Anyone, pain after C5-6-7 ACDF?

[slipnslide]

I had C5-6-7 ACDF surgery back on 6/22/06. Wore my Philly collar and did no lifting as instructed. Six weeks ago the collar came off and I started PT. I was started off with range of motion and gravity resistance exercises which immediately triggered the neck, shoulder, and arm, and upper back pain. My OS stated that the surgery was to alleviate the shoulder and arm pain. Here it is 3 months after surgery and my neck pain is constant and worse. I've been having the shoulder pain with the shooting pain down my upper arms with any repetitive motion (such as PT, washing dishes, scrubbing shower/bath) and it takes 3 days of doing absolutely nothing before it calms back down. I can tilt my head back ever so slightly before it becomes painful and turn it side-to-side 30% in either direction, but I can look down pretty well even with the fusion. Both hands are still tingling, but the intensity and achiness has increased.

The Physical therapist has sent me back to the OS because of the symptoms I was having. I've agreed to try (in the next week or two) facet ESI's, in hopes that it will increase my ability to turn and tilt my head. Backing a car out of a parking space has become down-right unsafe! My OS also mentioned getting an MRI to see if something could be causing the pains.

Has anyone else experienced the same thing just a few months out of surgery? How long does it take for the shoulder/arm pains to subside? What is normal and what is not normal 3 months after surgery? I'd like to think that this is not the way I am going to stay. Any and all insight would be greatly appreciated cuz I sure could use as much information as I can get.

Thanks,

Kim

[ValerieMor]

Kim,
I am soo sorry you are still having pain after surgery.. I have occasional shoulder and neck pain if I overdue it or sleep wrong. I also have muscle spasms down the left side of my neck. Still have weakness in my left arm. NS said it would take up to a year to get the strength back. I am doing my own PT exercises at home. My biggest complaint is not having Motrin.. ugh! I lived on it before surgery. Tylenol does nothing.. Hang in there! Let me know how you are doing
Valerie

[painfree]

I had C5-6-7 ACDF surgery back on 6/22/06. Wore my Philly collar and did no lifting as instructed. Six weeks ago the collar came off and I started PT. I was started off with range of motion and gravity resistance exercises which immediately triggered the neck, shoulder, and arm, and upper back pain. My OS stated that the surgery was to alleviate the shoulder and arm pain. Here it is 3 months after surgery and my neck pain is constant and worse. I've been having the shoulder pain with the shooting pain down my upper arms with any repetitive motion (such as PT, washing dishes, scrubbing shower/bath) and it takes 3 days of doing absolutely nothing before it calms back down. I can tilt my head back ever so slightly before it becomes painful and turn it side-to-side 30% in either direction, but I can look down pretty well even with the fusion. Both hands are still tingling, but the intensity and achiness has increased.

The Physical therapist has sent me back to the OS because of the symptoms I was having. I've agreed to try (in the next week or two) facet ESI's, in hopes that it will increase my ability to turn and tilt my head. Backing a car out of a parking space has become down-right unsafe! My OS also mentioned getting an MRI to see if something could be causing the pains.

Has anyone else experienced the same thing just a few months out of surgery? How long does it take for the shoulder/arm pains to subside? What is normal and what is not normal 3 months after surgery? I'd like to think that this is not the way I am going to stay. Any and all insight would be greatly appreciated cuz I sure could use as much information as I can get.

Thanks,

Kim
Kim,

I am a Myofascial Trigger Point therapist. I have treated patients post C5-6-7 ACDF surgery. What you describe may be from Myofascial Trigger points in the muscles on the neck. If you try to stretch these muscles without releasing the trigger points first then you may just making things worse with traditional PT.

I found this web site you may be interested in reviewing. I have no connection with this web site.
http://www.round-earth.com/HeadPainIntro.html

Best Wishes

[Kathi49]

Painfree,

That was interesting. I am going to send it to a friend of mine. I had the dreaded cervicogenic with variant migraine pain and/or occipital neuralgia. But it was caused by my C3/C4. A fusion took care of those headaches! But I did want to say that traditional PT did not help me either. After my fusion I had spasms that Kim is sort of referencing here. I did have a PT use some kind of tool on those trigger points and it took awhile to get those knots out. After that I had a massage therapist just do the trapezius and rhomboid muscles about every two weeks for about 2 months. And that pretty much took care of everything until the C5/C6 acted up. I am almost certain, like Kim, that these muscles will get tight again. But at least now I know what to do. Sometimes I wonder if the collars they give us to wear don't add to the problem. At times they work wonders when you are tired and can kind of rest your neck muscles. At other times I think they hold your head too upright and increase tension. But then again, I could be wrong. It is just that when I get a tenseness in my neck while wearing the collar, I will take it off just to stretch...very little. It seems to help. Thanks for the article!

