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Does any one have problems with fusion surgery in the neck?

Posted by mareanne @mareanne, Nov 5, 2018

I had neck surgery fusion with screws and plate and i have popping sounds all the time and i can not turn to the right. Does any one have the same problem and should i have another surgery. I went to therapy alot but it does not work. I have been on pain meds for 11 years and off for 4 i did not want to be hook on them. I found out that i rather be in pain then being on them. I have scoliosis with rods in my back i already wrote in the blog earlier about that. Has any one had these plate taken out of neck?.

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Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Nov 6, 2025
In reply to @janagain "Reading the comments is such brutal truth. rwhite, you have been through a lot and it..." + (show)
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Reading the comments is such brutal truth. rwhite, you have been through a lot and it started at such a young age. I've been in an out of surgeries to fuse cervical issues as a result of my body mass producing bone spurs. I'm getting ready to go in on November 26 for a posterior laminectomy with fusion. I know I'm going to be in pain and I can deal with that because I've had it before. I just don't want to live the rest of my life with it. My doctor said that it will be a difficult recovery at times and I may be in for more surgery in the future. I am going to have to get it together mentally and physically. The days tic by .... am I doing the right thing? I'm losing the use of my left arm due to cervical myelopathy, weakness in my legs, very unstable etc. If I don't go through with the surgery, I'm looking at a continued slow process of losing the ability to walk. I have to give it a shot and pray to God that it at least stops the progression. Right now my spinal cord is flat because of osteoarthritis and bone spurs. Flat is not a word you want to read on a radiological report. We are some pretty tough people if you've gone through any bit of this in your life. You know what gets me is, you know your life is going to be different after surgery and you know that you have to put faith and trust in your surgeon. You know there's no going back after they wheel you into the surgical arena, the drugs are administered and you pray when you wake up that it was the right decision. I don't mean to be so dramatic but it's a tough situation.

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@janagain It’s like being between a rock and a hard place. We do our best to be informed and imagine what our result and outcome will be, but you don’t know and do take a leap of faith. Still, I believe that as patients there may be things we can do to improve our success. For me, that was stretching the muscles in my neck to help make it easier to move around during surgery, and after surgery, at the appropriate time with enough healing, loosening and stretching out the surgical scar tissue. A good physical therapist really helps.

Jan, I wish you much success with your next procedure and that the pain will subside sooner and be under control. It helped me to think of that as healing pain and that I was leaving behind all the pain of the spine condition that was being treated.

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mdjpa | @mdjpa | Jan 20 10:43am
In reply to @dzottola "@laura1970 Hello, thanks for your comment! Thanks for the advice about gastroparesis. Ill keep that in..." + (show)
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@laura1970
Hello, thanks for your comment! Thanks for the advice about gastroparesis. Ill keep that in mind for my upcoming gastric emptying test. And yes I definitely have ongoing cervical spine issues as shown in my last mri, but will know more next week after I get a new mri. Will keep everyone updated on those results. Unfortunately i have tried heat/ice, physical therapy, baclofen and other strong pain and muscle relaxer meds, massages, and tens units and none of that even touches the pain. Dont notice any relief. Also had multiple pain management doctors with injections. Nothing helps at this point. Im hoping my new neurosurgeon can give me some results. If not the endless search for a reliable doctor will continue…

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@dzottola I’m sorry to hear about all your complications. I had C2-T2 Posterior Cervical fusion June 2025 and initially had issues with nausea and ? Gastro paresis (sp?). But study ruled it out. Now have bowel paresis which is overwhelming. Also having cardiac rhythm problems. The Vagal nerve is very close to C2-3 and now thinking it may be affected but having same issue with people not believing me. Your issues are far worse and truly hope the new neurosurgeon “hears” you. Keep us informed please.

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dzottola | @dzottola | Jan 20 2:26pm
In reply to @mdjpa "@dzottola I’m sorry to hear about all your complications. I had C2-T2 Posterior Cervical fusion June..." + (show)
Profile picture for mdjpa @mdjpa

@dzottola I’m sorry to hear about all your complications. I had C2-T2 Posterior Cervical fusion June 2025 and initially had issues with nausea and ? Gastro paresis (sp?). But study ruled it out. Now have bowel paresis which is overwhelming. Also having cardiac rhythm problems. The Vagal nerve is very close to C2-3 and now thinking it may be affected but having same issue with people not believing me. Your issues are far worse and truly hope the new neurosurgeon “hears” you. Keep us informed please.

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@mdjpa
Im sorry to hear you are having problems too. Seems like any of these surgeries lead to more issues unfortunately. And i agree with the vagus nerve. I saw my new neurosurgeon and really like her compared to all the other doctors i have dealt with. Now we are looking at surgery of c3-4 and 6-7 is getting worse as well. I also went for multiple appointments with a new gastro doctor but couldnt complete the gastric emptying test due to throwing up. So they said they cant do anything further and recommended a Neurogastroenterologist an hour and a half away that isnt even in my insurance. So still at a standstill with that.

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