It's been a while - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

captnanny · 03-29-2009, 11:07 AM

Hi, I don't know if you all remember me but I had my second surgery December 18th. I had a three level posterior laminectomy with plating. I was in a hard collar for a little bit then the soft one but they were irritating the scar area very much. I had pt right away but now I can't afford it. Lately I have been in a big time flare up in pain. My neck feels the same as it did right after surgery or right before surgery. I don't know what is going on but I can't live on no income, no hope of working in the next six months and haven't heard from disability. Anyway I was wondering if anyone had any pain like this come and go for a while after surgery. I also worry about non fusion because I didn't wear the collar all the time more off than on. I did get a little post op depression but am coming out of it. I am just frustrated with this neck pain and limitations, they are driving me nuts.

sammyo1 · 03-29-2009, 05:16 PM

Geez Capt, I have been thinking about you & wondered. If you were careful when you were out of the collar I dont see where that would really cause a problem, but I am not a doctor. I remember you saying you would leave it off at times when you were idle. I did tell my surgeon I started to go without mine abit more towards the end & he said that was fine.
I have some flair ups & have some preop pain more so in the past couple weeks. I did not have alot of neck pain before surgery, I actually have more now. ARe you on any meds for this? Do you have any insurance at all? I am thinking you should call your doctor, but I realize your in a bind here.

I still find I have to rest alot or my levels can go bonkers. From what I have read some people take 6mths to a year to feel any real relief & your fusion was through the back (post) & as far as I know that is tougher then anterior. Since your surgery was not far off from mine you may still be having surgical related pain.
I wish I could help you in some way. I heard my PMs office really giving people breaks on office visits due to so many out of work & loosing their insurance. I hope he continues to do so & I hope others do the same.
Gosh this has to be frustrating. What did the last xray show as far as your fusion goes?
I thought perhaps you were abit down & with good reason. I will keep you in my prayers & I am here for you if ever you need me. Feel free to PM me if you would like. Please be careful & take care, Sammy

captnanny · 03-30-2009, 02:53 AM

Hi Sammy, I do still have insurance and am planning on calling my doc today. I do think it might just be a flare up but I do not have any pain management team. I have a Psychiatrist who is trying to help but as now there are no pm groups in my area. I think it is still recovery time and I do need to give it six months to a year. I tend to think if I don't need the collar or as much pain medicine I should be recovered. Well I know that's not the case and I find out the hard way. I am otherwise out of the depression and just worried about getting in touch with my doctor. More than likely it is post op pain and I need to give it six months. Talk to ya later.

feelbad · 03-30-2009, 09:29 AM

hey capt. sorry things still have not gotten better for you. have you spoken to your surgeon about the symptoms? are these the EXACT same symptoms you had pre op that are comming back, or were they never really gone to begin with? did these just 'start" up one day out of the blue? sorry for so many questions but when it comes to post fusion crap, there can just be so many possible reasons for it.
just possibly obtaining a very basic c spine x ray series would show whether or not all that hardware is still sitting at the proper alignment too ya know? hardware and true disc alignment shows up extremely clear upon plain x ray. that could be one possible issue too,shifting of the hardware. it just can happen. considering the multiple levels you had done too,well there is just all those extra levels where there is room for possible problems,ya know?

just what EXACT symptoms are you displaying right now? and how do these compare with your pre op ones? again,sorry for so many questions. marcia

captnanny · 03-31-2009, 04:37 AM

Hey feelbad,
I guess the feelings right now are not exactly the same as what I had preop. What I am feeling is major soreness of every muscle in the neck, shoulders and arms. I also get this stabbing feeling in the neck that comes at least once a day and stays for a while. It is like someone has needles and is poking me in the back of the neck. That is the feeling I had preopt. Before surgery though my neck would get stuck, I felt like I couldn't move it. I know this is probably very different and I will get the xray when I see my surgeon April 7. I just get scared because they didn't notice the nonfusion in my first one until I had a catscan. I hope they did see something on the x-ray.