@ckmerc Welcome to Connect. As far as head turning goes, most of that is done by C1 & C2 with some help from C3 & C4. I have a C5-C6 fusion and my head turning range is the same as before my surgery, but I can no longer touch my chin to my chest. With your fusion extending to C3, you understand how much head turning range was lost. I don't think you'll loose any more head turning fusing to C7, but perhaps some of the ability to twist at the shoulder, and you'll loose the ability to flex forward with any level of cervical fusion. I'm sure your surgeon can explain this.

Do you have a date scheduled for surgery?

The only thing I can say is try to stretch gently but consistently every day look online , specifically on YouTube to see what other folks are doing as far as relief for certain areas in the back by stretching. I found if you do consistently stretch some of these surgery areas may respond to some relief. Just be very gentle and mindful. Once again, I use castor oil on areas in the spine that hurt along with a small tens machine frequently. After talking to other people, it seems less surgery you can prevent on your spine the better results as they have to cut through and possibly damage many nerves during these procedures. I hope the best for you ,peace and healing.

UPDATE:

So had MRI and saw surgeon. MRI basically shows what one would expect of discs below fusion...BUT

my ongoing arm and finger nerve pain could be from one of 2 things.

Will need an EMG to verify where pain is coming from.

C8–T1 Radiculopathy OR Ulnar Neuropathy

god I hope it is Ulnar Neuropathy....if so they would just need to do surgery on my elbow area...

My fear is it is my neck...but by and large...my neck has been feeling great. just the area by my shoulder blade to my right elbow and two fingers on my right hand (ring and pinky) numbness and pain..

If neck they they would extend the rod in my back to C8 (currently c3-c6)..... but would not need to go in the front at all... so praying it is my elbow. Kind of makes sense it might be elbow...I remember in my TKD class when it all started we were doing a lot of punches (just to air) and I remember leaving the class thinking I pulled a muscle in middle right of my back below shoulder blade.... but who knows.

I had surgical intervention got C2-C6 first posterior, then 2 years later same discs removed and cages and screws in place of them. Those were done in 2001 and 2003 respectively. I'm 77 yrs old now and have become inoperative. After these surgeries I could lift my arms in the air, prior to surgery only 4 inch range of motion. For me there was a time limited window to have the surgery, otherwise my chance for a better outcome.

Thanks so much for sharing.. looks like they want a CT scan next and EMG to pinpoint where issue is…. I hope surgery can happen before end of year or I lose 5k (deductible). That said…. Process is what it is…. Better to not rush and be sure of where the issue is vs having wrong surgery..

Caveat even if issue is in my elbow…..is at some point my neck (based on MRI below) will have to addressed…

See mri