Hi,

I just thought I would get on here and post my update from my NS yesterday. I had my C5/C6 fusion done Sept. 22nd. Everything is going pretty well and I am familiar with this stiffness from the first fusion I had done in 2004.

But, I woke up this morning sooooooooo dizzy! I know it is not my meds because I have been taking them for a long, long time (stayed on the same ones prior to and after surgery). The only thing I can think of is is that I also take Miralax for constipation issues and take very little of that as well. But one of the side effects can be dizziness. The other thing is I have been on this darn computer so much so I need to stay off and only get on periodically. So, that is probably the main reason why my neck is so stiff...tighter than a drum!!!

I just got out my exercise booklet and did those while in a hot shower. It seemed to help. So, on Saturday, I am definitely going to massage therapy. The PA told me I have several knots across my shoulders. So, here we go again LOL!

Other than that...things are going pretty well...no serious problems to speak of.

Kathi,

I was so stiff the first few weeks after my surgery that the slightest head tilt in any direction was horribly painful. I was in a hard collar and my neck felt like stone at times! You're just 1 month out of surgery and going to attemp exercises?...I sure hope you mean stretching exercises! Anyhow, you're right with the computer position might be aggravating things a bit. Holding your arms up puts a strain on your neck and back muscles, so try to take it easy, and most definitely don't be doing the vaccuuming. Get some rest!

Best wishes,

Kim

Hey Kim,

LOL! Yes, I meant stretching exercises! The PA gave me the neck stretch booklet of exercises. AND...I was doing them all day long yesterday in the shower. I am much better this morning. You had two levels done right? So, I can just imagine you were in some real discomfort! I only had the one level done. And they told me to wear the soft collar for comfort...not all day long. But you and I have discussed this before. Sometimes, those collars, I think can make things worse. I know sometimes when I take mine off my neck is really stiff. Then at other times it helps to relax those muscles. So, I think it is finding a balance of what feels good and what doesn't. I definitely wear one when I am riding in the car! My husband has a Jeep that throws me all over the place and the bumps in the road will just tear me up LOL! I am also wearing the bone growth stimulator. It is more like a necklace which is nice but it too can hold my head up in a certain position that can cause me to start to ache. So, I periodically wear it throughout the day NOT 4 hours straight. Oh, and my computer chair is one of those super duper ones from Relax the Back that my husband got for me for these very issues. It has arms that I can raise or lower for comfort. But I think what really happens is that when I sit here, sometimes I go into a "head forward" posture which is not good LOL! So, I am always having to tell myself to tuck my chin back in. Oh, and forget the vacuuming! It can wait. The Miralax is now out of my system too so I really think it was a combination of both. It is odd because Colace can make me dizzy too. Go figure!

Kathi,

I was in a hard collar for at least six weeks after my cervical fusion...and I was stiff, but I also had a 360 done...Did you have a 360? I felt as though they cut my head off and sewed it back on the first few weeks..The first few weeks I cried a lot, but I did not have very good pain management either..Any way....when your doctor allows...Someone I think JB, recommended that I ask the PT to do myofacial release massage...I think this is what it is called...but it really helped...They massaged my incision in the front of the neck and the back...I think it helped with the stiffness and ROM...I had three levels...C4-5, 5-6 and 6-7...cages in the front and rods and screws in the back...

Glad to see you here!

I wanted to edit this to say too...Someone told me not to throw the soft collar away ...I could not determine why...I think it was Cervie Queen...BUT do not throw it away...You will need it on long trips...Your neck will get tired...I use it for city driving too...

Thanks GJZH!

I am not sure what you mean by 360.

I am scheduled to have some massage therapy on Saturday. The gal that does this is great! But I have been told to have her do it lightly. Evidently, I have some knots and such which is pretty common. And, trust me, I STILL have the soft collar from 2 years ago. And I still use it for every day driving and/or a long trip.

I didn't have neck pain or shoulder pain after this fusion but I did have SEVERE left arm pain that sent me to the ER two days after surgery. Like you said, I felt like my arm had been cut off and sewn back on. It was horrible and was taking my breath away. When it was all said and done, it was just one big horrible spasm. It hasn't happened since that one time.

Basically, my neck is just stiff and I am in dire need of a massage.

Kathi,

A 360 is both a front and back incision...Do you have the incision in the front and then the rods and screws in the back...? They sometimes refer to it as an " around the world."

Hope you feel better soon!


Gloria

GJZH,

No wonder you were hurting so badly!!! And it is a real shame you didn't have good PM.

No, I just have the incision in the front; screws and plate. Just the ole normal hardware. I do have another scar in the front from the fusion I had done in 2004. I asked them the other day that if the C4/C5 gives way since it is sandwiched between the two fusions, what would they do next. The PA told me they would go in from the back of my neck to repair it. Now, I don't quite understand why and I didn't go into it with her. I don't know why they couldn't go in from the front of my neck again but on the right side since the left side is where the other incisions are. But maybe there are reasons for that that I haven't been told yet. Shoot, I am too old to much care what the front of my neck looks like anymore. I will just wear turtlenecks for the rest of my life LOL! Just kidding. They did a great job with the first incision; you can barely see it. This new one is still raw looking.

This may sound strange...being told to a person that has had spinal surgery...but, dizziness is often a sigh of water in the ears...or infection.
Take that from someone that has ear problems as well.

Sally,

I know LOL!

I was in PT this past summer and was swimming at the local YMCA. Well, I went under in 5 feet of water, came up and my left eardrum just blew out! I guess I had the beginnings of an infection and didn't know it. Plus, allergy season was just beginning. I felt an intense moment of pain and then it stopped. I ended up at the ENT and sure enough I had ruptured my eardrum. So, all summer long I couldn't get under the water. I still exercised a little but not much. I was too afraid that I would get water in it again.

No, this dizziness was probably from the muscles in my neck clamping down and causing some occipital neuralgia...my very best friend LOL! I hate ON...it is horrible! Plus, the meds I take just added to it.

Yep!!! Meds have thrown me for a loop too. I also get flare-ups where my body carries on a few of its own tricks...like the ground not being safe to walk on. Hope you get relief.......sally