[slipnslide]

I'm going to need to do some searching locally to find out if anyone in my area is skilled at it....I'll try just about anything at this point...I need relief and need to regain my range of motion in order to be able to funtion daily. I guess the question I should be asking now is, does insurance cover this the same as they cover PT???

Thanks,

Kim

[Domzy]

Kim,

So glad I found the site again. Oh yeah, still having pain. Mine is a little weird, it's definitely activity related. I can go a couple of days and have little or no pain. Then wham, I vacuum or do whatever to set the pain off. It's frustrating! I felt better after my C-6/7 then I do now with the C-5/6. Tylenol does nothing for this pain! I take flexeril and that helps a little. I've already been released from the surgeon, I should be fine, hehe... NOT.

Im thankful I found the site again, no one understands the pain unless you have gone thru it!

Kathy

[ejbpesca]

I have been in pain since ACDF 5-6-7 back in 04..my lumbar is shot too but the pain generated from my neck is very different than what it was pre op. It is deeper, more central, and radiates up my neck to the head and spreads across the top back.

I've talked about it with doc. No suggestions. I just take a pill in the afternoon to get a vacation from it..need one quick too.

PT? Lord. They never prescribed any PT for me where I had to exercise at all. It may be due to the extent of the damage?..dunno. I got my neck rubbed on and head moved around to break up some scar tissue but that was it. They act as though I should do just about nothing. I've learned to take it easy but of course I can do nothing.

Oh...one old symptom is back. When I outreach my arms to do something..say wash dishes at a sink, my back feels immediately as though I have a bad sunburn...weird.

All I would say to an ACDF person is especially if they told you how extensive the damage was and if you are over 50...like me, that two month recovery thing is BS. It was a year for me to get where I could do anything without hurting myself and I know I'll never be right again but I am trying to adapt. Just trying to deal with that everyday.

Good luck to you and may you get relief soon!
jb

[slipnslide]

JB,

That upper back sunburn feeling never left me, but they also told me prior to surgery that my neck and back would get no relief from the surgery...oh well....lol

I'm at a loss as to what to try. Bottom line is that I need mobility, range of motion, and sleep to function on a daily basis cuz my only other option is to give up and lay down and die. So, for now, I'm gonna fight this as long as I can or at least learn to deal with pain better.

By the way, if you order tea in the north, watch out cuz they will most likely bring you a cup of hot tea!....lol

Best wishes,

Kim

[nomoalki]

I' so glad i am not alone. I had C5-6 fusion 3 weeks ago. My doctor
said I would not need a collar. Stayed on meds for 4 days after return home and slept 16 hours a day. After post-op check I let my doctor know that the pain that was the reason for the surgery, which was in my left shoulder and arm seems to have moved to the right side. Any minimal effort is exhausting. Taking a drink without a straw entails me holding on to my neck and poring it in my mouth sideways. Would love to have more info as my doc says lets see what happens after rotator surgery, which by the way is in my left arm......:eek: :rolleyes:

[snoozie]

Hi N, I had surgery at the same levels as you and I wonder why your doc would not put you in a collar. Did you have one on when you woke up from surgery? I remember when I would take mine off to air out my neck it hurt to even hold my head up. I think I wore it for about 2-3 weeks then when I was in a car for another month or so.

I also had rotator cuff surgery the next month after my ACDF. I would not recommend it. I was still so sore from the cervical surgery that it made it difficult to do PT for my shoulder. I think that is alot of the reason why I still have pain and reduced range of motion in my shoulder.

Give yourself time to heal, take things slow for as long as you can to give your neck the time it needs to fuse. I think it is around 6 months but not sure on that. I think that is when the doc said I was fused. This was in 04 and with my brain I can barely remember my name sometimes :D

Hope you feel better soon and it will come although it doesn't seem like it now. Oh and were you in an MVA? SOunds so familiar with the cervical/shoulder combo...Sue:)

[GJZH]

Did any of you have a 360 or just the front done? I think and this is just my opinion, of course, that when the docs do these surgeries, they should fuse the back of the neck as well. I am not going to tell you that it is not painful to have the back of your neck cut open and fused, but there are bone spurs that contribute to the neck and shoulder and arm pain I am certain. My surgeon went into the back and fused with rods and screws. It was a very painful surgery, but I woke up with no pain ...The only problem now is that I am experiencing more degeneration and pain again. I also just read a study that you experience the dominoe effect more quickly with a 360 (round the world) because the fusion is more rigid. I see my surgeon in August for re-evaluation for surgery again. We knew C3 was diseased before this fusion, but it was not symptomatic. He only did a microdiscetomy at C7 too which I think has reherniated because my fingers are going numb again. I am now showing disease at C2 though. I dread more surgery however and do not know if I would allow it so soon.

