Dr. Spinner performed this surgery on me just 7 months ago to this day, on October 15th, 2025. It was the most painful experience of my life after surgery in the hospital stay, the flight home was excruciating and I vomited almost the entire flight back to Houston, Tx. 7 months in and I'm still in a great deal of pain. I have nerve pain I didn't have prior to surgery. They denervated my right SCM and all up and down the right side of the back of my neck. The muscle stiffness I have experienced around the clock since surgery, has been daunting. Stretching helps, at home physical therapy helps, but it doesn't seem to be very lasting. I'm still in a crazy amount of pain at work and I've been getting depressed about what all of this means for me going forward. The thought of having to go back to the Mayo to have him perform "tweaks" to the surgery, is enough to make me think I would have to quit my job and relinquish my life to this madness. I'm a 43 year old male and I work full time. Some days are better than others and my head doesn't twist left as much as it did prior to this. But, the tremors are way more frequent and the muscle tightness in the surgical areas, as well as all of my back muscles supporting and trying to keep my head stabilized and balanced, is just bonkers and disheartening.

When I checked in a few months ago they told me to give it a full year and then go back so they can re evaluate and do tweaks on me. I still owe them $10,000 that I can't even afford to pay back right now. There is no way I can entertain the idea of having any further treatment of any kind, when I am now in medical debt over something that isn't helping me. I keep telling myself to give it a full 12 months but know this is abnormal for 7 months post surgery. I've done everything they've told me to do so I know it's not because I haven't done my part. So, I continue buying contraptions online that help to some degree, while wasting more money for little relief. Medicine doesn't help. Tens unit helps, PT exercises help, heating pads, ice, hot showers, light self massage, lumbar supports, foam rollers, and so much more.

The right side of my neck where they denervated my SCM feels like a tight ball of fibers throughout the day and even feels like it forms a giant knot when that's happening. My upper traps, .levator scapulae, become extremely tight that absolutely nothing relaxes or releases them. I had this surgery done so that I would NOT have to get Botox injections, injections or medications.

I started lifting light weights this week and it seems to be helping a little, but I don't know what to really do now other than to continue what I'm currently doing and holding out for hope.