post anterior cervical disectomy recovery concerns

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I had my surgery on July 2nd and today is July 7th and other than this stupid aspen collar that I truly believe is causing my irritability, the discomfort is not at all what I have been reading thus far from a ot of you. I'm sure no 2 peope are the same,and also I am a healthy 43 yr old woman, BUT I try and not let things get to me..is it uncomfortable? ummm yes..slightly aggrevating becuse i cant lead a normal life just yet? yes..BUT honeslt the worst part to all of this was the pre-op.I FREAKED, had an anxiety attack, wanted to pull out the IV out of me and run from the table..it's over now, the slight discomfort from my left hip is there from them using my own bone, the hoarse feeling and swallowing issue well its comes and go..but seriosuly the most aggrevating part to all this is this ASPEN collar...if i could rip this thing off I so would in a heart beat..but other than that..the rest is baby steps, I can't wait to get bac to being ME again! Oh one other thing, seriously,,he narcotics AREN'T your friend, I ahet those things, stick with SOMA ara muscle relaxant that will be your friend, and just alot of good people around you..Good Luck everyone!

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I have already had 2 fusions on c-5-c6 and for some reason, the bones never healed and the fusion never took. Now I am going for a 3rd op for a posterior c-5 -c-4 fusion with some kind of twist tie between the transverse procesees. I have complete faith in my surgeon, but I have to say, this time I am really spooked. Please tell me there is someone out there goig through the same ordeal. I do not want to end up a oxycontin victim like a few people I know.

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Attention if you have had a spinal fusion done do not follow the instructions you have read regarding taking advil aleve or any other drug containing ibuproben, this will cause issues with the fusion according to researc, it actually prevents bone from fusing if the pain is not responding to the narcotic your physician prescribed ask about valium, flexeril and vicodin these work for me even tho' i still suffer with a burning sensation as well as throbing, when this does occur, i take vicodin and a flexeril and apply an icepack to the area for about 15-20 mins and i feel a whole lot better, also wear your soft collar all day as a reminder with allowing yourself two hours without it a day, also wear while driving if necessary, alos wear while your asleep as well so that you will have the support needed. (6wks) Sad

most of the time the icepack works and i don't need to take the meds or just take a flexeril

Guest · Guest

I am 8 months post surgery (was on 1/3/08) I had C4/C5 and C5/C6 fused. I am not sure why I thought to look for a message board tonight but I did. I had all of the symptoms all of you talk about and then some. I still have daily pain, what I would describe as tightness in my neck and upper shoulders. I can over do it with turning my head (started swimming and had to stop doing the freestyle, instead just do the breast stroke) or looking up or down. I am a professor and teach online and a Phd student so I spend A LOT of time at my computer. I know I need to take more breaks, but I forget! I do have my monitor at eye level so I don't have to look down at the laptop screen, this has really helped.

I too had/have the problem with my voice, a huge problem if you are a teacher. And that is why I am teaching online because I didn't know if I would be able to talk. I saw an ENT who was a voice specialist about 4 months after my surgery and was told as some of you have been that my vocal cord on the right side was/is(?) paralyzed. He treated me with collagen injections in the cord and I have been able to speak mostly normally since. The shots were supposed to last 2-4 months. My voice is now much more variable, but seems to be coming back on its own.

I wasn't told about the problem with anti-inflammatories by my Dr but by my physical therapist whose husband had a fusion after a car accident. I asked about it and was told my Doctor had not heard about it. I decided it was best to be careful! I am not surprised they cause a problem.

I would say that at this point I am at least 90% better than I was pre-surgery. I still have trouble with motor control on my left side, which was really bad pre-surgery. The way I see that is that I can't open jars or anything with a tight lid. The pain is so much better and the fatigue is hugely better.

I hope all of you do well in your recovery! I'll check back again at some point!

post anterior cervical disectomy recovery concerns

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