I am dealing with unexpected anxiety following a spinal fusion.

@cp0509 Hello and welcome to Connect. I'm glad your surgery was a success. You are still healing of course and it will get better. I was wondering if you are taking pain medication that could be causing the night terrors? Do you feel everything went well for your surgery and that it was a good thing?

What thoughts are you having when you wake up stressed out? Could that be a clue to what is bothering you?

What medications do you normally take that are not related to spine surgery? Those are just my thoughts. Did you discuss this with your surgeon? That may be a good idea.

Jennifer

I try to thank my body and my dreams/night fright for letting me know that there may be something that I might need to notice and attend to. It is so understandable when strong feelings or experiences come up that we want to constrict or contract when what could be helpful is simply sitting in inquiry. When I had my tkr all parts of me were sort of screaming "what the hell just happened!?"you've been through a lot.

@cp0509 - I've had three spine surgeries (all scheduled) and I came to believe that there is such a thing as: Major Surgery PTSD. I have learned to manage that on my own - but seeking some outside assistance for managing those feelings of terror - is completely reasonable.

Have you talked to a therapist about your feelings and experiences?

Are your comments for me?

@gravity3 - No. My comments were specifically directed to @cp0509

Thank you for your response. I never joined one of these support groups so I really didnt know what to expect. I hate that you have had to go through this three times. WOW. And I realize you are right about the PTSD. But last night I remembered that my home health nurse told me to continue taking Gabapentin for the nerves issues. I had stopped taking almost everything just because it just seemed like too much for my body to deal with. (Hate taking pills). But my nerves became so raw I couldn't even use body scrub. So I went back on the Gabapentin last night and finally got some sleep and didn't wake up dreading the day. It did calm my nerves and not telling anyone to take anything but check with yourd dr. I should have stayed on it. Hope you have luck healing. I had the L4-S1 fusion.

@cp0509 - Thanks for the supportive words. Keep your chin up, think positive thoughts, and do what the docs tell you to do. My best!

Was just reading this and yes it feels like your whole body is awake but not really in a good way Kind of like sticking your finger in an outlet and forgetting to take it out!!! And I am so forgetful...God forbid I should try to cook. I have the attentions span of a squirrel. But not in pain...so headed in the right direction. Good luck..

Hi cp0509,
I've already had 3 major lumbar surgeries with a rod placed in my thoracic spine. I had to go back in at one point because a pedicle screw broke loose and was sitting on my nerve 1 week after surgery. I assumed it was pain from recovery. It was the worst unrelenting pain I've ever had and when nothing helped to get through it, I was back in the ER , admitted and surgery to remove the screw. I've been through a lot and braver than I ever thought. Now, 5yrs later, I have severe osteoarthritis on my entire cervical vertebra. I'm having tingling , numbness, itchy, and pain in my neck, shoulders and arms. My left arm muscles have atrophied and no strength left. I'm finding this to be extremely anxiety inducing. Nothing is going to fix this but surgery. They have sent me to physical therapy and the therapist won't even touch the spine. He is only working on the muscles surrounding the area. In the meantime, I'm experiencing night terrors and woke up this morning crying from the anxiety. The spinal cord is pinched in several spaces and there's not much room for error should I fall or get rear ended car accident etc. I'm so exhausted from worry and anxiety and just basically doing nothing. Has anyone else gone through this. I know I can see my Neurologist and talk to him and I can head to the ER at anytime. It's probably PTSD and the anxiety of knowing I'm having major surgery on my neck. Not only that, my S1 is severely pinched because of the load his had to carry from the rod. That will need surgery next. It's all so much to deal with and my anxiety isn't helping.

WOW WOW WOW!!!! I don't know what to even say!! I had the one surgery and was lucky enough to have a Dr. that did vbut spinal surgery and he knew his stuff. I don't know where you live or what else is available to you but it sounds like somebody and done a terrible job trying to fix you. I'm no Dr. so just my opinion, but I will say that I waited almost too long to have my surgery and was so fortunate that I got it done so well. I also had my daughter and son in law that were completely committed to my aftercare. I am sure you have PTSD and you are not even close to being fixed. My heart goes out to you!!!