Neck pain - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

33george · 05-22-2008, 10:59 AM

I want to ask if anyone finds it hard or difficult to turn their head from side to side?? I had a fusion of c-4 back in 1994, but for the past 10 years the pain in my neck has become increasingly worse to the point now it is hard to turn my head. Or it hurts to turn my head down. Just wondering. thanks

BobM · 05-23-2008, 08:12 AM

Each level that gets fused causes a little loss of range of motion in the neck. I have ready that about about 50% of our typical range is provided at the C1 & C2 levels, and the rest from C3 to C7, I am fused from C4 to C7 so I've lost about 40%. If you are fused at C4, you've probably lost 10%.

However, your surgery was quite a long time ago, so you may be experiencing other problems by now, and if you're having trouble perhpas it is time to get checked and see if something new is going on. My surgeon describes these fusion surgeries as kind of like 'man made' arthritis, and that I might expect to experience that kind of pain. My surgeries corrected the soul-robbing pain that is associated with nerve impingement, but I do have chronic aches and pain now in my neck - things just dont move like they used to anymore!

Best wishes
Bob

33george · 05-23-2008, 11:26 AM

Thanks, Bob.
Yea I have lost a range of motion, and I teach Drivers Ed..soemtimes have to swing my neck fast and then ouch....
Pain at at times is a 9 with headaches, then goes down to a 3 with no headaches. Last MRI did show some narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck. So, until the pain is too severe too long at times, I shall continue without any surgery.