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Lightheaded, balance issues after C1-T2 spine surgery
I had spine surgery on Dec. 2, 2025 which resulted in 2 rods and 16 screws and projected 15 month recovery - C1-T2. (Fusion cervical bilateral C Posterior instrumentation Bilateral Cervical C laminectomy). About 1 month after surgery I have since had problems with light headedness and balance. Never had these issues prior to surgery. It is not vertigo and not inner ear problems and not heart related. No one can seem to figure out what is going on. The episodes can occur in the middle of a walk, in the middle of the grocery store, or while I am a passenger in a car. In a severe episode, I also have vision issues - vision will disappear briefly and/or I will see things floating. I am trying to see a neurologist but no appointments available in the Charlotte, NC area until NOVEMBER!!! Anyone else had issues after a surgery like this?
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November? That's unacceptable. There seems to be a shortage of neurologists up here in NW Washington state as well. What part of the country do you live?
Hi, @elizabeth1958 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm sorry to hear you not only had to have this big surgery, but now you have new issues with lightheadedness and balance, sometimes with vision issues.
Glad you have connected with @mrmacabre. I also wanted to invite @jsbigsky to comment based on what he's seen with his wife's spinal experiences and @jenniferhunter based on her experience and knowledge about whether they have seen these effects plague someone after spine surgery before.
Are you finding anything at all that brings you some relief, elizabeth1958?
@mrmacabre I'm in SC but only 20 minutes away from Charlotte, NC
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1 Reaction@lisalucier thank you. I will look forward to hopefully hearing from someone with the same issues. I have not found anything at all for the relief and it is very disturbing to have these issues when out and about.
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1 Reactioni’ve had multiple fusions on my cervical vertebrae, but I have not experienced those symptoms post op. Perhaps what you are experiencing is residual cervical myelopathy. I live in New York City New York there are many incredible doctors here. You might want to consider looking here instead of waiting until November. You could be on a flight to New York and back in time for dinner. If not New York., I’m sure there are fantastic doctors in Miami as well or Atlanta. You might have to think out of the box a little bit if you want to save yourself several months of uncertainty.. If things get that bad, you can always go to the ER, in which case you would get to see a doctor immediately, considering what you’re going through, they would probably put you through a lot of tests..
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