Question 1

how much pain must i endure before proceeding with surgery for a cervical fusion? i had a cervical fusion 8-10 yrs ago and am having severe pain again. x-ray and mri suggest need for another fusion. how much pain must i endure before proceeding with surge

Accepted Answer

That : That depends on you.  Many people prefer to have surgery and get rid of the pain, but some people prefer to suffer and avoid surgery.  I would discuss it with your primary care doctor and your spine surgeon.  Good luck!

Question 2

had a cervical fusion mri w/contrast shows persistent lucency along inferior/superior aspects of fusion devices. c5-6 and c6-7 . surgery 2 months ago?

Accepted Answer

Typically a fusion : takes 12 weeks to fuse at 2 levels but up to 6 months as long as you are not a smoker or hypothyroid which can impair bone fusions.  A MRI is not a very good way to assess a fusion, a CT is optimal with 2 mm. Axial cuts for coronal and sagittal reconstructions .

Question 3

three level cervical fusion 1/ 2014.  6 months later -pain and numbness in extremities. mri shows bone spurs which are causing stenosis

Accepted Answer

Unusual: Unusual.  Presumably the spurs would have been removed in your surgery, are they at another level?  Other causes can also be sought by getting a nerve conduction test looking for common causes that can also contribute to numbness such as carpal tunnel syndrome or a neuropathy.

Question 4

could one have an mri after having a spinal fusion?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Spinal instrumentation used for fusions is titanium  and is MRI compatible.

Question 5

i had spinal fusion surgery in oct. of 2016. symptoms have returned 5 months out. recent mri states probable uncovertebral degenerative disease?

Accepted Answer

Spondylitis. Chck RF: The uncovertebral joints are between the vertebra in the neck (cervical vertebra) C3-C7. Degenerative disease refers to arthritis; arthritis in the spine is called spondylitis. When you have so many symptoms &amp; joints affected, rheumatoid arthritis is a consideration; hence, checking RF (rheumatoid factor)- a blood test- is a good start. Arthritis can be progressive. Use HealthTap Prime or TTYD.

Question 6

spinal fusion l4/l5 2yrs ago, severe pain, ns says screws need to be removed due to inflammation? mri also shows arthritis, will hardware removal help?

Accepted Answer

Can't say!: Your degenerative arthritis can be quite bad, but you need to be tested for inflammation.  I hope you are on nsaids such as Naproxen and also i would recommend Cymbalta (duloxetine) before you even consider surgical removal of the hardware!

Question 7

had cervical distectomy with fusion at c5 over 6 months ago. still in pain in spine, back and arm. new mri shows bulging discs. what can be done?

Accepted Answer

Reevaluate: A detailed evaluation to determine if there is chronic nerve damage or more likely a new target.  See your spine surgeon or find a new opinion.

Question 8

how is a cervical adr (c5-6 & c6-7) converted to a posterior approach fusion from c3-4 to c6-7? recent mri shows severe spinal stenosis.

Accepted Answer

Can be done: Can leave the adrs alone, and do posterior laminectomy and fusion, which can be done minimally invasive.

Question 9

i had anterior cervical discectomy with fusion and plates at c5-c7. my current mri looks like one of the screws is pulling on spinal cord this possibl?

Accepted Answer

Artifact: Impossible to say for certain without the images, but metallic objects like screws cause a magnetic susceptibility or "bloom" artifact which obscures or distorts adjacent anatomy.  It is not real, it is an artifact due to the interaction of the magnetic field with the screw. This commonly causes the thecal sac/cord to look distorted on MRI.

Question 10

can a 4 disc cervical fusion be reversed?

Accepted Answer

????: Why did it not go well. Cannot be reversed perhaps revised by be careful may make it worse

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Doctor answers about:

Mri after cervical fusion

A member asked:

How much pain must i endure before proceeding with surgery for a cervical fusion? i had a cervical fusion 8-10 yrs ago and am having severe pain again. x-ray and mri suggest need for another fusion. how much pain must i endure before proceeding with surge

A member asked:

Had a cervical fusion mri w/contrast shows persistent lucency along inferior/superior aspects of fusion devices. c5-6 and c6-7 . surgery 2 months ago?

A member asked:

Three level cervical fusion 1/ 2014. 6 months later -pain and numbness in extremities. mri shows bone spurs which are causing stenosis

A member asked:

Could one have an mri after having a spinal fusion?

A member asked:

I had spinal fusion surgery in oct. of 2016. symptoms have returned 5 months out. recent mri states probable uncovertebral degenerative disease?

A member asked:

Spinal fusion l4/l5 2yrs ago, severe pain, ns says screws need to be removed due to inflammation? mri also shows arthritis, will hardware removal help?

A member asked:

Had cervical distectomy with fusion at c5 over 6 months ago. still in pain in spine, back and arm. new mri shows bulging discs. what can be done?

A member asked:

How is a cervical adr (c5-6 & c6-7) converted to a posterior approach fusion from c3-4 to c6-7? recent mri shows severe spinal stenosis.

A member asked:

I had anterior cervical discectomy with fusion and plates at c5-c7. my current mri looks like one of the screws is pulling on spinal cord this possibl?

A member asked:

Can a 4 disc cervical fusion be reversed?

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