Anybody ever had a cervical fusion?

[CajunBass]

My wife has been working on learning to shoot rifles and shotguns recently. She already enjoys pistols and wants to expand her skills.

Problem is she never seemed to understand what I mean when I told her to "get the stock up to your cheek." If she shoulders the gun properly she always kept her head up straight. No matter how many times I demonstrated it, she just didn't seem to "get it." The only way she could was to get the stock up high enough that only the heel is touching her shoulder. Not a good position.

Then it occured to me that she's had a cervical fusion, and probably can't get her neck into the proper position. She has to hold her head pretty well straight. (Duhhhhh Smacks self in head for not "getting it" myself.)

Anybody else ever have this problem? If so what did you do to overcome it, or what adjustments did you make to the firearm? I've thought of see though scope mounts. Maybe they'd bring the sight up to where she din't have to contort to get in position.

Any ideas?

 

[BridgeWalker]

Problem is she never seemed to understand what I mean when I told her to "get the stock up to your cheek." If she shoulders the gun properly she always kept her head up straight. No matter how many times I demonstrated it, she just didn't seem to "get it." The only way she could was to get the stock up high enough that only the heel is touching her shoulder. Not a good position.

My gun also hits my shoulder fairly high, and for a while, before I had a fairly consistent mount, sometimes just the heel was touching my shoulder as I tried to figure out what to do. Allegedly this is very common with women, who tend to have longer necks and more sloped to the shoulders.

Spinal problems would only make the problem more promounced.

I don't know much about rifles, but for shotgunning the anwer is professional stockfitting. Clay shooters often try to shoot with the head as upright as possible. A raised comb helps. She might need the cast adjusted too. Almost everything about a guns fit can be adjusted. Probably a couple of hundred bucks; ask around shotgun folks.

 

[One of Many]

I have had a dual fusion in my neck (C5-6 & C6-7), and also have a long neck. I had therapy after the surgery to get my range of motion back to normal. If there is any difference between before and after the surgery, I can't tell it. I have always placed the stock into my shoulder, to get a good pocket, then leaned my head down and forward to the stock; this puts my head far forward on the stock, and means I have to be careful about scope location so recoil does not bring the scope into my face.

I have never been good with a shotgun, since I am right handed and left eye dominant; I suspect the long neck may also be an issue with stock fit.

 

[CajunBass]

Thanks for both replies. I think first I'm going to see if I can't get her with someone who knows more about shooting than I do, which wouldn't take much. Even most shotgun shooting is going to be more like rifle shooting. Slugs and buckshot type stuff for deer hunting. She killed her first squirrel a couple of weeks ago with a Ruger 10/22, and she's about ready to try Africa next.

 

[dmftoy1]

One of Many - How long after your surgery did it take before you started feeling relatively "normal"? My brother just went through this 2 weeks ago and he's still hurting at night.

Just curious.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[chris in va]

Just a thought, the AK/Saiga platforms use a side mount sight base that is offset from centerline. My friend's Arsenal has a red dot off to the left side. Not condusive to accurate shooting but might help her quite a bit.

 

[Neophyte1]

brother

dmftoy1: Sir; I am not "One of Many" I had it done twice C4-5 year later redone c5-6 and what a blast. Drs. sent plenty of pain killers home with me and I was fortunate to return all but 1. Am I the special superhuman pain insensitive moron that is too good to be bothered with "pain pills" NO. Was it a most aggravating time in my life; Swallowing, bending, going to the bathroom, socks, shoes, swallowing food, water, burping: you get the picture. Now how soon will your 'brother' progress beyond? Only time will tell.
Share with him; others have done this, each has a story to tell.
The lord let him get up today, and tomorrow will be brighter

 

[Neophyte1]

brother

dmftoy1: Sir; I am not "One of Many" I had it done twice C4-5 year later redone c5-6 and what a blast. Drs. sent plenty of pain killers home with me and I was fortunate to return all but 1. Am I the special superhuman pain insensitive moron that is too good to be bothered with "pain pills" NO. Was it a most aggravating time in my life; Swallowing, bending, going to the bathroom, socks, shoes, swallowing food, water, burping: you get the picture. Now how soon will your 'brother' progress beyond? Only time will tell.
Share with him; others have done this, each has a story to tell.
The lord let him get up today, and tomorrow will be brighter

 

[Hardtarget]

I've seen adjustable butt pads for target rifles. They are mounted on the gun then the pad slides down to put the needed support in good position as it allows the cheek weld to help hold the eye in good position. I don't know if you'll find one to fit her rifle...maybe. Of course, it will then become HER rifle.