[besharpone]

I had C5-6-7 ACDF surgery back on 6/22/06. Wore my Philly collar and did no lifting as instructed. Six weeks ago the collar came off and I started PT. I was started off with range of motion and gravity resistance exercises which immediately triggered the neck, shoulder, and arm, and upper back pain. My OS stated that the surgery was to alleviate the shoulder and arm pain. Here it is 3 months after surgery and my neck pain is constant and worse. I've been having the shoulder pain with the shooting pain down my upper arms with any repetitive motion (such as PT, washing dishes, scrubbing shower/bath) and it takes 3 days of doing absolutely nothing before it calms back down. I can tilt my head back ever so slightly before it becomes painful and turn it side-to-side 30% in either direction, but I can look down pretty well even with the fusion. Both hands are still tingling, but the intensity and achiness has increased.

The Physical therapist has sent me back to the OS because of the symptoms I was having. I've agreed to try (in the next week or two) facet ESI's, in hopes that it will increase my ability to turn and tilt my head. Backing a car out of a parking space has become down-right unsafe! My OS also mentioned getting an MRI to see if something could be causing the pains.

Has anyone else experienced the same thing just a few months out of surgery? How long does it take for the shoulder/arm pains to subside? What is normal and what is not normal 3 months after surgery? I'd like to think that this is not the way I am going to stay. Any and all insight would be greatly appreciated cuz I sure could use as much information as I can get.

Thanks,

Kim

I had a 2 level ACDF With Instrumentation done on May 9th of this year.
Prior to the surgery, I had severe pain in my neck, shoulders, traps and upper back. I also had severe burning in my neck and back, along tingling and cramps in my traps and fingers on my right hand.

I had almost zero range when attempting to touch ear to shoulder on either side and had very little range when rotating my head to the right, but a bit more when rotating my head to the left and up and down.

I have had a degenerative disk condition throughout my spine for about 15 years...at least that is when it was first noticed. Ocassionaly, I would have problems, but after a week off from work and medication, I would usually be functional without pain again.

In October or November of this year, the symptoms became quite severe and the remdies used in the past would not help. I was missing a lot of work because my condition was being even more aggravated by the work that I do. After physical therapy and many tests and forms of treatment, they realized that the problem was due to 2 cervical disks in particular. They were severly degenerated.

Well, after having surgery in May, I figured everything would be ok and I could resume a normal life again.

I wore a soft collar for 2 months and based on the advice from the doctor, I only took it off when I showered and never tested my neck while having it off.

At my first follow up, the doctor seemed surprised that my condition had not improved even a bit from what is was prior to the surgery and stated that I should be ready to go back to work with restrictions.

He never actually examined my neck to determine how restrictive it was until I told him that there was no way that I could go back to work with my neck the way that it was. He had me go to physical therapy for a month, assuming that I just had some stiffness from wearing the collar.

After a month of physical therapy, nothing changed. The therapist was surprised that the therapy did not work, based on the assumption that my problem was related to the surgery and the collar.

When I went in for my next follow up, I explained to the doctor that absolutely nothing has changed and he looks at the x-rays and says that everything is healing fine and totally ignores my concerns and complaints for the most part and only says that maybe it will take a bit more time.

I get the impression that he thinks because he performed the surgery and everything looks ok, then there can't be a problem. He never examed my neck to determine what might be the issue and basically ignored the final eval provided by the therapist which show his concerns.

He sends me back to work with only a limited lifting restriction in spite of my complaints that the repetative motion of my neck will present the same problems that brought me to surgery in the first place.

Now that I have gone back to work, my symptoms have gotten much worse precisely because of all of the repetitive bending and twifting of my neck.

I was frustrated to the point that I sought a second opinion, but the second doctor was reluctant to say anything contrary to the opinion of the first doctor. He only did the standard strength test and basically ignored my complaints about the pain, tingling and lack of range of motion.

He said that since I had very serious surgery, I couldn't expect everything to be ok in only 3 months...that it could take up to a year, but if it was not better in 6 months after the surgery, then it probably wouldn't get any better.

He too, completely ignored my question as to why I feel no relief whatsoever and whether or not there could be other issues that are beyond the scope of the surgery.

Needless to say, I left there even more frustrated.

Now, I am left with going to see my family doctor to ask for advice on what direction to go in to get someone to find out what is causing my continued problem.

