and welcome to Spine Health.
I'm so sorry to hear that you are still in pain.
4 level cervical fusion is a big surgery, but there are others here who have had that much fused.

Hopefully they will arrive here and share their experiences with you. I know that nerves do take a long time to heal and can still improve up to 2 years later.

Did your surgeon give you any information as to why he felt you were still in pain. I wonder if he thinks you have permanent nerve damage.

I am being 'watched' at the moment to see how things progress, but I also have issues from C3 to C7. I suspect that I will end up having surgery, but your story makes me think that it is probably just as well that they aren't in a hurry to do surgery. I do have symptoms of cord compression though, so that worries me that if they leave it too long I may end up with permanent cord or nerve damage.

I think you will find this a great place to get information about your spinal problem and also get support from others who are experiencing similar problems and know how frustrating being in chronic pain is.

i am 4 weeks post ALIF and feel the same way ! i will tell you what everyone telling me just stick with it and it will get better ..i know its words and living it is so much harder trust me dave i understand how you are feeling .my head is all over the place and i don't know about you .but my body is shot too even shaving is an effort .take care dave and just do what you can as you can
tony

Hi Dave,

I understand your frustration. I had ACDF 3-7 last May. My surgeon told me that by having surgery the damage would not get worse, and my symptoms were very likely to improve. Before the surgery I had radiating pain down both arms (right worse than left), pain in my neck and across my shoulders. Four level is a major surgery. Have you been in a neck brace? Still in one?

Over time (a couple of months) my right arm got somewhat better and my left worse. Over more time they continued to get somewhat better. I still have some pain down my arms. I have a lot of pain down my back. When I asked my surgeon about that he evaluated it and it is muscular and osteo.

It's tough to hear, but it takes time to see how much you will heal. Although I felt better almost each day, it wasn't until about 3 months out that I felt like I was "recovered".

Now I've gone through laminectomy and discectomy at L4-L5 - I knew this would be coming up before I had the ACDF, but cervical "trumps" lumbar.

Feel free to PM me if you want.

KarenD

Hi Dave,

Let me join the rest and say that I too know your frustration. I have fought with my cervical pain for about 6 years now. Gone through pain management with drugs and procedures like cervical facet blocks, epidurals, trigger points, discogram and had a bone spur removed at C7-T1 and a 2 level fusion at C5-6 & C6-7 a year apart. Since the fusion, my issues are with the other discs and with the inflamation, pinched nerves, buldging, and bone protrusions from the other 2 procedures. I am back to pain management and medications simply because I hesitate to go through any more surgery and I need relief from this pain. Feel like a Mack truck hit me & then back up to get what he missed! I just take it slow and easy and one day at a time. Here if you want to talk. God Bless.

Let me start by saying Hi. I'm Debbie a 45 year old women and I was in a very bad car accident on 11/27/11. Now because of my injury I need an ACDF. I am scared out of my mind it is from C3 - C7 with hardware. The surgery is scheduled for 2/21/12. Just joined this site for some encouragement and to talk with people who know what I'm going through. So, if any one has an suggestions please feel free to post them.
Thanks Again for being here for me.

Have you taken a look at the Useful items for post op list? It can be found at the top of the Back and Neck Surgery page. If you can't find it, let us know and we can give you a link to it.

Are you in severe pain after your accident? What are your symptoms?

C3/C7 is a big surgery, but others have had it. Hopefully they will post and share their experiences with you.

I haven't had cervical surgery (yet!) but had a lumbar fusion. I really know and understand the nervousness before surgery. For me, and some others here, it was worse than the actual surgery. I hope that you will be able to say the same.

I have seen lots of people come here to Spine Health, have their surgery, and they are no longer posting because they are back to their lives. The people who are long term members, in the main, are still having problems, or are fairly recent to surgery and want to support others who are about to face it.

With so many levels being fused, your recovery is likely to be longer than some, but hopefully it will be the way to get your life back on track.

I wish you well, and will look forward to hearing how you get on. I suspect that I will need to have surgery at some point in the future.

