C4C5,C5C6,C6C7 ACDF complications
 

Recently (3 weeks ago) had the above neck surgery. Supposedly fusion successfull, but have problem. Cannot lift left arm from shoulder. can bend at elbow with difficulty but cannot lift arm. I've been told there is palsey of nerve at C5 and that 3-6 months of PT will correct this. Anyone with experience with this? I'm afraid I've lost the use of the arm and am very scared and depressed over this development. Would sure like to hear from someone that knows of recovery in this instance.
Thanks

Hi there,

I don't have any first hand info for you, but I have been thru quite a few sessions of PT and chiropractic for chronic neck, upper back, shoulder & arm & hand strain...much improvement for my conditions.:)

I will say that there are good PTs and poor PTs as well as super dooper PTs:D Don't be afraid to ask for an advanced one if you aren't seeing progress forward.

Hang in there, and give your PT sessions a good try and think positive.
Is PT scheduled yet for you?
Did they give you some gentle basic ROM & stretches to do until PT starts?
Do you have any pain with it or mainly just cannot lift the arm?

I think you need to give yourself more time to heal. I only had one level fused and at 3 weeks I was still very limited in motion and still in some pain.

I was not told I was fused for months, in other words I didn't think you could fuse that fast. Anyone else know more about that??

If your doc has not ordered physical therapy be sure to ask. It will help get all the movement back. Ok just went back and read about PT. Giv eit some time.

Remember that was a big surgery, don't rush yourself and try to take it easy and let your body heal...Sue

I would definitely give yourself more time.

My experience has been (and have had two fusions at two different times) that the docs do not order PT right away. If anything, I was made to wait at least 4 to 6 weeks before doing any GENTLE ROM exercises. Snoozie is right it takes a good while before you are solidly fused. I was fused at 3 months with both surgeries BUT it was not solid. So, I had to wait another 3months before I saw via xray that it was a solid fusion. I think what your doc probably meant by a successful fusion is that nothing is visibly wrong...not that you are totally fused. In any case, it takes quite awhile.

As for the arm. You had 3 levels done; that's quite a bit at one time and major surgery. Now, I did have my left arm go haywire two days after my second fusion. It was extremely painful and I could barely move it. So, I went to the ER and they ran all kinds of tests. What it came down to was a severe spasm. Valium at a higher dose kicked it out. Anyway, it was explained to me later by the NS's PA that when they free up these nerves so to speak, they are angry and "plump up". Made sense to me considering they were compressed for so long. She explained that it can take awhile for them to calm back down again.

So, it will probably pass but I would give it a lot more time. As Snoozie said, just give yourself time to heal. It sounds to me like pretty bad spasms. I would definitely ask the doc about some Valium or something similar. And just one more thing...I am currently having trouble with my left arm....but it has been almost 3 years since the last fusion. The docs think a torn rotator cuff; not sure yet because I just had an MRI done. Anyway, one thing my spinal PM told me and has told me for a long time now...do NOT let any PT tug and pull at your arms unless they know EXACTLY what they are doing and especially because of the two fusions I have. He's right. I went into PT before on a couple of occasions and it tore me up. So, Jo is right too. There are good ones and there are bad ones. I happened to have a very young gal that was way too aggressive.

So, go easy and remember your surgery was only 3 weeks ago. As Jo and Snoozie are saying, give yourself time and go VERY EASY. Personally, I think it is way too early for PT. You COULD try gentle massage therapy; that was something that was recommended right after surgery but the PA was adamant that it be LIGHT massage therapy...not deep tissue. And just one last hint. When I was told I could go ahead with ROM exercises, my PM told me to do them in a hot shower. Oh, and he has had two cervical fusions himself. Now what he recommended helped a great deal. :)

Hang in there and I think with time the spasms or palsy should pass with the appropriate meds and THEN PT if necessary.

I have had a cervical fusion as well, and all the above info is good. Before the surgery I could not use my arm at all. The neurosurgeon was going to fuse two levels but ended up fusing only one, the other is stil bulging. It took some months to get the use of my arm back. I think about 6 months or so, and that was one level. So give yourself some time. There is good advice in the above posts, and there is hope.

Thank you so much for the optimistic response. You feel so all alone when something like this happens and the Dr's are always like it's not a big deal and in a hurry. I feel better having read your response and will heed your advice. I'll let everyone know how I progress down the road. Again thank you so much and all the best to you.

Thank you for your response. It helps to hear from someone that has had a similar experience when you are feeling so all alone with a new problem. I'm sure you are correct in that I'm not fused yet. Just that surgery appeared successful from xrays. I will heed your advice and will let all know of my progress as time passes. Again my most sincere thanks and my best to you.

I am post op 3 months, same three levels, my left arm doesn't work. Was just told by nerve doc it's not coming back. I hope you have better luck!

You won't know if your fusion has "taken" for at least a year. Bones don't fuse that quickly, and usually at about a year, they take X-rays or an MRI to determine if it has fused. Best of luck! Hugs, Lee

I had a laminectomey on 3,4,5,6 done 6 years ago. In hospital I could not feed myself or itch my nose because my right arm had no motor control. I was told it was the position I was in in OR. It took at least 6 months before I had control, maybe 9 before I was back to normal. I did not do PT.

About a year or so later I went back to have what the ns screwed up fused. I had a bone stimulator, but no PT. Things were fine for 3 years, then got other problems