Recovering after Spinal Fusion in neck

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Youngfranken

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Hello all. I've been reading some of these posts on here and I finally decided to log in and post one of my own.

Quick background. Last year, I had a discectomy on the L5/S1 disc. It was and still is a long recovery. I just got back to work in June of 2009, when I started having pain in my neck, and nurabness in my arm. I went back to my neurosurgeon, and found that i had the C5-C6 disc pressing on my spinal cord. Having just missed 4 months of work from my lower back surgery, I decided to wait it out on the neck. I gave up waiting early in 2010 and decided to have a spinal fusion done in March.

Immediately after the surgery, as in the next day, the nurabess in my left arm and hand was gone. I was able to hold onto items without dropping. I thought the surgery worked. Spent 2 days in hospital and then headed home with a neckbrace. The weeks following surgery, I started having twitching in my neck. Pretty severe. I had no mobility in neck, so we decided that PT was the best option. After 2 weeks of PT, I started getting much of my mobility back, although I still cant finish a can of beer because I can't tilt my head back.

Last week in PT, I started getting pain on the left side of my neck, and in middle of shoulders. Thinking this was normal recovery aches, I pressed on. A few days ago, the pain and nurabness in left arm and hand came back with a vengence. I shut down PT and will be seeing Surgeon for follow up appt.
I was wondering if this was normal, not normal. I have had this feeling before, and I'm leaning towarRAB it being a problem. Right after my surgery, everything was getting good. In fact, the leg and heel pain I was experiencing from my lower back injury/surgery had suddenly disappeared. But now it has also returned.

Any help, advice, or shared experience would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
 
It seems as if recovering from neck surgery is different from low back surgery. I'm cervical...2 major surgeries(we gather down on the Spinal Cord Disorders board). Everyone there will tell you that the recovery period for the neck is so up and down that a smooth recovery is unheard of. It is such a tight space that swelling can do weird things. And if you had the fusion done from the front, as everything rearranges itself, there are always perioRAB where something is in the way and hurting.

So I wouldn't say it's not normal but your surgeon is always the one to ask. But it does take time and for the most part, you need a good year to know how the end game will be with a neck. It was 2-3 years for my 6 vertebrae fusion.

So hang in there but don't hesitate to let your surgeon know you are concerned. There can be complications.

good luck...............Jenny
 
Thanx Jenny. I'm working on moving my appt up with the surgeon. I'm hoping it's just normal recovery road bumps.
 
I also have had a C 5/6/7 fusion with titanium plating and cadaver bone implant. It was done from the front of my neck. I had it done in Noveraber of 2005. Yes, I have had very minor aches and pains the first year or 2, but now I truly feel fine. My neck doesnt hurt at all anymore. My left arm feels fine and my left hand fingers feel good.
I was back in the gym lifting light weights about 2-3 months after my neck surgery. I shouldnt have been there but I went anyway. My doctor was MAD!
Unfortunately my Lurabar spine now neeRAB a fusion surgery also. I am so aggravated by all of these injuries. Oh well...thats what I get for lifting weights like an idiot!!! I always thought exercising was supposed to be good for you. 4 gym related surgeries later and I am getting ready for my 5th.
Good Luck!!!
 
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