Mark.

 

[ceetee]

I have to say thanks for asking this question!

I'm a candidate for a C5-6 and C6-7 fusion. My doctors all say I should've gotten it done long ago. I've had some episodes with pressure on my nerves causing pain and paralysis of my left arm, but I've been exercising, and doing some stretches that my physical therapist taught me, and it's sort of been keeping the wolf at bay. I've heard conflicting stories about the success of these things. One person I know had a near-total recovery, with nearly 100% range of motion. Another friend's sister is now afraid to drive because she can't turn her head far enough to comfortably see to back up. I'm on the fence... Waiting to hear of more real-life stories before I let the sawbones hack me up.

 

[One of Many]

I would guess that full recovery will take 6 to 12 months, to get back to shooting high powered rifles. I had to wear a neck brace for 6 weeks (even in the shower), then spent about 3 or 4 months going to physical therapy, before full range of motion was restored. It took quite a while to get the swelling in the neck to go down so that swallowing wasn't painful. If you don't know that I had this surgery, you would be hard pressed to spot the scar on the front of my neck.

It sure beats not having the use of one arm and hand; that makes shooting a rifle even more difficult than waiting to recover from the surgery.

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

Hi All. I am in the same boat as the doctors want to do a fusion on my neck but they don't guarantee anything, they say I could be be better, the same or worse. The odds are about the same for each scenario, so i am still waiting. I can still shoot revolvers and pistols but not rifles or shotguns, at least correctly: too much pain. I will have to wait and see how it all plays out.

 

[CajunBass]

CeeTee and GG, don't let my wife's stiff neck scare you off getting it done. You'll know when it's time. My wife put it off until she just couldn't stand it any longer.

She says she's not even sure that the neck has anything to do with not getting a rifle/shotgun up properly. It's just something I thought about one day because she does tend to keep her head straight.

How much difference does it make? I'll tell you little story. I've never knew my wife before she contracted degenerative disk disease so her being in pain is nothing new to me. One night, not long after she came home after the operation I woke up to a strange noise. It took me a minute to figure out what it was. It was her, next to me, giggling in her sleep. I had never heard that. I'd heard her cry in her sleep, from the pain, but never just giggle. I realized that for the first time since I'd known her, she didn't hurt. I literally cried for joy.

 

[tegemu]

I have had C-4 and C-5 fused. The only disability I have encountered is that I can't swivel my head as much as I used to be able to. Also I occasionally have some arthritic pain in the area. I shoot rifles, pistols and shotguns with no impairment.

 

[ScottsGT]

Sounds like rifles are out and handguns are in.

 

[Dionysusigma]

A long-barreled TC Encore pistol, AR pistol with a 16" (or so) barrel, etc. with either long eye-relief scopes or holosights might make a difference. Bipods as necessary. Or lasers.

The idea stated in the original post is not a bad one, either--an unusually high-mounted scope with the appropriate add-on cheek rest might help as well.

 

[Neophyte1]

follow

ceetee: Sir; with today modern techniques Drs. are more versed and seem to be growing with success. Primary aggravation is bending head from left to right or right to left. Incision was done from the front; discomfort in swallowing for awhile. First plate c4-c5 year later redo @c4-c5 and added c5-c6. Not much difference. Aggravation in swallowing for awhile. You'll not ever have the side bending [same as; before you hurt yourself] function again.
Will you be a success story? Will you return to shooting? Probably on both counts. The plate loses it function after a few month [bones grow together]
for the rest of your life "You'll" have a 'dogbone' inside

Follow up with your decisions.

