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raske
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Joined: 02 Jun 2005
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 Posted: 03/26/06 - 01:00 Post subject: Anterior Cervical Discectomy |
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Hello! I am 49 year-old male and I am about to undergo an anterior cervical discectomy. To be honest, I am frightened. I haven’t had any surgeries before and I don’t know how these things go? Will I be in pain? How long will I have to stay in the hospital? Will I have to change something in my life? Everybody is telling me different stories!
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yovonnda
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Joined: 21 Oct 2000
Posts: 247
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| Posted: 04/02/06 - 06:27 Post subject: |
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You do know that recovery and everything else depends on person’s health, attitude, age, etc. You will probably feel some pain after the surgery, almost everybody do, especially at the site of incision. You will be given pain meds to help control that pain. You may also feel numbness and tingling-talk to your doctor about it. You should be guided by your pain in what ever you do. Doctor will give you instructions about activities you should and shouldn’t do, but when ever you feel discomfort, you should stop and rest. You will be also told what would the appropriate diet be and to get a lot of rest in order to speed up the recovery.
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Junebug
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Joined: 23 Jun 2006
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| Posted: 06/24/06 - 21:30 Post subject: ACDF |
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| Hello Raske - Hope your surgery went well and you are back to your normal self. I am on day 5 following fusion of C 4/5 5/6 6/7 and I no longer feel like I was hit by an 18-wheeler. Did you have to wear a hard cervical collar after surgery? Any hints on helpful positions in which to try to sleep? I am so tired I am ready to drop. How long did you wear the collar. Was there a point where you only had to wear it during the day and could take it off at night? Thanks for any info, Junebug |
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Guest
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| Posted: 08/30/06 - 18:13 Post subject: anterior cervial discectomy with fusion |
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| I am a 29 year old female who is 3 months past a fusion at c5/6 c6/7. My Dr. used a steel plate and screws to hold the bones together while they fused. I did not have to wear a collar at all. I did really well until about a week ago when my symptoms suddenly returned. I now have to undergo MRI and testing again to see what is going on. I am really frustrated because I have been ill for quite some time and I thought I was finally going to get better, but I just can't seem to get past this. Has anyone else had to go through this twice so close together? Thanks |
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BmrSnrOU
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Joined: 06 Sep 2006
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| Posted: 09/06/06 - 14:15 Post subject: Re: anterior cervial discectomy with fusion |
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| Guest wrote: | | I am a 29 year old female who is 3 months past a fusion at c5/6 c6/7. My Dr. used a steel plate and screws to hold the bones together while they fused. I did not have to wear a collar at all. I did really well until about a week ago when my symptoms suddenly returned. I now have to undergo MRI and testing again to see what is going on. I am really frustrated because I have been ill for quite some time and I thought I was finally going to get better, but I just can't seem to get past this. Has anyone else had to go through this twice so close together? Thanks |
I also am 3 mos. post C4-C5 fusion and experiencing the same thing as you!! I thought I was crazy! I also have had the same surgery at c5-c6 two years ago. I was beginning to feel a lot better, and then about 5 days ago, the pain started in my arm again, this time it is very intense. I am so frustrated about it. Chronic pain is what I want relief from. Constantly taking pain medicine wears me OUT!! Hopefully you won't have to go through another surgery this close together. As for me, my Dr. says that he won't do a three level fusion. He says the best thing for me to do is to wait for the atificial discs to become approved by the FDA and have the implants done. Maybe this could be something you could discuss with your physician. Also, do you have degenerative disc disease? I see where you are 29, I am 33. I say that because it sucks to feel like you're in your 70's at our age.
Good Luck |
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timetwofly
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Joined: 11 Sep 2006
Posts: 3
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| Posted: 09/11/06 - 13:01 Post subject: Re: anterior cervial discectomy with fusion |
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| BmrSnrOU wrote: | | Guest wrote: | | I am a 29 year old female who is 3 months past a fusion at c5/6 c6/7. My Dr. used a steel plate and screws to hold the bones together while they fused. I did not have to wear a collar at all. I did really well until about a week ago when my symptoms suddenly returned. I now have to undergo MRI and testing again to see what is going on. I am really frustrated because I have been ill for quite some time and I thought I was finally going to get better, but I just can't seem to get past this. Has anyone else had to go through this twice so close together? Thanks |
I also am 3 mos. post C4-C5 fusion and experiencing the same thing as you!! I thought I was crazy! I also have had the same surgery at c5-c6 two years ago. I was beginning to feel a lot better, and then about 5 days ago, the pain started in my arm again, this time it is very intense. I am so frustrated about it. Chronic pain is what I want relief from. Constantly taking pain medicine wears me OUT!! Hopefully you won't have to go through another surgery this close together. As for me, my Dr. says that he won't do a three level fusion. He says the best thing for me to do is to wait for the atificial discs to become approved by the FDA and have the implants done. Maybe this could be something you could discuss with your physician. Also, do you have degenerative disc disease? I see where you are 29, I am 33. I say that because it sucks to feel like you're in your 70's at our age.