He is usually pretty helpful in that he listens, shows concern and asks for your opinion on anything that he might suggest, unlike the surgeon, where there is very little interaction between us.

Sorry...I know that you were asking for insight that might help you with your situation. I just wanted you to know that we are in the same boat pretty much.

[happy face]

hi all lam seeking answers !!!!!! and found this site and how funny it is to read all your comments, and its like reading my life . Well l had my first c5c6 op in 2001 then my c3c4 went and had an op in sep 27 2006 and now my life is a living hell . lm a 42 yr old male l worked in my own restaurant and interacted with people every day and had 80 staff under me and was always doing something with my girls .But know like all of you there is nothing in my life but PAIN PAIN PAIN . And yes you tell your doctor and they can't even look at you in the eyes and they tell you your xrays look good as you sit there Dun founded in Bloody Pain . The pain in my left arm is so bad it leaves me in tears then the right arm follows . The pain starts down the back of my arms to my albow and then down to my fingers . l receive sharp pain in my index fingers and thumbs and the rest go numb . When that starts then l get very sharp pain in to my legs . lf l sweep or mop or tidy up it flairs up bad and need to sit down for an hour and half and if l get anger with my self and do more it knocks me out for 3 to 4 day strait and when l rest l get very bad spasmus as well .l dont sleep well and wake up all through out the night , but hell starts in the morning as my arms stiffens up and my fingers lock up and it takes me hours to get them moving or just rase my arms over my head and the tell us it all looks good on the xrays . Well to hell with the xray we need answers not just been pinny pigs . This is not the way to live like this so lam seeking answers and to research and l need your help . On the out side we look good on the inside it hell there has to be a way or some one willing to try something because it better then sitting at home doing nothing and to live it there way can you guys help me !!!!!!!!!!!:grouphug::

[kross426]

I am now wishing I had a 360. I had a C5-C7 ACDF 5/2006 and am now in pain again. My fear is now they'll have to go posterior and/or get spurs out etc. I'm doing Epidural Steroid injections right now but round 1 didn't do much, if anything. Plus having lubmar issues as well.

[slipnslide]

I can't believe how many of us have the same story and same symptoms:grouphug:. Sad thing is, I still have no answers, other than my PM said at my last visit, "it could just be permanent nerve damage":eek:.

Best wishes all,
Kim

[printerhead]

Hi All!
I had ACDF on C5/6 6/7 on Feb 14th of 2007. I have been back to work since 3 weeks after the surgery. I am a printer and do heavy work with lots of stooping bending twisting, etc. I have muscle spasms about once every 2 weeks, and Ibuprofen usually does it, if not, vicodin works well. My fusion was different in that it did not use any bone. They used cages and plates, and removed a lot of bone spurs as well. I never had to wear a collar, and albeit a bit uncomfortable for the first 2 nights, I slept in my own bed with regular pillows starting the day after my surgery. I wish more neuro surgeons would use this technique as I am feeling very sorry for those of you who have pain still. I can make my xrays available if you ask me, and you can show them to your docs...maybe that will help.
Hang in there,
Dave:)

[stiffnecked]

I had an ACDF C5-6-7 in 8-05. Nothing but pain ever since. I love my pain. It lets me know that I am still alive. If I didn't have the pain I might be eatin' dirt and breathing stale air. I take the pills even though they don't work. It makes the doctor feel better.
He thinks he's helping me. Oh well, it could be worse.

[khontz]

Had my C-5/6/7 ACDF on Wednesday (12/19) and am struggling with some after surgery issues which I just can't seem to get a grip on.

My biggest issue is swallowing - I just can't seem to swallow anyone more than sips of liquid & sherbet. I have been doing soup brothe, applesauce, pudding too but anything of substance is torture.

This becomes a HUGE problem when having to taken medication.

Due to a TBI in 1998 I'm on a regular dose of Neuronton. This first couple of days in the hospital they wouldn't give me the Neuronton - then finally they did. Now I have to crush all 4 pills and mix it with applesauce or pudding. It is so difficult to swallow and get down - it is total gag situation - which causes intense pain to the neck.

Anyone else out there experience the throat issues? Advice? I've also been sucking on Halls like they are going out of style - just to keep swallowing.

[stiffnecked]

Yes, the throat issue is very normal. My issues were very intense for the first 9 weeks.
Once the surgeon actually explained how they do the surgery it helped me understand the throat issues. After they intubate you and open your neck up retractors are used to pull the trachea to the side and out of the way. They put major stress on those areas.

2 1/2 years later I am still having swallowing problems but I think now it is mainly related to the placement of the plate and screws.

Give it some time and it will probably get better. But right now your feeling what you should...

