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Posted 12/16/2018 10:14 PM (GMT -7)
In February of this year my dog knocked me over and turned my 2 bulging cervival discs into ruptured (C5-7). I had the ACDF surgery on July 18th...I also had osteophytes and severe spinal compression so I had no choice but to opt for fusion.

I am doing extremely well considering the circumstances but one thing that has been not very pleasant is I have been having a sharp burning pain in my left shoulder blade - tho not all the time and can be very random when it happens, especially when I turn my head at random angles. My neck has been locking up, higher then where my injury occurred. It feels like when I go to turn my head, even slightly, it catches, clicks then turns.

So my question is, does anyone else with this injury or surgery feel these things and second, I ordered the TENS unit and does it truly help with the pain?
Posted 12/17/2018 6:27 AM (GMT -7)
Red:
That you have had osteophytes before gives suspicion that you may have developed additional cervical osteophytes. People can have a protensity to form osteophytes, similar to genetic tendencies to form colon polyps or skin tags.

Have you had a recent follow-up visit with the surgeon or an x-ray/imaging to assess the ACDF? That would seem prudent.

One thought is a possible pseudo-arthrosis causing the intermittent catching sensations.

Not all instances of catching are indicators of an underlying problem. The surgical area will undergo a lot of activity of bone remodeling cells (osteoblasts and osteoclasts), building up and breaking down and recontouring the vertebrae and fusion site, for at least a year post-surgery. Pieces of scar tissue as well as filaments of tendon/ligament can also get intermittently caught and impinged with head/neck movement, especially rotation, with catching as you describe.

If symptoms are troubling or consistent, see your treating surgeon who performed the procedure.
Karen
Posted 12/29/2018 9:26 PM (GMT -7)
Thanks for your reply. I have had 2 follow up appts with my neurosurgeon but I never addressed these issues because I didn’t have them when I seen him. I will bring it up to him in my appt in a couple weeks.

What is pseudo-arthrosis?
Posted 12/29/2018 11:08 PM (GMT -7)
Pseudo-arthrotis occurs when the expected/anticipated bony fusion between two vertebra fails to solidify. It is a failed fusion. It is post-operative risk/complication.

The lack of bony fusion can lead to micro-movement between the two vertebra and associated inflammation and bone marrow effusion.
Karen
Posted 12/31/2018 1:59 PM (GMT -7)
After my ACDF for C3-4, C4 fused itself to C5. My neck won't turn far in either direction, but much worse to the left. Ask your surgeon about pushing to try to make it turn more while it's still healing. Also ask about phys therapy.

I also have pain in left shoulder blade since the fusion. There must be some nerve being pinched. Ask your doctor, but don't expect an answer. Surgeons do surgery, and then you're supposed to be cured, just fine. Ha!

Did they take off any osteophytes? I had them too. One on C3 broke off and pinched my spinal column when I fell on my head and broke my neck. C3 also also had a big chunk broken off and had to be replaced.

This surgery often causes a lot of trouble with swallowing. They have to retract the esophagus out of the way. I'm getting another swallowing study done soon. I already had trouble swallowing from polio, but I had to cough while eating after the ACDF.
Posted 1/6/2019 4:58 PM (GMT -7)
I had ACDF 7 weeks ago. I have that sensation too. A certain movement L R or up can bring on. Like hot nail at c6-7 where fused. Dr said normal as muscles and nerves are stretched when bad disc cleaned out and neck repaired. It’s way better. I had total extrusion. He said worst he ever saw. I have pain pump and was sobbing when mri showed that extrusion . I couldn’t touch that bone in back for mos. Pain down neck arm shoulder. Other discs are bulging and I will still get RFA in c 2-5 but am hoping I get better as I heal. Dr said RA and Lupus slows healing. Good luck. God bless.
Posted 5/17/2019 6:39 PM (GMT -7)
Hi! I'm wondering how you're doing now?
I had 3 level ACDF on Dec 13, 2018. My pain is still bad - and it's May! Mine was C3-C6 (?).
Posted 5/17/2019 9:57 PM (GMT -7)
Hi SuzanStorm Welcome to the forum, sometimes on the weekends it can be a little slow, and with this being an older thread people might not respond as quickly. But there are a few active on this forum that have had multiple level fusions similar to what you've had that I am sure can be of some help to you! I myself have have several cervical fusions at different levels, but they were all done one level at a time. Anyway may I ask what type of pain and problems are you still having since your surgery? With multi level fusions, it can often take quite some time before you get to feeling anywhere close to your normal self! Also I know for myself I had to have some physical therapy after my posterior fusion with rods and pins put in at C3/4 and that particular surgery took a fairly long time to recover from. At least compared to my other two ACDF's at C5/6 and C6/7.

Anyway if you don't get any responses you might want to start a new thread of your own and introduce yourself and ask for advice concerning your pain. Again Welcome to the HealingWell Chronic Pain Forum I wish you well and Good Luck to You!!

White Beard
Posted 5/18/2019 12:36 PM (GMT -7)
Hi SuzanStorm and welcome. Hi White Beard as well. I had a 4 level ACDF done last July. I am considerably better but still have muscle spasms. When I am stressed, and unfortunately that is often, I am noticing that I hunch my shoulders more which adds to neck pain or a feeling of tension and spasms in the neck. You might want to see if you are doing this and try and catch it. Not easy to break these habits. If you don't notice any improvement certainly go back and talk with your surgeon...maybe they ought to check on things.
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