Issues after cervical fusion. Normal?

I had this surgery last month. Front and back.
No pain for me. Go back to doctor.

In my experience, no, that's not normal. I'm fused at the C5-C6 and C7-T1 level, and I don't remember having any kind of burning or new pain afterwards. Call the surgeon.

@mrmacabre hi, I had the exact same double fusion on Fri feb 13th.
Is there anyway t message on here?, I'm wondering if I could bug you for a few

Did you do anything different that you can recall that may explain the new pain? Definitely check with your dr.

I hope you get things sorted

@gothghoul I sent you a short message, check it out.

Hi, I had C2 - C6 (2nd time) fusion last May. It fixed the initial problem and ended up leaving me with radiculopathy at C6 giving me shooting / electric pains down my left arm and neck (which is new). The surgeon refuses to acknowledge that he "may have" caused this during surgery. I tried everything to 'resolve' it and nada. So I guess I'm living with this now. As a nurse, I knew better than to start "messing" with my spine because a doc once told me that once you start having surgery (on the spine), you'll never stop. Not try to be negative, just factual.

I had similar surgery 2001, for me when there is burning it is usually nerve pain. I had to wear a Miami J collar for 3 months. The first 2 weeks post op were the most painful, lots of spasms and nerve pain. After a year you pretty much know the result. Take it easy, no zip lining!

Hi! I am a 47-year-old woman with three children. I had degenerative changes with cervical misalignment between C2 and C7, herniated discs, osteophytes and severe pain. In May, I underwent a C3–C6 cervical fusion with a lordotic plate, two cages C3–C5 , six screws and disc between C5-C6, all made of titanium. I lost strength in my left arm, developed acute injuries at C6–C7, severe pain, and had to have another operation in June to replace the disc. Now the C5–C6 disc is slightly tilted/crooked; they had to file down some of the bone to fit the second disc/Move C. I have physio every other day (+150 sessions) and clinical Pilates once a week. I’ve been prescribed dozens of pregabalin tablets, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories, etc.

Since the operations, I have constant stiffness in my neck, on the right side, and often when I lie down I feel a tightening, persistent pain and pressure at the back of my neck, like a migraine at the base of my head, and sharp pains in my shoulders/arms. The physiotherapist says the muscles at the back of my arms are inflamed; I have severe pain when I have a massage; I can only sleep on my back; and when I go to sleep, I have trouble swallowing – I actually feel like I’m being choked, I’ve been left with some limited neck movements. It’s difficult to work on the computer; my neck gets really sore, and it gets worse the longer I’m on the computer, but I also get sore if I spend more than an hour on the sofa...

It’s frustrating; I’m struggling to work. I used to have loads of energy, but now I get exhausted by everything.

Has anyone else had a similar procedure and found a solution? Any success stories?

Many thanks, best wishes.

Hi, @mariacabral - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You've had major surgery with a cervical fusion of C3-C6, including plate, cages, screws, and a replacement disc. Having three children to care for at the same time is a challenge with trying to recover from a surgery like this.

Losing arm strength, having revision surgery on the disc, and having stiffness, fatigue, pain and pressure, plus taking medications and doing PT, clinical Pilates, etc., is a lot to contend with.

Hoping others in this discussion such as @guert @yesibeleive @mrsr1234 @mrmacabre @gothghoul and others will have some input on whether their procedures were similar to yours, and if they have found solutions to issues that have arisen like those you have mentioned afterward.

What would you say is the No. 1 problem you are dealing with right now, mariacabral?

Hi @lisalucier, thanks for your comment. My No.1 problem is the chronic pain and stiffness in the neck/back head, which makes it impossible to lead a normal life, to work, to sleep, to rest.
Many thanks for your help!