Hi MJ,
Please try not to let these quirks and setbacks get you down. I can tell you that you will get strange little pains, tingling, numbness, etc... over time. Believe it or not you may still be healing from your ACDF not to mention the foreign objects implanted in your spine, they move a little differently than your parts you were born with. I as many others here have episodes such as you are experiencing, it most definitely wears on a person. I only hope you have the support locally that you have here. If not communicate and educate your husband, family, & friends to what you are going through. As always you have us here to lean on and lend an ear to you.
Take care & keep us posted here,
Ranger

Thank you Ranger, I appreciate your kind words. I am just confused as to why I was doing so well for so long and now the bottom seems to be falling apart. I have a supportive family and a few good friends, yes. But they don't understand fully as they haven't experienced it. I find comfort here, it does help being among those who know exactly where I am coming from. I'm thinking a visit with my surgeon is in order here shortly as I can just feel something isn't right. Thanks again for your support.
Julie

Hello Michigan,

Hopefully you will find as was suggested that it is not anything bad. Myself I was fused in March of 08 at C5/6 and like you "life was great!!" I was in month 13 since that surgery and just yawning of all things and my disk at the C6/7 went! I had instant burning pain in my shoulder blade and down my arm, and then shortly after that numbness and then progressing weakness. As you can see in my bio below, they ended up fusing my C6/7. Most of the symptoms have once again been relieved, but I still am having numbness and weakness. I am 10 weeks post op now.

Like you when I realized that something was wrong, I had the exact same thoughts..."Gawd I can't go through this again!, You gotta be kidding!, No way!" Well, get those words out (as it does help psychologically to do so) and find out either way. Again, hopefully you will find that you are fine. Fingers crossed for you!! Take care.

Brenda

Julie,

Please go see your doctor right way. Maybe a medrol dose pack will be all you need.

After my lumbar fusion & recovery I was very happy with my life. I was unwilling to admit that I was having issues with my neck and put it off until I couldn't take it any more.

Being in pain and having to go through this stuff is mentally & physically exhausting. It is hard to look at the next big challenge when so many of us have spent years coming to terms & dealing with the last one.

"Welcome to my new normal world.... I had a funeral for my old self and now I am thinking of having a garage sale for my old self's things...."

This is suppose to be a joke but life looks pretty glum these days. After work and errands I just came home took some pain meds and cried....

Just chiming in with a little support for you -- haven't had surgery but understand severe pain, getting out of it, and NOT wanting to go there again.

Everyone's suggestions were right on target -- also does icing help at all? I've been seeing a massage therapist who uses something on me that supposed to help break up scar tissue. She was working on my hysterectomy scar and it related to my lumbar area. Anyway, just a thought.

Best of luck for a good outcome -- I've been there, mentally and physically exhausted from pain and trying to work -- where's a lottery win when you need one?!!!

Take care sweetie,

Judy

Thanks Judy. I do have a massage therapist, it was recommended by my physical therapist that I go to one twice a month once my therapy was over. Once a month is all I can afford, but it does really help. I wish I could afford to go every week, lol.

Have you made an appointment with your doctor? Or called to talk to them?

You know, I've never actually been without pain since my surgery a year ago and I understand the frustration and fear.

Please keep us posted.
Cath

I hope you get in to see a Dr soon. Please let us know how things are going. Keeping you in my thoughts/prayers

Hi Jewel,

Reading your post reminds me of a few things. Hopefully, you have called your doctor and made a appointment. I know just how difficult it can be with a set back. Just the fact of beating the surgery and getting your life back, is a huge success. Don't let this get you to far down, I know easier said that done. Trust me after going through 5 surgeries myself it is worse to live daily life in that level of pain than to have to have another surgery. Not by any means I am suggesting that you need surgery, but you need to have the doctor take a look.

Do you know if you were fully fused following your first surgery? How long has it been since you seen your surgeon last? Has the pain returned to different areas than it did previously? You may want to look at the cervical radiculopathy video and see if any of that fits your pain patterns. Another rather simple issue could be a hardware issue. If you are fused you don't need the hardware anymore, and it is not that big of surgery to get it. Keep us posted as to what the surgeon says. Good luck.

Thank you everyone for your support and advice. My insurance is currently being changed to a new insurance at work and I am waiting on the new cards, which should be here any day. Once I get them I can go see my surgeon. Things haven't gotten any better, they are consistantly bad. I had to talk to my new boss today (my old boss who new of all my issues left last month) and tell him about the problems I am having. He was very understanding and offered to help in any way he could and wants me work load lessened to take off added stress. Hopefully what he says is genuine, I hope so. It's always scarey to have to tell your boss stuff like this as you are always afraid they will think you are capable of performing your job any longer, you know? I will keep everyone posted. Thanks again for all your input.
Julie

Tam Tam,
I did not have a bone graph or artifical bone, I have cages, so they can't be removed.
Julie

Jewel,
What did they use to graft the bones together. They hoping for a auto fusion the bone just grows together? I never heard of taking the disc out and not putting anything in its place. What happens if the cages move and your back on the nerves in the same areas? Or better yet one of the anchors breaks? Do you know what the theory was behind that?

I am so glad it went well when you told your new boss the problems you are having, and happy he was understanding. Let us know when you see your surgeon, my thoughts are with you.

ilene

Tam Tam,
I have metal plates, no bone graph. And yes, the bone is supposed to fuse around it. My surgeon is one of the best around here and he feels that to take a bone from me would not be a good idea since I have Osteopena and he feels that the plates and cages are also better than cadiver (sp?) bone as well as it's usually from an older person. I trust he knows what he's talking about.
Julie

Julie - a thought. I had to wait for my insurance cards and needed to see a dr while waiting. I called the insurance co and they gave me my numbers and needed info and said if the Drs office had any other questions they could call the insurance co. Hope this helps you

Good for you for talking to your new boss - Ia m happy to hear he was understanding.......

One of the HR guys at work gave me a letter with my insurance information to use until I get my card. I called my surgeon today and at first they told me that they didn't have an opening until Dec. 7th! After I almost cried she told me she could schedule me as a "walk in" next Monday and he will see me eventually. I took it as I can't wait until the 7th of next month. I also made an appointment with my PCP for later on that day (since I have to take the day off work anyways). I'm hoping she can give me something to calm my nerves, I'm a wreck. Thanks for all your kind words and support. I will let you know what I find out.
Julie