Posterior Cervical fusion C5-C6-C7
 

Anybody had the surgery through the back of the neck to fuse
C5-C6-C7. I had an ACDF done in May 2010 only to find out this
past year that the fusions didn't take. After going to three doctors,
the responses were, there was a 50% chance it would work, doctor 2 said to avoid surgery, and doctor 3 said I had an 80% chance it would work. Just
curious if anyone else has gone through this surgery and their experience...
Thanks.

Hello Indiana
 

so sorry this happened to you. Did they give you a reason why you failed to fuse? I had anterior fusions C3-7 have long rods and brackets in. What are they telling you to do now? Do you have a plate or rods in? I am here to talk to. You can also post your last MRI report, and some of us can help you with it. I really hope there is a solution for you, to where your neck can feel better. I am very familiar with the pain it causes, so I am hoping more can be done for you. ginnie

Hi Indiana--I had acdf same level back in 7-2010 ---I was told recently im 100% fused---went back to do another mri because i been having shoulder the worst problem, also biceps,and some neck pain. Now-- my brother went back the previous years for posterior fusion and the intial week afer surgery he said was more painful then acdf. Its a bit harder to cut thru muscle-- However after a month he was back to work and he is 50's with 3 kids and doing very well. His symptoms are much better then mine. Every blue moon he has a flare up that last a few days. Just curious what symptoms did u get back to make u find out you were not fused? I was always under the impression if you didint fuse surgery was required? I dont blame you-- look
3 doctors are all conflicting..:confused:...how bad do you feel now? Wow.. Im sorry your going thru this right now.

I was ACDF 4-6, NOW 4-7 due to same thing. C5-6 was a malunion, or what they deem as pseudoarthrosis. We couldn't figure out if it had fused and broken or never fused at all. It had spent some time in there knocking around and was extremely painfull at times when it it would get into certain positions. There were A LOT of Doctors that looked at it, saw it, and then ignored it. I finally found one that took care of it and went back in through the front redid the first surgery, then performed his own at C6-7 and then locked it all down with a 3 level titanium plate. I was told I had EXCELLENT Bone quality, however I am battling arthritis with a lot of spurring. I had to wear a bone growth stimulator post second surgery and NO J COLLAR!

From dealing with this and having to be my own advocate I came across the FDA recommended guideline for pseudoarthrosis. It suggests that if fusion isn't achieved within 8 months then surgical intervention should be obtained. Now some Doc's I talked with said that the graft was contained and it really couldn't move or slip or be of any danger. I totally disagree! I could feel mine moving around, and it caused a lot of damage that I am dealing with now. It also was quite painful!
Hope that helps with some of it, but I couldn't speak to the posterior effects at all.

Stimulator
 

I had anterior c4-7 complete with plate and screws but what I wanted to ask is if they suggested the bone stimulator for you. Because of the Multi-level, I was given one to use daily for six months. Given the Multi-level, if you have it corrected check into the stimulator. The one prescribed for me was spinalogic. God's best to you..

i know how you all are feeling,my doctor went adifferent route with me.they put me on,gabapetin,tramadol and nerve block injection.they said surgery would not be recommended till a last resort

reply
 

After two years from surgery, I noticed that there was quite a bit of popping going on when I moved my neck from side to side. I went in to see the original doctor who did my surgery, they did some xrays of my neck and it clearly showed that the bone they took from my hip for fusion in my neck was inbetween the C5-C6, C6-C7 vertebrae, but there was a gap between both ends...I've been to three different doctors and they said they same thing, that the vertebrae failed to fuse. The pain has returned, I have good days and bad days. My neurologist has put me on Lyrica 225 and Hydrocodone 10-660. I really don't want to be on pills. I've had three cervical spine blocks done in the C5-C6, C6-C7 area over the past two years. They usually block the pain for about a week to 10 days....My options, as I see it are limited. Either opt for the surgery, have spinal blocks about every 3 months (all my insurance will cover) or live on pain pills forever....getting old sucks....

Thanks
 

That's about where I am. When the pain comes, I'm ready to go...Have a lot of pain inbetween my shoulder blades just under my neck. Those muscles on either side of my spine knot up. I've gone through a lot of Biofreeze the last two years. Need to be a sponsor for them....

Pain
 

Having a lot of pain, but I do have an occasional good day. My neurologist put me on Lyrica 225 and Hydrocone 10-660. They help some but there are THOSE days where you just want to say, I give....

Dealing with a lot of the same symptoms and a new set of Doctor's and a pain management doctor who is reluctant to give pain meds. I am fed up with it as I have no other alternatives.

Hi Gatorhead and all with back pain
 

Yea, alot of docs. even pain management guys are not wanting to give strong meds to pain paitents. Try a physiatrist. They are pain docs. but with additional training to work with a person on a cellular level. I have never been denied real help for the pain. Instead, I have been asked what I would like to do. I can have percoset, even be put back on morhphine if I had wanted to. Instead I asked for hydrocodone to take the edge of and lidocain patches. I take some suppliments for nerve damage. I don't know, for me this experience with a physiatrist is a very good one, as I am listened to and treated with alot of respect. You might want to ask about this kind of physician. At least try, as I did. When I first went to her, I was worried that no help would be provided, instead I got real compassion. Ginnie:hug:

indiana;
I had a recent apt with my surgeon asked him this ? what do you do if someone has a falied fusion? ---He said 2nd surgery would be required for the nest long tern success rate--- depending on the mri sometimes they can re-do acdf sometimes posterior works best on 2nd surgery.It all depends on the mri. I was thinking of you so I thought I would ask. I trust my surgeron Harvard grad ...he has a great reputation where I live on Ohio. Hope this helps!!