Good Luck |
Okay, this is my first time to post and I am a little 'lost'. I have never done this before, but hey, I never had back/neck problems before either! I am a 39 yr old healthy female (elementary teacher) & underwent a level 2 Anterior Cervical Discectomy with fusion at C5/6 & C6/7 on 09/05/06. Today is the first day I have been able to check email and search the internet. I feel much better but I still have a tingly sensation in my right upper arm (from too much typing?) and the sore dull pain under my right armpit and across my breast tissue is still there after surgery, but not as intense. I am also experiencing some muscular like pain in between my shoulder blades. But I keep thinking this is only day 6 post op....My doc told me that I have degenerative bone disease and all I want is for someone to tell me what to do so I won't experience this again! I was able to shower & remove the soft collar on day 4. My throat is 'sore' as it feels like I have swallowed a pill and it is stuck down there. Currently, I am wearing an Orthofix Cervical Stim unit (bone stimulator) 4hrs daily and my doc said absolutely NO up/down movement of my neck. I was told to rotate left/right 9-10X daily (and I am doing this with very little stiffness). I am not to lift anything over 5lbs until next visit on Sept 18th in which I hope to have permission to return to work! I am concerned about limitations! I am an extremely active person with three children and would love to start exercising today but I know that for a successful fusion to occur, I must follow orders. Is it really necessary to sit around for another week and do absolutely nothing? It is already driving me crazy! I have tried not to take too much meds post surgery. Doc has ordered Vicadin 550's as needed and riboxin for muscle spasms. I have been so tired and am still not sleeping well so I ditched the meds 2 days ago. It is a trade-off b/c now I feel slight pain but I am not so exhausted...I am scared as I thought I was healthy and I am only 39...will I make it to 70? Any advice? |
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painbegone
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Joined: 12 Sep 2006
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| Posted: 09/12/06 - 15:42 Post subject: C 5/6 |
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| Hopefully, when you return back to the doctor on 9/18 things will work out. I just had my surgery on 9/8. I'm experiencing a little arm pain and the shoulder blade pain. Taking vicadin when needed. Having problems sleeping? I don't have a collar....was told to not bend, move head side to side. I'm frustrated and exhausted. Any sleeping advice? I don't get my stiches removed until 9/20. No driving or any activities for 2 weeks. |
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Timer
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Joined: 13 Sep 2006
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| Posted: 09/13/06 - 17:23 Post subject: ACDF Level 2 |
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| I am having surgery on 9/18/06 and in reading all the other posts to the sight it sounds like no one else has to wear a cervical collar for longer than a week. My doctor made it sound like I had to wear one for at least six weeks. Is this just a doctor thing or does the level have something to do with it? |
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Tracey-ann
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Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 10
Location: Spain
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| Posted: 09/14/06 - 05:35 Post subject: Worried if I am doing the right thing |
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I am due to have my op next week - reading through all the posts here I am now having second thoughts as it seems the post op pain is far beyond the pain I am experiencing now... I don't want to jump from the frying pain into the fire.
But I also don't want to spend the rest of my life on morphine to kill the pain.
What are your thoughts on this - as it seems 90% of the people posting here are in pain. It would really help to hear some success stories - does anyone have any????????  |
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timetwofly
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Joined: 11 Sep 2006
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| Posted: 09/14/06 - 10:16 Post subject: Re: Worried if I am doing the right thing |
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| ALMOST PAIN FREE ON DAY 9! I, too, was on morphine (not fun)! I had ACDF with 2 level fusion at c5/c6 & c6/c7 on 09/05/06. Today is day 9 and I feel SO MUCH BETTER! I attribute this great recovery to my skilled & compasionate neurosurgeon, my family, and following dr's orders! I only had to wear a soft collar for 4 days, showered on day 4, and supposedly can drive as of yesterday (but I don't think I want to get into a car just yet). The worst part of the entire ordeal was not the pain prior to surgery but the anxiety 24-48 before surgery. I came extremely close to calling the whole thing off. I kept thinking that the pain wasn't that bad, I could live with it, etc. Boy, do I feel better! On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the worst pain I would say I was at a 9 and sometimes 10+ prior to surgery and now on day 9 I would say a 2, sometimes a 3. Most of the pain is due to the fact that I am restricted to not move my head up or down AT ALL. I feel a little stiff in the neck and have occasional right elbow pain. Sleeping is not easy, but it was near impossible before the surgery. The most frustrating part is the waiting to heal. I feel great but can't lift anything >5 pounds and absolutely NO CLEANING, etc. I teach elementary school and with 3 of my own children, my life is--no was--hectic. Now, I am literally 'grounded'. Make sure if you go through with it, you have someone to take care of you for atleast the first week post op. Good luck and I wish you the best. |
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