What to do after 2 failed C spine fusions
 

I have had two different C sping fusion surgery's. First was 2 1/2 years ago, C6 & C7, my Dr said the fusion didn't take very well. We used my own hip bone because it is supposed to fuse better than using somebody else's bone. Well my hip is numb as you know what, you can put cold or hot on it and I couldn't tell you what temp it is. When the temp is cold and if it is rainy my hip really aches.

I had another one done this past May for C5 & C6, and he said he would drill out what started to fuse from the 1st surgery....well I do have to say from both surgery's I am better but I still have massive numbness when I sleep, I can't put my head down for more than 30 seconds without it hurting really bad. I still have muscle spasms in my shoulders and upper arms and still have pain in my elbows and hands.

I really can't take it anymore. I can't afford not to work but it is getting to the point that I can't sleep at night and my arms stay numb all day. Worse in the morning but they never really "wake up". I keep thinking it is going to stop and it doesn’t.

I also have Fibro so I have a hard time with other isses than my numbness and I have Restless Leg Syndrome, I do have pill for the RLS, they do help. I have no strength in my arms, it drives me nuts.

My question now is because I have had nerve damage from my neck not fusing and from the herniated disks, should I expect surgery can really take care of all my numbness??? NO it won't, that's my opinion. What will take care of it???

I have had two Dr's one a Neuro and one an Ortho, the Ortho has done both surgeries. I went to the second one for a second opinion, this was before the 2nd surgery. The only thing he suggested was the Neuro stimulator implant, and no one could tell me if that would help with the numbness, everyone including the Dr said it works on pain. It is the numbness that is driving me crazy. He said he couldn't do anything for me, he was the Nero Surgeon.

But what I really want to know is there anything else I can do? I'm only 39 and feel like I am 89.

Hi ~ I really don't know what to tell you. You may need to have a C-scan to see if there is something pinching a nerve that is making you numb. That would be the only other reason I could think of that would make you numb. If there is nothing, then the nerve is damaged. There would be nothing you could do for that.

Ask your doctor for a C-scan - you can't have an MRI I don't believe because of the fusion - and you probably have instrumentation, i.e. screws, plates. But you can have a C-scan. So ask if he can see if there's a nerve being pinched or compromised. It's worth a try.

I've had a numb leg/foot for 25 years so sometimes you've just gotta live with it unfortunately. It really bites! LOL :mad:

I hope your doc will agree to the scan so you'll know for sure. God bless and take care. Hugs, Lee

Get some hardware!
 

Hello, I've had 10 neck surgeries in all. I had two failed fusions also in the beggining. 2 different levels. Ever read about the domino effect? I'm pretty shocked to hear You had two surgeries on one level. If you can possibly avoid another surgery, please do so! I'm no doc, but after all was said and done ten years later w/halo too!. I'm awake posting to you spinies AT 1:45A.M. Wish you much luck! Hugs too, WTR Nymph