I had a single level fusion at C6/C7 with the titanium plate on May 22nd. I stayed home from work for 3 weeks but was able to work remotely about 1/2 time. Walked every day for the first 3 weeks, put in about 50 miles. I've now been back at work for 3 weeks full time and haven't had any pain meds or muscle relaxants in several days. I feel great, no more living on pain meds and not being able to do anything I wanted to do because it hurt to much. The tingling in my right hand is gone. The stabbing pain between my shoulder blades that I've had forever (16 years since all this started) is gone. I have almost full range of motion in my neck. If all continues to go this well I'll be cut loose completely to resume regular activities in 6 weeks. Heck, I may even get in a couple rounds of golf this year after all.
Surgery may not be the answer for everyone, but I'm thrilled I finally did it. Just wish I wouldn't have waited so long.
Surgery may not be the answer for everyone, but I'm thrilled I finally did it. Just wish I wouldn't have waited so long.
Hi. I had ACDF with bone graft on July 29th for c6-7 - when they went in they said it was worse than what they saw on the mri... the nerve was literally so compressed and there was a piece of the disc that was broken off and into the cord... ... the first 2 days were horrible - intense pain in my graft site and neck pain.. but the pain was all from the surgery.. the pain before the surgery was gone after i woke up... for the first time in 2 years i feel normal again.... Lke alot of people said - it depends on your surgeron and your faith in him. I did alot of research and went from one doctor to the next looking for different opinions... The doctor i picked was one that had done this surgery on a few of my friends with great outcome!
I am required to wear my hard collar for one month. shower with it on and everything. I sleep in a lounge chair and i do not pick anything up or do my own hair. I am following the directions to the tee cause i am hoping for a full recovery... I have my boyfriend shower me and do my hair and clean and such... i think this helps alot too - cause all the pressure is off of me... I hope that anyone who has this does the same thing... its hard to depend on people but after the hell of two years of pain and pain meds - i have swallowed my pride and ask for help... Please don't think i am thinking that anyone has not done this or has not followed the directions - i am just telling my story
I hope that everyone here does get relief of their symptoms and i feel for the people who have not yet. Its a struggle every day but i hope you all will find peace.
I am hoping to ween on the pain meds over the next month... this is just because i have been on them so long but my surgeron is helping me with this also....
I will post after another few days to tell everyone about my progress... but so far - i would say if i knew it would help this much i would have done this 2 years ago when it happened!
Good luck to all
I am required to wear my hard collar for one month. shower with it on and everything. I sleep in a lounge chair and i do not pick anything up or do my own hair. I am following the directions to the tee cause i am hoping for a full recovery... I have my boyfriend shower me and do my hair and clean and such... i think this helps alot too - cause all the pressure is off of me... I hope that anyone who has this does the same thing... its hard to depend on people but after the hell of two years of pain and pain meds - i have swallowed my pride and ask for help... Please don't think i am thinking that anyone has not done this or has not followed the directions - i am just telling my story
I hope that everyone here does get relief of their symptoms and i feel for the people who have not yet. Its a struggle every day but i hope you all will find peace.
I am hoping to ween on the pain meds over the next month... this is just because i have been on them so long but my surgeron is helping me with this also....
I will post after another few days to tell everyone about my progress... but so far - i would say if i knew it would help this much i would have done this 2 years ago when it happened!
Good luck to all
Hi,
I had a ACDF in January for C5/6 very badly herniated disc with own bone fusion and, for several months, although I had alot of pain at the hip graft site, the neck and severe headaches, the arm pain had gone.
However my symptoms have gradually returned and then some. I have not been off the painkillers since I initially injured myself last year in july. The surgeon told me that the ringing in the ears when I lay down and the awful migraines and pain in occiput were not related to the op - although I beg to differ. Since then I have been going to PT and this has made the symptoms worse and has re-established the original ones.
