Hi Tucson Grandma,

Don't know if you've made your decision yet, but I too live in Tucson and had cervical fusion surgery a few months ago. Talking to physical therapists, the outcome of the surgery is very much dependent on the surgeon, and everyone tells me that mine is the best - my husband is a physician as well so I also have lots of inside knowledge.

Different surgeons use different types of procedures for cervical fusions, some which require hard collars, some which don't. The procedure I had used plates as part of the fusion. Good thing too, since I blacked out and hit my head a few weeks after surgery. Surgeon said that I should be more worried about the floor since the titanium plates weren't going anywhere. I also wore a bone stimulator for a couple of months. Four months later my neck is pretty much fused, my x-rays look great, and my neck is better than it has been in years.

I had the surgery because of compression to the spinal cord, vertebral subluxation causing chronic severe headaches and nerve injury affecting the arms. Otherwise I don't know. Before these symptoms developed I had been going to a pain specialist for several years to treat the pain - there are a lot of things they can do.

So, get several opinions as to whether you have to have the surgery now, or if you can try other things first.

I have been through 10 surgeries, including three months in Physical Rehabilitation. Mainly to learn how to walk with twenty pounds screwed to my head. I never fused and have hardware, cages, plates, and screws from C 3/4 to T 2/3. If you are really looking into another surgery, by all means do some intensive research on your Neuro and Ortho. Every time I had another surgery I ended up with more pain. No more for me. I'm just going to try to get by w/the pain. I still have several hernitations, but until I end up w/cord compression again, no more. I hope I did'nt scare you but, I just wanted you to know, it may get worse. Take care of you and make some well informed educated decisions. I call my Ortho, "the car salesman w/ an AXE! He said he would lessen the pain. HA ha So Funny. Good Luck, WTR Nymph

Hello, You sound like me about 6 years ago. Please research your docs. I'm sitting here at 10:00p.m. when I should be in bed. I have not slept well since my last surgery which resulted in a halo for four months. I currently have a PICC line and drag around a bag full of meds. I've done this for the past 4 months. Hospital aquired infection. I don't want to scare you but hold on as long as you can. I still have several herniated discs, but until they impinge my spinal cord, I'll remain wandering around in the middle of the night. Take care and make a well educated decision!

Hi Jennychele
my Dr. proposed the same thing for me, 4 levels cervical fusion, but I`m terribly worried about the loss of range of motion in my neck. How limited is your neck movement? They told that I would loose 40% range of motion...
Can you please tell me more about your experience?
Thank you

Patty

I have had a C7 T1 fusion as well as a triple cervical above. it seems that both surgies were dificult to go thru. Every day you think " Oh, God when will this get better. Then each day you notice a little more range of motion as well a a decrease in pain. Then one day you will be doing something and realize that , wow, I havent had to have a pain pill all day. It is a gradual and difficult recovery. But if you do what you are instructed to do and you have had an excllent surgeon. You should be fine. As I said, it will take time and it is invasive. But I know that it was well worth it. I was in extreme pain all the time before the surgery. ALL THE TIME. After the surgery there were days that I thought OMG It was better before I had the surgery. But then as you recover you find that it was well worth it. You will be in my prayers and I wish you well. I hope you have a good support system. It will take someone to help you the first week or so or maybe even longer. I have a 27 year old daughter with cerebral palsy and had to care for her. I had no one to help. So it was difficult. But I made it thru and am s much better. Sandy V.

[i had c4 thru c7 ---fusion in 7-2010 and have no regrets ---no im not perfect but 90% improved --yes always get 2-3-consults --I have been told most surgeons will not even consider this surgery unless your spinal cord compressed. Best wishes to both of you!!