 

[entropy]

I too am looking at getting a C5-6, C6-7 fusion something after New Year's, I have the consult on the 18th of Dec.-I had three cortizone epidurals which left my right arm a pile of mush- I can't even hold my 1911 out NRA bullseye style now! My wife's brother had onedone a couple years ago, seems to beable to do everything as well, but he doesn't shoot, so I have no gauge as to time off shooting from him. I missed deer hunting this fall because of it, and I don't want to do so again. I could post updates on this thread I suppose...

 

[Red Neck64]

I think it's more a girl thing,like the way woman run and throw a ball over handed strange indeed,almost spastic.No?

 

[rocinante]

Your lady needs a red dot on a hi mount like the aimpoint. I have one on my AK on a scout mount that replaces the rear sight. At first it feels a little weird not hunched down for a cheek weld and both eyes open but it works.

 

[2bigfeet]

Both my spine and neck are totally fused from an arthritic disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis. I can no longer shoot rifles or shotguns due to the recoil. I can only shoot a .22 rifle and when I do I have to practically hold the butt above my shoulder because I can't get my head bent down over the stock. Just the very bottom of the butt grabs my shoulder.

All my shooting is with handguns these days... IDPA etc. 9mm only.

I wouldn't want to tempt undoing your wife's surgery, or creating a bigger proplem down the road with the heavier recoil of shooting a shotgun or rifle. The neck is a delicate area, and a main confluence of nerves. Some people who get whiplash in car accidents never fully recover. I have been through hell while my neck was fusing. Even now shooting my G34 gives me grief the day after. I live with chronic headaches on a daily basis from the Occipital Neuralgia (nerve pain) caused by the fusion. I suppose someday I won't be able to shoot at all.

Just my 2¢...

 

[rantingredneck]

Luckily my fusion was Lumbar/Thoracic (T-11/L-2). I'm just over 8 weeks out since the surgery and went back to shooting about a week and a half ago with the doctor's permission. .243 Win, 12 Ga slugs and buckshot, .45ACP. Haven't had a problem yet. Haven't shot the .30-06 yet though. Kinda waiting a little longer on that one. I can imagine if my surgery had been cervical it would have been a longer recovery. I'm still in the dreaded clamshell brace for another 5 weeks, but not really in any pain anymore. Some stiffness every now and then (especially after a full day's activities).

 

[Geno]

CajunBass:

I have had:

1) 35 surgeries
2) 32 of those neurosurgeries on/around the cervical spine
3) fused at levels C4-C5-C6
4) disks still blown at C3-C4 & C6-C7 but not yet fused
5) have electronic stimulator in cervical spine to control pain

These surgeries can effect one ability to get into a scope. Because I returned to my martial arts, I managed to regain all but 3 degrees range of motion. That was before the implant. Due to the electric wires I lost considerable range of motion. The best rifle for me to fire is an AR-15 with solid carry handle (not removable), scoped with an ACOG. In such a configuration, I have no discomfort.

Technically, I can still get into my Weatherby Mark V with Leupold scope, but I limit my trigger time there simply to not stress the neck and result in soreness. It was because of this auto-related injury that I took up shooting pistols...all started with a T/C Contender.

Best of luck feel free to ask anything you like.

Doc2005

 

[rantingredneck]

Doc, after all that you really must be the six million dollar man. Not trying to be a smart--- or anything, but I know how much my one lumbar/thoracic fusion cost. I can't imagine doing that 31 more times......yikes.

 

[Geno]

Oh yeah...I'm "worth" a lot. I've got Titanium and stainless steel plates, screws, bolts, pins, wires, springs, cables, batteries and a microprocessor. Lordy sakes! I'm just happy to be alive and able to shoot. Each surgery was in the range of $50,000.00 to $80,000.00! Three of the surgeries were only in the $10,000.00, so yeah...I never did the math, but it's got to be right up there.

Take care.

Geno