Now I have numbness, tingling, coldness and lack of sensory perception in right leg, plus lots of pain from hip graft site and now I still have terrible neck pain and less movement again, pains down both arms (although mainly left one) and clumsiness in left hand aswell...in addition to this the unbalanced feeling has also returned :-(
The NHS is great but it is so slow I have been trying to get these issues resolved for months but nothing's happening. It is so frustrating.
So I am thinking - could it be stenosis or another dodgy disc?
I am completely fed up. I am 31 and mother of a 3 year old ( I have recently split from my husband and my family live hours away - it is awful having no support)..I am juggling this with full-time university and it is beginning to take it's toll.
any ideas anyone??
Thanks
I had a ACDF in January for C5/6 very badly herniated disc with own bone fusion and, for several months, although I had alot of pain at the hip graft site, the neck and severe headaches, the arm pain had gone.
However my symptoms have gradually returned and then some. I have not been off the painkillers since I initially injured myself last year in july. The surgeon told me that the ringing in the ears when I lay down and the awful migraines and pain in occiput were not related to the op - although I beg to differ. Since then I have been going to PT and this has made the symptoms worse and has re-established the original ones.
Now I have numbness, tingling, coldness and lack of sensory perception in right leg, plus lots of pain from hip graft site and now I still have terrible neck pain and less movement again, pains down both arms (although mainly left one) and clumsiness in left hand aswell...in addition to this the unbalanced feeling has also returned :-(
The NHS is great but it is so slow I have been trying to get these issues resolved for months but nothing's happening. It is so frustrating.
So I am thinking - could it be stenosis or another dodgy disc?
I am completely fed up. I am 31 and mother of a 3 year old ( I have recently split from my husband and my family live hours away - it is awful having no support)..I am juggling this with full-time university and it is beginning to take it's toll.
any ideas anyone??
Thanks
I had ACDF c-5,c-6 done in Sept 2005.
I did the same thing as you are doing and have yet to find a reason or a cause.
I have had every test possible and they all come back fine.
It's frustrating I know, to hurt all of the time and not be able to have full use of your body.
I don't have an answer for you.....just wanted you to know you are not alone.
I did the same thing as you are doing and have yet to find a reason or a cause.
I have had every test possible and they all come back fine.
It's frustrating I know, to hurt all of the time and not be able to have full use of your body.
I don't have an answer for you.....just wanted you to know you are not alone.
Hi KSF, Deb here, just drop in, im off to the big DOC Friday, fingers crossed all goes well, seems like for ever i have been waiting, well im doing ok hanging in there , tho i must say its been hell, my left shoulder has dropped more, harder to move my right is catching up to the left, so im guessing if an wen someone out there will operate i can get both done same time,my rotor cuff tear is now at 80%, an hurting like hell, taking up to 900mgs day, moclobemide antidepressant, still on all PAIN meds,i rattle lol, well ayways ill talk again soon, hope u r well, take care, Deb.
I had an ACDF C4 thru C7 on August 26, 2009. The surgery went great. I am feeling great after only 4 weeks. Actually, too great as I am wanting to get out and also drive for the last 2 weeks. I am trying to be as cautious as possible so I don't mess up the work the surgeon did. Up until my neck started bothering me early this year, I was very active in the gym with weight lifting. My wife and I love to travel which reqiures driving. Is anyone else in this same position? How long before you were to start driving. I am now biting at the bit to start increasing my activity. Doing nothing is just not me.
My surgeon gave me permission to drive the day after surgery (as if I could!!!!) but I only had C5-C6 done.
After 4 yrs I still have to use extreme caution while driving because my neck will not allow me to turn enough to back up or check out the side view (blind spot) to make sure no cars are beside me.
I can drive. I do drive. But after driving any distance, in traffic, I am shot and hurting.
Yes. My husband and I love to travel. I find I travel better by air and no journey longer than 4 hours. When we take car trips I have to get out about every 2 hrs and walk around and I'm not the one driving.
I was told (by surgeon) that once my neck fused together it would be almost impossible to do any damage to it. I was back to work 8wks later, no restrictions 10wks later. Mine was fused within that time frame.
Has yours fused together yet? Or have you not had any MRI's or Xrays to show yet?
