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Nerve Pain or pinched Nerve?

Posted by jayrob624 @jayrob624, 6 hours ago

I was having pain in the back of my neck on the left side and down the shoulder after typing for long periods of time. I went to neurosurgeon who sent me for an MRI and diagnosed me with having a pinched nerve. The C4,C5,C6 was pinching my nerves causing the pain. I had no weakness in my left arm, just pain from the neck down to my mid arm after typing for most of the day. I was sent to pain management who performed an epidural in my back to block the pain and it lasted for 8 months. Once it came back, I had a second epidural that lasted for 9 months. After the pain returned it was suggested that I have a neck fusion to repair the c4,c5 & c6. In September 2025 I had a successful surgery. Today is October 16th and after returning to work, typing most of the day I was back in severe pain. I call the doctor and expressed that the level of pain I was in was the same level that caused me to have the surgery. The neck bone is tender to touch and pain radiates from the neck to my back shoulder. Now I am wondering if I had unnecessary surgery. I am at a loss right now and still in pain.

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heisenberg34 | @heisenberg34 | 5 hours ago

My situation was similar to yours. I had bad back and buttock pain from a fall. I had two epidurals that helped some for a bout two weeks. About ten months later I was prescribed some meds that gave me my life back. But, due to the fact that I still had occasional bad days, I got greedy and went to an orthopedic surgeon. He ordered another MRI and told me that I had spondylolisthesis at L5-S1. He strongly recommended spinal fusion. Hey, I was new to all this stuff, so I went ahead with the surgery. It wasn't pleasant. Recovery was about six weeks. No noticeable improvement. I have read that many of the surgeries are unnecessary but are a great cash cow. Was that the case for you...unnecessary surgery? Who can be sure?
If you still have pain after surgery, that surgery should be classifies as Failed Back Surgery syndrome. Hope you can get some relief. Maybe another injection.

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jayrob624 | @jayrob624 | 2 hours ago
In reply to @heisenberg34 "My situation was similar to yours. I had bad back and buttock pain from a fall...." + (show)
Profile picture for heisenberg34 @heisenberg34

My situation was similar to yours. I had bad back and buttock pain from a fall. I had two epidurals that helped some for a bout two weeks. About ten months later I was prescribed some meds that gave me my life back. But, due to the fact that I still had occasional bad days, I got greedy and went to an orthopedic surgeon. He ordered another MRI and told me that I had spondylolisthesis at L5-S1. He strongly recommended spinal fusion. Hey, I was new to all this stuff, so I went ahead with the surgery. It wasn't pleasant. Recovery was about six weeks. No noticeable improvement. I have read that many of the surgeries are unnecessary but are a great cash cow. Was that the case for you...unnecessary surgery? Who can be sure?
If you still have pain after surgery, that surgery should be classifies as Failed Back Surgery syndrome. Hope you can get some relief. Maybe another injection.

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@heisenberg34 thank you for sharing and I am hoping for some relief. This is not pleasant.

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laura1970 | @laura1970 | 2 hours ago

There are occupational physicians that help with work related conditions. I would imagine this is something they see regularly. Perhaps something to look into

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