I had anterior fusion at C5-6 no plates or screws (previously had anterior fusion at C4 - 5 & C6 - 7 with plates & screws - 2 different operations) & posterior fusion from C4 - T1 with 2 rods, screws & wires 6 weeks ago. Just wanted to know if anyone else on here has went through this surgery? Just need someone to talk to. I try to talk to my family but they really don't understand. Especially my husband, he seems to think since I am out of the hospital and weaning myself from wearing the hard collar that there is nothing wrong with me.

The reason other people don't empathize with you is because pain is invisible. I'm sorry you are going thru feeling like no one understands you.
If we had an injury that they can see then they would know your in pain.

Sorry no one responded before now, sometimes that happens to me.

But feel free to vent here, get advise and know that there are people here that have gone thru what you have.

Hope your having less pain each day.

Gosh I'm really saddened to read what you are going through, probably because I can totally relate to your situation.
I don't know the answer for you but for me, our partners I think become weary of our constant coming and going from medical appointments, reviews and surgical procedures and their only coping mechanism is to become insensitive to our situation. I have recently had another procedure that was fairly invasive and caused far more pain than I anticipated and on top of that, I'm not allowed to do anything for 13 weeks. It's to help me manage my pain, not cure it. For the first time ever in any of my surgical procedures he has finally gotten the point, I need to take the time to recover from the procedure and then see how I go about getting on with the rest of our lives. The last two years have been hideous and I have become a housebound prisoner, I'm determined to see these 13 weeks out and do nothing at all to risk a good recovery and the potential to be able to return to the workplace and live a life outside of these walls.
Vent away on here, talk to us, we are all in the same boat. Hopefully you will be able to find different words and ways to explain to your husband in words he will understand that you are not alone in your journey to recovery, he plays a crucial part by being supportive and encouraging. It can happen trust me, mine went from being indifferent and even failing to turn up at the hospital on more than one occasion to being the rock I couldn't do without.
Hang in there, talk to your GP, do all your physio exercises and discuss getting a referral to a pain management specialist and a psychologist. I did and it's been the best thing for me. The pysch should also be willing to talk to your husband to help him to understand. I'm just joining a new wellness group this week as a part of my recovery, the group has a physio, pysch and nutritionist and they all work together with the PM specialist for an overall outcome to help me best manage my pain and not just rely on pain meds and the SCS unit. I'm feeling very nervous but I am also looking forward to having different and maybe fresh ideas from this new group.
Some threads get more people traffic, try the chronic pain forum as well.

Thank you all for your answers! I am so sorry that each of you are having problems of your on! I pray they will all get better really soon. Well I had an exciting week last week! First my father had a wreck, He is completely ok. Just shuck him up. Thank God for that! The biggie is my furbaby nearly died. He is one of my doggies. Weighs 112lbs. He woke me up last Tues. in the middle of the night. I thought he just wanted to go pee. So I let them out. When he came back in he just wasn't acting right. I had to call my daughter who is a vet tech. She came over, we both thought his stomach had twisted. We took him to the er clinic. They took xrays. It showed his liver was not quite right and there was fluid around it and the stomach. Had to keep him there on fluids until my vet opened. She imediately did an ultrasound. She is an amazing Vet!! She did xrays. Kept him to observe him. Then she had to do exploratory surgery. He had eaten a chestnut. It was the perfect size to get stuck at the end of his stomach and beginning of his intestines. We caught it just in time!! He was so good!! He has completely recovered now. We go get his staples out today. Anyway yesterday I walked him like always. He was so much better that he drug me all over my yard and field! I hurt so bad from his tugging! So today I let him walk by himself! Boy did he have a ball! So I know he will be ok. But the stress has really gotten to me. I am hurting below where I think the end of the rods are, all the way down my back and the sides are hurting to. It is so nice to be able to "vent" and talk to people who understand!