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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Treatment For Unbearable Spine Despite Having Cervical Fusion At C5-C7

My husband has had three cervical fusion C5-7. His last surgery was June of this year. He is having so much pain it s almost unbearable for him. At the base of the incision site, you can feel his spine. I can feel each vertebrae. His surgeon is at a loss. His physical therapist is at a loss. The pain specialist is at a loss. We don t know where to turn. I m concerned about him getting depressed from being in pain all the time. He feels as if no one is trying to figure out what s going on. He thinks there is a problem with the discs below the surgery site but no one seems to want to do a scan to look at it. Is there any advice for him? Thank you. Carole
Wed, 25 Feb 2015
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Radiologist,  's  Response
Hi,
Thanks for writing in.

While neck region surgeries have a higher success rate and however in 10 to 20 percent of patients the pain can return after surgery and become troublesome. Though the pressure on nerve roots at strategic locations seems to be relieved by doing surgical procedure, the patient might often complain severe neck pain even after surgery. The reason is that the affected nerve roots are still under pressure in areas other than where surgical manipulation has been done.

You can choose to get repeat surgery done but that also has limitations after a fusion surgery. Please discuss non surgical procedures like radio frequency techniques and targeted nerve root block. These are temporary procedures and might need repeat sessions every year. Please encourage your husband by telling him that there are many people having pain even after surgery like the one he has got done. Treatment is just round the corner and I think going ahead with a scan will show any newer development that can be treated to reduce his pain.
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Suggest Treatment For Unbearable Spine Despite Having Cervical Fusion At C5-C7

Hi, Thanks for writing in. While neck region surgeries have a higher success rate and however in 10 to 20 percent of patients the pain can return after surgery and become troublesome. Though the pressure on nerve roots at strategic locations seems to be relieved by doing surgical procedure, the patient might often complain severe neck pain even after surgery. The reason is that the affected nerve roots are still under pressure in areas other than where surgical manipulation has been done. You can choose to get repeat surgery done but that also has limitations after a fusion surgery. Please discuss non surgical procedures like radio frequency techniques and targeted nerve root block. These are temporary procedures and might need repeat sessions every year. Please encourage your husband by telling him that there are many people having pain even after surgery like the one he has got done. Treatment is just round the corner and I think going ahead with a scan will show any newer development that can be treated to reduce his pain.