Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion (ACDF) recovery

 

Hi Mandy Thanks for replying, I read with interest about the similarities to our symptoms. I too had massage, by the physio, which short term helped but after they stopped doing it my symptoms soon returned. After going through lots of pain and visits to the doctor, they sent me to another physio who told me the massage was short term and that they should have done more to help me. This physio gave me a simple exercise to do which after a couple of days started to relieve my symptoms. the exercise is called 'Mckenzie chin tuck' it can be seen on youtube. Its such a small and silly exercise that doesn't look like it can possibly help.....but it does. Well certainly in my case and quite a few people I've spoken to. Its not a total cure but has helped me more than anyone can imagine. I'm pain free most days now and as soon as it starts to hurt I do the chin tuck which relieves it. I to have started daily excerises, which a couple of months ago I couldn't even think to do and yes I do get a little neck ache, but 10 reps 4 times a day eases it. Mandy I wish you well with your recovery and if you need to talk, I'll listen either on this site or facebook if you want more privacy. hope this reply makes sense and I wish you good health.

Hi Andy! Fantastic to read your latest post! So glad you have found some relief. Thank you very much for sharing with me your chin tuck exercise - I am going to look that up on you-tube! I am finding it hard to do my home exercises enough - doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day! But I know I have to make time. I also found, that when the physio gave me a good massage I was great for a little while - the heat pack also helps. With my work, it doesn't take long to stiffen up again. :( I would really like to stay in touch - I don't know personally, of anyone else who has had the surgery and I live 1000kms away from my surgeon, so I'm finding it quite a lonely road. Please, look me up on Facebook. Mandy Paton, Mackay Australia

Hi Mandy
Hopefully I've found you on facebook - the pic of the spine was a good indication or totally coincidental and its not you! Sent you a friend request and message, so hopefully it is you.
Take care
Andy

Hi Andy! You found me! Would love to hear your surgery and pre-op, story, if you're up to telling it! I will message you through fb my story also when I get a moment... Thanks again!

Mandy

OMG!! I have been going through hell since my ACDF....Left side of face numb...then left toes and leg got weak and my left arm and hand....Have been to 2 neurologists...a neuro surgeon...nothing. Had MRI of brain, cervical...everything fine. had VER/VEP done....fine....I think they think I am nuts! They insist that the surgery could not have done this....but....why not?! They were messing with the neck!!! And...my neck still hurts!

I had ACDF performed on October 22nd, it immediately relieved. all my pain, a little difficulty in swallowing the first two weeks while wearing the collar otherwise everything is fine. 6 weeks since surgery, doing fine no pain neck movement returning to normal. I had C5-C6. C6-C7 fused, my physician suggest no driving for 8 weeks. The only thing that I did wrong before having surgery was reading this web page. All the negative replies worried me unnecessarilly.

Hi Ive just had acdf surgery on c6 c7 last Friday . I was up the next day and out on Sunday . So far things have been great no pain and feeling back in my hands . I have,nt even had a collar on and im sleeping well. I have a very heavy manual job and intend to be back fully fit by week 6 . Ive been walking a lot this is day 6 since op . I have read some horror stories about people who have had acdf but so far im really glad I have been sorted

I had ACDF surgery 3 weeks ago. I wanted to let others who are planning on having the surgery know that not all experiences are bad. I had the surgery on a Thursday and was home on Friday afternoon. I was fairly sore and found it hard to swallow for the first few days. By the 4th day post surgery I had stopped taking the pain meds and was just taking advil every 4 hours. Dont get me wrong, I wasnt feeling great by any means. Achy muscles, sore throat, difficulty sleeping and occasional nausea. I was still able to walk around my house and eat soft foods. By the 7th day I felt good and was even venturing out to the grocery store (with my daughter driving me). By day 9 I felt almost 100%.

My advice would be to make sure to REALLY research your neurosurgeon.

Good luck to you!

In February 2010 I started feeling weakness in my right leg and started on a course to determine its cause. By June of 2010 I was told that I needed ACDF surgery (C5 thru C7) to stop the effect of severe cervical stenosis with Myelopathy and if I didn’t the symptoms would get worse and affect both legs. At that time I was experiencing weakness in my right leg and an abnormal gait. I was in all other ways as functional and without pain... normal, I suppose.

I went for a second opinion and after 4 months at the Cleveland Clinic, my wife and I were told they would do the surgery, and then 2 months later was told that the compression in my cervical area wasn’t sufficient to cause the symptoms I was experiencing and they didn’t know what the cause was. The head of the Spine clinic said I was the “odd duck”. They would not do the surgery. I was told “I changed my mind”. By this time I was walking with a cane occasionally dragging my right foot.

