In July of 2007 I had a cervical fusion at c6-c7; in January I broke a rib. Now I have had chronic pain on my left side under my shoulder blade and stiff neck/neck pain chronically. It has gotten so bad that it is hard to sit for long periods. I have missed a ton of work and pain isn’t being controlled with pain meds. MRI’s of neck and upper and lower back clean. Just some disc degeneration which they expected to see. I couldn’t handle physical therapy or chiropracter and now am doing occupational therapy which is much better. I have taken lyrica and neurotin which didn’t help.I take vicodin 5/500 4x a day and now have been upped to 7.5 4x a day without much relief. Sitting for prolonged period worsens it, except if I am in a recliner. I am now going out on short term disability. Emotionally and financially it has been devestating as well as physically. Anyone have a similar experience or have an idea what may be causing this? What helped as far as therapy? What helped for medications? Any advice/insights greatly appreciated. It should also be noted I will be seeing a pain management specialist but not until March, which seems like a million years from now. Thanks in advance for your help and any and all advice appreciated!!!!!!
#1 by Mike on February 12, 2010 - 9:07 pm
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I feel for you, I had the same surgery, and the same results in December of 2007. My pain is so bad I cannot work and have been fighting for social security disability. With me, there turned out to be a second disc involved that they originally ignored, now I have to have it done on c5-c6 as well. It has been the same financially and emotionally on myself and my wife as well. I am going to a pain mgmt clinic tomorrow, They are doing a selective epidural steroid injection (nerve block) on me. If you would like, I will share the results if it will help with your decision. Vicodin did not help very well with me, I have been on oxycodone. I can’t necessarily say the pain goes away, but you don’t care while its working.
#2 by Rocknrob on February 12, 2010 - 10:06 pm
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I feel you! The MRI’s that reveal degenerative disc are the answer. Even though the professionals involved may feel that it isn’t enough to do anything about, it may be the source of your pain. As you know, having the fusion in your neck certainly helped, but it’s not a cure. And it created a couple of issue’s along the way. I have never met not one person that has recovered from fusions 100 percent. My concern for you is the intake of vicaden. They can hurt your liver in the long run. Ask your doctor for Xodol. It has the pain reliever without the aspirin. I know telling you to exercise is what all say, and when you hurt, who wants to do that! But do try. 5 minutes will lead to 10 and so on…just like 1 vicaden led to 4. I was up to 12 percocets daily. I can’t do much without a pain med daily no matter how hard I try, the pain wins. So get the right meds for pain is key. Your burning a whole in your stomach, and killing your liver the way your going now. Look up Xodol in the PDR. and ask for it. You may get your life back to 75 percent. Except that your not like the rest of the world anymore and move on. This is easier said than done. I haven’t worked in two years and I’m about to loose my home. No one wants to employ a person with fusion issue’s when they can hire someone without! I wish you all the luck in the world. You need it!