. I wake in the morning with a headache then turns to pain in lower neck and shoulders.
I have talked to the neurosurgeon who did the surgery and he shrugged his shoulders and said I have no idea and sent me back to my neurologist. He gave me a series of injections in both shoulders and the pain stopped for a couple days but then came right back. Then we tried massage therapy, it helps but only for a short period.Then I have to go back to the massage therapist again and again, my insurance will not pay for that. And I have tried changing my pillows on my bed and sleeping in different positions and nothing seems to help for long term.
What can I do?
Thanks
Maureen

[Sharke]

I am fused from the Occipit to the T-2.  There is a plate screwed into the back of my head at the base of my skull just above the C-spine and from there down to the T-2 it looks like a ladder of screws, rods, hardware etc.  I can not move my head in any direction.  Well 3 weeks ago today I was rear ended and the impact was pretty intense, in other words he HIT ME REAL HARD, anyway, I am now suffering from severe Whiplash and I am concerned that the hardware may be compromised, what do u think?  Please tell me ur thoughts.........it would be most appreciated.  I have tons of pain, stiffness, spasms, inflammation, etc all the symptoms of whiplash but ten fold as my spine was already in a weakened state, my main concern is the condition of the hardware.  I think if something were wrong I would definitely know it, again ur thoughts, please!!   <3

[suz1catz]

June 2015. In 2012 I had a cervical fusion of C5,c6,c7 discectomy. I have nerve pain in my neck and numbness in my arms and hands and pain. I have headaches and vocal cord damage . The nerves in my neck really fire off when I lay down so I sleep 3 hours a night. I do my PT everyday to strength  my neck muscles. I've been on so many different  medications none help because it the nerve damage from the surgery and they take part of your neck muscles and that tightens up. These nerves are dead and have no where to go. No more steroid shots doesn't work only gives up unwanted weight. The headaches and all this pain really is not a good quality of life. I've been to pain management and other doctors but no help.

[mom4kids4cats]

I am considering disability after 7 surgeries (3 cervical spine, both hands, right shoulder twice, permanent nerve damage), but can't afford to be without money for 6 months.  How will you get by? Any advice or ideas how to  survive?   Good luck and best wishes to you.

[greathope1]

This sounds like my story. But I  can hardly lift my right  arm. I feel very worried and scared that it won't  go away. I can't hardly type. I have been denied disability  twice. No income. Could use some better days.  I am hoping you are better.

[Slingerss]

I was diagnosed with Stenosis with Myelopathy over 2 years ago.  I was starting to lose function in my limbs and also had numbness tingling in all my legs and arms.   A few years earlier I had suffered a traumatic injury while doing utility line work during a wind storm.  I was hit in my bucket truck by a falling tree, and had broken my shoulder, lower back and cervical spine.  
  I got the rotator cuff fixed and it was sort of okay after that, but my degeneration in my spine was giving me a lot of problems.  The Surgeons told me that my spinal cord was starting to bleed and one trip and that would be the end of me.  <<---   He seriously told me that.    I went out and got 5 second opinions by many Spinal Surgeons.  I was about to give up when I went and had a consultation with the 5th surgeon, and I hired him.  
  My first surgery was a spinal fusion from C-3 to C-6, and it was a titanium implant of some sort.  Wish I remembered what it was called.  I know, when I saw it on X-ray I was in complete and utter HORROR at my neck.  However, I felt GREAT afterwards.  I mean really great.   The shooting pains , all over my body were immensely reduced.
  SO,  I then had my lower Lumbar done, 6 months later.  Since I had my deductible met on my insurance, wanted to get it done in the same year, so it would virtually cost me ZERO.   I think that was a disectomy(sp)?.   I had a lot more problems bouncing back from this second surgery than I did the first one.........it was SLOW going for some reason.  
   Now it has been two years since I had my two spine surgery, and 5 years since I had my shoulder fixed.  And, the last few weeks I realized I feel like utter crap.   I believe that my spine was in such terrible jeopardy that I started to lose a lot of feeling in my body.  I have never had or needed to take any pain medication after surgery, or at any other time. But, now my neck is hurting.  I touch my jaw, or my neck at C3 and it is excruciating.  It feels inflamed, and very painful to the touch.   I am getting severe headaches, throbbing in my neck, pain in my neck so severe I can't sleep or get comfortable. I went over to get a cervical pillow today to see if its my pillow.  Also my legs hurt.  I feel like every single bone in my body hurts.  I even have an ear ache, and the bones in my face hurt.  
  I am actually getting pretty worried. Because what happens if this titanium in my neck fails?  
I ended up retiring from my job with 30+ years and they gave me my pension.  They also gave me a 100% disability within 30 days of applying for it at the Social Security Administration.  I think that scared me even more.........because maybe I am actually DYING.  I always hear it took YEARS to get it and I got it in 30 days?  
  At this point, I think I am more afraid to go see a Dr than to just give up and live my life the best that I can while I have the chance to.  I think eventually I will be immobilized and confined to a wheelchair.  I hope not, but I suspect that is where my future is going.  
  

[Slingerss]

You should always get a second opinion.  Always.