I recently had asdf 2 levels c-5-7 sat i was sitting and started to sneeze so I leaned to the edge of chair and then stood. I was wearing a hard collar too. I felt very sharp pains down both arms then worse pain for a bit from elbow into pinky finger. the tip of the pinky was sore and finger was numb. the pain lasted a bit. I took a shower an hour later and when i tried washing my chest I could not hold the soap and turn my hand and forearm inwards. quite scary. Has any one gone through this

Symptoms into the pinky from the elbow could arise from cervical levels C8-T1, the ulnar nerve at the elbow (cubital tunnel) and rarely medial wrist about the ulnar nerve (with retrograde symptoms to the elbow). Try a neurologist!

I also experience numbness,I just made my own post for advice,so you can read that also. I experience more left sided issues. Seems like a nerve issue as I experience. Could be very swollen,or damage before surgery. Your nerves can get permanently damaged or your brain is tricking you,still thinking differently.I read something like that,what the brain does and is powerful. I am also dropping things,today is very bad for that.We obviously are experiencing a nerve compression. I get 2 types of nerve feelings..1 is where it is numb and I cannot feel it or 2,its a burning nerve sensation and I really hurt all over,if that makes sense. Lots of ice and rest!! Hope this helps a little

Thanks Checker - I will ask surgeon next office visit. I am concerned that the level below may be the culprit which would be c8-T1.

I mis-stated something. It should have read neurological (not cervical) levels C8 and T1. There is no C8 vertebra.That'l teach me not to proof what I write!

I have been seeing post that this type pain can also be attributed to TOS - how would I know if that is the cause. I have been sneezing a lot lately and everytime I feel like my chest and mid back are snapped off - very painful but then it subsides. I never felt that pain\at that location prior to my ACDF.

I also am noticing more forearm wrist pain which I had prior but was infrequent

For possible TOS & more info, read thru our useful sticky threads on the TOS forum.
post #1 on the link below is a crash course on TOS, lots of compiled links over the years -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread84.html

Ulnar nerve entrapment occurs when the ulnar nerve in the arm becomes compressed or irritated. The ulnar nerve is one of the three main nerves in your arm. It travels from your neck down into your hand, and can be constricted in several places along the way. Depending upon where it occurs, this pressure on the nerve can cause numbness or pain in your elbow, hand, wrist, or fingers.

Sometimes the ulnar nerve gets compressed at the wrist, beneath the collarbone, or as it comes out of the spinal cord in the neck. The most common place where the nerve gets compressed is behind the elbow.

When the nerve compression occurs at the elbow, it is called "cubital tunnel syndrome."

orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00069[/url]

I had a 2 level c5-7 fusion about 7 weeks ago. I had some forarm pain prior to surgery but was fairly infrequent. now i have is a lot and when i sneez or lean over to tie shoes or look down - I have severe shar pain in chest - mid back I never had that before. I am wondering if my T1 disc is involved

Since your surgery was recent, I would expect you are going to have some neurological symptoms while you heal. I did the same thing, only I got dive bombed by some darn bird and turned my head too quickly. OUCH! Over the months the symptoms gradually went away. If you have some real concerns give your surgeon a call just to check in with him, Peace of mind is worth a lot. I hope you get better soon.ginnie