[Redhotbeads]

I had my ACDF C6-7 w/ instrumentation on 12/13. Swallowing was a challenge for the first week, but it got better rapidly for me after that point. It was tough to swallow the meds, too. I still have a bit of a lump in my throat that makes swallowing a little hard sometimes, but it's not painful or insurmountable in the least.

For the most part I don't have any more pain. My ROM is good. My doctor ordered no driving til 6 weeks and no lifting over 2 lbs until that time as well - very conservative but I think he has his reasons.

I sucked on ice chips for quite some time after surgery and also ate italian ice - it helped my swallowing considerably.

Good luck.
Kell

Had my C-5/6/7 ACDF on Wednesday (12/19) and am struggling with some after surgery issues which I just can't seem to get a grip on.

My biggest issue is swallowing - I just can't seem to swallow anyone more than sips of liquid & sherbet. I have been doing soup brothe, applesauce, pudding too but anything of substance is torture.

This becomes a HUGE problem when having to taken medication.

Due to a TBI in 1998 I'm on a regular dose of Neuronton. This first couple of days in the hospital they wouldn't give me the Neuronton - then finally they did. Now I have to crush all 4 pills and mix it with applesauce or pudding. It is so difficult to swallow and get down - it is total gag situation - which causes intense pain to the neck.

Anyone else out there experience the throat issues? Advice? I've also been sucking on Halls like they are going out of style - just to keep swallowing.

[beachbumz757]

I had ACDF surgery on 12-13-07. My symptoms before surgery were severe headaches, pain radiating from my neck down my right arm extending to my index finger and thumb, and muscle spasms in my right and left shoulders. Now after surgery I have muscle spasms and neck pain from the titainium plates and screws. Its no where as bad as what I had before, I will never as of yet regret the surgery. My question to anyone who has had this surgery is how long were you prescribed pain meds afterwards. As of today its 3 weeks after the surgery and I called for a refill of my vicodin, my doctor personally called me back and wanted to know why it still hurts!!!! After reading all your replies it looks to me that its normal to have this pain, part of healing. He is calling me in some ultracet and skelaxin, hes not thrilled at all over the pain med STILL as he stated. Is 3 weeks the going rate for expected pain relief from these guys? Just curious what your experience with this situation may be.

[beachbumz757]

I didnt have the traditional collar either. I had a soft foam looking thing, like you would see someone where for whiplash. He said I didnt need the other collar. A friend had the same surgery as you and me, same branch diff doc, and she was given the hard like collar.

[Redhotbeads]

I had a collar when i came out of surgery and for my night in the hospital, but took it off when I got home. I only wore it for one short car ride and one pre-Christmas trip into the grocery store.

Beachbum, I had surgery same day as you. My pain wasn't as bad pre-op as yours was - numb fingers, pains down the arms-- but not to the extent of yours. At the three week mark, I'm not having trouble with pain much, just muscle spasms in my left shoulder (all my trouble was on the right). I take Flexeril for that, no problems for the most part. I do still have the throat lump sometimes and that bugs me.

I don't regret this surgery either, at this point ... I'd do it again. Things so far at the three-week mark are going well and I am thankful for that!!

Good luck,
Kelly


I didnt have the traditional collar either. I had a soft foam looking thing, like you would see someone where for whiplash. He said I didnt need the other collar. A friend had the same surgery as you and me, same branch diff doc, and she was given the hard like collar.

[jreed55]

Hi there... I am 33 and I just had my fusion done on 12/17/07 at C5-6. Before this surgery I suffered from blinding headaches, facial pain, shoulder pain (mostly on the right), breathing problems (I would wake up barely breathing), muscle spasms in my face usually under my eyes, temporary loss of sight in one eye, loss of balance, passing out due to the loss of balance loss of bladder control (and this happened at work and my son's very first football game) and numbness in my arms and legs. I went through years of Dr. visits and had been given several different diagnoses and all different medications. Sept. 3rd of 07 I was fed up after loosing the bladder and eyesight within a 2 day span. I dragged my parts to the ER where this neurologist that I no longer see suggested that I get tested for MS and that I follow up with him. He sent me for an MRI of my brain looking for lesions. I see him again, he says, no lesion!, call me if there are any more problems. I left feeling cheated, something was wrong. 2 weeks later I have these spasms in my neck that are jerking my head to the right so violently. I call his office, he calls in Soma. I call back again, I want to know what is wrong. I see him, he says: "why is your neck doing this?" I say, "I don't know, you are the Dr., that is why I'm here!!!!!" He feels all around and says, "yes, you do have a spasm". So, then sends me for an MRI of my cervical spine. I'm already fed up at this point, but I went for the MRI since I had never had one there. I made an appt. with a neuro that had come recomended. She got ahold of the report and the films and made the discovery that my disc was herniated. She immediately got me into a neurosurgeon and they scheduled me for surgery as soon as possible. When the Dr. spoke to me afterwards, he said that he didn't even know how I was able to walk in there, that the disc had ruptured and he described as tree sap down my spinal cord.
Anyway, my percocet is long gone. I've been taking robaxin. I'm trying to ride out the pain, tylenol does not touch it. I feel like I'm being a baby if I call to get more pain stuff. I'm around 3-1/2 weeks out now, but when I sit, I feel like my head is going to fall off, if I stand, pain shoots down my back. To lay down, I feel like I'm choking. I usually stay up all night until I finally pass out from exhaustion because I can find no comfort. Also, does anyone have anything that feels like electric shock shooting across their shoulder blades or arms? I don't know if this is to be expected or if I'm crazy or what? This is sure not the picnic I thought it would be and I feel worse now than I did the day after surgery.
Thanks so much
:) -Jenn

