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Cervical neck fusion experiences

PeriwinklePeriwinkle Posts: 7
edited 7. Oct 2017, 13:11 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi there, I have longstanding RA with multiple joint replacements.
I am advised that i need a posterior cervical fusion - possibly as much as C2 to C6. I am very concerned about what this will mean afterwards in terms of neck function (especially as I have limited shoulder movement) and would very much appreciate hearing from someone who has had this in the last few years. Please drop me a line if you can help.

Many thanks,

Periwinkle

Comments

  • stickywicketstickywicket Posts: 25,993 ✭✭✭
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    It tends to be a bit quiet on here at weekends but, hopefully, someone will see this.

    I have a friend with RA who has had some work done on her neck but I'm not sure what. I'll ask her. I know she gets headaches if she overdoes things and I think she finds looking up for any length of time difficult - and she does a lot of that as she's in a wheelchair. I remember she said the surgeon told her that the aim was not to make things better but to stop them getting worse. I should probably have had something done myself years ago as I'm an anaesthetist's nightmare.

    Have you tried the Arthritis Care search engine for past threads on it? (Very small tab near the right of the pale blue menu.)
    “There is always a well-known solution to every human problem - neat, plausible, and wrong.” H.L. Mencken
  • barbara12barbara12 Posts: 20,898 ✭✭
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Periwinkle andf welcome to the forum..
    We have had a couple of people on here that have had fusions on there necks..so if you use the search button at the top of the forum hopefully some info will come up..neck can be so painful I have OA in mine so exercise it regular...I hope you can get some relief soon...
    Love
    Barbara
  • mermaidmermaid Posts: 104
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Periwinkle (love the name). I have had 3- c spine fusions now totally fused from C1_T1, anterior and posterior with bone grafts. They were done between 1997 and 2012 to relieve radiculopathy in my arms and to stabilise the neck and try to prevent it getting worse.. I also have long standing RA and some 20 odd major joint ops. The neck surgery has been successful and all metalwork still in place. Because major surgery was done 3 times my neck muscles have weakened and I have head drop but I am so grateful to the skillful surgeon who operated on my 'hangmans neck'. One surgeon refused as I was deemed too high risk. I was advised to get 2nd opinion and so glad I did.
    Recovery was not bad at all, they get you mobile very quickly and this helps with everything. General anaesthetics are out for me now, but I did have very severe damage.
    If you have any questions I will be more than pleased to try and help, bearing in mind we are all different of course.
    Take care and good luck, xx
  • PeriwinklePeriwinkle Posts: 7
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi there,

    Thanks for your messages and kind thoughts. I have searched the forum as well - If anyone knows of anyone else who might have gone through same thing in last few years do let me know. Also does anyone have any neck surgeons they could recommend for a second opinion as I want to feel completely confident about going ahead with it all?

    Periwinkle
  • mermaidmermaid Posts: 104
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello again Periwinkle, I don't know where you live and this obviously has relevance, but Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore both have neurosurgical cervical spine surgeons who specialise in 'rheumatoid' necks.Hope this is of some help. Take good care xx
  • PeriwinklePeriwinkle Posts: 7
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    mermaid wrote:
    Hello again Periwinkle, I don't know where you live and this obviously has relevance, but Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore both have neurosurgical cervical spine surgeons who specialise in 'rheumatoid' necks.Hope this is of some help. Take good care xx

    Hi Mermaid,

    Thanks for your message. It would be really great if you happened to know the name of the surgeon in Cambridge. Many thanks,

    Periwinkle
  • mermaidmermaid Posts: 104
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Periwinkle wrote:
    mermaid wrote:
    Hello again Periwinkle, I don't know where you live and this obviously has relevance, but Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore both have neurosurgical cervical spine surgeons who specialise in 'rheumatoid' necks.Hope this is of some help. Take good care xx

    Hi Mermaid,

    Thanks for your message. It would be really great if you happened to know the name of the surgeon in Cambridge. Many thanks,

    Periwinkle

    Hello Periwinkle,

    Have PM'd you the info. Hope it helps:-) xxx
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