Hi Everyone, A little background here; I had a C5-C6 fusion with bone from a bone bank in 1990. The MRI showed the disk had slipped out and was wedged between my spinal cord and my vertebrae, you could see where the disk was pushing into the spinal cord making an indent. I went on disability and did ok with it for years, I kept the pain medication down to a minimum usually and got by ok until about 5 years ago. By then I noticed more pain and then on top of that I broke my left arm in a fall of about 15 foot, I actually rode a ladder down a wall and landed pretty rough. It broke the top of my arm, but I didn't need a cast. It did give me a great deal of pain. The Ortho doctor was good to me and put me on pain med's for the year it took to recover from that. I didn't have a doctor for my back except my family doctor and so I asked the Ortho's to take over on my back care explaining to him that I needed more specialized help and that I had been experiencing an increase in pain in my neck around the fusion area. He did X-rays of my neck and told me the fusion was cracked then and that was what was causing the increase in pain. He told me I could have the surgery redone or use pain meds to get me thru, and even told me if what he gave me wasn't enough he could send me to a Pain Management doctor for my care. So I stayed with him for about another 6 months and finally asked him to refer me to a Pain Management clinic. The doctor there put me on Methadone 3 by 10 mg a day and I've been going there for about 4 years now and I'm on 6 by 10mg a day now...I could really use an increase to 8 a day but he won't do it right now complaining about my heart rate, the thing that increase's my heart rate is the pain, not the pain med's, haha.

Now what I'm writing you guys about; I noticed about two weeks ago that my neck on the right side was hurting and very tight and tender. A lot worst than usual. I haven't done anything out of the way that I can remember, just my usual course of a day. What I'd like to know is any experience's you guys have had or you know of happening to someone with a similar surgey. Is it possible for the fusion, the bone, to break apart and screw up my neck or my spinal cord. I worry sometimes that it might be possible for it to break apart again and cause me to be paralyzed. I'm looking for other's that have had this same surgery that long ago to see how they are doing and if they can tell me anything else I might not know or realize. So all or anyone that can help I would appreciate hearing from you and any advice you might give me. I'm on just Medicare and doctors aren't that forthcoming with knowledge if you know what I mean. Thanks in Advance. futurexboy

I know I've posted a long letter here, but any help even close to what I have going on would help...for example has anyone been told their fusion was cracked, or did anyone have problems later on after they had a fusion done. I didn't mean to put it in such close terms, as long as you have anything that would help, even if its a friend or someone else you know about. Most people talk about their fusion when they have it or before or just after, but few talk about what they have went thru on down the road. If you have any questions for me I'd be happy to answer them or give more info about my condition. Thanks in Advance!

HI,
I am experiencing that (in a way) right now. Found out last week that I have an incompelte fusion and then sent back to see what could be done. I'm not sure what else can be done. Good luck!
shannon

I guess they can pull the old bone out and put in a new one and hope it will fuse and be strong, maybe throw in a couple of screws to help keep it in place, although I've only heard bad things from screws and plates back there....check back and maybe someone with some better info will post here...thanks for your post too!

I don't know if you will get this message or not seeing it has been so long ago that you posted on here. I have had all the similar symptoms that you have had. It sounded like dejavu almost. I have really been experiencing a lot of pain recently and I am considering getting a new high tech cervical disc implanted. I'm a little scared to do it but the pain is moving me forward to seek out a good doctor. I'd like to know how you are getting along these day's and if you ever had anymore surgery.

Thanks Hope you respond

the_breeze55