[leslieeeee]

Hi Kim,

I noticed your message was dated a while back and was wondering if your arm, shoulder and upper back pain has subsided? Your post could have ben written by me!

Leslie

[Redhotbeads]

Hi Kim,

I noticed your message was dated a while back and was wondering if your arm, shoulder and upper back pain has subsided? Your post could have ben written by me!

Leslie

I'm not sure if you meant me or not - I didn't see a Kim on the post. But yes, all of my pain has subsided. In all honesty, I've never felt better. I get a few muscle spasms at the base of my neck now and then, but not very often. I'm off the meds and back at the gym (although I can't lift weights more than 5 lbs). My fusion is about halfway done. I can lift other stuff up to 20 lbs. No problems whatsoever. I would do it again in a heartbeat if I had to.
Kelly

[slipnslide]

Hi Kim,

I noticed your message was dated a while back and was wondering if your arm, shoulder and upper back pain has subsided? Your post could have ben written by me!

Leslie

Leslie,

Unfortunately, no:(. How about you, any better for you? Right now I've been in a 10 day "flare-up" with the shooting pains down my left arm without being provoked. Pain behind the left ear, under the left jawline, back of the neck and shoulder....ughhh.

Sorry it took me so long to respond, I'm usually on BrainTalk Communities so after typing a few sentences there, my arms & hands tell me to shut down the computer and stop typing;)

Kim

[upstatetraildude]

Had the procedure 10/3/08. No relief from pain prior to surgery and have extra pain now! Saw NS yesterday; he said "Well, there was a risk the surgery wouldn't help". Taking Ultram ER. Start physical therapy in two weeks. Hope to get some help from that...

[surazal]

The excutiating pain from neck to arm to hand was gone immediatley after operation. Never came back. However, sill have numbness in two fingers that ofen becomes very painful burning anf stinging. Made them do an MRI to see if graft was Ok and they said it was.

The DOcs have ben of little use. I have been trying alternative medicines approaches.

[jsrail]

I had a fusion at C6/C7 in Oct. of 2004. I had sharp electrical shooting pain from underneath my right shoulder blade down my arm through my first 2 fingers and thumb of my right hand. Very, very painful! I had 4 steroid epadurals before the insurance company decided they would pay for surgery. I was taking 10-12 Vicodins 800/10mg per day (for 8 months) just so I could work (a tax accountant) and drive to my office. My NS removed 3 fragments from the spinal cord as well as a bunch of the disk fragments, which had blown apart blocking 25-30% of the space around the spinal cord. After my surgery I took 4 Vicodins a day for 2 days stopping myself the third day as I didn't need them anymore and only took them after the surgery for pain from the surgery. I wore the hard plastic collar for 6 weeks, then the soft collar for 2 weeks. My NS didn't believe I should have any PT so I didn't and its never seemed to bother me. My flexibility is normal and so far my plate doesn't seem to have come unscrewed! Only bothers me if I sleep on it wrong or my 6 y.o. son climbs over my head and twists it! All the previous pain was gone the instant I woke in the recovery room.

Since then, I have been DX with gastroparesis (my GI believes caused by damage to the Vagus nerve), full body SFN, and unexplained atrophy of the brain for my age (the neuro doc stated the oversized ventricals appear as those of an 85 year old man would). I also have unexplained balance issues and short-term memory problems (which are only heightened with the SFN drugs), dystonia and migraines (which are less frequent with the SFN drugs).

