post anterior cervical disectomy recovery concerns

Junebug · Newbie Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 6

Dylette - How long ago was your husband's fusion? My husband had it done three years ago and has done very well. I have never heard of someone being told it would take four years! That is nuts. I had it done six days ago and am virtually pain free. I would seek a second opinion if I were you as four years of non-stop pain is not something anyone should have to endure.

mommy3boys2girls · Newbie Joined: 25 Jun 2006 Posts: 3

Guest · Guest

I had a cervical fusion of the C 6/7 three years ago. I also experienced quite a bit of pain during the first month-sore throat, pain in shoulder, etc. After the first 6 weeeks it did begin to improve. I now have no pain at all on the left side--that is the side that I had pain in prior to surgery. It did not seem to affect my neck movement to any great extent. So---it does get better with time. However, I just had to have another operation for a C5/6 herniated disc. I am 6 weeks post-op--the disc herniated & was pressing on the spinal cord. My surgeon said that the ligament in the neck had to be stretched quite a bit & to expect some neck & shoulder pain for a period of time. I am still having quite a bit of pain--but hope this surgery will be as successful as the first.

aiw06 · Newbie Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 1

hi- just had a 3 level fusion 5,6,7 in the neck onJune 27th- five days ago. I was supposed to stay just one night in the hospital but stayed two- the pain was pretty bad. They gave me something for nausea from the medication and if you eat well before taking it it helps to not make you sick. They can prescribe stuff to take at home too. By the 4th day- yesterday - was feeling pretty good while pain pills are working but the shoulder pain starts getting pretty intense before it is time to take the next pill. They also told me in the hospital this pain is normal from the procedure and that the pain can come and go over the next few weeks or longer. I am wearing a collar day and night for 6 weeks but I put a big rubber band around the middle of it where my chin is to pull it away from rubbing on my chin. The actual incision doesnt hurt- only the back of my shoulder blade area. Im glad I found this info from others experiencing the same- it must be a normal part of the process. Hang in there everyone. Exclamation

poodlehopper · Newbie Joined: 05 Jul 2006 Posts: 1

Good evening. I am post surgery, 6/28/06. I elected to use my own hip bone rather than cadaver. I am having a reaction to the bandages, rash, blisters, burns. etc. I had to remove them and use gauze over the steri strips. Did anyone else have this problem?

I am having the pain in the shoulders which my doctor presribed Soma (muscle relaxant) for. This, combined with the percocet, makes my neck pain managable. To sleep, I use several large fluffy pillows in my bed to support my upper body etc.

The main problem I am still having a problem urinating. I have to push on my bladder to relieve to accumulation. I am also having pain across my abdomen. Is this common with the autograft incision from the hip bone gradt?

Guest · Guest

mommy3boys2girls

My dad had this surgery 2 1/2 yrs ago and is in alot of pain still. I am going in a couple days due to a fall. I have found all of these posts very helpful although i see my dads situation and wonder will i really be able to return to my desk job in 30 days. my dad is in so much pain but I am in soo much now I think it will be a better than the pain i am in now.

monspain · Newbie Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Posts: 1

Hi there everyone in the land of pain!! I had a disectomy & fusion 5/6 on the 12 march 2006, what can l say....... the pain ans tingling has gone from my left arm, but the pain in the neck and shoulders still continues, funny enough, it has swapped sides!!! I know it sound mad, and for a while after the surgery l just tried to ignore it, thinking it may just be becasue of the surgery and it would go away!! Not so LUCKY its bigger and better than ever! and now l seem to feel the same pain in my deltiod muscle my left arm again!!!! I am not sure whether it is the inflamation, but the anit inflams didn't make any difference! I take panadine forte, and that only dulls my brain, i still feel pain after taking them!.. Has anyone expereienced this change of sides, l would really love to hear from you as my specialist says things like: I am not for a moment suggesting that your making this up!!! But l do not know what it is! BULL CRAP! l say l feel it and its getting worse all the time.... Please help me with this as no one seems to understand except for us like people in painland.
PS I AM IN AUSTRALIA!! we have pain here too!!! Sad

