Issues after cervical fusion. Normal?

Hi, @mariacabral - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You've had major surgery with a cervical fusion of C3-C6, including plate, cages, screws, and a replacement disc. Having three children to care for at the same time is a challenge with trying to recover from a surgery like this.

Losing arm strength, having revision surgery on the disc, and having stiffness, fatigue, pain and pressure, plus taking medications and doing PT, clinical Pilates, etc., is a lot to contend with.

Hoping others in this discussion such as @guert @yesibeleive @mrsr1234 @mrmacabre @gothghoul and others will have some input on whether their procedures were similar to yours, and if they have found solutions to issues that have arisen like those you have mentioned afterward.

What would you say is the No. 1 problem you are dealing with right now, mariacabral?

Hi! I am a 47-year-old woman with three children. I had degenerative changes with cervical misalignment between C2 and C7, herniated discs, osteophytes and severe pain. In May, I underwent a C3–C6 cervical fusion with a lordotic plate, two cages C3–C5 , six screws and disc between C5-C6, all made of titanium. I lost strength in my left arm, developed acute injuries at C6–C7, severe pain, and had to have another operation in June to replace the disc. Now the C5–C6 disc is slightly tilted/crooked; they had to file down some of the bone to fit the second disc/Move C. I have physio every other day (+150 sessions) and clinical Pilates once a week. I’ve been prescribed dozens of pregabalin tablets, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories, etc.

Since the operations, I have constant stiffness in my neck, on the right side, and often when I lie down I feel a tightening, persistent pain and pressure at the back of my neck, like a migraine at the base of my head, and sharp pains in my shoulders/arms. The physiotherapist says the muscles at the back of my arms are inflamed; I have severe pain when I have a massage; I can only sleep on my back; and when I go to sleep, I have trouble swallowing – I actually feel like I’m being choked, I’ve been left with some limited neck movements. It’s difficult to work on the computer; my neck gets really sore, and it gets worse the longer I’m on the computer, but I also get sore if I spend more than an hour on the sofa...

It’s frustrating; I’m struggling to work. I used to have loads of energy, but now I get exhausted by everything.

Has anyone else had a similar procedure and found a solution? Any success stories?

Many thanks, best wishes.

@lisalucier wow, hugsss. I'm so sorry to hear of all of these things. These are major hurdles.
My experience after my C6-C7 C7-T1 fusion left me with tons of pain just like before surgery, but some is a different feeling of pain. Like it's hard to describe.
I have opiods given and they have no effect on the pain it's extremely frustrating. I'm a single parent my youngest is 12 and is going through toughtimes, also a major argumentative, defiant and major source of stress (which makes healing difficult).
I had to check myself back into the hospital about a week after the surgery due to feeling as my throat was closing and extreme pain.
After a picc line IV antibiotics for weeks due to a possible infection/ fluid collection in my neck.
My neurosurgeon said give it a few months to see if my pain remains sooo high then we think about fusing 2 more levels (for a four level fusion) 😭😭
If my throat still feels like I'm being choked and like I have a baseball in it, would it make sense to think my throat would be even worse after going back in to fuse 2 more levels?
I'd have nothing to lose I guess at that point.
I have zero energy the same as you (more than normal). Takes me the whole day to get minimal things done.
I've been trying to drink protein drinks because my appetite isn't great and I'm cooking less than before which isn't alot.
I have a speech therapist apt again to try to help my voice, when I speak or try to sing my voice is shaky at points. I'm hoping that inflammation will reduce more as time goes on but it'll be 2 months post op on the 13th.
My pain level baseline is 8 to 8 1/2 out of 10. Often gets to9 to 9 1/2.
It's a struggle.
I hope physio will help with ROM.
I feel for you. We're in this mess together. 🖤 I have no advice that could be positive unfortunately.
Ice, heating pads, pain cream, baths.
Same as before the surgery.
Take things on slow mode. More mindfulness and self care is necessary.