I know the feeling, I had acdf on c6/7 back in February. I was told the surgery had a 97% success rate. I’m now 6mths post surgery and in more pain than I was before.
My pain starts on the right side of my face in my cheek, I feel like something is wedged in between my neck and shoulder my right arm continually feels like burning tingling with my hand changing colour and going numb between a cold frostbite feeling to being on fire, my right arm has severely lost range of motion and I get the same burning pain down my right leg into my foot.
My neurosurgeon is still saying the surgery was a success.
I’ve had follow up MRI, CT, EMG, CT SPECT and a 3 phase bone scan. I’ve even sort the option of a second neurosurgeon and they both agree saying there is no issue now, even though c5/6 has a minor bulge and is impinging on the spinal cord they both believe there is enough room for the c6 nerve root not to be compressed.
3 mths after surgery I was referred to a pain specialist who has diagnosed me with complex regional pain syndrome.
I am currently on more pain medication than I was pre surgery.
All I can suggest is push for a second opinion and monitor for and colour or temp changes in the limb