UPDATE - 6 month Post - Fusion C/5-C/7 - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

Fiona_Jo_324 · 01-28-2008, 02:51 AM

Well, I had my six month visit Post fusion - C/5-C/7. I have still been experiencing pain and spasming, so I was anticipating not so good news - but was HOPING for the best (if that makes sense). I was hoping that maybe the pain was due to the fact that I haven't been released to PT yet and that I just needed to build strength.

Well, I'm not fusing yet and I'm so bummed.

It likes why did I go through this surgery and post surgery challenges if I'm ending up still in pain and not fused? So, I'm still required to use the bone growth stimulator and now I need to wear the soft collar more again. So, I feel like I'm regressing a bit. However, I will do whatever I have to ensure fusion.

In one sense six months is still early, however I get fearful of my surgeons response to my x-rays. Like he's not expecting much improvement. (I could just be reading his body language wrong). He even brought up a potential other surgery that COULD be done (only this time going through the back of neck to repair it) which would mean an even worse recovery with so much to cut through.

However, I said NO to that immediately, I just can't see putting myself through another surgery and he completely understood. Unless, I'm told my neck could potentially put my life in danger, I refuse to go through another surgery.

Currently, I am still taking about six Norcos per day and 3 Somas. I actually think my pain level is such I could actually take something stronger, but I feel like I need to be able to gauge my pain (if that makes sense).

My questions are:

- Has anyone had to go through the "repair" surgery where they go in from the BACK of the neck? How was your recovery? I can only imagine horrible.

- I feel like the conservative route is the best, how do others feel? Would you remain more conservative with this? I know we're all different, but I was just wondering how others would feel in my situation.

- Any suggestions about how to stay positive at this point? I'm trying to look at it like six months is still early, but I just have such a weird feeling that this is as good as it will get. It's like it's gotten to a point and theres been NO change since my last X-Ray. It seems like there would have been some change, but it looks like the same X-Ray.

Any comments are appreciated!!

~ Fiona

poopoopadoop · 01-28-2008, 05:03 PM

Hi, Fiona,

Sorry about the non-fusing. What did the dr. say about the lack of fusion? I also would not rush into another surgery at this point (but maybe I would later on if it didn't get better). I feel bad for you that you still have a significant amount of pain. Let us know what happens...
Lisa

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiona_Jo_324

Well, I had my six month visit Post fusion - C/5-C/7. I have still been experiencing pain and spasming, so I was anticipating not so good news - but was HOPING for the best (if that makes sense). I was hoping that maybe the pain was due to the fact that I haven't been released to PT yet and that I just needed to build strength.

Well, I'm not fusing yet and I'm so bummed.

It likes why did I go through this surgery and post surgery challenges if I'm ending up still in pain and not fused? So, I'm still required to use the bone growth stimulator and now I need to wear the soft collar more again. So, I feel like I'm regressing a bit. However, I will do whatever I have to ensure fusion.

In one sense six months is still early, however I get fearful of my surgeons response to my x-rays. Like he's not expecting much improvement. (I could just be reading his body language wrong). He even brought up a potential other surgery that COULD be done (only this time going through the back of neck to repair it) which would mean an even worse recovery with so much to cut through.

However, I said NO to that immediately, I just can't see putting myself through another surgery and he completely understood. Unless, I'm told my neck could potentially put my life in danger, I refuse to go through another surgery.

Currently, I am still taking about six Norcos per day and 3 Somas. I actually think my pain level is such I could actually take something stronger, but I feel like I need to be able to gauge my pain (if that makes sense).

My questions are:

- Has anyone had to go through the "repair" surgery where they go in from the BACK of the neck? How was your recovery? I can only imagine horrible.

- I feel like the conservative route is the best, how do others feel? Would you remain more conservative with this? I know we're all different, but I was just wondering how others would feel in my situation.

- Any suggestions about how to stay positive at this point? I'm trying to look at it like six months is still early, but I just have such a weird feeling that this is as good as it will get. It's like it's gotten to a point and theres been NO change since my last X-Ray. It seems like there would have been some change, but it looks like the same X-Ray.

Any comments are appreciated!!

~ Fiona

Fiona_Jo_324 · 01-28-2008, 05:32 PM

Lisa,
Thanks for your reply. I definitely agree with you and will not rush back into surgery (especially given what the surgery would involve - it really scares me). It seems like there's never any guarantee of significant improvement. Now, I wish I had given my other surgery more thought. It seemed like I had reached the point where it was the only option, but since I haven't had significant improvement and many of the same issues, I'm now skepitical.

I do still believe my surgeon is incredible. Heck I over-heard a woman in his office who had surgey in late-September and completely fused and she couldn't praise him enough, she was completely pain-free. So, I know my surgeon is great at what he does and I don't blame him. He seems so concerned about my lack of fusing (or the fact that I just got to a certain point and didn't completely stablize/fuse from there). I do fee like he was giving me the last option to consider when bringing up the surgery - I guess he has to put all the options out there.

I will continue to go the conservative route - wear my brace more and the Growth Bone stimulator and hope in the next two months there is some goods. My surgeon did say he once had a man that took 17 months to Fuse!! WOW!! So, I can be patient.

Thanks again for your response, it means so much!

~ Fiona

PNo · 01-29-2008, 11:04 AM

Sorry you are still having trouble and pain.

I was told the soft collars don't do that much for you, did you discuss maybe moving into a hard collar for 6-10 weeks constant wear along with the bone growth stimulator to see if that can help? I know pain in the neck (pun intended), but maybe worthwhile. If it were me, I wouldn't be rushing into any "fix" surgery. I would keep on the conservative path, I kept fusing for a very long time on my 2nd surgery, it toolk almost 15 months. Along with these measures you could bump up your nutrition, maybe consult a nutritionist.

Fiona_Jo_324 · 01-29-2008, 05:18 PM

***********:

Thanks so much for the suggestions. Now, I'm wondering if he meant the hard collar. Thanks for bringing that up. I still have my hard collar from Post-surgery and when he said collar, I just assumed soft. I will call him and find out if I should be wearing the hard collar. You're right makes sense. That's also a great idea about consulting a nutritionist. I will try and do that. I am taking Calcium my Surgeon prescribed post surgery and do try to eat pretty well, but you are right there is probably more I could be doing with my diet.

Thanks for the suggestions.

~ Fiona