Anyone with Neck fusions?

I was given a 1/3 chance of being a quadriplegic in 5 years if I didn’t have surgery. I had a double fusion 3 years ago. I feel completely normal and no pain. Knee surgery was way worse.

I was told that fusion just transferred stress to the other cervical bones, and I was too young for it (late 40s). Disc replacement would have been preferable.

I did gabapentin for ulnar nerve tingling in 2001 (heavy dumbbell pullovers caused it), haven't done it for the new C5/C6 issues.

You can do lifting at the gym, with modifications, which will make something else hurt or fire off. When I was diagnosed for C5/C6, I was told to stop lifting, which I did for two months. I'm six more months in, and my form has changed enough on Bench, and DL I'm probably breaking other stuff. I can squat over 400 with a SSB, but even getting a regular bar off the rack with 365 is a no-go. On the safety squat bar, I can't close my fist on the handle, I have to use my wrist to control it, or it injects pain that is incompatible with heavy lifts.

I used to tuck my chin when I benched, but I can't anymore. I can't squeeze under the bar the way I used to. To avoid moving my neck, I have to slide off the bench arse down, right hand holding the bar, and left hand clutched to my chest. I sneeze while holding my forehead to make sure my neck doesn't move.

ChatGPT did a decent job of giving me a workout program based on my methods (EFS), and modifying it based on my symptoms.