[Mary's Blog]

 

Hello to all, I hope that this info will help people that have had cervical fusion. I had my surgery

Sep 5, 2006, I was dx with 3 herniated disc, bone spurs, degerative disc disease.  I had fusion

of the C3/C4,C4/C5,C5/C6,C6/C7 with 3 spurs cleaned up, plating.  I had no choice but to have

the surgery, I had severe impingment on the spinal cord with spinal stenosis. It was a hard

post op time, in hard brace for 8 weeks and PT for 10 weeks, unfortunately I have very little

improvement of pain.  I have chronic pain in the neck, shoulders, back and rt radiculopathy

 in arm and hand.  I also have 3 herniated and 4 bulging disc in my back with radiating pain in

the legs and ankles.  Secondary to all this I am now using a cane for walking because my ankles are in pain and are not stable. I will be getting braces for my ankles.  I have contant

ringing in my ears, and dizziness. I dont drive much because of the dizziness.  I am on

antidepressants, pain meds, sleeping pills and trigger point injections once a month in my neck.  These help dull pain, dont take away pain.

 

I had to retire from my office manager job, and I filed for SSD in Jan. 07, I have not heard from them yet if Im eligible.  My depression had literally stopped my in my tracks, all I want  to do is sleep allday.  I can not do much of anything because I get tired and my pain goes up to a 8 or 9 pain level after about a 2 hr stretch. 

 

I thought thank maybe I just write it down give myself a hobby and maybe hear from others that are in the same boat that Im in.  I am only 60 and I did not plan to retire for atleast 3 years, and I really dont know what to do with my self.

 

So please if you have any ideas or solutions or feel like venting lets talk.

 

Mary