I am dealing with unexpected anxiety following a spinal fusion.

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!!!