Glad to hear  your concerns were just a part of the process.

Good to hear clint.

Well lets give this thread some closure. I am off the DL and back in the big league just in time for the show. The pain I had previous to surgery is gone. It has been replaced by an aching neck especially if I sleep in one position for too long. It also gets cranky after labor or fishing all day. My arm is still not at full strength, but coming. The pain is manageable and I am back to the real world and working on Monday. No more fishing during the week as I will be forced to endure the mobs and the crap show in even greater disgust on weekends for a while

Well an update to my neck. It still hurts with movement every day  6 months post surgery and I have a few episodes of tingling in the arm and hand. Arm strength is still not what it should be, but is adequate for things I need to do. Original pain is gone though.    I have an appointment with my surgeon on Thursday to find out if this is par for course. I gave it a work out today looking in reverse using the rear mount blower on the tractor.

Clint I have had some neck issues since July that won't seem to go away. Turning hard to look behind on the tractor gives way to a grind as well as regular maneuvers throughout the day. My shoulders get fatigued as well from it. The figure of speech "pain in the neck" definitely comes from somewhere. I hope the best for your condition.

So I will post here on my neck instead of the weather thread. MRI and x ray were both negative and looked good. Surgeon had no answers as to why I am in pain, said it could be arthritis brought on by the increased pressure the joints above and blew the fusion, could be my muscles are still not used to working with the fusion, could be nerve damage. The slight pain and weakness in my arm are most probably nerve damage, but they are minor to the neck. He ordered a CT just to make sure there is nothing hiding in the bone fusion. Next are probably shots in the neck. Overall I guess I can't complained too much. I work in a hospital and see much worse off than me every day.

Clint hope everything stays light brother. My neck has been slowly sliding down hill and I fear the day of surgery. Best wishes to you

Good to hear the issues with your neck are normal given all that you have been through.
 
Not trying to hijack but has anyone had experience with injections called Arthovisc?  I wrecked by knee over a year ago and went through the process leading up to an MRI but never heard from the Ortho Doctor regarding results.  Went to the hospital recently to get a copy of the MRI report only to find I have a torn meniscus and some cartilage issues.  Been there, done that with my right knee but now the left knee is causing pain waking me in the middle of the night.  Went to a new Ortho guy the other day and he basically gave me an option, injections (Orthovisc) or surgery.  If I opt for surgery I would prefer to do it after the fall season (fishing & hunting).  The injections are in a series of at least three, one per week , perhaps more and are effective for up to six months.  If anyone has had experience with Orthovisc let me know.    

I can help a bit on it Gerry. It is very similar to the synovial fluid you already have. It is to cushion and lubricate the joint. I have dealt with a few that have had it done and all said it gave them relief to some extent. I have seen a few that have been pain free after for 6 months to a year.  Side effects are low. Here is my professional advice, but it worth what you are paying for it. The injections are a stop gap. The sooner you get it fixed the better. Increased age and damage make recovery that much harder the longer you put it off.  I would get the injections to get you through the fall and then get it fixed.

Thanks for the info Clint.  That's pretty much how I understood the Orthovisc descriptors by the doctor.  The red tape for getting approval for the injections may take up to two months but surgery is readily available, go figure.  I do know , having had surgery on the right knee, that the recovery time is upward to six months before it starts to feel good.  I would rather postpone surgery until the winter months when there is little going on.