Hello. 2 failed neck fusions + post op bleed.

Hello,
I’m so sorry about all you’re going through and I can definitely sympathize with you since I am going through my own hell pain wise. However, whether you may believe me or not, there is infinite wisdom hidden within pain and suffering. There is only one path to follow in order to find the way and that is through pain and not around it. It is not easy but pain was never meant to be easy; otherwise, it would not be called pain for nothing. Never give up no matter what and never succumb to pain. I live with it daily and especially nightly when I go to bed. I am in a lot of pain and having stopped all medications back in February of this year after my doctor told me to do so. I was experiencing bad side effects. Now my doctor suggested controlled opioids for the pain, but I refused.
Hang in there and talk to your pain, you will learn from it strength to go on.
I wish you the very best.
Take care and try to have a serene Sunday,
gus

This all sounds incredibly messed up, where exactly was the procedure done? I've had 2 separate spinal fusions performed on my neck in a span of about 18 months. They were performed by 2 different doctors at 2 different hospitals. The first procedure was done after the disc ruptured at the C5-C6 level. They used a piece of donor bone, along with plates and screws, and my recovery was typical I guess, it was almost 10 years ago.
In 2018 I needed to have a second procedure done at the C7-T1 level, and it was done the same way as my first neck surgery. My only problems are not being able to turn my neck or look up and down like I used to.
Where in your neck did they operate, was it at more than one level? Have they explained to you exactly why your procedure failed? I would be all over both surgeons for being so fucking callous to someone in as much pain as you're in. They can't just pass the buck, they need to offer you something that might lead you feeling better. Not Cured, just better perhaps?
I'm really sorry you're having to endure this.

That’s horrible! I am so sorry!!

@mrmacabre hello. Did your surgeries take away the pain? I am coming up on my third radio frequency nerve ablation and waiting for a consultation with a Neurosurgeon. This last time my symptoms were severe (right neck pain travels down my arm, spasms and numbness. ) I can't tolerate alot of medication though Meloxicam and Effexor has started to help. I am fearful of surgery, yet recent x-rays are now showing pressure on my spinal cord in addition to the compression at C5 and C6.. I am 66 yo and would like to be active again!

@reenieb I'm also 66 years old, but my procedures all happened when I was in my 50's. Yes, my neck pain has basically been gone ever since the surgeries were performed. I was having random stabs of pain that felt like I was being shocked for a couple of years before my first fusion in late 2016 IIRC. After the first procedure they were about 90% better, and after my second surgery they've basically been nonexistent.

@gus0557
Thankyou for your input. Sorry for delay. Gus, there comes a time when the pain becomes too much. Been away from my house and beloved Frenchie for a year now. Living with my 87 year old Mom who, days ago, was given an unbeatable cardiac diagnosis. She is so angry at the doctors. Seems life does not matter to those entrusted with the golden scaple. Bless you Gus. Sorry but my once iron clad strength is waning and hope is flickering in the wind at best. Good luck without the meds! Kudos to you Gus.
Hugs

@mrmacabre
Keep trying to input and have such a hard time inputting. This is my 3rd attempt to answer you. Thank you for your input. Do not currently have stanima to physically continue. Wish I wasn't so weary as I am textbook failed surgery x2 with a story that needs telling. Worse thing I ever did was trust a neurosurgeon. He put fear of paralysis into me without surgery. Mrmacabre, hope to get back to you. Fighting so hard to get through this hour and I'm not sure why. Tired of forcing myself to eat with nautiousnes. My GP told me last visit to "find a neurosurgeon" as she cannot. The one I had told me to seek out another as he could not help me. The failed surgeries have affected my vision even. So scary fighting hell pain without a medical saftey net--the med system that put me into unanswered depths of pain despair. Why surgeon #2 did not revise ACDF of C3, C4, C5 & C6 surgery #1 is beyond me. #2 just did poserior and went down to C7. My gut knows that I cannot be fixed as aside from burning, pins & needles that heavy feeling of being pushed down into the ground is frightening and overwhelming. Do not think at top surgeon could do anything. When my family doc told me to find a neurosurgeon I actually did. Not easy. Imagine texting a neurosurgeon office and saying that my GP has,asked me to find a neurosurgeon. Travelled 4.5 hours to Toronto to be told that "part of your spine is dead" and nothing can be done. The 2 " neurosurgeons" killed my independence, quality of life. The opinion of #3 in July just gutted me. Tired of existing. Truly, thankyou for responding. Wish I was stronger to get this story out. Bless you mrmacabre

@mrmacabre
The shocks are jolting and unpleasant for sure. Glad you were able to ride them out. Mrmacabre ty for input. Wish I could be brave right now in face of current situation & reach out to you more. My physical condition is holding me back. Glad your neck pain was actually helped. Bless you

@agony Guess what? The random electric shocks are slowly coming back, I was getting stabbed just above my right knee and in my left thigh at the same time for a couple of minutes last night. It got so bad I got out of my chair and tried to walk, but I couldn't without holding on to something. If my wife hadn't been there to help I probably would have fallen down.
If this continues it probably means seeing a neurosurgeon, again.

@agony
Hello,
Thank you so much for your reply.
Hope only disappears when we die. As long as there is breath in us, we must keep forging ahead and keep fighting. It’s never over until it’s over. I chose to forge ahead even with all the pain I am feeling on a daily basis and avoid the opioids. And believe me I am in pain, but I will not allow it to control me and I will not allow my mind either to succumb to the pain. Our minds play bad tricks on us. Our strength comes from way deep inside us and not from our brains. We need to tap inside for strength to rise above the pain. It’s never easy but we can never give up and allow the pain to have the upper hand.
I wish you the very best and hope you will keep trying to forge ahead and never give up.
Take care and have a serene rest of your week,
gus