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Cervical fusion of C3-C7 after L4-L5 and S1 - What to expect?

Posted by coachdavid @coachdavid, May 23, 2024

I had a fusion of my L-4, L-5 & S-1 one year ago this month. Pre-operatively I had bi-lateral sciatica in both legs. When I awoke in post-anesthesia I was pain free.

Unfortunately I have had neuropathy in my right foot & loss of sensory nerve function which has led to balance issues.

My recent MRI shows cervical spine impingement necessitating cervical fusion from C-3 through C-7. I am hoping this alleviates my balance issues & relieves my neuropathy.

What kind of recovery can I anticipate? The lumbar fusion was much tougher than I expected.

Thanks!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.

Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Jan 22 9:58pm
In reply to @paulameador "I would love to connect with you and chat with you. Our surgeries match pretty close..." + (show)
@paulameador

I would love to connect with you and chat with you. Our surgeries match pretty close as my surgeries from 2005-2012 led to more surgeries in 2024 and now I am faced with horrific thoracic pain that worries me will need to be fused an there is several levels with disc dessication. Do you have the thoracic pain with having cervical and lumbar fusions?

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@paulameador I'm going to tag @janagain so she'll see your post. Typing their handle like I did here will send a notification that you have responded to them.

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llc777 | @llc777 | Mar 29 11:06pm

someone please help!!! Four months ago, I underwent ACDF fusion on c3 It was fused to c4 Since then, I have had terrible pain in my upper back around my shoulder blades along with that I am hearing white noise in my ears sometimes so loud it just drives me crazy… Pressure around my ears… And sometimes burning pain above my ears… Along with sinus pressure twitching in my eyes, and my eyes become very dry… My shoulders hurt, especially if I stand very long or sit very long… I also get a tight feeling around my Cervical hardware To the point, I can feel the hardware.. Has anyone else had these symptoms? can anyone give me any advice, please?

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2 replies
alexis7 | @alexis7 | Mar 30 9:49am
In reply to @llc777 "someone please help!!! Four months ago, I underwent ACDF fusion on c3 It was fused to..." + (show)
@llc777

someone please help!!! Four months ago, I underwent ACDF fusion on c3 It was fused to c4 Since then, I have had terrible pain in my upper back around my shoulder blades along with that I am hearing white noise in my ears sometimes so loud it just drives me crazy… Pressure around my ears… And sometimes burning pain above my ears… Along with sinus pressure twitching in my eyes, and my eyes become very dry… My shoulders hurt, especially if I stand very long or sit very long… I also get a tight feeling around my Cervical hardware To the point, I can feel the hardware.. Has anyone else had these symptoms? can anyone give me any advice, please?

Jump to this post

I had ACDF C3-7 almost a year ago. When my shoulders and or neck bother me, not if, it reminds me to do some of the PT exercises I did post op. Are you doing PT? Talk to your therapist.

Hope you get some relief.

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1 reply
llc777 | @llc777 | Mar 30 10:21am
In reply to @alexis7 "I had ACDF C3-7 almost a year ago. When my shoulders and or neck bother me,..." + (show)
@alexis7

I had ACDF C3-7 almost a year ago. When my shoulders and or neck bother me, not if, it reminds me to do some of the PT exercises I did post op. Are you doing PT? Talk to your therapist.

Hope you get some relief.

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they never gave me PT… As a matter of fact, I met with the surgeons PAC last Thursday… And she blew me off… Told me to go see my practitioner

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alexis7 | @alexis7 | Mar 30 11:41am

Call the surgeon, they are supposed to order it. Make lots of noise if sweetness doesn’t work. I’m a nurse & never heard of such rudeness.

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bonnie111 | @bonnie111 | Mar 30 11:58am

I am not sure how to use this site. Just joined. If I am in the wrong spot, please forgive me and tell me what to do to ask a question. Has anyone had endoscopic surgery instead of an acdf. I am very new to this. I am suppose to have surgery on the 28th of April but endoscopic surgery was never mentioned. The surgery is on 3-5 discetomy/audiograft/allograft. (whatever all of that means). I think this is probably not done by many doctors and it may not be something that can be done for the condition that I have. Just wasn’t to know what you all know about this type of surgery.

