I saw the PA-C today. He has no idea what is wrong, He says I look like a robot. I say I am more like a stretch amrstong toy. I can't shrug/lift left shoulder. Cant lift left or right arm above 90 degrees without a lot of struggle and pain. Can't turn head to the right. Both shoulders hurt any time I move them. Turning left goes further but tilting down to shoulder is not much better.

I think I should have gone with the original surgeon wanting to do a 4 level ACDF using autograph packed cages and a titanium plate across the front. This surgery scared me so I got a second opinion. This surgeon did not beloved only C5-C7 was necessary and used these PEEK devices with two screws that go in between the vertebra eliminating the front plate. I belive this is where my problems got worse. After surgery I was in terrible pain every day. Stabbing like pain on right side of my head, pressure at base of my skull, neck and shoulder pain,could not sleep. It was a nightmare and could not take the pain pills. I could not do or was even asked to do any PT until 7 months later.

At the one year mark I got a CT scan which showed the the C6/C7 fusion failed. I then had a different surgeon go in through the back of my neck and fix it with rods and screws. Now I have new issues and they can't seem to figure it out. I have to get another MRI, X-rays and a nerve test. EGM test.

plower, your situation is fairly complex, and I wonder if you know about the Spinal Disorders and Back Pain forum here?

https://www.neurotalk.org/spinal-dis...and-back-pain/

You asked about C5 palsy--there are a couple of threads on that topic in that forum. You might want to take a look.:)

Yes I have been reading more and learning about what could be the possible causes of my ongoing issues. Today I had another #T MRI with and without contrast and shoulder/neck X-rays. Tomorrow I have to do a EMG nerve study. Hopefully the doc can then determine what the heck is going on. I don't have much more time before I am going to be jobless over this ordeal.

Hoping for a more favorable outcome for you, plower. And joblessness may be avoidable, particularly if you have an employer who will be flexible.

If you're self-employed but have had to miss out on work because of the time and energy involved in taking care of yourself and keeping medical appointments, that is hard to deal with. I hope you have a Plan B.