C5-C6 Fusion Aftereffects: What's Normal?

I have not. Have you contacted the surgeon and/or the surgical team to let them know?

I just left a message for the surgeon to get his reaction. I’ll keep you updated.

Welcome @illinoismike39 . I didn't have stomach pain after my ACDF, but I did have a stabbing pain in my chest from a muscle spasm. I felt it start in my throat and go from there to my chest. I did call the surgeon's team and that was reassuring. I did have some issuers with excess phlegm after surgery and used my asthma inhaler.

@illinoismike39
Have you talked to your surgeon or their medical team? What medication me are you on now?

I had c5-c6 done in 2022 and having c6-c7 done next month. I don’t recall any stomach issues or chest soreness/pressure. Your decompressed spinal cord and/or nerve roots/nerves may be irritated and need to heal. It takes a while for injured nerves to heal. You may have inflammation of surrounding tissues/nerves and some pain medications cause stomach pain if taken on an empty stomach or if you have any gastritis or ulcers/heartburn.

@illinoismike39
Are you still in the hospital or are you home now?

I do recall having severe pain in my hip and was told by the on call doctor that it was bursitis (apparently this can happen after surgery due to inflammation and I never had such pain before…it brought me to tears). I was told to take Tylenol for the pain. You need to avoid NSAIDs to help your fusion heal.

I have and they said it’s not from the surgery. They told me to take stool softeners that maybe it was the issue.

I had a C5-c6 fusion 4 1/2 wks ago. I’ve been suffering from dizziness that comes and goes, major weakness, my visions been a bit blurred, and burning and tingling in muscles. The weakness and dizziness has been so bad I’ve felt faint and sometimes it’s even hard to hold my phone.The only thing my surgeons has recommend was to go to the ER. I did go but it was 2 wks ago. The ct with contrast was normal but my symptoms are getting worse. I’ve also seen an ENT and they ruled out vertigo. The only other suggestion my surgeon has is to see a neurologist which will take months to get in.Has anyone had this experience? Any recommendations?

@tk14
I had ACDF on C5-C6 in 2022 and C6-C7 in 2025.

What were your symptoms prior to surgery and what were you told about reducing symptoms with surgery? Did you have ACDF procedure or did they need to go through the back of the neck?

Did you have an EMG/nerve conduction study of upper limbs before surgery? This is usually done to check/confirm spinal nerve root compression causing radiculopathy symptoms. A neurologist typically does this.

If you haven’t already asked your surgeon, you may want to ask to have an updated MRI to check soft tissues post surgery. An X-ray or ct scan won’t show soft tissue inflammation or injury. You may have new compression of a nerve/blood vessel, especially when moving your neck in certain positions. Have you slept on your neck in a way that is causing your symptoms or twisted your head/neck in a way that affected your fusion? Have you been wearing a neck brace post surgery and do you have hardware in your neck? Do any of the medications you are taking have side effects that line up with yours? You may want to review all medications you are taking and your symptoms with your pharmacist to see if there are any interactions and recommended changes they could make to your doctor(s).

@tk14
I meant to also ask where you are feeling the weakness and burning/tingling? Is it primarily in your arms/hands/fingers or do you also have some in lower limbs?

Do you recall what was shown in your pre surgery MRI at C5-C6? Did you have spinal cord compression/flattening? Did you have disc herniation/bulge and/or osteophytes/bone spurs pressing on spinal nerve roots?

Before my first surgery on C5-C6, I had daily headaches, tinnitus, neck/shoulder pain, arms/hand/finger weakness, numbness, and tingling, bladder control issues, dizziness/balance issues and heaviness in legs/difficulty walking fast (when I used to be a fast walker compared to others). After surgery, my symptoms improved but I have some residual spinal cord injury in shoulders/arms, etc. due to delayed diagnosis and decompression (took my 4th surgeon to recognize I had cervical degenerative myelopathy at 52 after being misdiagnosed for 5 years).

Depending on the type of compression and length of time you had it, you may be experiencing symptoms due to having spinal cord/nerve roots/blood vessels being decompressed and now trying to heal. Nerves can take a long time to heal and some can have permanent damage (especially if spinal cord).

@tk14
Here is what I also learned online about dizziness, weakness, burning/tingling in muscles after cervical decompression surgery:

Experiencing dizziness, weakness, and burning or tingling sensations in the muscles after cervical decompression surgery can occur, but it's important to understand the context and potential causes.

These symptoms may arise due to several factors:

Nerve Irritation or Damage: During surgery, nerves can be irritated or affected, leading to sensations like tingling or burning.

Postoperative Swelling: Swelling in the surgical area can put pressure on nearby nerves, causing dizziness and muscle sensations.

Changes in Blood Flow: Surgery can affect blood flow, potentially leading to dizziness or weakness.

Medication Side Effects: Pain medications or anesthesia used during surgery may have side effects that include dizziness or muscle sensations.

Physical Therapy: If you are undergoing physical therapy post-surgery, certain exercises might temporarily cause these sensations as your body adjusts.

Underlying Conditions: If you had pre-existing conditions affecting your cervical spine or nervous system, these might contribute to your symptoms.

It's crucial to discuss these symptoms with your healthcare provider, as they can assess your specific situation, rule out complications, and provide appropriate guidance or treatment.