Does anyone else have a lower back fusion or graph fusion???
 

As I said before my pain and injury is from an auto accident. I sustained an L1 burst fracture with retropulsed fragments and spinal cord compression and damage. As a result of my accident I have a graph fusion that begins at T11 and extends through L5. My question is this; is there anyone out there with similar fusions or low back fusions and do you notice since your fusion that your neck hurts? prior to my accident I never had back problems or neck problems and since my surgery I notice that if I have to sit upright I develop severe pain in my neck that brings with it a nasty headache? we went away on tuesday and it was a 2 hour car ride in addition to sitting in a restaurant and sitting through a comedy show which is an EXTREME amount of sitting for me and by the end of day 1 I had nasty neck pain and a headache. It is almost as if the "stability" in my low back causes a transfer of energy to my neck or something like that. I am going to ask the doctor about it on monday but I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this.

While my surgery wasn't as extensive as yours, I am convinced that I get neck pain and headaches as a result of my lower back pain. Part of it has to do with poor posture but also think of how one's nerves from the lower back are all interconnected up to the brain. I asked my optha-neurosurgeon about getting nausea from back pain and she told me to look into the vagus nerve. Since I had two SCS implants (lumbar and cervical) my headaches have gotten much better, as has the neck pain and dizziness, so one could argue that the cervical SCS is what's helping. However, when my neck starts to hurt and I feel nausea, it's not my cervical remote I adjust, it's my lumbar remote I adjust.

Riding in a vehicle is THE main thing that has been a problem for me for about 12 years. I would buy car after car (and even have my handy-man husband change out my driver's seat if we couldn't afford to get another vehicle) all in the hope of finding a comfortable car to drive. I ended up finally being able to afford a used Lexus SUV, which has been much better for my lower back/neck pain. I go see my immunologist tomorrow, who is 3 hrs. away, so am a little nervous about riding that far but will take pain meds. with me, just in case.

So, I'd say, yes lower back pain can cause neck pain. Just my two pesos :D

Twinmom that is such an interesting question that you have asked.

I had two spinal fusions from L4/ L5 thru to L5/ S1. Ive NEVER had any pain in my neck but since Ive had my back done my neck is unbelieveable. I get this awful pain in my neck/shoulder and it burns like crazy. Sometimes I cant even walk properly as it hurts so much. Ive never mentioned it to my doctor. Well to be honest I can do without anymore prodding and poking. Its not there all the time but it does come more frequently. I get it walking, driving, sitting, and it is so uncomfortable. Im not sure if its from my fusions but its interesting to hear that you also have the symptons.......