neckpatient
12-09-2008, 02:43 AM
I have a question to anyone who might have similar ACDF fusion C4-7 - this is not a survey. I have been experiencing something and I am wondering if other people fused with multiple levels feel it to - like is it normal --
I am completely fused and still have my hardware in. If I move certain ways I feel this kind of buckling or popping kind of thing in my lower cervical/chest, and it is audible to me. One time my husband heard it. It's not like a cracking joint - it really feels odd. I don't know how to describe it, but there is something that I feel. It doesn't happen all the time, but I am wondering if there is some kind of stress happening in there and then it seems pain levels go up the day after I have this phenomena. It's been happening more so I am going to ask them to check it out.
My thoracic has some bulges now so I am thinking they are motion stress, so that kind of worries me that the fusion is putting some pressure in there.
If you feel it too, can you describe it? I am trying to find some good words to describe it to my doctor.
I am completely fused and still have my hardware in. If I move certain ways I feel this kind of buckling or popping kind of thing in my lower cervical/chest, and it is audible to me. One time my husband heard it. It's not like a cracking joint - it really feels odd. I don't know how to describe it, but there is something that I feel. It doesn't happen all the time, but I am wondering if there is some kind of stress happening in there and then it seems pain levels go up the day after I have this phenomena. It's been happening more so I am going to ask them to check it out.
My thoracic has some bulges now so I am thinking they are motion stress, so that kind of worries me that the fusion is putting some pressure in there.
If you feel it too, can you describe it? I am trying to find some good words to describe it to my doctor.
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hugg724
12-09-2008, 03:44 AM
I am fused C4-7 but the only thing I experience is alot of popping and crackling in my neck. Sometimes my neck sounds like the noise you would hear from a fireplace when the wood gets going (that is what my kids told me lol).
I think based on the area you are having it that it might be your thoracic area and not your neck. You are MUCH more knowledgeable about the spine than I am although I do try to research as much as I can. You know that the discs above and below your fused area are doing the work of the fused ones and will wear down eventually. That is probably what is going on. It really sounds like you might have some slippage (sp?)
Sorry I can't be of more help on this though. Keep me posted because with everything I am going through with my neck, I know I am in for a long haul of issues.
Good Luck!!
I think based on the area you are having it that it might be your thoracic area and not your neck. You are MUCH more knowledgeable about the spine than I am although I do try to research as much as I can. You know that the discs above and below your fused area are doing the work of the fused ones and will wear down eventually. That is probably what is going on. It really sounds like you might have some slippage (sp?)
Sorry I can't be of more help on this though. Keep me posted because with everything I am going through with my neck, I know I am in for a long haul of issues.
Good Luck!!
css1
12-09-2008, 04:12 AM
imho, u described it well
i'm not fused although i had two doctors wanting to fuse me, and eventually it turned out all to be thoracic not spine, and since i did a ton of reserach, saw a ton of doctors, and talked to a ton of folks who got fused
i just wanted to say I understood ur description
hoped that helped
good luck
i'm not fused although i had two doctors wanting to fuse me, and eventually it turned out all to be thoracic not spine, and since i did a ton of reserach, saw a ton of doctors, and talked to a ton of folks who got fused
i just wanted to say I understood ur description
hoped that helped
good luck
JackieH
12-11-2008, 06:15 AM
Hi...
I'm C5-7 but w/failed fusion. My hip bone is gone but I still have the suvenier hardware screwed in tight.
Just wanted to make sure you get this checked out. I know a cousin's buddy who lost a screw & it ripped up his esophogus. Please don't worry. This is rare but it is serious when it happens.
I get at least X-rays every few months as the neurosurgeon told me the hardware would eventually break with failed fusion.
Take care.
I'm C5-7 but w/failed fusion. My hip bone is gone but I still have the suvenier hardware screwed in tight.
Just wanted to make sure you get this checked out. I know a cousin's buddy who lost a screw & it ripped up his esophogus. Please don't worry. This is rare but it is serious when it happens.
I get at least X-rays every few months as the neurosurgeon told me the hardware would eventually break with failed fusion.
Take care.
sassy61
12-19-2008, 04:55 AM
hi , i don't know what you are talking about. but i am very scared to go ahead and have my surgery now.im supposed to have a c4-7 acdf. but from the sounds of your pain and when it happens you really need to go see a doc. i ll be praying,good luck and keep us posted cause this board really helps me alot.............Blessings.............. .sassy61:confused::confused:
SpineAZ
12-22-2008, 12:37 AM
I am fused C5-C7 and haven't experienced anything like that. But I do have "new" pain that feels "arthritic". As if the area around the fusion has taken too much of a burden now that the other area is fused.
AliceBK
01-02-2009, 08:53 PM
In April 2006 I was fused C4 - C7. It was outpatient surgery but I spent the night because surgery was last afternoon.
Prior to surgery I had bad headaches, numbness in my right arm and hands, falling, almost no short term memory yet I had no neck pain. My MRI showed I had bone spurs and possible spinal cord bruising. Prior to surgery I was told that it was possible for the numbness to go away immediately if there was no bruising. I found this website prior to my surgery and it helped me to know that I was not alone.
After surgery I wore a soft collar for about a week and slept sitting up in an easy chair. I had physical therapy for my neck and hands. If I had to do it all over again I would definitely would go through everything all over but only sooner. They first thought my hand numbness was carpal tunnel, not. I did not understand how everything was interconnected and neither did my primary care doctor, because everything went on for a long time. Once referred to a neurologist and then neurosurgeron I had the fusion.
