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ACDF 4 months post op - new arm pain
I had C-3 c4 fusion 8/23 and C4-C7 6/22. Adjacent segment was reason for second surgery and C4-c5 had to be cleaned up. After June 22 surgery 4 days after got severe arm burning pain which left my pointer finger semi - numb and up by trapezius. Now alll ofa sudden my arms and hand hurt - muscles and bones. The pain moves around and somedays are better than others. I also noticed sensory in forearm has lessened. Went to rhematologist - she thinks its like tendinitis. My back and neck have improved but now this arm stuff is scaring me. Going back to physical therapy next week. Any opinions about arm pain/ numbness. Thank you
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I can ditto your dilemma with arm pain after Cervical fusion of C3-7 this past May. I didn't have any pain prior in my arms prior to surgery. Whenever I brought this issue up to doctors, it was always post operative pain. I have RA and fibromyalgia and see a rheumatologist regularly. When I mentioned this earlier this month, his reaction was tendinitis. Sorry I can't buy into that!
I did have a recent MRI for all the pain I have been experiencing in my lower back and arm. Waiting to hear back from my Mayo doc... Hope we can both find the issues for the arm pain.
I had C3-C7 fused 2+ years ago. I did have arm and hand pain, but the ACDF surgery did nothing to help, and the pain is as bad as ever. My surgeon really had nothing to say, except to state that "maybe we could go in and 'clean up' a few more bone spurs, etc. I am not happy, but as long as I am not disabled, I am pretty determined to try and live with it.
I'm sorry you are dealing with this pain. I may be facing cervical surgery and have already had L4-5 fusion (3/2020) that failed. I dealt with some postop pain I didn't have prior to surgery and it turned into chronic L5 nerve damage. 2 years later I sought 3 opinions for a remedy, but all said they couldn't help, it was chronic. I will always wonder if I should have sought help sooner.
After any imaging I have I'm given the CD on the spot and then I go back the next day to get the radiologist's report, I can't wait for a doctor appointment.
I hope there is a solution for you.
Best regards,
Alex
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1 ReactionI am 10 1/2 months post c4-7 ACDF. Along the way I learned the best strategy for managing spinal issues. The process I recommend is: select the best hospital with the newest (and best) diagnostic equipment. Also chose the best doctor for the possible surgery. I saw a neurosurgeon which I heartily recommend. Work around delicate spinal nerves demands nerve specialists. Go into any surgery knowing your bone repair process will likely take 9-12 months and there is little you can do to shorten that time line. Lastly, everyone’s spinal surgery is different…different damage, different doctors, different hospitals, different pre-op physical condition…with the result that each patient’s experiences (while interesting to read) my not be a roadmap you will exactly follow. Good luck.
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2 ReactionsIn my reading (not by Dr Google but reliable resources) seems like when synovial cysts have been removed and return, fusion is usually the next step. Also, the L4-5 is where the cysts generally occur. I do have significant compression there also. Ugh!
@darby413 I am a cervical spine surgery patient and also have TOS or thoracic outlet syndrome. There are several compression points possible, and one is where the brachial plexus bundle of nerves passes between scalene muscles on the side of the neck. It’s very close to where an ACDF incision would be and post surgical inflammation can kick that up if you have TOS. It did for me. If your spine issues are connected to an injury, it may have also caused TOS. That is often missed and misunderstood by doctors. Physical therapy does help when you are at a stage of recovery when that is safe to do.