I honestly think your best bet is to ask your surgeon your limitations. Once you get the okay from them you are going to have to go at your own pace. Do what you can, stop when you've had enough.
It is great to hear you are doing so well! It's nice to hear sucess stories once in a while.
After 4 yrs I still have to use extreme caution while driving because my neck will not allow me to turn enough to back up or check out the side view (blind spot) to make sure no cars are beside me.
I can drive. I do drive. But after driving any distance, in traffic, I am shot and hurting.
Yes. My husband and I love to travel. I find I travel better by air and no journey longer than 4 hours. When we take car trips I have to get out about every 2 hrs and walk around and I'm not the one driving.
I was told (by surgeon) that once my neck fused together it would be almost impossible to do any damage to it. I was back to work 8wks later, no restrictions 10wks later. Mine was fused within that time frame.
Has yours fused together yet? Or have you not had any MRI's or Xrays to show yet?
I honestly think your best bet is to ask your surgeon your limitations. Once you get the okay from them you are going to have to go at your own pace. Do what you can, stop when you've had enough.
It is great to hear you are doing so well! It's nice to hear sucess stories once in a while.
Hi, I'm 11 days post-op from my ACDF (One level at c6/c7. Cadaver bone inserted instead of a graft). The lump I feel when swallowing is almost gone now, but was very uncomfortable for the first week. (cold applesauce was my friend the first couple days!) I have no serious pain and haven't taken a pain pill in 4 days. I have taken a couple of muscle relaxers since then, but didn't need the percocet. To tell the truth, I'm not sure that I've ever needed the percocets at all since the day after coming home from the hospital. I just took them as prescribed for the first few days because I was afraid I might hurt without them.
I have to wear a cervical collar and it drives me crazy. It takes a while to get comfortable at night. Often, I feel like it's choking me. And, it makes me itch like crazy sometimes. When I'm in a supported, reclining position I take the front of the brace off to get some air on my skin (the dr told me I could). I go in tomorrow morning for my follow up x-ray and see the neuro. I was told when I was discharged at the hospital that I may be able to take the brace off for good at my first follow up. I hope this is true!! I keep reading that other people's neurosurgeons make them stay in theirs for much longer. Also, I read on here that one person said you have to sleep in a recliner... not so here... My doctor said I'm allowed to lay any way that I'm comfortable as long as I'm wearing my neck brace.
I get around fine and have no problems with every day actions. Yesterday, I overdid it though and my body told me so. I was trying to get some things together for a yard sale. I guess it was just too much lifting (it was all light items as I'm not allowed to lift anything over 5 lbs) and moving around. It felt like my neck was sort of constricting and I was very uncomfortable and needed to lay down and relax. I didn't hurt. It's hard to describe. Just more like I felt like something was squeezing my throat. I'm not supposed to do any kind of housework or yard work until my doctor tells me otherwise (maybe after tomorrow??), and I'm sure I crossed that line yesterday.
I had been so nervous to have this surgery. But, I'm SO glad I had it done. The pain I had been in before was absolutely excruciating and unbearable. Before agreeing to go through with this, I was told by my primary doctor, physical therapist, chiropractor, and neurosurgeon that they all thought this would be my best option. Also, before I went to a neuro, I sought out the best around. Just make sure that you trust your surgeon and you trust that this is the best option for your situation. This type of surgery has over a 90% success rate.
Oh, and don't smoke before or after!!!! It's one of the greatest reasons that bones don't fuse properly. I haven't had a cigarette in 18 days. But who's counting? :-) My neuro said that he would only agree to do the surgery on me if I made a commitment to quit before the surgery and for 6 weeks post-op.
I have to wear a cervical collar and it drives me crazy. It takes a while to get comfortable at night. Often, I feel like it's choking me. And, it makes me itch like crazy sometimes. When I'm in a supported, reclining position I take the front of the brace off to get some air on my skin (the dr told me I could). I go in tomorrow morning for my follow up x-ray and see the neuro. I was told when I was discharged at the hospital that I may be able to take the brace off for good at my first follow up. I hope this is true!! I keep reading that other people's neurosurgeons make them stay in theirs for much longer. Also, I read on here that one person said you have to sleep in a recliner... not so here... My doctor said I'm allowed to lay any way that I'm comfortable as long as I'm wearing my neck brace.
