Hi, I’m a 42yr female in Australia, i had ADCF C6/7 done almost 2 years ago, after injuring myself a work 3 years ago.
My pain was like a deep aching burn feeling with muscle spasms and numbness it starting behind my shoulder and ran down my entire arm into my thumb and 1st 2 fingers, I never had neck pain!!

Dr intially thought I had shoulder bursitis, I had 2 cortisone injections 3 months apart in the right shoulder, did physio 3 times a week until finally about 7 months later I seen a neurosurgeon, mri showed degenerative disc disease, significant foraminal stenosis at c5/6 and c6/7 with bone spurs and cord impingement at both levels
I had epidural injections in both C6 and C7 nerve roots which only made things worse, this is when the neck pain well and truely kicked In and I started losing range of motion when turning my head, was like my head was too heavy to hold
I continued physio for another 3 months with no improvement, this is when my neurosurgeon decided to put me under the knife.

Waking from surgery, I complained of stronger neck and arm pain and a burning buzzing feeling in the right side of my face running down into my right leg and foot, it was brushed off like it was all in my head.
3 months post surgery, I was in more pain, I was also suffering from colour and temperature fluctuations in my right arm/hand, I had an EMG results came back normal but the neurologist immediately referred me to pain management as he suspected I had complex regional pain syndrome.
The pain specialist and neurologist both agreed and diagnosed me with right upper quadrant CRPS 3 months post surgery.
the following 6 months, things only worsened again with pain and loss of function in my right leg/foot which by this stage the leg and foot were also suffering from colour and temperature fluctuations.
One year post surgery, multiple different neurosurgeon visits, I was told my surgery was successful regardless of the ongoing pain and loss of function, I was then diagnosed with right sided ipsilateral CRPS.
I feel as though someone has drawn a line down the centre of my body and everything on the right has this painful burning pressure, my limbs burn to the point they feel frostbiten, I struggle daily with mobility issues as I can no longer put full pressure on my right leg, I have lost almost all strength in my right arm and hand, even holding a pen is an issue.

January this year I had a week long ketamine infusion and a lumbar punch to check for any autoimmune component, no improvement, but the new EMG showed denervation of C6 and C7
Over the last 6 months, I have had multiple nerve blocks, both cervical and lumbar which once again only flared things up.

The way the last neurosurgeon explained things to me, the longer a nerve is impinged more chance of permanent damage, sort of like having furniture on carpet, leave it there too long and even though you move it the imprint stays…

My pain specialist and neurosurgeon now want to implant 2 separate spinal cord stimulators, one in cervical and the other in thoracic spine, I go for the trial in 2 weeks, petrified is an understatement!

My advice, tackle this head on, advocate for yourself, get multiple opinions and go in hard and fast.
I suffered with arm pain for 12mths before drs finally decided to operate, now all I do is wonder if they acted faster would I still be in this position or would I have my life back

Hopefully you sort something out and start feeling better soon xx