I went for a third opinion and was told again I needed ACDF surgery (C5 thru C7) to stop the effect of severe cervical stenosis with Myelopathy and if I didn’t the symptoms would get worse and affect both legs. The doctor said this with absolute confidence and wondered why I had not had the surgery a year earlier. By this time the weakness and spasticity in my right leg was very noticeable. On September 19, 2011 I underwent ACDF surgery.

When I went back after 4 months and I now had to use a walker since my initial symptoms have progressed to my left leg with no end in site, the doctor now much more sympathetic explained that he didn’t understand why the surgery had not arrested the progression of my symptoms.

By June I was experiencing the issues I have read about here and was also sleeping in my Lazy boy. I pleaded with my surgeon to remove the plate. He asked me to see an ENT specialist before he scheduled surgery. I did but afterwards he arrogantly told me I could find another surgeon to remove the plate but he would not because he thought it would cause more problems. When asked to delineate he just said more problems, His attitude was resolute and without compassion. I provided research from a Houston group who studied the experience of over 40 patients with the same symptoms who had their plates removed. The results were irrefutable where Guy R. Fogel, MD and Mark F. McDonnell, MD with Houston Spine Surgery, 5225 Katy Freeway, Suite 600, Houston, TX 77007 in The Spine Journal 5 (2005) 140–144 said: “Removal of the cervical instrumentation in patients will improve the dysphagia. This improvement with surgical management, as compared with the dissatisfaction before surgical treatment, documents that this surgical treatment is a reasonable option.”

After a couple frightening events that impressed me that I may not make it through another episode I drafted a letter and sent it to my surgeon, again stating my case along with the most recent experiences. I copied my family doctor and the EMT doctor. Two days later his admin called and scheduled the removal.

It has now been almost a year and I am so thankful I was persistent. I am able to sleep in bed with my wife of over 45 years again. I can hardly walk now but am thankful for my ability to enjoy food, clear my throat when I cough, no pain when I swallow and sleeping on a flat bed!

When I read these letters you all have written I can feel your discouragement, despair and sense of hopelessness. I was there. My prayer is that you find resolution with the appropriate treatment.

~Dave

Dave Wow what a story, my heart goes out to you Thanks for sharing. I first left my story a few months ago. I found what everybody else has said quite interesting from the good and the bad. I had a disc removed in January 2012 and still to this day get pain. Some days are better than others and I can go through a couple or three days and have no aches or pains, so I'm hoping I'm finally on the mend. I have made a really good friend from someone who was going through the same pain as me and we keep in contact a couple of times a week to encourage each other through our aches and pains. There's thousands of miles between my home and hers but that makes no difference, the encouragement we give each other is fantastic as, if you've not had this type of surgery, you'd not know what we're going through! I love the fact that most people have this type of surgery and are fine. The whole point of the site is for people to share their experiences. It pains me when people are 'oh I'm fine, I wish I'd not read the comments on this site making me worry for nothing'! All we're doing is saying some people are fine and some people aren't after surgery! We're all different. We need to share our experiences - good or bad! I'm pleased you can start living your life again albeit you're not walking too well and I send you all my best to live your life pain free. Andy

I just wanted to update. I had my surgery on Monday 8th of october and it was really successful as described above. I was back full time at my desk job after two weeks with just few adjustments with start and finish times to assist me (I have very supportive employers)

I just got back on Sunday from a two week tour of Burma that was booked before the operation. Right up until I got on the plane at Manchester Airport, I wasn't sure I was doing the right thing but I was fine- in fact I have just seen my physio who is really pleased. My surgery completely stopped the horrid nerve pains- I still get a mild dull ache in my neck at times and I don't have full mobility in that area but I was able to swim and explore ruined temples and laze around on the beach as well as surive some of Burma's very pot holed roads.

Just wanted to share a positive story. I am 42 and believe that having the operation was a genuine blessing.

Thanks Andy, your response itself is an encouragement to me!

For me the super-quick recovery stories are simultaneously inspiring and make me feel like a bit of a failure. I'm 7 weeks out from C6-7 and still not able to sit properly for work. My left side recovered almost immediately, like in two weeks it felt like 95% cured, strong, flexible and pain-free. My right side though is another story. Weird thing developed this week - bed spins. I'm dizzy as hell and feel like puking. I've decided to eliminate the last of the opiods I'm taking, one at night. Hope it works.

Hi Violet,you right not all a bed but my was ,I'm stil going to phisio 2xweek,cant swallow,have pain in my left arm,neck and lot of headache even aftter 3 years,feel like diferent person ,lucky my kids a grow up,so I can take it easy.
GOOD LUCK

I had the same surgery in September 2013. I spent one night in the hospital and was told not to drive for seven days but to walk on my treadmill once I got home. The only other restriction was not to lift more than 20 pounds which was the size of my grandson. Monday, four months later, I went for my final appointment and was released with no restrictions. This surgery and doctor I used was the best thing I've done for myself!