Re: fused neck
Just had neck surgery back in Sept. I felt something wierd the week before I headed up for CMP week at Perry, then while lifting a target over a frame had a "pop" in my neck, hurt the rest of the week. Then got home, had 3 days before I headed to the Canadian Fullbore Nationals and saw my Dr. Said likely herniation of C5-6 or so and that I should stay home. Well, I was not only shooting the individuals, but also shooting for the USA team, so not going wasnt an option. Headed to Canada, did the about the best shooting I have ever done, finished 3rd individually and helped the USA to 3 straight team wins. got home after an 18 hr car ride and boom, couldnt move right arm next morning!
Holy snikies!! Well, MRI showed 2 blown discs and a bone spur riding on a nerve...that nerve ran my right arm. Well, did the injection thing, worked great, but being the moron that I am, I went out and jumped on the ZTR mower and cut 5 acres (hey, it hadnt been cut in a month as I was out shooting!!) and well, that F'd me up royally. So I had the arm pain, loss of use, couldnt sleep, couldnt drive etc.
So, doc (a neurosurgeon...which is a MUST!) said the only way I was shooting US Rifle Team tryouts in Nov was surgery and then only going to be a long shot (gave me 2 months to rehab). Well, I did the surgery, though honestly, tryouts or not, I dont think I had much of an option as I was BAD.
Well, I did some serious rehab/therapy (I had less than 25% of my left arm strength in my right arm after healing up after surgery) shot tryouts 2 months later, had trouble, lots, but did well enough to make the team, and have not shot since. So 2 more months of healing I have gotten about 75% of my strength back and am getting ready to get back to shooting the end of this month.
Would I do the surgery again? Sure, as I probably didnt have a choice, but dude, you better use it as a last option but, the caveat here is DONT wait too long. I made my situation a lot worse as I kept shooting (would have done that again I think, if I had it to do over considering how Canada went) and did some stupid crap after the injections, but I did NOT have a fuse, they went in, cut a bunch of crap out and it seems to have worked. But, as my is degenerative (I am only 39) and not due to injuries, I will likely need more surgery in the future. And before i did a fuse, I would look at replacing the discs. The folks I know that have had that done have been pretty happy.
As for chiro, for this stuff, no way. I hit the chiro for some stuff but I would NEVER let him work on my neck and he never will again now that I have had issues.
Good luck man......neck injuries suck.
John