Dizziness and / or lightheaded 10 weeks after spinal fusion of c3-c7

I'm 4 months post fusion (T4-S1). I have been experiencing dizziness since surgery, although mine was usually associated with laying down or turning my head quickly. It was determined to be vertigo, and one visit to a physical therapist has fixed the problem. The Epley procedure they used requires some head turning, so you may not be a candidate.

Good luck!

@Hello @fishtb2000 Welcome to Connect. I had cervical spine surgery a few years ago. 3 through 7 is a lot of levels fused. Mine was just 5 -6. I did have dizziness and vertigo that was mainly before my spine surgery, and that was being caused by muscle spasms that were twisting my vertebrae. When C1 & C2 rotated, I got very dizzy. I also didn't do so well on pain medications. They nauseated me, and I found I could cope with the after surgery pain without it. This recovery is going to take a while. I was told 6 weeks for the incision to heal. After that time, scar tissue tightened up and created some different discomfort, and I was happy when I could see my physical therapist who was doing myofascial release to loosen up everything. That was not until I was about 4 months post op, and because I had no hardware, I had to wait for the fusion to begin before any rehab could be done.

You must be following up with your surgeon, and it may be a good idea to discuss the dizziness with them. Medication also could be a potential cause. When there is a physical cause, like my twisting vertebrae, it stretches an artery that runs through the sides of the cervical vertebrae, and that artery is sending blood supply to the brain causing dizziness.

It took about 3 months before I could forget that I'd had surgery. After my neck brace came off, my neck was very tired and weak and took some rehab to get back to normal. I imagine you may have hardware and a plate stabilizing the spine, and can remove your brace according to your surgeon's wishes.

Do you have an online patient portal to send a message and ask your questions?

Hi did you ever figure this out I had a c5-7 fusion and after 3 months I started noticing a type of off balance feeling and lightheadedness it’s been over a year and has progressively gotten worse and no one can find an answer I feel it all day everyday

Hi I had a c5-7 fusion and 3 months after started to notice a little bit of a off balance feeling as time went on it got worse and I started feeling light headed and almost pass out it’s been over a year since surgery and it’s progressively getting worse I have seen an ent a heart doctor and a neurologist I have done different types of physical therapy and no one can give me an answer as to what is happening I’m hoping someone in here may have some kind of answer thank you

@okie93 Welcome to Connect. If you read the detail in my last post, it explains that my dizziness and nausea and even vertigo was related to my spine problems. I worked with a physical therapist and everything is fine now. I was getting rotation of C1 through C4 because of muscle spasms. Working that out and getting vertebrae realigned ended the dizziness. Have you been evaluated by a physical therapist for post surgical rehab?

Not a pro but I've got c3-7 done over 3 surgeries
Look up occipital headaches. I have had post my last surgery.
Injections didn't resolve and meds didn't do much good.
Good luck in your quest.

Hi I have done strength and conditioning for my neck in physical therapy and now I am currently going for vestibular therapy and neither of them have worked

Feeling "off balance" or (as I call my own situation) "wobbly", can be caused by other (thoracic?) spine issues. My workup from my neurologist clearly showed that I have issues there, but my biggest issue caused me to have a cervical ACDF a little over a year ago. But I usually attribute my gait issues to my other spine problems. It is embarrassing because I know I look like a drunk person walking.

Good luck!
Mitch

Hi yes I also have something going on in my thoracic spine started having the problems when I noticed the pain there but was told the pain is associated with the neck surgery even tho an mri shows a herniated disc in my thoracic

Does your BP drop a lot when you stand up? If yes I need to be evaluated for POTS.