Yes, I did have neuro symptoms with tingling and numbness in my arms/wrists. I had tremendous pain on both sides of my neck. For 2 years my ortho had me on 25 mg of elavil each night for the chronic pain that kept me from turning my head much at all. That med really helped me survive the day and still sleep at night. I did have some problems walking(balance, cadence, posture) but that got worse after the surgery. As a matter of fact, I have a recurring nightmare that I am outside trying to walk fast to the corner, but that I am not getting anywhere in reality. It takes me so much effort to get where I am going.I tried riding a bike to build up stamina, but to no avail. I lack energy due to chronic fatigue. Urinary issues started around 6-8 months before the fusion procedure in 2011. Yes, I had a loss of cervical curve in the earliest x-rays years back. That is when I was first told that I had the spine of an 80 yr old at 40. Yes to the flowing osteophytes in the t spine. During the fusions the bone overgrowth was chiseled out and the cadaver bone did not get used as he chose to stick with titanium plates and screws instead. Due to continuing bone overgrowth, evidently the doctor expects me to have more surgery in the future, however I am reluctant to go through the steroids again to recover. Guess I was borderline diabetic for years and never knew. My procedure was at a small specialty hospital in Largo, FL and now I live near Jacksonville, FL so I need to find a neuro surgeon up here. Yes to private medical insurance through my previous employer, the local school board. In a few years I will qualify for Medicare insurance when I turn 65. I wish that I had been more active in these latest years. Been retired 2 years and have become dependent on Netflix and my leather sofa. My advice is to do as much as possible. Not sure if this is pertinent, but I had unusual conditions during my life. Some of my unusual things: mono, pleurisy, toxemia during pregnancy, cellulitis of jaw, cellulitis of breast, psoriatic arthritis, sjogrens, OPLL and DISH
Hopefully my answers to your questions have helped in your research. Take care of yourself.

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