Jay

[spfx]

:I had C5-6-7 ACDF surgery back on 6/22/06. Wore my Philly collar and did no lifting as instructed. Six weeks ago the collar came off and I started PT. I was started off with range of motion and gravity resistance exercises which immediately triggered the neck, shoulder, and arm, and upper back pain. My OS stated that the surgery was to alleviate the shoulder and arm pain. Here it is 3 months after surgery and my neck pain is constant and worse. I've been having the shoulder pain with the shooting pain down my upper arms with any repetitive motion (such as PT, washing dishes, scrubbing shower/bath) and it takes 3 days of doing absolutely nothing before it calms back down. I can tilt my head back ever so slightly before it becomes painful and turn it side-to-side 30% in either direction, but I can look down pretty well even with the fusion. Both hands are still tingling, but the intensity and achiness has increased.

The Physical therapist has sent me back to the OS because of the symptoms I was having. I've agreed to try (in the next week or two) facet ESI's, in hopes that it will increase my ability to turn and tilt my head. Backing a car out of a parking space has become down-right unsafe! My OS also mentioned getting an MRI to see if something could be causing the pains.

Has anyone else experienced the same thing just a few months out of surgery? How long does it take for the shoulder/arm pains to subside? What is normal and what is not normal 3 months after surgery? I'd like to think that this is not the way I am going to stay. Any and all insight would be greatly appreciated cuz I sure could use as much information as I can get.

Thanks,

Kim

Hi Kim
I know and sympathise with what you're going through that's why I'm up at 3am.I wasn't good at all for around 10 months after a c5-6 anterior fusion and it's so hard to get answers 5 yrs on :(.There has been some improvement but I still have neuropathic pain down both arms but the nerve roots were crushed and they burnt them off in surgery telling me it would take bout 2 yrs for them to grow back...unsuccessful .This has caused muscle weakness,shooting electrical type stabbing pains ,loss of feeling externally and a scalding sensation between my fingers and an assortment of other problems, most Drs want to dish out pills cause they don't know what to do,this was making me worse because of the complications.
You might need an MRI to see if the nerve roots are compressed because C5&6 is where they are for the arms and because they're where you turn your head as well it's compounded. If this was due to a car accident it could also be a torn rotator cuff, tendons on the collar bone or bursitis.
I found physio made it worse except for light hydrotherapy but it had to be in really warm water as anything cold is instant agony.I do get some relief from a Niagra mat and heat pacs and for a while accupuncture did help.
I was able to get an extended revision mirror so you don't have to turn your head and in Kmart or car accessories place you should be able to get thes little circular mirrors to go on your side mirrors to give you a better view it takes getting used to but so worth it and not too expensive. You will gradually find tools that will help. Vileda make this great bathroom scrubber on a long extendable handle and the head adjusts to what you're scrubbing,which is a godsend just put some gel bleach on rub it no bending with this leave it for an hour or so and rinse.It will also do walls and stuff with no reaching the best thing out. You'll start finding different uses for other products just to make things easier.
Also try and find an anti inflamatory or night time strength deep heat gel ,here we have a voltaren gel which I found good. I am now on a 12hr Tramadol which make it a little more bearable and I am trying Lyrica with some results for the lightning strikes.
You must pace yourself which if you're anything like me is so hard. I still try to push it that bit further but will end up paying the price in bed till it calms down which can be a couple of days,so you learn to listen to your body and give in to it. I don't mean to be a downer just trying to give you ideas.
Try & look after yourself it's serious & major surgery you've had a shock to the system & it would only just be fusing around now.Hope this helps a bit,if you ever need a chat only happy to.
Libby:hug:

[blakitty]

Hello
Would someone please explain ACDF, I see it used rather frequently, and I haven't been able to figure it out. I had a second cervical surgery (cage front & rear) 2 1/2 years ago levels-C 4,5,6,7 & T1. I'm really down tonight and I just am reaching out. I hurt so much, and I hate to talk about it with anyone. Online friends may be my answer. I may pick up a coping mechanism or be able to give some....Thanks, Blakitty

[JackBeNimble]

Hello
Would someone please explain ACDF, I see it used rather frequently, and I haven't been able to figure it out. I had a second cervical surgery (cage front & rear) 2 1/2 years ago levels-C 4,5,6,7 & T1. I'm really down tonight and I just am reaching out. I hurt so much, and I hate to talk about it with anyone. Online friends may be my answer. I may pick up a coping mechanism or be able to give some....Thanks, Blakitty

Am in the recovery stages of ACDF of about 5 weeks ago...and if all of a sudden the pain I had in my arm came back tomorrow, it would have been worth everything I went through. Have been dealing with this issue for couple of years, including physical therapy on a couple of occasions, as well as eating narcotics hoping to numb the spinal cord to reduce the pain...

