Cervical fusion - not happening? occipital pain, violent leg spasms

Hi Alcie,

I added another post to the other thread, but sought out your post here and am so very sorry that you are going through all of this. I will share that I have found that activities that require looking down for long periods does increase my pain and neurological symptoms, too. I found out from trying to paint baseboard in a couple of rooms. I paid for that for a few weeks with pain and tingling in my hands, legs and feet. I do not get hints that I'm going to have a problem, it just hits as significant pain, so it often takes me awhile to determine which activities cause problems.

I do hope the physician who did your surgery is following up and monitoring your healing. If you've had any x-rays, or scans since the surgery, the Dr. should be able to tell you the progression of the fusion.

Although it my be atypical, I had no signs of fusion at 6 months and just 3 months later show strong fusion on the x-rays. Try not to be discouraged, but do look to your Dr. for help with your questions and pain relief.

I wanted answers that the Dr. could not give me and I had to wait and see and it was very challenging. I have had to take a sleeping aid for months and I do handle the pain and stress of recovery much better when I am well rested.

I do have headache issues from time to time, especially when laying down. I notice that they often improve when I am upright, so I'm pretty sure they are neck related. 7 months out from surgery is still early, even though it may not feel that way.

Following my first c-spine surgery it was well over a year until things calmed down for me. I know this may not be the news you are looking for, but it may give you hope that things can improve.

I too, have trouble sometimes discerning if muscle spasms are from the neck issues or just typical overuse, etc. It's so hard, but it can get better.

I certainly hope and pray that you will soon find relief for your multi-faceted problems. Hang in there and I hope you are well on your way to healing and feeling better!

Hi Lake, I made paragraphs so it would make your post easier to read. Some of us have tracking problems when trying to read.

Post Edited By Moderator (straydog) : 3/9/2014 4:24:56 PM (GMT-6)

Thanks Susie, I will be more aware of using paragraphs in the future...I'm learning :) I appreciate your feedback and help.

Thanks Lake and Susie!

I was told I'd be better at 6 months, everything complete at a year. The neurosurgeon, who is really good, doesn't see patients after 1 followup, standard in the hospital system where he works. He said I didn't need a neck collar after the surgery because everything was solid. I was referred to that hospital's rehab doc who is useless.

Lake, thanks for the baseboard painting story. It really helps me put what I try to do into perspective. I appreciate hearing about new pain just hitting.

Susie, You may be right about the leg spasms coming from my back. I've got an awful lot going on there. I'll bring the Valium up to the pain docs. One of them is vehemently against it, but there is nothing else I can take, and it's working.

Alcie, This is only a guess, but I think if you were not showing signs of fusing after your follow-up with the neurosurgeon, then he/she would have scheduled you to come back. The only reason I had follow-ups beyond 6 months was because I did not have signs of fusion. Now that my fusion is coming along I have no more scheduled visits unless something new crops up.

I did not wear a neck collar either, the Dr. assured me that the plating worked kind of like a collar and held things in place as long as I didn't do anything foolish to create a problem. I did wear a hard plastic collar the first time around, but didn't have the plating with that surgery.

I sure hope that your pain gets under control and that you feel better soon. You have a lot more going on that I do, but there is hope in healing. The folks on this forum have had so much personal experience and have heard so many cases they can be a huge help in many areas of healing and pain management.

All the best to you in the days ahead...take care of yourself!

Alcie, I was in a car wreck & injured my neck.That was the beginning of my neck problems. I went through 3 months of PT & it did nothing for the pain it always came back & it was muscle pain. My sister convinced me to go to her MD that was trained in acupuncture. He kept her from having neck surgery for about 10-11 yrs from a car wreck too. I did 9 treatments & he had me pain free. I wish I had listened to her & went to him from the start.

One treatment is wasting your time & money.

So I did the acupuncture.

The needles hurt as much as a shot and a few continued hurting so much the acupuncture doc pulled them out. I only didn't feel one that went in a numb spot. I expected them to be in back, but had 2 in each ear, one in each lower leg, one in each foot, one in each wrist, one in top of head that hurt a lot.

Then I laid there 15 minutes. Tech pulled out the needles, which hurt too. I got dressed and paid the $80 (ins doesn't pay anything) and came home.

So far I don't feel any different. My nice Chinese doc explained it may take 3-4 times to help, but it also may not work at all for Central Pain Syndrome.

According to every reliable-seeming source, there is no cure or even treatment for Central Pain Syndrome. http://centralpainsyndromefoundation.com/information-for-medical-professionals/

This may be my last hope to lessen pain to a level that's tolerable, so I'll try at least once more.

Alcie,

. . .we are so similar it seems. I allowed myself 10 $100 visits to check out accupuncture from the "best" around. For me the best it did was give me a very mild endorphin rush less than that of eating a very (VERY) hot pepper. What people who like hot foods call a pepper "high." Yeah, accupuncture did nowhere near what half a habenero would. If you can a swing it I would give accupuncture some more trys. . .once is not enough for anything in my opinion.

You are so lucky, so lucky with the valium. I need more desperately. Frankly, I am considering seeking out some marijuana, which is (becoming) legal in my state. I really cannot take a drug that messes with my head, because I get paid for thinking. But, if it is legal for you, maybe you could try it. What I can say from the few times I have taken it is that some of it is the best cure for pain ever and doesnt mess with your thinking ability. . .and some just makes your head spin. I'm not advocating it if it is illegal for you.

I guess I just mainly want to empathize with you. I think we are walking similar roads, although your injuries are much worse and you are older than me. . .believe it of not, heat packs are one of the best things for me right now. Good luck, lets bear this simultaneously, if not "together."

You like reading my posts!? Alcie you're worse than I thought. LOL. I didn't think anyone read my stuff.

I'd never believe I would have written what I did about marijuana a few years back. But pain has changed me. . .I once worked with a regular/heavy smoker. He worked the same job for 17 years and could not remember how to clock in on the time keeping system...it was the same all that time. The thought that I'm even considering pputting it in my body gives me pause. I've known several others nearly as bad.

but like I said in another post, I'm having a hard time deciding if oxy/valium/neurontin, etc are worse for me than alcohol. I could also curl up in a ball and quit life. You know we're all just trying to pick the best options. Unfortunately, grin and bear the crushing millstone of daily existence seems to be the best one. But you've just got to take your consolation prizes. My wife gave me a massage today.