I get around fine and have no problems with every day actions. Yesterday, I overdid it though and my body told me so. I was trying to get some things together for a yard sale. I guess it was just too much lifting (it was all light items as I'm not allowed to lift anything over 5 lbs) and moving around. It felt like my neck was sort of constricting and I was very uncomfortable and needed to lay down and relax. I didn't hurt. It's hard to describe. Just more like I felt like something was squeezing my throat. I'm not supposed to do any kind of housework or yard work until my doctor tells me otherwise (maybe after tomorrow??), and I'm sure I crossed that line yesterday.
I had been so nervous to have this surgery. But, I'm SO glad I had it done. The pain I had been in before was absolutely excruciating and unbearable. Before agreeing to go through with this, I was told by my primary doctor, physical therapist, chiropractor, and neurosurgeon that they all thought this would be my best option. Also, before I went to a neuro, I sought out the best around. Just make sure that you trust your surgeon and you trust that this is the best option for your situation. This type of surgery has over a 90% success rate.
Oh, and don't smoke before or after!!!! It's one of the greatest reasons that bones don't fuse properly. I haven't had a cigarette in 18 days. But who's counting? :-) My neuro said that he would only agree to do the surgery on me if I made a commitment to quit before the surgery and for 6 weeks post-op.
In January of 2008 I was injured in a fall. I was having extreme pain within an hour of the accident. I continued to work and go my family doctor. They subscribed physio and pain meds. I really had no relief. I was sent to a specialist who said I had carpal tunnel and I needed to wear a brace. No relief, the pain was increasing and I continued to work. I was given an appointment for an MRI for 3 1/2 months later. I went through a lot of periods of depression and a lot of pain killers (that really did not work). After the MRI the tech (whom I know through work) stated that I should stop work immediately and see my doctor ASAP. She stated why. I called my Dr. the next morning and he had the report and wanted to see me. He stated I had completely destroyed the disc between c6-c7 and had slipped c5-c6 to the left and c4-c5 to the right. Not Carpal Tunnell, thus the pain. I had been telling them this for months. He sent me immediately to a NS. He stated I need surgery and that if I had any movement of mm's more I would be paralyzed, If I didn't have the surgery again I would end up paralyzed. This is in July of 08. I refused to quite working at this point mostly out of spite, hind sight would say that was not smart. But I continued until the pain was so severe I could not move my upper body without unbearable pain. I was losing the feeling in my hands and fingers, they were cold to the touch as well. I did finally concede and stopped working in July. The pain at this point was unbelievable and 24/7. I had ACDF on August 22 of 2008. I was unlucky in the fact that they nicked my carotid artery and could not do a "complete" fusion and plating. What I did end up with was anographed bone (bone bank) on c6-c7. I awoke from a 5 hour ordeal that was to take 2 hours. I had lost 2 liters of blood and given expanders. But I was alive. I did notice upon waking that I had no pain, zero. I was informed at that time of the bone graft only and no plate was used due to the issues I had during surgery. I was also told that I would probably need further surgeries later to correct the other problems. I was told my recovery time would be slower and longer due to no plate, but again I was alive, so fine. I was having issues swallowing as my trachea was shifted to the left, from the surgeons moving everything out of the way quickly to stop the bleeding, they said this would, in time, return to normal. Which after 6 months it did. I had no pain at the incision site and no issues with my neck other than scared to death to move it. I was released two days later with strict instructions not to sit or stand for long periods of time, no more than 15 mins at a time. Not to drive until my after my next appointment. I was not allowed to do anything without the collar on that included sleeping. I was given more pain killers (which I rarely used) and sleeping pills (which I always used). I arrived home on the 24th and on the 25th I was standing on the sidelines of my sons football team which I coached. I stayed out of the way but I needed to get moving. I had the stiff neck collar on for 8 weeks as prescribed and had a follow up at that time. I kept active and did not stop moving, walking, coaching from the sidelines and from the bench for my hockey