Neck Fusion

[Dirty Twin]

I had a nasty neck injury about 15 years ago and it is now giving me absolute HELL.

 

Is there anyone out there who has had a neck fusion and still rides his bike?

 

What sort of aches and pains do you have or is it the best thing(Fusion) you have ever done?

[Conti]

had a fusion between 3/4 in neck. limited neck movement but its the best thing to do.on say a 3 hr ride my neck gets a bit sore/stiff(but not much) and you only feel it once of the bike. after a hour or so its gone.

 

[porky]

I have had a fusion between three levels 5+6+7 - it took a long time to get back to original strength, but today I have very little problems, I have a little less head movement, but hardly noticable, and I can ride ,run do everything I did before no problems.

 

This is actually a very common and very successfull operation, a few days in hospital and depending on the severity of the fusion, could be up to 6 weeks in a neck brace - for me that was actually the worst part.

 

If you have it done, chat first to your doc about the options, the old method where they took bone from your hip is fairly traumatic, there are many other options now including a swivel arrangement so you loose absolutely no neck movement, but unfortunately, some medical aids are not keen to pay for it.  

 

[porky]

I have had a fusion between three levels 5+6+7 - it took a long time to get back to original strength' date=' but today I have very little problems, I have a little less head movement, but hardly noticable, and I can ride ,run do everything I did before no problems.

 

This is actually a very common and very successfull operation, a few days in hospital and depending on the severity of the fusion, could be up to 6 weeks in a neck brace - for me that was actually the worst part.

 

If you have it done, chat first to your doc about the options, the old method where they took bone from your hip is fairly traumatic, there are many other options now including a swivel arrangement so you loose absolutely no neck movement, but unfortunately, some medical aids are not keen to pay for it.  

[/quote']

 

Sorry, I meant to add my injury was due to an accident, but the pain of the nerve impingement was enough to tell me I would have it done irrespective of the recovery time.

 

porky2008-08-04 04:32:46

[shaunh]

I too broke C5 C6, C7 about twenty years ago. Did a ride on Saturday morning on my MTB and hurt my neck. The pain is really excrutiating and can hardly turn my neck.

 

I would definitely like to find out more about this procedure.

[Rookie101]

I worked in a neuro theatre where we did 5- 6 op these ops per day.

 

There is alot on the market your doctor can use for your fusion.

That includes bone replacements as well. The worst part the patients complains about is the hip from where they take the bone. It becomes very tender and painfull as soon as it gets cold... There is 3 -4 other substitues the doc can use.

 

Make sure your medical aid covers the implants, can get expensive, usually they only need a doc letter to get them to pay the full amount.

[Dirty Twin]

Hey thanks guys.

 

I am lucky I have a mate who is a neurologist in Pretoria and just wanted to find out what it was like post op I suppose a six week break wont be to bad after the Trans Baviaans.

 

Will have to use a lot of Pain killers but have to finish with my brother.

[Conti]

like porky said, it is not such a big thing and is highly succesfull.

the worse pain was my hip , where they used a blunt axe to chop a piece of bone out.and that was not so bad either.

3 weeks of work, 6 weeks in a brace and you can brag with titanium inplants!

it's normally done by a neuro surgeon.

DR. Van Aarde in Pe is the best in our area.

[Dirty Twin]

Thanks Conti. Dr Van is a client of mine so will chat to him as well.

 

By the way how old where you when you had the op. I am only 41 very young.

[Conti]

do it now before you get older.

i was 37.

its really no big deal as the neck is not like your back,

it only carries your head and they operate from the front, so they can get to everything.

Dr. Van is brilliant

Conti2008-08-04 06:26:58

[porky]

I was 43 years young so dont worry.

 

Stay away from the hip bit, theres lots of options which wont be so traumatic.

 

I would really go and see a few neurosurgeons before you decide, I had mine done at Linksfield clinic in (well, Linksfield!!) by Dr Weinberg, a neurosurgeon of note and was actually featured on Carte Blanche a few times as he pioneered the swivel operation where you loose no mobility.

 

 

 

 

[AndreZA]

he pioneered the swivel operation where you loose no mobility.

 

 

So I must go and see him to fix my office chair.

 

 

[porky]

I too broke C5 C6' date=' C7 about twenty years ago. Did a ride on Saturday morning on my MTB and hurt my neck. The pain is really excrutiating and can hardly turn my neck.

 

I would definitely like to find out more about this procedure.

[/quote']

 

Its quite a common operation and one where the relief is immediate, and I mean immediate, as soon as the nerve is freed its like a light gos on and the pain is gone.

 

A neurosurgeon will tell you its a relitively easy op, to me its quite daunting, but basically they go in from the front of your neck, through the soft tissue to the vertebra, force the vertebra apart and insert a piece of bone (or another material) into the joint to free the nerve, and allow the vertebra together again. Over time the vertebra fuse together with the bone or other material and "bobs your uncle" a tough joint.! 

 

I would take myself off to a neurosurgeon and let him take a look shaunh, I dont know where you live but in Johannesburg, Linksfield clinic has one of the best neurosurgery wards in the area, make an appointment to see one of the surgeons and dont delay.

 

Nerve damage can generally not be repaired, and mechanical damage needs to be corrected if possible to avoid later serious issues.

 

Unfortunately this type of injury wont heal on its own, it will only get worse, make the appointment as soon as possible.

 

 

[porky]

he pioneered the swivel operation where you loose no mobility.

 

 

So I must go and see him to fix my office chair.

 

 

 

 - it will be an expensive fix (around R14000.00 ) per swivel, but it will never wear out again.

 

 

[Dirty Twin]

My neck is killing me.

 

 

Managed to get an appointment with Dr De Jonge for 02/09/2008. I think he and Dr Van Aarde are in partnership somehow.

[Guest Michelle]

I fractured my spine in a car accident in primary school   I usually go to the chiro, let him pull me around a bit & stick a couple of needles in & it's sorted in a day or two.