anterior cervical discetomy and fusion

joanna jones · Newbie Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 1 Location: London, UK

Have just discovered this site and wanted to reassure anyone about to undergo surgery. 9 years ago, aged 39, my mother had died and I had responsibility for packing up the family home. I was months and months clearing out the house and in the process herniated C4,5 & 6. My excrutiating neck pain was initially misdiagnosed by my GP, who decided the pain was due to 'grieving over my mother'!

It took several months and breaking down in the pharmacy in tears to be given a number for a neurosurgeon. I was immediately rushed to MRI and apparently, according to the surgeon, I was '4 hours from paralysis'! My spinal chord was almost flattened and I could no longer use my left arm.

I had emergency surgery and had a bone graft taken from my hip and a titaniam plate fitted. The whole thing was the scariest thing I have ever experienced. I was in hospital 8 days and on a morphine drip. It was impossible to get comfortable despite an electric orthopeadic bed. I had a neck brace. I was sent home with no physiotherapy plan (that surprised me) to any empty house and had to recover without anyone close near me (too long a story to explain here!).

Oh dear, this is supposed to be an encouraging posting! What I am trying to get to is that the recovery was tough but I am now in great shape. I would say it took 6 months to really get back on my feet... I then got myself to the gym and now religiously do yoga.... if I don't exercise I completely cease up (I am a bit like the tin man from the Wizard of Oz) and still get stiff. I still have numbness in the tips of my fingers left hand and have been told this is probably permanent. I also have what can only be described as a slight 'hump' on the back of my neck that seems to be where my neck was set.

My advice for recovery would be: try have as much support around you as possible, this is an emotionally challenging operation as well as physically. Don't expect to be pain free for a while (the bone graft was agony) and start very gentle exercise once your doctor has given you the go ahead. I find a monthly massage incredibly helpful, I am mindful of my posture and a hot water bottle between the shoulder blades can help the ache when I am tired.

On a lighter note - for goodness sake make sure you take the laxatives they dish out in the hospital - my insides were like the Elgin Marbles after all the morphine and on return home had one of the worst night's of my life doubled up with constipation! Real, screaming agony stomach cramps! I had to be given an enema the next morning by a friend's nanny who had been a nurse!!!!

I am fitter and in better shape than I have ever been in my life and in fact the operation was a real 'wake up call' for me to look at my lifestyle and start looking after myself - I quite smoking as well.

Good luck to anyone going this traumatic experience but you can come through the other side intact and although my neck will never be completely normal, its pretty functional considering and I definitely do not experience any extreme pain anymore. The scar has completely faded and it all moves nicely.

DBD · Posted: 11/23/06 - 18:59 Post subject: Options for C5-6 Hernia

Hi,

This forum has been really helpful to read. I live in Canada and am having a lot of trouble making a decision regarding treatment for my C 5-6 disc herniation.

My original injury was 30/12/05 and had severe pain in neck and lt arm. I recovered nicely but it took 6+ months and I was off work for 12 weeks. My dr said most of these injuries will recover with exercise, rest, and physiotherapy and he was right.

Unfortunately it recurred in October 06 and I am referred for surgery to have the portion of the disc removed that is herniated through an endoscopic procedure rather than open surgery. Less risky and usually very effective. The problem is the wait time is up to a year in Canada.

I am looking into the Laser procedures offered in the US. I am wondering if anyone else has any experience with these Laser Spine Clinics that claim they can fix the problem with only a short outpatient procedure with amazing results.

Looking forward to any thoughts.

D

tannlang · Newbie Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 1

I am now 5 months post fusion due to spinal cord entrapment. I spent the first 14 weeks in a rigid brace from chin to waist. I have now been brace free for almost 7 weeks. I had minimal pain pre-surgery my primary symptom was complete loss of use of my right arm.
I have regained some use of the arm but now am finding that by the end of a day the back of head and neck are very "achy". Today I drove for 6 hours (1.5 hours then 4 hours later 4.5 hours) and I feel like I am ready to die.
This is the first that I have driven more than 2 hours since July 1 and had no idea how hard it would be. My Dr. does not want me to take any products containing ibuprophen for 1 year- only Tylenol.
I am glad to regain some use of the arm although that was not a given pre-surgery. It has been a long and slow recovery to gain use of the arm. I am happy to dress myself, brush my teeth and feed myself again. My lifting limit is 2-3 pounds (not much).
I wish I had found this forum PRE-SURGERY- my survival mechanisms were the prism glasses (I could read, knit and watch TV laying on my back), several squooshie pillows and a wedge pillow. I can not forget a loving and ever patient husband who waited on me hand and foot for weeks!

ksf · Supporter Joined: 06 Jan 2007 Posts: 269

Unless it is an absolute necessity to have disc replacement and a fusion I beg you to ask your doctor what type of artificial disc will be used and research it.
Not recovering from C-5, C-6 surgery ( its been 18 months now) I have started research trying to find a cure on my own. During this research I have discovered lots of things my neuro surgeon did not tell me.
I was in pain and desperate so I rushed into the surgery...wow am I sorry.
I hurt much worse now than prior to surgery.
Please do your research before you submit to this surgery.

Guest · Guest

ksf · Supporter Joined: 06 Jan 2007 Posts: 269

Linda-
My condition was not stenosis. I had a pinched nerve so I cannot tell you what you should do. In my case the surgeon (highly noted) made it sound like the surgery was a breeze and that I would be almost normal the next day! HA! Not the case. Asking for doctor's notes from surgery I discovered that alot of people do not recover (that doesn't mean all) from this surgery and there were many things in the doctor's notes he said he explained to me (the pros and cons) that he did not.
I'm not saying do or don't have the surgery I'm saying do research before you do. Find out the name of the artificial device (if one will be used) research the device. Go onto to every medical website you can find and read what all you can about your type of surgery.
If I would have done this I guarantee, and I was in pain, that I never would have had the surgery. I can tell you I am in much worse shape now than I was before. Who knows maybe in time if I had not had the surgery I would be even more miserable than I am now.
Maybe the fair statement for me to make is that I would have waited until there was absolutley no other alternative.
Good Luck.

Guest · Guest

I'm in the same boat as everyone else posted here with problems at C5/6 and 6/7 requiring ACDF to be scheduled in May 07. It is apparent that pain will be very evident post-op.

Question: For those of you who had ACDF done months or years ago, has the pain ever gone away or have the doctors said it will be there forever?

So far, I have not read a single post that says any of you are having a better life after surgery.

Does anyone have anything good to say about ACDF surgery?

ksf · Supporter Joined: 06 Jan 2007 Posts: 269

I'm sorry to inform you that I personally am still searching for a reason for all my pain post op. I had surgery Sept 05.
I can do everything for a short period of time (maybe an hour) but after that I seem to be in worsened pain.
I have went to several doctors, had all sorts of test and Physical therapy. I am unable to work at this time (had to quit job in July)and have had to apply for SS. Since MRI's , EMG's etc aren't showing the source I'm having a hard time getting anyone to believe the suffering I go through each and every day. (I've worked for 30 years...absolutely hate being home!!!)
I'm telling you this really bites!
For some people this surgery is a sucess. Unfortunately for some it is not. If your health is not at a life threatening stage (ie: paralization,etc) I'd recomend not having the surgery until absolutely neccessary. You could be one of the lucky ones ( I sure hope so) or you could be like me and be in worsened pain with limited movements, worsened pain and muscle spasms after this surgery.
Whatever you decide I wish you the best...my father often told me as a child "If you don't have your health you don't have anything". WOW is he a wise man.

anterior cervical discetomy and fusion

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