Pain/faintness with yawning after cervical spine surgery?

Question

I had a disc removed (c-5/c-6) with bone graft and titanium plate from the front of my neck, 3 years ago. I still have much pain, tho it did cure (or improve) the numbness and tingling in arm and hand/fingers. I worse part is when I yawn or bend my head down too far...feels like something is catching or locking up. Then I feel terrible for one or two minutes, like I am going to faint and severe pain in my neck with spasms. Afterwards, my neck feels sore for days. Should I be alarmed???

Answer 1

Yeah, I have had two surgeries, fusing three levels, one surgery failed, it sounds like maybe your's did too. That being said, it wouldn't be dangerous, because the plate is holding things together, the fusing probably failed, causing you to have pain off and on. When mine gets "hooked up", that's what I call it, I generally have to get some deep moist heat there, getting the muscles to relax, then it "unhooks" and my pain level is better. I take Methadone for my pain management, I also try to excercise, but it's difficult when you are in pain all the time. I think I would go see your orthopaedic doc that did the surgery, it probably will be treated as inflammation, but for me, I would check because there are so many bad things that could go wrong, I would feel safer. Good luck in your journey, chronic pain sucks.

Answer 2

possible help
Much pain is from muscles below is an example of what may help (based on headaches).
Begin with a couple swigs of molasses or a couple of bananas daily - magnesium (which regulates many things in the body) and potassium (a needed building block for muscles).
Drink at least 1/2 gallons of water per day. Running a body low on water is like running a car low on oil is the analogy the head of neurology at UCDavis told my husband about 10 years ago.

Now to the cause - muscles - your back, neck shoulders and head have tender spots. They are knots in the fibers of the muscles called trigger points. It makes the muscles tight which makes them press on nerves and other things causing the pain.

The cure - start with a professional massage, you will also want to go back over any place you can get to 6-12 times per session up to 6 times per day rubbing (or lightly scratching on your head) every where that is tender until the knots go away. The place where the skull connects to the spine press up under the edge of the skull (to get to those muscles).

For more information read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. It teaches what to do and where the pain comes from.