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| Contemplating
Cervical Neck Fusion to Ease the Pain |
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Question:
I am looking for anyone who has had all of their cervical joints fused.
I had c5-c6 done a couple of years ago and now the doc want to do them
all from c2-c3 to c6-c7.
I'm looking for info on long-term outcome, range of motion and overall
pain relief.
Also does anyone know where you can get outcome statistics on a
particular doctor?
I've had it with this neck pain and want my life back.
Answer:
I definately understand
your pain. I, too, have ruptured discs and degenerative disc disease
in my cervical and neck area. It is so painful. Even when it isn't to
the point of taking my breath away, I always know it is there because
I can't even where a bra anymore.
I had C5-6 fuse 6 years ago and I felt wonderful afterwards. I was happy,
energetic. Back to the old me.
It lasted about 2-21/2 years and I started having problems with my jaw
again. I suffer from a TMJ disorder too. After many doctor visits and
physical therapy for my jaw they sent me back to my neck doctor. It has
taken about a year to get to the point I'm at. I do a fraction of what I
use to do. We love to go dancing, to the movies, hiking, biking etc
and I don't do that anymore. T1-C7 is ruptured too. I'll find out at my
next
doctors visit what we are going to do about it. This one radiates out to my
shoulders and down to my waist,
any reaching in to cupboards is very painful. I have a degenerative disc at
the end of my spine that causes the sciatica nerve to act up now and
then but my neck problems do not. I had a discogram done the day after
Christmas. That test is a real killer. If you ever have it done be
prepared! This test injects dye into each disc and then they take an xray.
All but one was ruptured and this one showed up on the MRI as herniated and
the rest showed up as bulging. So is MRI's not the beat all end all. I'm
on pain meds til March.
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