team I coach. I did move my neck side to side slowly while lying on my back in bed just to get it moving, again very slowly at first. I had bouts of depression and eating binges. But I was pain free and felt great. I did go against the doctors orders with the amount of movement and time I was active. I can not sit still, I need to be busy and moving. This is what I say helped me with my recovery. At my 8 week check up, which was actually 12 weeks. The NS stated I was far ahead of what he expected to see for recovery. I was allowed to remove the collar for good and start physio right away. It took me 9 months to recover enough to go back to work (BTW I was told I had a 30% chance of every working again as a paramedic). Physio was extensive and I joined a gym and had a work out program there. Here it is October 2009 and I have been working for 4 1/2 months. I have been experiencing some of the same pains all over again, but nothing to the extent I had before the surgery. I was told this would happen due to the fact they did not finish the surgery. BUT I am fine with the small amount of pain, I can live with it, it reminds me how lucky I was to be alive and feel the pain. I rarely need anything for the pain, Tylenol XS is about the limit now. As far as issues right now other than the pain that comes and goes is once and awhile I will get a loud crack when I move my neck, this will just about drop me to my knees with pain but it only lasts a couple of secs. I do get some slight tingling in my hands once in awhile but nothing that lasts and nothing like before, remember I was not “completely fused properly”. I was on (before the surgery) 30 mg Toradol 3x day and Hydormorph and Tylenol with Codeine just to sit up and move. Would I recommend the surgery, absolutely. But with cautions. Read up on it, ask tons of questions. Be prepared for setbacks. But be ready for the rewards of no or limited pain. Hopefully anyone reading this will not have the issues I did and have a wonderful life after ACDF. The benefits outweigh the risks. There are risks in this surgery and l lived through a couple of them. Thanks for reading and good luck. Don't give up and keep digging.
Hi,
I am 32yo female. I had surgery 14 days ago. If your surgery was any thing like mine, your surgery will go beautifully. However, recovery is not as pretty as you might think. Day 1-3 were peachy. I was hospitalized and given first demerol shots every four hours. Could not live without them. Oh, I had removal of c-7 disk not metal plate, only allograft fusion (donor bone fusion). Before the Novocaine wears off you have a real false sense of the reality of the pain. It is manageable with medication, but you will not be comfortable by no means- especially if you wear a rigid neck collar. The neck collar, by the way, you will not be able to live without, either. I feel like I can literally take my head off of my shoulders and set on the table next to brace, when I don't have it on. I don't have any muscle control in my neck. Picking up your babies or anything more than one pound is possible, but not reccomended. If you don't abide by the recommendations, you will suffer later when your muscles catch up with you.
So, my recommendation to you is to have the surgery, you don't have an option not to. However, DO have more realistic expectations of your limitations after surgery. Recovery from this surgery is unforgiving. Take heed. Do allow time to recover. Good luck and God bless!
Mimi
I am 32yo female. I had surgery 14 days ago. If your surgery was any thing like mine, your surgery will go beautifully. However, recovery is not as pretty as you might think. Day 1-3 were peachy. I was hospitalized and given first demerol shots every four hours. Could not live without them. Oh, I had removal of c-7 disk not metal plate, only allograft fusion (donor bone fusion). Before the Novocaine wears off you have a real false sense of the reality of the pain. It is manageable with medication, but you will not be comfortable by no means- especially if you wear a rigid neck collar. The neck collar, by the way, you will not be able to live without, either. I feel like I can literally take my head off of my shoulders and set on the table next to brace, when I don't have it on. I don't have any muscle control in my neck. Picking up your babies or anything more than one pound is possible, but not reccomended. If you don't abide by the recommendations, you will suffer later when your muscles catch up with you.
So, my recommendation to you is to have the surgery, you don't have an option not to. However, DO have more realistic expectations of your limitations after surgery. Recovery from this surgery is unforgiving. Take heed. Do allow time to recover. Good luck and God bless!
