I am new to this but could really use help. I am 14 weeks post op from cervical surgery, C4/5. My neurosurgeon used a new device by LDR called ROI-C. Long story short, I woke up from surgery in tremendous pain in the back of my neck. My left arm felt like it weighed a ton. Surgeon didnt think anything was wrong. Came home the next day, spent 3 weeks in tears from neck pan and left arm pain. MRI and X-ray looked ok at 3 weeks. Dr didnt see any problems but I was still n extreme pain. Finally had nerve conductor test at 8 weeks, which revealed damage. Started neurontin which saved my life....14 weeks out and I'm not showing any fusion, neck pain is better but still hurts especially when sitting for more than 2 hours, hurts in back of neck, behind shoulder, and in front of neck around the collar bone. Arm pain still bad, dr says its arthitis and bursitis...can't take anti inflammatory meds because they inhibit fusion. Now wearing bone growth stimulator 24/7. Havent gone back to work, the more i try to do, the more it hurts. Has anyone hd this trouble and then recovered? Please please respond!

HiCocoa;

I had acdf in 2010 c4-c7--i went parlyzed on right before surgery and was is pain 24/7 I never slept before surgery --morphine wouldnt touch it. Post surgery I was in pain but for me it was more tolerable pain. Im not sure if thats because my pre-surgery pain was mind blowing. I also had bone growth stimulator it will really aid in helping u achieve a solid fusion. I was off work i think 4 months --and when i went back I was exhaused just from the drive in --this surgery takes a huge toll on your energy and your body. Im the healing stage my traps and back of neck and shoulder hurt and were so tight --it does hurt. Are you in any kind of collar?? Because it holds the weight of our neck thats all those muscle become tight. Your surgeon may suggest P.T once your showing signs of fusing. I know u wouldnt be fused yet-- take up to 6months usually even longer. The x-rays didnt seem to concern him which is a good sign so maybe your suppose to be where your at as far as healing at this time. I know this sounds lame but the nerves do strange thing the DR cant even explain during healing. I will stress this ---what u been thru is traumatic and you need to try to relax your mind and body as much as possible. Dont push trying to go back to work if your not ready. When your home be mindful of your posture its so important --even out this long if I lay wrong or bend I still get nasty flare ups. It will improve --u need more time. Best of luck to you !!

Thank you for replying! I'm trying so hard to stay positive. I just never expected this. I didn't mention in my previous post but I had cervical surgery on c5/6 12 years ago and was back to work in 3 weeks, woke up pain free after surgery.
This time I spent the first 8 weeks thinking I was never going to get better. I only saw improvements after starting the neurontin. But based on your experience, you think things will improve? My dr says he thinks my pain is from not fusing yet, but some ppl have no symptoms before thy fuse..I'm terrified that this new device he used, ROI-C, is the problem, but he says it looks good. I still have very little uses of my left arm. I believe in the power of prayers and appreciate anyone who wants to include me in theirs!

I did look up the LDR ROI-C. It is a cage, which the articles state, is less invasive that full plates and screws. This doesn't mean however that recover is fast. We all heal at different rates. You may be experiencing muscle spasms, that can occur with any spinal fusion. Maybe ask your doctor for an additional medication called Soma. This is for spasms, and when combined with adequate pain control, can help alot. You are still early into your recovery. If this seems very abnormal, get on the phone once again to your neurologist and express your concerns. Be as pro-active in your recovery as you can be. I am sorry you are still in such pain. I am fused C3-7 and those first 6 weeks were really hard. Tired and hurting much of the time. Don't be afraid to keep questioning your doctor. The bone growth stimulator is suppose to help. I really hope you achieve fusion and that this pain you have will get better. I will be thinking about you. I hope you heal, and the pain gets better. ginnie

It took almost two years for me to really have pain I can tolerate. ginnie

Cocoa,

Since I know a little more history a single fusion is usally easier to recover from then a muti-level now you have c4 included. Did they take out you old hardware and re-fuse the whole thing from c4 thru c6 ? How was your symptoms prior to surgery esp in your left arm? The other thing is 12 yrs ago you were younger and 2nd surgery being older might take more time. I 100% can understand your concerns and fears I looked it up briefy does appear new tech since 2009. I went old school with 2 plates and 8 screws. That would concern me as well. Again it may be your older and to be honest im not 100% since mine 90% but I still have numbness in fingers and right shoulder being the worst. I will def add u to my prayers list!! Please keep posting as I def would like to know how your doing and how your progress. Im just very sorry your suffering right now.

He did not remove the old plate, that is what is supposed to so great about the ROI-C. I had some shoulder pain prior to surgery, but it was not constant and the pain did not go down my arm. The disc was buiging and the nerve was compressed. My dr is suggesting I try an injection in my shoulder since my test shows bursitis in the shoulder. But there is also nerve damage so I'm worried about the injection. I just don't understand how I am in so much more pain now than before surgery, but I can say I am better now than the first 8 weeks after surgery.
Thank you for your reply and I'm so glad you are doing well!

Oh, yes I am older now than I was when I had the first surgery, but im only 45 and I still have so much life to live. Right now I just want to wrap my arms around my husband and children, but I can't...

I had the ROI-C CERVICAL CAGE 6-15-12, NOTHING has been the same since! Pain radiating down my arms from my neck to my HANDS! I barely sleep and I'm in constant pain! The more I do the more I HURT ! I am still young and I wouldn't have bad the surgery if I knew all the things that I encounter were going to happen! I have seen Dr.s getting kick backs to put implants into us that have not passed the rountine of testing on these cages! These cages have the potential to fall into the spinal canal making the patient paralyzed! Has anyone heard of help for those of us with these implants?

I would also be interested in help for patients suffering after ROI-C implant failure. June 2014 I had an ROI-C implant put in C5-C6 and I have suffered severely ever since. I have had multiple ct and MRI's that show the implant did not fuse. I have neurological deficits in both arms and hands, right shoulder pain, severe neck and back pain, can't sleep more than 30 minutes at a time. I am on on a fentanyl patch and hydrocodone. I have not been able to return to work and I am now on long term disability. I have days I can not do anything by lay around in pain. I constantly drop things, My hands cramp in such pain it is hard to type or write. Normal housework chores like cooking is hard since I can't hardly lift heavy pans. Driving for any distance over 30 miles makes my hands go numb or burn in pain just holding on to the steering wheel! I am now in the process of allergy testing to see if I may be allergic to the implant. Once this testing is complete I am meeting with a new neurosurgeon, since mine left the state and is no longer practicing, to decide if this should be revised or removed. I have been searching the internet to find if others have had issues with ROI-C implant when I found this site.