After seeing my MRI there was no doubt that surgery was in order for me...arm was useless. From the moment I woke up after surgery I've not had as much as an aspirin to address any arm issues. There is some stiffness in the spine as a result of the hammering of the bone graft into the vacated space, and I'm sure because of the shock and trauma that such an invasive procedure produces. I have to deal with that pain a bit but it's nothing like I had.

I suffer from arthritis throughout my spine, bone spurs outside and inside the spinal canal, and spondylosis...and receive Percutaneous Radio Frequency someotherwordgoesherethatidon'tremember to address the pain in the rest of the spine, but the Facet Blocks I've been having for my neck eventually quit working so that's why I had to turn toward surgery.

But to more directly address your issue, the pain I was suffering was the most intense I've ever had (except the pain at the sternum after heart surgery and an inability to suppress a sneeze) but the arm pain was the most prolonged and consistent. ACDF was the cure, the magic bullet if you will, that I think has prolonged at least my career, if not my life. I read all of the negative results post-surgery on here and I can't believe that I'm the only person who has had such good results...incredible as a matter of fact.

Mine was a typical ACDF...the removal of the disc, bone graft inserted (hammered into place...see above:)) with the metal plate screwed into place to hold the vertabrae together and keep the bone in the disc space. And of course, my results have been incredible. I can only hope to have as much success the next time anything like this happens. My pre-operative research allowed me to forgo any surprises, and even a visit to YouTube was helpful as I watched the procedure performed.

I do hope you can find relief and if my results are any real indication, ACDF could be the route you need to take. Please do take care of yourself, and don't hesitate to speak to someone about it...you never know who's talked with someone who's talked with someone else who knows a doctor in the next town whose specialty is exactly what you need. And sometimes, you just need someone to listen.

[sandi_k]

Hello
Would someone please explain ACDF, I see it used rather frequently, and I haven't been able to figure it out.

ACDF = Anterior Cervical Disc Fusion

Hope that helps...

Sandi

[Mme. De Huse]

Kim-
Had C6/7 fusion on Halloween last year- still have a "collar" of swelling around my neck. Have done PT- but had to stop as pain was so bad. Started acupuncture, which I did for about 4 months. It helped some (esp. the trapezius area), but also "lit up" my nerves, as I also have RSD in my left shoulder/arm. Had to go to hospital for pain shots. Now my surgeon wants me to have steroid injections for the swelling (after a recent MRI showed the fusion inteact)- but I'm fused in the lumbar spine, as well- so it seems the pressure of the two is hard on my spine- I have 7 new bulging discs, which we're hoping epidurals and stellate injections will help. I can't tell you anything special- except to say that I'm right there with you- it's ben a horrible ride (but necesary- as I was severely herniated).
My advice is to try to walk if you can- the endorphins help. I hope you have a good pain doc. I've had to end up taking Dilaudid- and it's not where I want to stay, obviously. Lyrica made me hallucinate, and muscle relaxants make me nuts.
But don't give up- keep looking for doctors who will hear you. A lot of docs think spine pain in women is psychosomatic- don't let them intimidate you.

Feel free to write me anytime, even if it's just to talk. I will keep you in my thoughts and heart-
nicole



I had C5-6-7 ACDF surgery back on 6/22/06. Wore my Philly collar and did no lifting as instructed. Six weeks ago the collar came off and I started PT. I was started off with range of motion and gravity resistance exercises which immediately triggered the neck, shoulder, and arm, and upper back pain. My OS stated that the surgery was to alleviate the shoulder and arm pain. Here it is 3 months after surgery and my neck pain is constant and worse. I've been having the shoulder pain with the shooting pain down my upper arms with any repetitive motion (such as PT, washing dishes, scrubbing shower/bath) and it takes 3 days of doing absolutely nothing before it calms back down. I can tilt my head back ever so slightly before it becomes painful and turn it side-to-side 30% in either direction, but I can look down pretty well even with the fusion. Both hands are still tingling, but the intensity and achiness has increased.

The Physical therapist has sent me back to the OS because of the symptoms I was having. I've agreed to try (in the next week or two) facet ESI's, in hopes that it will increase my ability to turn and tilt my head. Backing a car out of a parking space has become down-right unsafe! My OS also mentioned getting an MRI to see if something could be causing the pains.

Has anyone else experienced the same thing just a few months out of surgery? How long does it take for the shoulder/arm pains to subside? What is normal and what is not normal 3 months after surgery? I'd like to think that this is not the way I am going to stay. Any and all insight would be greatly appreciated cuz I sure could use as much information as I can get.

Thanks,

Kim