Mimi
I had C5 C6 discectomy with fusion on October 16th, a little over a month ago and I can not complain. I have been in the computer business for the last 21 years, and sitting and typing all day has done alot of damage to my neck. Alot of headaches and muscle pain
in both shoulders and arms, and the MRI showed a ruptured disc.
For someone who will be 44 in a month, 6'7" and 230 lbs I guess it was to be expected because of the strain on my back and I grew
so fast.
Anyway the surgery took less than an hour, and my doctor of Packistan origin was wonderful. He told me he would not do
anything until he was satisfied that it would be successful, that eased my mind totally. My incision is all but healed with a little help
from peroxide and vitamin E oil every day, and I was told by my doctor that the neck brace was for lazy people. Now my insert
was a plastic disc with a small metal plate and two screws, they went through the front right side to repair this and with actually
not alot of pain experienced by me afterwards. And with the exception of me forgetting I had the surgery and moving too fast so
far so good, so I guess I am one of the lucky ones. Fast healer too.
After reading through this line of posts I have seen alot of after affects from the surgery, but aside from the feeling of like something stuck in my throat I am just fine. I did not have to go through any physical therapy, mostly because as I was home for the two weeks
of recovery I stretched and moved my neck as much as I could.
I am back to work and at 75% functionality since returning the 2nd of November, mostly the 75% because of everyone babying me.
I am going back for my second discectomy the 4th of December in my lumbar area to finish up the year.
Good luck to all, and find your doctor. Mine I liked the minute I met him.
Westchester Medical in Cincinnati Ohio is where I had the surgery.
in both shoulders and arms, and the MRI showed a ruptured disc.
For someone who will be 44 in a month, 6'7" and 230 lbs I guess it was to be expected because of the strain on my back and I grew
so fast.
Anyway the surgery took less than an hour, and my doctor of Packistan origin was wonderful. He told me he would not do
anything until he was satisfied that it would be successful, that eased my mind totally. My incision is all but healed with a little help
from peroxide and vitamin E oil every day, and I was told by my doctor that the neck brace was for lazy people. Now my insert
was a plastic disc with a small metal plate and two screws, they went through the front right side to repair this and with actually
not alot of pain experienced by me afterwards. And with the exception of me forgetting I had the surgery and moving too fast so
far so good, so I guess I am one of the lucky ones. Fast healer too.
After reading through this line of posts I have seen alot of after affects from the surgery, but aside from the feeling of like something stuck in my throat I am just fine. I did not have to go through any physical therapy, mostly because as I was home for the two weeks
of recovery I stretched and moved my neck as much as I could.
I am back to work and at 75% functionality since returning the 2nd of November, mostly the 75% because of everyone babying me.
I am going back for my second discectomy the 4th of December in my lumbar area to finish up the year.
Good luck to all, and find your doctor. Mine I liked the minute I met him.
Westchester Medical in Cincinnati Ohio is where I had the surgery.
I am going to have surgery December 3rd, 2009. I am very scared to say the least. I am having Discs c/4-c/5 and c/6-c/7 done with fusion. The fusion will be the artifitial graft. I have read so many reviews and it really just confuses me. I am however grateful for the information. When are you having surgery? Good luck! I hope everything turns out great and you will back to normal SOON!
I am looking into barrowing a recliner to sleep in. Anyone have any more sugestions on how to get good rest? I am being told by my Dr. that I will need to sleep at a 45 degree angle to prevent swelling and more pain.
Thank you ALL for any info you can give me at this point. I need to be in reality as well as to help calm my nerves!
Robin
I am looking into barrowing a recliner to sleep in. Anyone have any more sugestions on how to get good rest? I am being told by my Dr. that I will need to sleep at a 45 degree angle to prevent swelling and more pain.
Thank you ALL for any info you can give me at this point. I need to be in reality as well as to help calm my nerves!
