Experience with C3 to C7 Fusion... feedback please

Posted by ckmerc @ckmerc, Oct 18 4:04pm

So I have just gotten back from my cervicale injection appointment for a C6-C7 Diss herniation. Currently have c3-c6 fusion surgery (two operations ..one when I was 15...C3-c4 fusion - diving accident / 2nd was when I was 40 due to disk degeneration fusion was extended to include C3-c6.

I am assuming my forthcoming surgery consult will likely mean another fusion extended to include C7 disk.

Just wondering the incremental movement loss I can expect to have once they extend fusion to C7... I would say I have about 85%-90% movement with my current fusion.. C3-c6.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

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ckmerc | @ckmerc | Nov 5 2:21pm

UPDATE:

So had MRI and saw surgeon. MRI basically shows what one would expect of discs below fusion...BUT

my ongoing arm and finger nerve pain could be from one of 2 things.

Will need an EMG to verify where pain is coming from.

C8–T1 Radiculopathy OR Ulnar Neuropathy

god I hope it is Ulnar Neuropathy....if so they would just need to do surgery on my elbow area...

My fear is it is my neck...but by and large...my neck has been feeling great. just the area by my shoulder blade to my right elbow and two fingers on my right hand (ring and pinky) numbness and pain..

If neck they they would extend the rod in my back to C8 (currently c3-c6)..... but would not need to go in the front at all... so praying it is my elbow. Kind of makes sense it might be elbow...I remember in my TKD class when it all started we were doing a lot of punches (just to air) and I remember leaving the class thinking I pulled a muscle in middle right of my back below shoulder blade.... but who knows.

morkat | @morkat | Nov 6 7:04am

I had surgical intervention got C2-C6 first posterior, then 2 years later same discs removed and cages and screws in place of them. Those were done in 2001 and 2003 respectively. I'm 77 yrs old now and have become inoperative. After these surgeries I could lift my arms in the air, prior to surgery only 4 inch range of motion. For me there was a time limited window to have the surgery, otherwise my chance for a better outcome.

ckmerc | @ckmerc | Nov 6 7:00pm

Thanks so much for sharing.. looks like they want a CT scan next and EMG to pinpoint where issue is…. I hope surgery can happen before end of year or I lose 5k (deductible). That said…. Process is what it is…. Better to not rush and be sure of where the issue is vs having wrong surgery..

Caveat even if issue is in my elbow…..is at some point my neck (based on MRI below) will have to addressed…

ckmerc | @ckmerc | Nov 6 7:02pm

See mri

Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | 5 days ago

In reply to @ckmerc "UPDATE: So had MRI and saw surgeon. MRI basically shows what one would expect of discs..." + (show)

@ckmerc have any of your doctors mentioned the possibility of thoracic outlet syndrome? The symptoms your are reporting a classic for TOS that causes ulnar nerve compression. You bend your elbow which also stretches the ulnar nerve that may be compressed under the collar bone. I have TOS which did cause ring and pinky finger pain and numbness/tingling. With your punches to the air in exercising, this would likely increase symptoms for a person with TOS.

This of course causes a lot of confusion in diagnosing spine problems, and you wouldn't want to go through a surgery that may not help if the bigger problem is TOS. It is worth asking for an evaluation for TOS which would be a Doppler study to see if there are changes in blood flow with different positions when you raise your arm or turn your head, listening to the pulse in your neck while you turn your head, and it may show up on an MRI of the shoulder that shows the brachial plexus. With your past history of a diving accident causing cervical disc damage, that is also enough to cause TOS from the injury of traumatically jerking your neck muscles at the time.

If you do have TOS, you could spend a few months treating that with physical therapy and myofascial stretching to see if it helps. You may have problems in more than one area in spine and shoulder, but it would help to try to understand any issues separately. I started myofascial release therapy with my physical therapist years ago because of TOS, and I had spine surgery and carpal tunnel surgery. Carpal tunnel surgery did not cure all the pain because I had undiagnosed TOS. It is most often missed by doctors or misdiagnosed.

Here is some information on TOS. Mayo is an excellent place to diagnose TOS.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20353988
https://mskneurology.com/how-truly-treat-thoracic-outlet-syndrome/
Our discussion of Myofascial Relaese Therapy:

Neuropathy - "Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
Have you heard about Thoracic Outlet Syndrome before?