Hey guys, Wondering if anyone has any experience with as I have none. I have severely compressed C-6 and C-7 vertebrae. Pain in shoulder, scapula, pectoral, and tricep areas. Shot helped a little along with 600 mg of gabepetine a day. The Drs. say three options currently open to me. One live with the pain, range of motion and strength are currently good, but discomfort or pain are always there. Two neck fusion. (will not do this) Three disk replacement, this is the direction they are recommending. I have had lots of surgeries but the neck spine etc. are kind of freaking me out. I am soon to be 60 and retired, and want to still do everything. I have done lots of reading in the last 24 hours. Any of you have any experience or knowledge of this procedure.

Get it fixed. It won't get better waiting . Neck isn't as bad as lower back. They go thru the front . Get a good surgeon and FOLLOW his directions. Eat healthy , get sleep, while you are mending.

Following as I am in a similar situation.

Good luck and do exactly what your doctor tells you.I had lower back surgery and a friend of mine had to have his neck vertibrae fused like you said don't do that.

5,6,7, all fused 1n1998, no problems, still running heavy equipment and catching 200 critters a year , but I love life and what I do, always think positive, dont let the old man in!!!. I am a 1960 model.

I am living with 4 ruptures low back mine wasn't a work comp injury and I could keep working and let the disk heal up as much as it could on it's own

my dad has 4 in his low back in a titanium cage and 2 in his neck fused

he had a significant lost of range of motion in his neck with the cadaver bone fusion but he isn't constantly in pain his neck was a work comp and it was all about getting him back to work which he did for a year then blew the 4 low back and that surgery never did get him back to work but they have to do it and try.

he took a medical pension , went back to school got a degree and a desk job to finish out till retirement

I had my back fused in 2014.On April 18th they are going to replace a vertebra in my neck.
I will have it done on the 18th and should be home the next day.
Don't live with the pain.Get it fixed.

Dan

I would talk to physical therapists and have them setup a program of exercise and stretches and exhaust that path before continuing with a surgeon.

I think you can find plenty of examples of that sort of thing, spine / vertebrae surgery, creating more problems than it fixed.

I'm not sure what you are getting replaced with but I sat next to a guy at work that swore thats how his brother get cancer... from the hog bone they used for the replacement going in from the front as mentioned above.

In my opinion that doesn't count for anything... if you are on the fence if you should do it or not... its not bad enough to have it done. I've just heard too many nightmare stories.

The one guy I knew the physical therapy resolved all issues and he was so glad that he got a second opinion and tried that before getting cut on.

Anyway I don't know anything and haven't posted in awhile really and logged in just to tell you that story. Good luck with everything and wish you well.

I’m hearing of very good outcomes with cervical disk replacements. I have a 48 year old ortho surgeon that I work with had 2 levels done and he is doing really really well. His suggestion being a surgeon is to find a doctor that does a lot. He went to a large city where he went with a surgeon that performs 50 to 100 a year not just a handful.

I just had 2 levels fused in my neck yesterday. Home today. They go through the front, throat is a little sore for awhile. Had one done in 2003 also, nothing like the back. I had 15 fused in my back last May. Lost almost all range of motion, can't even tie my shoes. I had no choice, as I have major disc degeneration.

Waste of time and money NO PT is going to replace the disc that seperates your vertebra . Unless your surgeon is using the 1970 guide to surgery he won't use "hog bone" Plus the longer you putit off the longer it will take you to heal. Older you get it's the law.......

I HAD C6 replaces in 2017 and haven't had any problems since except i cant look up as far.
when i woke up from surgery i was out of pain and numbness in my hand
GET IT DONE

Human cadaver bone is used as well as some of your own. They also use another substance, but can't remember what it is. I also agree, no amount of physical therapy will do anything for bony structure. On my first one, I waited to long and have permanent nerve damage to my right leg. Don't put it off.

Where have you doctored for this? If you haven't gone there, I would recommend Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN for a second opinion.

I had a pinched nerve in my neck at C-7 in 1999. I got a shot in St Cloud and the doctor punctured my spinal cord paralyzing my left side for several days with excruciating pain. I was put on gabapentin and still have to take it or the pain comes back. I gave up on the neurologists in my area and went to Mayo Clinic where, after a MRI I was diagnosed with a hole in my spinal cord. Eventually, I was able to use my left arm after therapy. One of my concerns was I shoot left handed. I thought I might have to give up shooting and hunting.

Mayo explained to me that I should have never gotten a shot for the pinched nerve because that area in the vertebrae where the nerves are is so narrow and close to the spinal cord that it was a hazardous area to inject. Instead, they would have recommend a rather minor surgery to widen the area that houses the nerves.

I only mention my experience with Mayo because they seem to take a more conservative approach when it comes to your spine.

I have a few chipped disks on the left side in that area....same type issues in the areas you describe. Proper exercises have pretty much made that go away...plus I had shoulder impingement and that is gone also. At the same time exercise addresses these type of issues it also increases your quality of life unless you thing a good time is sitting on the couch eatin cheetos.

I have completed physical therapy options with no success.
I have had the injections with no relief.
I am not looking at fusion, happy for those of you who have had success with it. Not for me.
Living with the pain and future is it will worsen is an option. I have nothing set up until June 21st currently.
My best option is looking into disk replacement after doing nothing.
As per where and my Dr. Chippewa Valley Orthopedic in Altoona. My son and I have both had surgeries there by doctors that work on pro-athletes. I am confident in them but always do my due diligence.
I appreciate everyone's input, were a pretty old crowd here and figured some of you had a reference of sorts.
Thanks and keep it coming, Brian

Had these 2 fused yesterday

As someone who has had cervical fusion, C-4 to 7, the best advice I can give you is to NOT seek medical advice on the internet. Talk to the surgeon, write down your questions and his/her answers. If they seem to not want to give you the time, find another doctor. I had mine done in 2001 and I have almost full range of motion. Life changing for me. I suffered for over a year.

I agree with Mark and Wingshot . Like Mark I've had my neck fused C4 - 5 -6 back in 1990 /1995 they didn't offer to grind bone off my hip ( NEVER allow that to happen ) but they used a cadaver bone zero chance of rejection .

Granted back then I was in the hospital way longer than if it were done now days .
It's basically out patient with little or nothing to worry about .

Chiropractic treatment was suggested for me to try it failed miserably and may of made it worse .
I just wish I'd of had it done sooner than I did I waited because I listened to someone who was clueless ha ha

The sooner you get it done the sooner you will feel better .
I wish you well !

Had 2 done in my neck about 4 years ago. The pain I had prior to the surgery was way worse than after.. You have to take it easy after the surgery for a few months. I did very well with it..