Hi,
I had Anterior Cervical Fusion C567 in 5/2000 due to 2 rupt discs, while waiting for surgery 3rd rupture occured, spinal cord was compromised, one head turn away from Paralysis. According to surgeon successful fusion occured. Felt great for 2 weeks after surgery, numbness went away as did the severe pain from ruptures. Following initial relief, began to have chronic pain, spasms, headaches, arm and shoulder pain, numbness off and on. Was told prognosis not good because of the amount of spinal cord involvement prior to surgery. 11 mos later I went back to work, doing the same job, I had Prolotherapy and many alternative treatments in an effort to relieve pain. Everything worked short term. In 2003, I started to develop numbness left buttock that radiated in to leg (sciatica symptoms) at this point was told I should stop working. Had an MRI of LS spine that showed disc bulges and bridging but not enough problems to explain symptoms. Went on SSD, slowly over the last 5 years numbness in now in both legs, developed lympaedema left leg, neck pain, shoulder pain, arm pain constant, never sure what I may have done for pain and spasm to intensify. Recently, was evaluated for a Spinal Cord stimulator but was told I was in the 50% group of it may or may not work. The odds are not enough for me to spend the $$$ and undergo a procedure that may NOT work. The numbness in the legs is diagnosed as Unexplained peripheral neuropathy. I have been on a lot of sites and have seen posts by many post fusion people with similar symptoms.
I maintain a positive attitude, take homeopathics, Norco 4 x's a day, have trigger point injections when neck pain is so severe I can't take it anymore.
The neurosurgeons that I have seen say not everyone with Cervical Fusion ends up this way, but what I have seen on sites like this we do end up like this.
Is there anyone out there with similar symptoms, this long after surgery?
pmphx