I had a failed c5-6 anterior and they went right back in anterior and did it over and also did c6-7 then used a plate to lock it down and a bone stim for 6 months. It depends on what the surgeon is most comfortable with and as each of us is different, a case by case decision. I know that posterior has a lot more muscle to get to where you are going.....

Ginnie the big corp that I was treating with were physiatrist. The doctor I was seeing refuses to release me so another doctor there can treat me, and she refuses to see me again herself. STILL after all the new evidence stated it was in my head and there was nothing wrong with me at all! That note is following me everywhere I go and making treatment difficult.

Hi Gatorhead
 

Hi gatorhead, you mean your doctor will not see you nor release you to see someone else? Why the H..... would someone do that? That just doen't seem right to me. I am sorry you are having troulbe with someone that has physiatriast attached to their name. I guess I got very very lucky with my doctor. The best part is that she listens to me. Her assisociate I just met, yesterday, as good as she is. I so hope that the year will bring a good and compasiate healer into your life. I have had bad doctors before too, I just walk away and don't come back. Get all your records so that if you do see a new physician, you will have it all together. Wish you were down this way, I would recommend Dr. Simon in a heart beat. ginnie:hug:

I might just drive all the way down there lol, I am FED UP!

Hi Gatorhead
 

Come on down! weather is nice, and so is my doc. I traveled before too to see a good doctor, back when I was living in MO. I gave my home up in Quincy IL. to seek medical attention in Columbia. Moved here because I did better in the warm climate than in the cold.
If you ever decided you come down here. I would introduce you to my doc. personnally if you wanted. She has had me on some suppliments, which has reduced the intensity of PM. I can feel my foot again. If she can get you in a better place, it would indeed be worth the trip. Where are you located? Hope you find some good relief soon. Ginnie:hug:

Hi Gatorhead---just know I think of you often and I feel you been thru so much. If you have to travel where Ginnie is might be worth the shot to get better medical care---you deserve it!!:winky:

well even if they cant help you down there in "florida"at least you can use the trip to go to sunny florida:wink:

Im 4 months out 3 level acdf c/3 thru 6. Donor bone titanium plate. I am in constant pain now shoulder and bicep left arm numbness and tingling in both hands. Even hands painful @ times. Have occasional good day however not many. Feel like Im losing my mind. My dr says he has no idea what to do now.waiting on a ct scan, but Ive been waiting a month for that. Insurance reasons on that. I totally understand what you are feeling. Oh ua AND I still cant eat anything but soft foods. I choke constantly. If we do go back in I want them to go in posterior. I cant take another anterior. I hope you get the relief you so desperatly need!!!

Hi Mrsalkire
 

Sorry you are still going through so much pain. I was anterior C3-7. I really hope you don't have to go through any more surgery. Make sure you get several opinions. I was told posterior was harder, because of more severed muscle. I had two anterior incisions on different parts of the neck. I am OK two years later. Let me know what the CT scan says. I was hoping that the surgery would correct and help you. I do wish you all the best. ginnie

Hi mrsalkire;

Im so sorry too for you. It really does suck!! I hope for best with you scans. Do they give you any ideas why??

Hi gatorhead
 

How are you doing? I just want to re-state, I have a fantastic neuro and physiatrist in my area. ARe you getting any better? Did your doctor finally release you. Get the records from that doctor, and the note won't matter so much. I don't think he can stop you from seeing someone else. ginnie

Hi[Ginnie, its funny but I was just thinking about Gator as well.

surgery
 

Sorry to hear about your condition. I've been in for 4 spinal nerve blocks in the past 18 months. The latest one only lasted about 10 days...I really don't want to go thru with the posterior surgery as I've heard nothing but bad news about the surgery. I really wish there was another answer. The last doctor talked about doing radiofrequency ablation, where they basically try to burn/freeze the nerve. Has anyone went through this procedure...and if so, how did it come out.

The reason I was given for them not fusing was the operating doctor told me it had a 90% success rate. I fell into that 10% category! I've been to three different doctors now for their opinions. Best quote is 80%. One was 50% and the other doctor said not to bother. I am going to see a doctor at the Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine group in a few weeks. Will see what information he has to shine on this. And to think, all I wanted to do going into this was to be able to swing a golf club again. Yikes!

neurologist
 

I am going to see another doctor at the Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine group here in Indianapolis in a few weeks. Hopefully, he has something good to say about my neck. All I know is I should be a rep for Biofreeze gel as I go through that rather frequently. It makes my neck feel a little better. I wish the cracking would stop. My neurologist says it is the fusions that did not take that are making the cracking sound.

last resort
 

I'm almost to that last resort. Just looking for an alternative before I have to go that route...

If I didn't have pain meds to get through this, I'd be a lost cause...would love to get it fixed, just haven't found the right resource yet...

Re: for spine patients
 

I am sorry that you have not gotten good results from the surgery. I was to that point of loosing my mind over the pain when I did the second surgery. I hope that something can be done for all of you, that can help with the pain and symptoms. Please don't stop looking for a solution, and getting those opinions. Please know, that even after a failed first surgery, there can and are good results with a second. I was lucky, or blessed. I would have not done that second one, unless I had the opinions, and all my options clearly explained to me. I wish all of you the best, and will continue to pray for all of us. ginnie:hug::grouphug:

I'm 14 weeks post op, surgery was nov 15, 2012. I am still in so much pain. Back of neck, across back of shoulder, and down left rm. Dr says my tests look good but no fusion yet. Please update on your recovery. How far out you are now, did you have a revision surgery? I pray you are better now.

that to is what i have that annoying"craking"and "snapping.so they now give me some new stuff to try called"lidoderm patch".it also relive the serve pain i have there:(