My incredible bad luck. re: need 2nd fusion in less than 2 months
 

Incredibly, I just found out yesterday that I likely will need to have a 2nd anterior fusion done in my neck. Had my c3/c4 done in middle of December, but about 2 weeks prior I started having really sharp, white hot pain on the other side of normal. Thought I was likely having some repetetive movement/overuse issues, because prior to my first surgery, I'd had really severe trapezius spasms on my first affected side and spent a lot of time trying to keep it as limber as I could.

First surgery went fine, without issues. Knew as soon as I was completely conscious that my situation was better. About a week after, my other side started showing hand strength loss, numbness in my forearm and tingling in my bicep, along with significant shoulder pain and sharp trap pain on the new side.

Had an MRI for my first issue in September. Had a second about 3 weeks ago. Between the two I'd had a substantial disk herniation at my c5/c6, leading to my new set of problems. Pretty certain it had occurred those two weeks before my 1st operation. Ugh...

Now, I've got a bit of a dilemma: We are taking a 2 week vacation to Scotland in mid/late May. I'm trying inflatable traction now, but really believe, given the condition I saw on the new MRI, that I should go ahead sooner with the surgery, in order to allow for a longer window of recovery. My original plans looked like I'd try traction for a month, then possibly surgery in mid March. Now I think I should try to get that pushed up and have it done in early March at the latest, and possibly the last week of Feb.

Any thoughts? I've really had an easy recovery so far with my first surgery. I would like to think this one should be as well, and likely be even more relief enabling, because the pain I have now is far worse than my first circumstance. Thanks for any input. Nice to find a place for some information and commiseration...

Hi ~ Your new problems COULD be caused by your first surgery -- it's called the "domino effect" -- although it IS a bit soon for that to be happening, but it's not unheard of. Usually it happens later after surgery. That's cause the levels above & below the surgical site has to bear more of the load.

I wish I knew how to advise you -- each surgery is different from the other. This one could be totally different from the previous. It could be easier or it could be much more difficult. No one knows until they "get in there." Your recovery time could be longer too. :rolleyes: I'd be a little skeptical about going to Scotland that soon after surgery -- I'd want my doctor close at hand in case something came up. But hopefully you'll be far enough along in recovery to know how you're doing.

Best of luck. Hopefully others will chime in with their opinions. Since we don't know EXACTLY what is going to be done, it's hard to advise you. God bless & take care. Hugs, Lee

Thank you for your input. I was vaguely aware of the potential of a domino effect, but having started to feel the significant pain on the other side in advance of the first procedure, I really would likely discount that. I guess I would like to, probably inappropriately, judge my subsequent recovery by my current one. It's been just over 2 months, and I really feel fine on the affected side following my initial repair. I did do a little local consulting with some professional friends since my first post, and I have decided to go ahead and get the next surgery done sooner than later. I really would like to be somewhat back in good walking shape by the first of May, because I know we'll be on our feet pretty constantly on our trip, which starts the 3rd week of May. I also want to mitigate any further chance for lingering weakness on this side, since it's my dominant hand side.:(

Will keep posted...

Re: cervial re-fusion
 

Leesa is correct. There is indeed something called the domino effect and it happened to me. I was fused C6-7. NOT ALL the problems in my neck were addressed by that particular surgeon. I didn't even know there were more problems, he never told me. 6 years of pain later, I was fused 3-7. they all did indeed fall over like dominos. It was only after that second fusion that I got my records and found out I had also reversed the curve of my spine that was not addressed.
Do ask all the questions you can before going through another one. Make sure your doctors are positive that this needs to be done. Ask your doctor what is to stop this from happening above and below this new site.
I am indeed having trouble at C1-2 and T1-2. I am 20 months post op. New aches are happening but no neruo trouble. I wondered what the new hardware would do strain wise above and below and I still have that worry. I am very careful with my neck. I do wish you all the best. This might not be your situation at all, as you may not have the real degenerative disk disease and joint disease like I did. ginnie

question?
 

Can you do traction after having a fusion? Seems like it would take awhile to heal before you would want to be trying to seperate disks space with traction?

Joann

Hi Joojee
 

Hello Joojee,
You brought up a good question. This is definately one for your neuro surgeon. Please seek a second opinion even after you ask him. I would also seek second opinion before you agree with the surgery at all, and ask the same questions, both about the need for the next fusion, and the question about traction. I wish you all the best, I really do. ginnie

The professional opinions that I mentioned soliciting were, in fact, other neruo guys. I'm a nurse, and I've worked in orthopedic surgery for about 20 years. Ironic, eh? So, yeah, I did consult with acquaintances, but decided to go to a different hospital because I didn't want to cause any lingering issues, if there was any chance of them, by choosing within my own facility. I took their recommendations for my surgeon choice, though.

With regard to the traction, I was told pretty universally that it would be alright at this point, with the caveat that I start very low pressure (using one of the inflatable types, rather than the over the door) and eased my pressure values up slowly. Hardware is in perfect shape, graft healing nicely, so they were all in agreement that it shouldn't be a problem. Given the parameters of my situation, they were also all in agreement that I should go sooner than later, so I have more time to recover, since I need to be really up to speed walking long distances since I'll probably be walking several miles a day each day in Scotland.

Thanks for your interest, I hope, Ginnie, that you don't require further surgery. Are you in a position to do core strength exercises, in order to increase the muscular support around your spine? I have degenerative disk disease in my lower back, and have found that core strength building has diminished formerly daily lower back pain to virtually nonexistant. The issues in my neck are from old sports related issues which finally came to a head many years later, I believe...

Hi tekumseh
 

thank you for mentioning core training. I wish I could, this degenerative joint and disk disease effected my ankles. I actually need two new ankles and toe joint. Can't walk well at all, and am waiting to be scheduled in for this toe joint surgery. My questions to all these doctors however, is when do I get so say no more? My pain doc. doesn't want to treat for more pain, he wants me to do all these surgeries. The trouble is, that other joints, knees and hips, fingers etc are being effected by this trouble and osteoarthritis in them. I want to stop with all the surgery as there does not appear to be an end to whay my body is doing to my joints. When does the patient get to take a break from surgeries? ginnie