The numbness and stinging in my right hand and arm are still there. It has a different level of pain now and has also moved into my fingers in my left hand.
Yet the headaches, falling and memory issues have improved. They occasionally happen when under heavy stress but nothing like prior to surgery. The doctors have given me Cymbalta for the nerve pain but it only helps me with the depression.
Before surgery I remember being ready to die because I could hardly take all the suffering. I know if I had not have had the surgery I would either to dead or totally paralysed. There was no curve in my neck and the MRI showed that my head was looking like it could have slipped. Now when my neck makes noises I count my blessings and say thanks for all my doctors and physcial therapists because they saved my life. Oh yes, my neck now has a curve.
I hope I did not ramble to much but remember others have gotten through this surgery and life will improve after surgery. This website and users are great for letting you know tht you are NOT alone.
Prior to surgery I had bad headaches, numbness in my right arm and hands, falling, almost no short term memory yet I had no neck pain. My MRI showed I had bone spurs and possible spinal cord bruising. Prior to surgery I was told that it was possible for the numbness to go away immediately if there was no bruising. I found this website prior to my surgery and it helped me to know that I was not alone.
After surgery I wore a soft collar for about a week and slept sitting up in an easy chair. I had physical therapy for my neck and hands. If I had to do it all over again I would definitely would go through everything all over but only sooner. They first thought my hand numbness was carpal tunnel, not. I did not understand how everything was interconnected and neither did my primary care doctor, because everything went on for a long time. Once referred to a neurologist and then neurosurgeron I had the fusion.
The numbness and stinging in my right hand and arm are still there. It has a different level of pain now and has also moved into my fingers in my left hand.
Yet the headaches, falling and memory issues have improved. They occasionally happen when under heavy stress but nothing like prior to surgery. The doctors have given me Cymbalta for the nerve pain but it only helps me with the depression.
Before surgery I remember being ready to die because I could hardly take all the suffering. I know if I had not have had the surgery I would either to dead or totally paralysed. There was no curve in my neck and the MRI showed that my head was looking like it could have slipped. Now when my neck makes noises I count my blessings and say thanks for all my doctors and physcial therapists because they saved my life. Oh yes, my neck now has a curve.
I hope I did not ramble to much but remember others have gotten through this surgery and life will improve after surgery. This website and users are great for letting you know tht you are NOT alone.
RonKorz
01-04-2009, 10:41 AM
I have a question to anyone who might have similar ACDF fusion C4-7 - this is not a survey. I have been experiencing something and I am wondering if other people fused with multiple levels feel it to - like is it normal --
I am completely fused and still have my hardware in. If I move certain ways I feel this kind of buckling or popping kind of thing in my lower cervical/chest, and it is audible to me. One time my husband heard it. It's not like a cracking joint - it really feels odd. I don't know how to describe it, but there is something that I feel. It doesn't happen all the time, but I am wondering if there is some kind of stress happening in there and then it seems pain levels go up the day after I have this phenomena. It's been happening more so I am going to ask them to check it out.
My thoracic has some bulges now so I am thinking they are motion stress, so that kind of worries me that the fusion is putting some pressure in there.
If you feel it too, can you describe it? I am trying to find some good words to describe it to my doctor.
OMG i would describe more like a snapping or crunching but I know EXACTLY what you mean!!!
I am completely fused and still have my hardware in. If I move certain ways I feel this kind of buckling or popping kind of thing in my lower cervical/chest, and it is audible to me. One time my husband heard it. It's not like a cracking joint - it really feels odd. I don't know how to describe it, but there is something that I feel. It doesn't happen all the time, but I am wondering if there is some kind of stress happening in there and then it seems pain levels go up the day after I have this phenomena. It's been happening more so I am going to ask them to check it out.
My thoracic has some bulges now so I am thinking they are motion stress, so that kind of worries me that the fusion is putting some pressure in there.
If you feel it too, can you describe it? I am trying to find some good words to describe it to my doctor.
OMG i would describe more like a snapping or crunching but I know EXACTLY what you mean!!!
BobM
01-04-2009, 09:07 PM
I am fused C4 to C7 with two ACDFs. Sometimes I experience similar symptoms but mine is more at the base of my neck vertebrae on my back, and less frequently towards the top of my neck - in other words, at either end of the fused vertebrae. I believe the feeling and and noise (like a snapping or popping, loud enough that other people can hear it too) comes from tendons and ligaments that don't move anymore like they used to move. The neck is surrounded with ligaments, tendons, muscles, etc and things work differently once the intervertebral joints stop moving.
The other thing that could cause these symptoms it seems to me are the facet joints - those can degenerate and lose their smooth cartilage-like covering, grow bone spurs, become enlarged & inflamed, etc. I have this going on more in my lumbar spine.
So far my T Spine seems to be doing pretty well! ;)
Be sure and keep us posted on what you find out - perhaps there are other causes and things to look forward to...... :dizzy:
The other thing that could cause these symptoms it seems to me are the facet joints - those can degenerate and lose their smooth cartilage-like covering, grow bone spurs, become enlarged & inflamed, etc. I have this going on more in my lumbar spine.
So far my T Spine seems to be doing pretty well! ;)
Be sure and keep us posted on what you find out - perhaps there are other causes and things to look forward to...... :dizzy:
neckpatient
01-07-2009, 11:54 PM
Thank you all for your replies. Just hearing a few of you feel similar things has helped me.