I'm a very active 43 yr. old with a fusion that is just over a year old. I typically walk or do the eliptical 1-3 times per week and then do neck strenghening exercises or core exercises 3-5 times per week. I still have some trouble with muscle tightness in my neck and upper shoulders and even spasms on the sides of my head. I also cannot bend my right ear down to my right shoulder without pain in the muscle that runs down the right side of my neck (and the incision was on the left). I take multivitamins and supplements that include lots of calcium and magnesium. No Rx at all (had lots of trouble with those). I do feel better after doing some stretching and yoga (even though I was told not to do yoga by NS - I keep my neck neutral); however, it tightens right back up shortly thereafter. I work at a computer all day (but take stretching breaks) and commute 30 minutes to and from work. I do find that driving is pretty uncomfortable at times. It wasn't this bad 9 mo. after the surgery but seems to be getting a little worse since then. I have some episodes of pain in the back my arms (not that often) and after a massage one day, had tingling down one arm that went away after 2 days. I've recently been using tennis balls as trigger point therapy on my head and neck and it also helps temporarily. Wondering if there is a real issue with my plate or fusion overall that I should have looked at, or if it's just my lifestyle that's contributing to my discomfort. Has anyone else experienced muscle issues this far out from their surgery?

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

I'd like to ask you to look at your supplements for magnesium and read the fine print. If they contain magnesium OXIDE, you are not absorbing much if at all.

Magnesium OXIDE is basically a laxative today.
To get good magnesium levels, you need a chelate. Or SlowMag type.

You can even get now, a magnesium lotion at CVS...which works wonderfully. Many of us here over the past weeks are now using it.

http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/catalog/sh...new_crumb=true

The price varies online from 5.99 and up depending on their sales. But where I live 2 CVSs always have it on the shelf.
It may be with the Thermocare patches, or next to the epsom salts. Location in the stores seems to vary. But it is wonderful so I think it may help you better than oral supplements.

When circulation to an area is impaired, for whatever reason, say scar tissue etc... topical application can work better for some patients.

Some of your symptoms & computer job make me wonder if thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) might be a factor in your ongoing discomfort.

We have an active TOS forum -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum24.html
and the Useful sticky thread is a good crash course on it and therapies.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread84.html

Thanks so much for the comment. I did some of the stretches and even repeated some that appear in my yoga tapes that would help stretch the upper body, arms and neck and it's really helped. I really appreciate the feedback.