8 months post-op C5-C6 and C6-C7:still neck spams and shoulder burning

I feel for you on the pain. I am 4 yrs post op from a single level c5-c6 ACDF and my neck is still ridiculously tight and the shoulder pain doesn't go away. I try to stretch and use the hot tub as much as possible. Creams and ointments help a little. LDN has been helping a little bit as well. I was on gabapentin but didnt like the way it made me feel. Epidural injections seem to help for a little bit as well. Hope you find some relief.

@livininthestix Thank you for sharing your experience. I am also sorry that you have been struggling whit this for 4 years, it sounds really hard. Thank you very much for the helpful advice and for sharing what works for you. I really hope both of our situations get better.

@dragana1978 I don't have much of a choice so I try and make the most of it. Its frustrating being miserable all the time. I try and keep a big garden to keep my mind busy and stay moving. I work 6 days a week and sitting around seems to make it so much worse as far as the pain goes. Yoga is better than I would of thought. The child's pose (sorry if thats wrong) feels pretty good and helps with the shoulders. I have a tough time raising my arms above my head which makes my job as a marine technician pretty interesting hahaha. Inversion table helps as well

This all seems really messed up that you're having these kinds of issues months after your surgery. Maybe I just got lucky but I've had 2 separate fusion procedures done in my neck, first at the C5-C6 level, and then 18 months later at the C7-T1 level. They were done by 2 different neurosurgeons at 2 different hospitals due to my first doctor retiring. It's been almost 10 years since the first procedure, and I haven't had any complications whatsoever. What you're going through doesn't seem even remotely "normal", what ever that is.
I'd get copies of all of your MRI's and X rays and get another opinion from a neurosurgeon about what your options are.

@livininthestix Thanks for your reply. Working 6 days a week as a marine technician with this pain sounds so difficult, you are very strong. Currently, I am doing aquatic therapy and it seems to help a bit, or at least it doesn’t make things worse. I am also continuing with my medication. I am just moving forward day by day, but the muscle contractures are still there. Wishing you the best with your gardening and yoga!

@mrmacabre Thank you for sharing your experience, I'm glad both of your surgeries went so well! Regarding my procedure, everything actually went perfectly and my recent MRI shows that the surgery itself was a success. Unfortunately, these severe muscle contractures just won't go away. However, I will definitely take your advice seriously and consider getting a second opinion from another neurosurgeon, just to be safe and see what they think. Thank you for the helpful suggestion!