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1 reply
Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Mar 31 11:08am
In reply to @bonnie111 "I am not sure how to use this site. Just joined. If I am in the..." + (show)
@bonnie111

I am not sure how to use this site. Just joined. If I am in the wrong spot, please forgive me and tell me what to do to ask a question. Has anyone had endoscopic surgery instead of an acdf. I am very new to this. I am suppose to have surgery on the 28th of April but endoscopic surgery was never mentioned. The surgery is on 3-5 discetomy/audiograft/allograft. (whatever all of that means). I think this is probably not done by many doctors and it may not be something that can be done for the condition that I have. Just wasn’t to know what you all know about this type of surgery.

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@bonnie111 Hello and welcome to Connect. I know it’s a tough choice when you don’t really understand what you’ve been offered for surgery. Autograft and Allograft refer to where the bone comes from to replace the space after a disc is removed. One is donor or bone bank bone which is the hard mineral matrix that all bone cells have been removed from. The other is your bone that a surgeon removes from your hip and carves to put it into your spine. It comes with living bone cells in it, but also can leave your hip with pain the rest of your life. It is best to get other opinions from good spine surgeons which will help you decide. On Connect, there is a search bar at the top where you can type keywords and find other discussions and posts from other members. My experience is that I had a fusion of C5/C6 at Mayo done without hardware and with donor bone. I stayed in a Neck brace until fused for 3 months.

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1 reply
krispine | @krispine | Mar 31 1:06pm

I had a very successful fusion C3-C7 back in 2021. I have 4 titanium discs and have no issues at all. If I didn't know I had had the surgery, would not be aware of it. Interestingly, I am going in on April 3 for L4 titanium disc and fusion (got kicked by a horse). Am feeling positive about it given my cervical surgery several years ago. I think the key is to stay active. I have been lap swimming which is so helpful.

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Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Apr 1 4:41pm
In reply to @llc777 "someone please help!!! Four months ago, I underwent ACDF fusion on c3 It was fused to..." + (show)
@llc777

someone please help!!! Four months ago, I underwent ACDF fusion on c3 It was fused to c4 Since then, I have had terrible pain in my upper back around my shoulder blades along with that I am hearing white noise in my ears sometimes so loud it just drives me crazy… Pressure around my ears… And sometimes burning pain above my ears… Along with sinus pressure twitching in my eyes, and my eyes become very dry… My shoulders hurt, especially if I stand very long or sit very long… I also get a tight feeling around my Cervical hardware To the point, I can feel the hardware.. Has anyone else had these symptoms? can anyone give me any advice, please?

Jump to this post

@llc777 It sounds like you have muscle spasms and neck tightness right up to your jaw. I have thoracic outlet syndrome which does cause tightness to the jaw, scapula area and between the collar bone and rib cage. My PT has treated this with myofascial release which loosens tight fascia. Scar tissue also creates tightness, and likely that is happening to you at 4 months post op. You may want to read this discussion on MFR. I have done a lot of it and it helps me. If you release the extra pressure, it may relieve pain. You'll need clearance from your surgeon. There is a provider search at https://mfrtherapists.com/

Neuropathy - "Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/

REPLY
1 reply
llc777 | @llc777 | Apr 1 10:13pm
In reply to @jenniferhunter "@llc777 It sounds like you have muscle spasms and neck tightness right up to your jaw...." + (show)
@jenniferhunter

@llc777 It sounds like you have muscle spasms and neck tightness right up to your jaw. I have thoracic outlet syndrome which does cause tightness to the jaw, scapula area and between the collar bone and rib cage. My PT has treated this with myofascial release which loosens tight fascia. Scar tissue also creates tightness, and likely that is happening to you at 4 months post op. You may want to read this discussion on MFR. I have done a lot of it and it helps me. If you release the extra pressure, it may relieve pain. You'll need clearance from your surgeon. There is a provider search at https://mfrtherapists.com/

Neuropathy - "Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/

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i want to thank you so much for this information i will defenately look into this… it sounds absolutely wonderful… thank you

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