surgical neck fusion

kaz002
kaz002 Member Posts: 2
edited 3. Feb 2010, 05:44 in Living with Arthritis archive
hi, i have JCA in all joints since age 9yrs, 2 hips replaced 13yrs ago and one knee 19yrs ago, i am 44 now. 3 years ago i had my neck totally fused because disks were moving into the spinal chord. since this op my neck, shoulder and upper back pain has increased and is sometimes unbearable despite analgesics, NSAIDS and heat packs. has anyone had similar neck problems? or problems with chronic pain that is getting you down? it would be great to hear from you if so, thanks. :)

Comments

  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello,
    I'm sorry that you have so much pain. I have a neck problem, but nothing like as bad as yours. I had an MRI on my neck before Christmas and it showed a compression between C4 & C5, I think, which had a bone spur that was pinching a nerve. I get a lot of pain, and like a lot of these things, it changes from day to day.

    I find heat helps, also the physio has given me a few simple exercises, she had to change them, as the first ones made me worse. Some people repond to acupunture, I'm not that keen, but thats just me, not likeing the thought of the needles! I have a memory foam pillow, which helps me too.

    I think a lot of trial and error is involved, as to what you find is right for you, we are all different in lots of ways including height and build, which I would think effect the way we get comfortable! :wink:
    Love Sue
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Kaz,

    First welcome to the forum, they are a good lot here.

    I get a lot of neck pain via disc's, bits of extra bone, narrowing and degeneration. Mine they um and ar about doing an op and deep down I know they wont just they leave me that. Its nasty pain and I really do sympathise with you there.

    Its sounds like you need to have a good chat to your consultant an have different meds and poss see the pain clinic if the can't do anything more surgically. I was given pregablin around two or so years ago and they really are so good at stopping nerve pain but there is also gabapeptim which a lot of people find helpful. The pain clinic do quite a lot of injections and have done tempery de-nerving to it as well, (yep I know that sounds drastic). The last time they didn't cus it was very inflamed but even just medrone injected in to it has helped.

    I really hope you can get something sorted. Take care and a cyber hug Cris

Categories