Robin
Hello everyone. I was involved in a vehicle accident in 2007 and over the past 2.9 years I have had 2 left shoulder surgeries to repair a torn rotator cuff as well as 2 anterior ACDF surgeries on levels C4-5, C5-6 and C6-7 with the first surgery an approximate one inch incision was made on the lower left side of my neck and on the second surgery which was necessary because two other disc above C6-7 went bad, the incision was much longer from my jaw line to near my collar bone and after both surgeries the fusions failed and I continued having severe neck, (L) shoulder and arm pain. I was then advised I needed a Posterior fusion surgery basically to stablize my neck due to instability from the failed fusions of which I underwent in May 09. I now have metal rods and screws in the back of my neck along with the large metal plate and screws in the front. I frequently have problems with swallowing and choke with certain foods and liquids.
The fusions are just now beginning to grow together after 6 months; however, I still have severe neck, shoulder and (L) arm pain with frequent severe headaches. I have various other problems stemmed from the injury such as numbness, stinging and a very severe burning in my left hand which feels like my hand in a big bed of ants. I was told after each surgery with successful fusions and relief of my severe pain I should be able to return to work and now after all I've been through I'm now told I may never be able to return to my work performing private investigations and law enforcement and that I may never be able to do any work and will need to consider filing for disability. This is very depressing especially since I have honestly made efforts to follow all instructions given by my Doctors, I have excercised as anyone with my condition should. Anyone else having same or simular problems? Please let me know.
Thanks Terry.
The fusions are just now beginning to grow together after 6 months; however, I still have severe neck, shoulder and (L) arm pain with frequent severe headaches. I have various other problems stemmed from the injury such as numbness, stinging and a very severe burning in my left hand which feels like my hand in a big bed of ants. I was told after each surgery with successful fusions and relief of my severe pain I should be able to return to work and now after all I've been through I'm now told I may never be able to return to my work performing private investigations and law enforcement and that I may never be able to do any work and will need to consider filing for disability. This is very depressing especially since I have honestly made efforts to follow all instructions given by my Doctors, I have excercised as anyone with my condition should. Anyone else having same or simular problems? Please let me know.
Thanks Terry.
I have not had the extensive surgeries that you have had. Only had acdf c5-6 done. Even though I've been diagnosed with supposedly having Fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease, RSD. etc (they really don't know exactly what is wrong to be honest). I have not been able to work since 2006.
My neck surgery was in 2005. I went back to work thinking the pain would eventually go away and that my muscles were needing a good work out. I struggled for 7 months...7 long months. I didn't get better. I had to quit my job of 30yrs and apply for disability.
To anyone that doesn't know what that's like let me tell you it's been hell. I hate being home. I miss my independence and believe it or not getting up and going to work. It's made me feel useless.
It took me three years to be granted disability only because I waited until the 3rd appeal (the hearing) to retain an attorney. Some advice...retain an attorney right away. The fee (ruled by SSA) is worth paying. Be prepared to be denied several times especially if you are under the age of 52. I'm 49.
Hope this has helped you.
My neck surgery was in 2005. I went back to work thinking the pain would eventually go away and that my muscles were needing a good work out. I struggled for 7 months...7 long months. I didn't get better. I had to quit my job of 30yrs and apply for disability.
To anyone that doesn't know what that's like let me tell you it's been hell. I hate being home. I miss my independence and believe it or not getting up and going to work. It's made me feel useless.
It took me three years to be granted disability only because I waited until the 3rd appeal (the hearing) to retain an attorney. Some advice...retain an attorney right away. The fee (ruled by SSA) is worth paying. Be prepared to be denied several times especially if you are under the age of 52. I'm 49.
Hope this has helped you.
Thanks for your responce. I also feel useless as I was probably considered a workaholic before my car wreck as I usually worked 10-16 hours a day 6 to 7 days a week and traveled alot with my work and made alot more money than W/Comp pay. Between each of my 5 surgeries I was advised not to do much more than easy exercises to alow my fusions time to heal and when they did'nt fuse my Doc restricted me from doing most everything, especially driving of which I have not done in almost 3 years which I don't feel I could do in a safe manner anyway with my restricted range of motion in my neck. My Doc suggested that I not even travel in a vehicle as a passenger as he worried about the instability of my neck and explained that even a very minor vehicle accident, any unexpected sudden jolt or even a fall could be very dangerous. I tell ya, I too am so sick of being at home; however, I must follow doctors orders if I want to fuse and heal.