Guest · Guest

Hi All,
I had surgery on May 23, 2006, on c4 thru c7, so I am about 9 weeks post op. I hear most of you saying you are taking pain meds, however, no one has said anything about muscle relaxants. I am off all meds at this time, but the muscle relaxers worked better than the pain meds for me. I slept in a recliner before surgery and for the first 7 weeks after surgery. I believe the discomfort between the shoulder blades is due to deconditioning. My doctor suggested that I do some non weight bearing conditoning exercises such as arm circles and raising my arms above my head. Did anyone feel like a bobble head doll, after surgery?

teresa · Newbie Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1

I had my surgery 11 months ago. and no it doesn't get better. I felt better when my injury occurred than I do 11 months after surgery. I still can't lay in bed , or lift , vacuum my house,pull laundry out of the washer or dryer. stand and wash dishes, cook supper, I have to sit down and let the burning down my neck and arms and inbetween my shoulderblades subside alittle so I can go back to what I was doing. I still have the numbness down the arms and fingers. and now severe headaches. The docs want to give meds, the meds do not help me. All the meds do is cover up the pain and therefore when you have a good day it cannot be attributed to the actual recovery or healing just the fact that you took some pain meds and dulled your senses for a short time . I want to know why I still hurt. I dont want it covered up with meds so that I dont remember I still hurt. What you have to remember is there is not a doctor out there that is going to say they made an error in surgery. If you have noticed anything with this process it is that prescription drugs are too readily available. If you hurt with the pain killers why take them? Docs would rather write a script than to find out why you still hurt. I had the same surgery. Before the surgery docs told me I would feel as good as before the injury. That has not accurred. Now I have xrays showing "apparent nonunion" as quoted by a different doctor. Always get second opinions, text book surgeries do not work for everyone and when they get that 1 person out of a million that doesn't fit the text book answers they want to push the pain meds. Everyone heals at a different pace and something may work for one that doesnt work for another , but doctors have no clue what to do If they cant read step by step instructions, and there you are sitting out in the cold now because you listened and believed in what you were being sold. I am there, and at this point I dont know what is going to become of my pain and injury, or where I am going to be in 5 years with this. I am a 43 year old female that was very active prior to this injury and surgery. I hope that everyone that reads this does not experience what I have. Be smart get a second or third opinion, This is your life and your future. Good luck[/url][/quote]

Guest · Guest

I had my surgery 11 months ago. and no it doesn't get better. I felt better when my injury occurred than I do 11 months after surgery. I still can't lay in bed , or lift , vacuum my house,pull laundry out of the washer or dryer. stand and wash dishes, cook supper, I have to sit down and let the burning down my neck and arms and inbetween my shoulderblades subside alittle so I can go back to what I was doing. I still have the numbness down the arms and fingers. and now severe headaches. The docs want to give meds, the meds do not help me. All the meds do is cover up the pain and therefore when you have a good day it cannot be attributed to the actual recovery or healing just the fact that you took some pain meds and dulled your senses for a short time . I want to know why I still hurt. I dont want it covered up with meds so that I dont remember I still hurt. What you have to remember is there is not a doctor out there that is going to say they made an error in surgery. If you have noticed anything with this process it is that prescription drugs are too readily available. If you hurt with the pain killers why take them? Docs would rather write a script than to find out why you still hurt. I had the same surgery. Before the surgery docs told me I would feel as good as before the injury. That has not accurred. Now I have xrays showing "apparent nonunion" as quoted by a different doctor. Always get second opinions, text book surgeries do not work for everyone and when they get that 1 person out of a million that doesn't fit the text book answers they want to push the pain meds. Everyone heals at a different pace and something may work for one that doesnt work for another , but doctors have no clue what to do If they cant read step by step instructions, and there you are sitting out in the cold now because you listened and believed in what you were being sold. I am there, and at this point I dont know what is going to become of my pain and injury, or where I am going to be in 5 years with this. I am a 43 year old female that was very active prior to this injury and surgery. I hope that everyone that reads this does not experience what I have. Be smart get a second or third opinion, This is your life and your future. Good luck[/url][/quote]

post anterior cervical disectomy recovery concerns

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