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Persistent pain post-anterior cervical fusion C4-C7?

Spine Health | Last Active: Apr 22 8:23am | Replies (12)
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@jfd1969

I had a cervical fusion on C5,C6,C7 over 10 years ago and still experience pain across back of shoulder and down left arm, I have been under pain management for 10 years and would love to figure out how to get off pain killers which just mask over the pain or get my pain management doctor to try some different meds that work better but so far nothing that makes pain go away completely. I have had every type of injection there is and they have not helped for more than a couple days. The cold weather kills my neck and shoulder so I dread winter. It has effected my quality of life extremely because oof limited movement in neck and pain that goes along with it, if I have to be at my desk and on computer with arms lifted up for long periods of time I can't hardly stand it.

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Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Nov 20, 2023

@jfd1969 The pain you are describing sounds a lot like thoracic outlet syndrome, and basically that is caused by tightness of muscles and scar tissue that compresses nerves that go into the arms between the neck and shoulder. Your surgical scar tissue will also have gotten tight and can be pulling into all of this. My treatment of choice which helps a lot is Myofascial Release done by my physical therapist. It is similar to massage except that the therapist holds the stretch with their hands and waits for the tissue to release. Here is a discussion where you can learn about all of this. The first pages have many links to resources.

Neuropathy - "Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/

The best part of this is is works and there are no drugs involved, and it will get the body moving better and help get back into good body alignment. Any waste products held in the tight dehydrated muscle will get released when it can move correctly again and body fluids can circulate. It may take a series of sessions and patience to work through all the layers of restricted tissue, but it is worth doing. You don't need a diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome to do MFR, just your pain and restricted movement is enough.

There is an MFR provider search at https://www.mfrtherapists.com/.

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