neck stiffness after surgeryHELP !!!!!!!!!!!!! - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

ashbyhorses · 11-06-2003, 01:56 PM

hello iam still recovering from posteria laminectomy and fusion which was done 6-2-03. i have had 2 x-rays showing if the fusion is working . so far so good.i had c-3 thru c-7 done and the pain i had before is gone. that was in my right shoulder , arm and neck. now that i got thru the 6 hour surgery, blood clot (from what holds your head during surgery)and all the pain you are in after you come home from the hospital , now i am dealing with this stiffness. i can hardly turn my neck any way. i go back for x-ray and check-up dec. 9about the healing process and to see if the fusion is taking. but this stifness is driving me crazy. i exercise my neck like i was told to and i do know you loose alot of "range of motion"but i feel like a zombe walking around with a stiff neck.i really have a problem when i go to bed and try turning over. i have to sit up then turn on my side.thearpy is out cause it does more harm than good with mt problem. i have spinal cord damage and all the disks were pushed up together, and he had to dig out the nerve roots so when will the stiffness get any better????????? any suggestions out there on what to do ????? HELP THANKS

mistyone · 11-06-2003, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashbyhorses

hello iam still recovering from posteria laminectomy and fusion which was done 6-2-03. i have had 2 x-rays showing if the fusion is working . so far so good.i had c-3 thru c-7 done and the pain i had before is gone. that was in my right shoulder , arm and neck. now that i got thru the 6 hour surgery, blood clot (from what holds your head during surgery)and all the pain you are in after you come home from the hospital , now i am dealing with this stiffness. i can hardly turn my neck any way. i go back for x-ray and check-up dec. 9about the healing process and to see if the fusion is taking. but this stifness is driving me crazy. i exercise my neck like i was told to and i do know you loose alot of "range of motion"but i feel like a zombe walking around with a stiff neck.i really have a problem when i go to bed and try turning over. i have to sit up then turn on my side.thearpy is out cause it does more harm than good with mt problem. i have spinal cord damage and all the disks were pushed up together, and he had to dig out the nerve roots so when will the stiffness get any better????????? any suggestions out there on what to do ????? HELP THANKS

Hi i had the same thing you did but only at the c 5-6-7 posterior and anterior fusion with hip bone for the back and allo for the front. i still have a stiff neck and lost range of motion and cant drive casue i cant turn my head all the way to see. i hadthis done in feb 03 and still suffer with it. i had a corpectomy laminectomy discektomy andfusion. it was not pretty. i am still having problems as the ns who operated on me put hte hardware in too longfor my neck and now that has to come out. plus i have more problems with the rest of my back. i have just about had it and am now ready for the luney bin. good luck with yours mistyone

DebbieMc · 11-06-2003, 06:24 PM

Have you tried physical therapy? It made all the difference for me. As a matter of fact, it wasn't until I had physical therapy that I realized the full effect of the surgery.

DebbieMc

Nanner · 11-07-2003, 05:02 AM

I agree with Debbie that it may be time for you to explore PT. While you may never regain full range of motion, it can certainly help with loosening up those muscles. I had surgery back in June 2002 and I'm currently doing PT as my myofacial muscle was in a constant, tight spasm that made me very limited in motion to the right, as well as causing major problems between the shoulderblades.

Once you find what areas need to be kneaded into submission, massage and heat are helpful. In addition to the stretches you are doing, you might add a monthly massage to the list of maintenance expenses for your body. There are a lot worse things to spend money on

ljp · 11-07-2003, 08:11 AM

I agree that maybe some PT would be good. You said because of your type of injury PT makes it worse. Why? I had a posterior laminoplasty for severe cord compression at c3,4,5 and 6 and was in PT 6 wks after surgery. It was a lifesaver. They did electrical stim w/heat, ultrasound, massage and light stretching. It took about 2 months before they let me lift any weights and then very light. You have to keep those shoulders moving with this type of surgery. Not working those muscles is worse than anything.

You might also want to try massage therapy. I have had tremendous results from it. I go for 1/2 hour weekly or every other week depending on the amount of spasm.

The surgery was 8/02 and I think it took until about 5/02 to stop looking stiff. (I called it my Al Gore impression). I still have my moments, but the weekly massage helps more than I can say.

Hang in there.

LJP