Hi,

I just wanted to say that I was scared to go through with my second cervical fusion. However, I HAD to as it was encroaching on the spinal cord. I tend to think it is only normal to fear any surgery especially those dealing with spinal conditions. I fear there are probably more surgeries in my future.

Jyes,

I, too, had occipital neuralgia and/or cervicogenic headaches stemming from the C3/C4. So, I know what you are speaking of. That type of pain is horrendous. I can't imagine how much worse occipital neuralgia could get by having an RF. I was once told that that was an option but I refused because I was a chicken. :) So, instead, I had a fusion done 3 years after the original diagnosis and it totally stopped the ON in its tracks. I have just had the C5/C6 done and felt those ole familiar "jolts" of ON. I am hoping it does NOT come back. It only happens every once in a while but if it comes back, I don't know what I will do! :eek:

Afraid of another surgery
 

Yes, I am deathly afraid. I had a lumbar fusion at L4-5 in March of this year, and I wound up worse off than before the surgery, so I am hesitant to even consider another one at this point.
I got the 85/10/5 % speech before the surgery, but the surgeon made it sound like there was no reason that I wouldn't wind up in that 85% category.:rolleyes:
Anyway, I still have problems above and below the fusion site, so for now, I am doing the pain management thing......:o
Guess, we will see where that lands me.
Sandi

Sandim,

I think we all get those speeches...I think too that I tend to think that I read the boards and always thought I am a positive thinker and most of the results of surgery is in positive thinking...I am always smiling...I think most people will tell you I am always smiling..try to be upbeat and positive...My surgeon even remarked that I was always smiling even after the surgery to my husband...This was after my lumbar fusion in April...

I was so shocked when I started to have problems with my hands being numb again in the Spring...I ignored it at first, but then it was an every day event and I was dropping things and tremors started to occur. I knew the symptoms had to be addressed. I made an appointment to see the surgeon that did my cervical fusion. Like you, at less than a year from surgery, I am already showing more degeneration so it does get discouraging.

I am going to see the physiatrist today again. I am having great difficulty standing up after bending over. Pain shoots down my right thigh , top and side, all the way down to the bottom of my foot. I am almost leary of going , since I know that it is going to send me down the road of yet another MRI, or CTscan, but the pain is unbelievable. It literally takes my breath away.
At this point, another shot is not going to cut it. Sigh...........

Sandi,

Please post after you come back from the doc today. I am having some of the same problems. I am curious to hear what they have to say. They sent me for a CT Scan because there was too much arcing on the ex-ray to determine much about what was going on with my spine, but the CT Scan did not provide very much info either because of arcing.