I had my 6 month followup appointment today with my neurosurgeon. Left in tears, some good news, some bad.

So the GOOD news..... my neck is healing, fusion looks good, and even though I wake up every morning in pain, apparently everything looks great. Mechanically speaking of course. Everything is lined up nicely and there are no bone spurs or spinal compression in any of the fused discs. My C4/5 still has some degeneration, but nothing that has progressed further in the last 6 months, and it is touching a nerve, that may be causing some pain, but it's not compressing anything. So that's all good. He told me that it takes a very long time after such a major surgery for your brain to redirect the signals to use new muscles after a fusion, and I'm still in the healing process. He is hopeful that I will continue to heal and hopefully have less pain as time goes one. And he's ordered some physiotherapy for me (finally) so that may help also.

Now the BAD news..... my neurosurgeon feels that I need another surgery on my right arm to correct the ulnar nerve compression that is causing so much pain, tingling and numbness in my hand and fingers. He wants to do an ulnar nerve transposition to fix a trapped nerve in my elbow. He was hoping that the neck fusion would correct my hand/finger issues, but since it did not he feels that I still need another surgery to fix that problem. I don't want another surgery. OMG, I'm still recovering from the neck fusion!! Is he out of his friggin mind?? And since this problem has been going on for almost 3 yrs now there are no guarantees that I will ever regain the use of my last 2 fingers, the pain, tingling and numbness in the last 2 digits may be permanent nerve damage.

So, I'm a 40 year old graphic designer that has no use of her hand. Just lovely.

I've asked for another EMG to verify his diagnosis, and told him I need time to think about all of this. So I have 3 more months off work to decide what I want to do. The other option I need to consider is dealing with the hand issue and asking worker's compensation to retrain me (free education at least) in something else. But I really just don't know what there is without use of my hand.

I'm overwhelmed thinking about it all... and the bottom line is I STILL HURT!!! All I want is the pain to stop. And that's not even an option at this point.

Anyone ever had an ulnar nerve transposition? What was the recovery like?

I think I'll go meditate and try to shut my brain off for a bit now. Too much thinking makes me weary.

Well, I didn't have the ulnar surgery, but I had carpal tunnel surgery and before surgery, my hand was useless -- and I was an Optician.

I'd had previous spine surgeries, and I sure didn't want any more surgery -- but my doc told me that if I did NOT have it done then, I could expect permanent nerve damage. I did NOT want to risk that, so we went ahead.

The surgery was a complete success, and after some therapy the hand was back to working again. If I were you, I'd go ahead and have it done before this becomes a permanent condition --- if it hasn't already. They can give you some "exercises" for your arm/hand after surgery to help regain use. Plus I also had "hot wax" treatments -- don't know what good it did, but it sure felt good. LOL

I wish you the very best -- keep us posted. Hugs, Lee

Hi Lee,

Thanks for posting that, I really have been skepticle about another surgery, but knowing that you had success with it makes me reconsider.
So much to think about!

I really appreciate your input.
Cathie

Hi, Im sorry to hear that you are having problems. I have some questions, as you are further along in recovery than I am if you don't mind. I had c3 thru c7 acdf surgery and bone spurs removed on August 25, 2011. My neck is fantastic, have almost complete range of motion and a lot of the pain is gone. I use a lot of heat and tens unit at home, have finished pt and it really helped me. the exercises aggravate me a bit. BUT my major problem is my voice. It is raspy, it disappears and is very weak. No one can hear me and i am getting very discouraged. I have a follow up visit on 12/27 with my neuro and he said if it isn't better he wants me to see an eye ear nose and throat dr. I really do not want any more surgery but what else is there ? I am not even over the first one yet. Does the discomfort across the shoulders and shouler baleds ever go away or am I expecting too much too soon? Thank you. Hope you get relief soon.

Hi again, just answered you on your other post, before reading this one. LOL

I'm at 8 months post op now. And actually I think you are doing better in your recovery then I am. I still have a lot of pain, shoulders, neck, traps, and I also have 2 more nerves being compressed in my arm. (my ulnar nerve in my elbow and median nerve in wrist) Like you I don't want more surgery, so I'm trying to cope and learn to live with it, but haven't been back to work with this yet. Will find out next month about that.

I have only gone 1/2 way through my PT, wasn't allowed to start (my neurosurgeon's orders) until the 6 mth post op mark. I have about 6 wks left. It's helping a bit, but like you the exercises aggravate things.

I am better then I was 3 mths ago, better yet then before surgery, but still not near 100%. You call it discomfort in your shoulders? Mine is pure pain., plus the neuropathy down my right arm is horrible, still have tingling and numb fingers.

Hang in there, sounds like you are doing well except for your voice, hopefully that will heal itself in time. If it isn't one thing it's another with these cervical recoveries. Have you tried a naturopathic doctor for your voice? Maybe they have something herbal that will help relax the inflammed vocal cords and give your voice some strength back? I go to a naturopath for acupuncture (pain relief) and she had some great herbal suggestions also.

Keep in touch, hope you feel better soon.
Cathie

I've had ulnar nerve surgery on my left elbow.the surgery itsrlf only took a little ovsr an hr if I remember right. I was in a full cast from my wrist to my shoulder..the stitches came out 3 weeks later and I was at PT shortly there after.Before the surgery I was dropping things and my ring and pinky fingers were totally numb.after surgery my strength is back but the numbness hasn't completely gone away..No pain in elbow or wrist after about 2 months.all in all in my opinion it was a success