I am almost 1 year post-op from a one-level cervical fusion and will tell you that based on my personal experience, no doctor or physical therapist can tell you what your post-op recovery will be like. Everyone recovers in a different way depending on your stress level, extent of nerve damage, etc.

I had spinal cord compression and my symptoms progressed rapidly and that is why I opted for surgery. My NS said that my residual pain was muscular, but after my appointment with my physiatrist yesterday, she says that it is likely that my pain is a combination of nerve damage from the spinal cord as well as muscular. She doesn't know for sure and no one will really know for sure. The medical world just doesn't know enough about nerves and muscles to provide enough answers to us spine patients.

I continue to heal and know that only time will tell if I will be stuck with this pain. My pain is definitely much better than before surgery. Physical therapy is the best therapy so far for me. Surgery is a success for me, because I am functioning and not laying on the couch. Take it easy and let yourself heal!

I would like to thank everyone for responding to my post and the encourging words. It's great to come here and talk to so many people who have and are going through the same to experience. Funny how the day I posted for the first time was probably one of my worst for the pain because the next day it was almost gone! The last 3 have been the best with the various pains either gone or getting better by the hour. I hope this trend continues and realize anything can happen but I'm far more encouraged now than ever. God works in many ways and I guess I just need to keep the faith. Thanks again to all for your support.

Hi Dave,
so glad that you are doing better! The pain roller coaster gets old... but it sure does make you grateful for the good days!!!!
thank you for sharing your recovery with us. My surgery is now in less than 3 days, and although I've had four cervical fusions before, this one will be much more extensive and through the posterior approach-I'm reading everything I can to prepare myself.
Take care,
Heather

Hi all. Reading some of your post I thought I would give you all a update on mine ( C3-C7 dec 1,2011) I am doing pretty good, alot of stiffness, swallowing still a little sore, but for the most part my pain that I was having is gone. Like KarenD said,it takes time and as you are healing the pain comes and goes. We just have to be patient... I know its hard. I also had a bone spur that had dug into my spinal cord, but as of now I do not feel as I will have any permanent damage. I am glad that I decided not to put it off any longer, as the bone spur was pretty deep and could of caused paryalisis or worse, even my NS was surprised how lg and deep it was. Listen to your body is my best advice, and talk to your dr. about all you are feeling. I know it is scary but don't but yourself at a higher risk of permanent damage. I am glad my son.. a PTA said "mom you can not continue to put this off". My NS says things look good, so I am just taking it day by day... One section of the spine at a time. Good Luck and Prayers to all.

I fell at work on February 21,2010,I had damaged my Rotator cuff and had a bicep tear. Surgery was on September 15,2010. Starting two months later I was telling my doctor I did not feel right. Test went on and no decision was made. Finally I asked if one of my nerves was torn. new tests performed and found a C4,5 was not right. The Workers comp insurance company told my lawyer that I would need to find a doctor that takes the I.E.B. rate... Cheapest rate. In Massachusetts it's $100.00. No Doctor in Ma. takes such a rate. I called just about every surgeon to find such a doctor just to look at me. I sent a nasty letter to my lawyer explaining the aggravation. She informed the insurance companies lawyer and I had an appointment on February 6 2012. After all this time my damage to my neck now goes from the C3 to C7.
I plan to have it out with my lawyer this week. The Doctor plans to operate as soon as he gets the O.K. from the insurance company.
Thanks for the posts but what about all the failures after surgery? How long will it take for recovery? Thank You.

I had c3/c7 spinal fusion 3.5 years ago and "Pain Worse" has been the case ever since my surgery. Truth is, it feels like there is a huge titanium pipe or bar lodged in my neck. Feels like a HUGE tooth ache with random sharp pains. Watching TV, reading, typing anytime I hold my neck in a position for 5 or greater minutes it hurts like the dickens. I stretch, walk, take 4 Perc 10's and 4 soma's daily (I dont like pain meds but they ease the pain a little) I think I feel best when I am walking, warmed up, loose, etc. I battle every day but know something will help someday. I am considering trigger point shots, I hope to share / find solutions so today I joined this website / forum. Everyone stay strong and hopeful and in prayer.