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Repair of Failed C-5-6 Fusion from Posterior
Spine Health | Last Active: Dec 13, 2025 | Replies (6)Comment receiving replies
@snel2112 Welcome to Connect. I am also an anterior cervical fusion patient. I remember my surgeon telling me that a fusion heals better with a bone implant rather than one manufactured from foreign materials. He also told me the posterior approach is more painful and a longer recovery. Your surgeon probably wants to avoid creating too much scar tissue in the front surgical area, as mine also said a second surgery would be through the posterior if it was needed.
If you had a surgical plate in your first surgery, perhaps it was holding things together. I don't have hardware at all, and just wore a neck brace until it fused.
Was your cardio weight class putting excessive weight or pounding on your spine? That is something I would worry about, and I don't want any extra pounding force putting wear and tear on my spine. Lifting weights will also put a load on the spine since some shoulder muscles and muscles connected to the scapula are attached to the spine. Perhaps my choices wouldn't be the same as yours and I don't know your story. It's just my thoughts.
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@jenniferhunter, thanks for your reply, much appreciated. I recall my first fusion at age 64 was a breeze. I had one night in the hospital and was walking laps on the floor the next morning as my husband was napping in my bed. I did have the hardware put in during my fusion. Anyway, I really don't remember any pain at all and took no pain meds. I did follow all doctor orders on lifting/twisting etc and had to wear a soft collar for 3 weeks. When cleared for exercise, I did go back to my BodyPump classes which I had been doing for 30 plus years. Fortunately the weights were minimal, 5 to 10 pounds, but it was heavy cardio.
My current surgeon said that any repetitive exercise over many years will eventually wear down the joints (think Tommy John surgery for baseball pitchers). People are so much more active now and living longer, so joints wear out. I will be happy if he can just get me pain free and back to simply walking, hiking and biking. Unfortunately I think my cardio/weight classes are behind me. My surgery will likely be in early February after the tests come back and I meet with the surgeon on Jan 20.