My injury started out with one very large herniated disc which compressed my spinal cord which I guess is what caused nerve root damage which I have been told would probably not get any better (severe sharp pains into my left arm/hand). After my first surgery at level C6-7 is when I continued having severe pain, a MRI and Mylogram indicated C5-6 and C4-5 which were of some concern from day one was then fully herniated, I guess from the stress of the first discetomy and fusion. I then underwent my second Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion with allograft bone and instrumentation like the first surgery and after several months they determined the fusion had failed, noting the previously indicated test indicated the first fusion has also failed. "wow" I thought I was going to go crazy as I was also having the two surgeries on my shoulder between each of the neck surgeries and then last May I had to undergo the Posterior cervical fusion of all three levels where very large pieces of my hip bone was placed and fortified with 2 metal rods and 6 screws which will hopefully fuse completely and if not the metal will continue to keep my neck stablized.
I only got 24% disability and the insurance co. disputed that amount and ended up with only 16% what a joke!. I took my doctors advice and filed for my Social Security before my benefits runs out and after everthing I was denied as I expected. I guess I should have hired a lawyer like you did. I will start looking for someone good to represent me the next time. I still worry how my family will survive on that small amount of disability pay which is less than I was making in a week before. Well every dollar counts and we must do what we must do. I know we have done alot of life style changes as I bet you have also. I certainly hope to fully fuse and lose the severe pain which keeps me awake most all the time as it is now 2:25 AM and i'm awake after taking my usual midnight pain meds.
I sometimes wonder what condition I would be in if I never had the surgeries? My doctors are very prominent in thier field and I like and trust both of them. I feel they have done everything possible to get me healed and I know its not anyones falt the fusions failed and we all must go through whatever to survive. I sometimes wonder if i'm being tested?... I hope you feel and get better soon and thanks for lending your ear as this type of venting somewhat helps.
Take care and thanks again.
Terry
My injury started out with one very large herniated disc which compressed my spinal cord which I guess is what caused nerve root damage which I have been told would probably not get any better (severe sharp pains into my left arm/hand). After my first surgery at level C6-7 is when I continued having severe pain, a MRI and Mylogram indicated C5-6 and C4-5 which were of some concern from day one was then fully herniated, I guess from the stress of the first discetomy and fusion. I then underwent my second Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion with allograft bone and instrumentation like the first surgery and after several months they determined the fusion had failed, noting the previously indicated test indicated the first fusion has also failed. "wow" I thought I was going to go crazy as I was also having the two surgeries on my shoulder between each of the neck surgeries and then last May I had to undergo the Posterior cervical fusion of all three levels where very large pieces of my hip bone was placed and fortified with 2 metal rods and 6 screws which will hopefully fuse completely and if not the metal will continue to keep my neck stablized.
I only got 24% disability and the insurance co. disputed that amount and ended up with only 16% what a joke!. I took my doctors advice and filed for my Social Security before my benefits runs out and after everthing I was denied as I expected. I guess I should have hired a lawyer like you did. I will start looking for someone good to represent me the next time. I still worry how my family will survive on that small amount of disability pay which is less than I was making in a week before. Well every dollar counts and we must do what we must do. I know we have done alot of life style changes as I bet you have also. I certainly hope to fully fuse and lose the severe pain which keeps me awake most all the time as it is now 2:25 AM and i'm awake after taking my usual midnight pain meds.
I sometimes wonder what condition I would be in if I never had the surgeries? My doctors are very prominent in thier field and I like and trust both of them. I feel they have done everything possible to get me healed and I know its not anyones falt the fusions failed and we all must go through whatever to survive. I sometimes wonder if i'm being tested?... I hope you feel and get better soon and thanks for lending your ear as this type of venting somewhat helps.
Take care and thanks again.
Terry