Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion (ACDF) recovery

Hello, I had c4,5,6,and 7 fixed by a surgeon name Louis Chang. I will always thank God for him. Had neck problems for years but the last year I had a couple of horse accidents and surgury was inevitable. He used bone from my hip to fuse with and took spurs off the front and back of each vertabrae. I went home the next morning with right arm pain only. I immediately printed of the exercises and physical therapy and begain doing it slowly after the first day. I am a hairdresser and barrel racer. I went backtowork hairstyling in less than 2 week. I have not been horseback yet, but I will in the near future. I feel better than I've belt in10 years. My balance is better, im taking one hydrocodone vs 6 a day. I have more energy and I honestly think its just due to lack of constant pain. I have a great chiropractor and a great doctor, and my quality of life is 90% better. 

I am to have ACDF March 6, 2013. In April 2011, I had C4-5, C5-6 and C6-7 done. In March, doctor will remove the hardware from the April 2011 surgery and do C3-4. I am not sure what to expect from this second surgery. Any information from past second-time surgery patients would be most appreciated!

On December 15, 2012, I had ACDF. Beginning in September, 2012 I had tingling and numbness in both my pinky and ring finger on my left hand. I went to my general doctor who determined it was a pinched nerve in my elbow. From September through December the symptoms got considerably worse, I had neck pain, problems with gait, balance, running, walking, pain up my arm. I have never been one to complain or even see a doctor other than my annual physical.  The initial test was an EMG of both arms. This is the test that they shoot electrical currents and determine the speed and reactions of the nerves (As I understand it). Test results were inconclusive. Other tests performed were Lymes Titer, Chest x-ray, MRI Brain. Blood tests, and EMG with Needles. One doctor even suggested possible diabetic neuropothy, but I wasn't diabetic. They Finally did an MRI of my neck and saw the problem. I was refereed to a neurosurgeon who reviewed my MRI and showed me exactly what was causing the problem and what he needed to do to fix it.  It was extremely obvious and and easy to understand what needed to be done. I felt very comforted knowing what the problem was. I did however, not know a single thing about this surgery. I opted to go the cadaver route with the screws and titanium plate. 10 days later I was on the table having the procedure. I did as much research as I could on the internet and You-Tube. I went in the day of surgery at 5:30  am. On the table at 8:00 am in recovery at 10:30 and back in the room at 1:00 pm (so my wife tells me...lol) Within 1 hour of being back in the room, I felt pretty good. This was mainly due to the drugs they had me hooked up to. I was up every hour and walked the entire hospital floor along with my IV.  Pain was completely controlled and I was feeling really good. I ate plenty of Italian lemon ice. This was the easiest thing to go down and also very comforting. I was released the next day and my IV and drain tube removed. Sent home with muscle relaxers and pain management pills. spent the first couple of days on the couch and in the bed watching TV. By day number 3, I was out at the grocery store and doing little things around the house. Here it is 7 weeks later and I feel better than I can remember.  My balance has returned completely back to normal, my fingers have lost all the tingling and numbness, my neck is back to almost full movement and their is very little to NO pain whatsoever. There was a scar initially, but its almost completely gone. It seems that he made the incision in the natural fold of my neck.  I did get a prescription for physical therapy. I went once......I was able to do all the exercises at my home and continue to do them on a daily basis. I am scheduled for an X-ray next week and a Dr appointment. THis is to ensure the fusion has taken place.  Ill keep yall posted!!

Hi everyond.  Yesterday i had ACDF on my c5/c6 and c6/c7.  In at noon out at 3:30. Home by 4.  Sore and hard to swallow last night but woke up today and felt 95% success from 8 Am until 8:45 then light soreness to moderate with razor stabs in upper back and shoulders.  Luckily hasn't gone back in my arm yet.  Left arm and side was biggest problem for me.  Pain is settling down at a time when they usually get worse (before bed in evening).  I am hopeful of some positive improvement here.  I have two friends that used my doctor both with success stories.  I must admit if I had read every post hear I may have defered the surgery.  I did research this for 2 months before I scheduled surgery. My friends gave me courage. I'll follow-up in a month or two.  Kevin

Hi VFmartin, I have just had this operation 9 days ago. Firstly there is a huge amount of shoulder upper back pain between your shoulder blades. Trapizius and Romboid muscles. I'm an ex Royal army medic and have had surgery and treated patients for injuries in the battlefield.
The pain after surgery was immense in the above area's so much so I slept for maybe 1 hr in the 24 after the op.
The surgery itself was uneventful my nursing care in Cardiff UHW was execellent pain control was a struggle. Oramoph did not work and tramodol just took the edge of it.
I was to have a PCA so I could control my own pain but this was not done by the anaesthatist did not do this or it was forgotten about? So a lot of morphine was given in the recovery before going back to the ward x5 of 2mg IV morphine.
I was seriously wondering if I had done the right thing.
Anyway lucky for me my partner Karen is a physiotherapist , she carried out trigger point therapy between my shoulder blades. The pain relief was immediate and I slept solidly for 3 hours ;-)
She has since worked on my upper back between my shoulder muscles every day and its improving and I am now sleeping. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR YOUR RECOVERY AND PAIN CONTROL!!! ASK THE PHYSIO'S AND INSIST ON TRIGGER POINT FOR HELP WITH THIS!
I have been back to have my clips removed today and again the nursing staff were amazing and the ward sister was genuinely interested in what we found worked to help with the huge amounts of pain post surgery.
Good luck kind regards.
Dave.

Hi again Martin , having had a ACDF spinal fusion some 9 days ago........

looking again at your post you wont be lifting anything heavier than a light grocery bag let alone a child! and coping with surgery will take a few weeks due to pain levels /healing etc... in my honest opinion he talking nonsense

. My surgeon said 6 weeks before I can drive again and do any light lifting and a futher 12 weeks before I can head back to the gym pending X rays and healing and a visit to see him for consult.

I have just had this operation 9 days ago. Firstly there is a huge amount of shoulder upper back pain between your shoulder blades in the Trapizius and Romboid muscles. I'm an ex Royal army medic and have had surgery and treated patients for injuries in the battlefield.

The pain after surgery was immense in the above area's so much so I slept for maybe 1 hr in the 24 after the op.

The surgery itself was uneventful my nursing care in Cardiff UHW was execellent pain control was a struggle. Oramoph did not work and tramodol just took the edge of it!

I was to have a PCA so I could control my own pain but this was not done by the anaesthatist did not do this or it was forgotten about? So much a lot of morphine was given to me in the recovery ward before going back to the main Neuroward x5 of 2mg IV morphine.

I was seriously wondering if I had done the right thing at this point Till I realised I could feel my fingers again in my right hand ;-)

.Anyway lucky for me my partner Karen is a physiotherapist ,soon as we got home she carried out trigger point therapy between my shoulder blades and heat packs used. The pain relief was immediate from this and the heat packs. I slept solidly for 3 hours .

She has since worked on my upper back between my shoulder muscles every day and with heat and trigger point therapy its improving and I am now sleeping some 3-5 hours.

THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR YOUR RECOVERY AND PAIN CONTROL!!! ASK THE PHYSIO'S AND INSIST ON TRIGGER POINT FOR HELP WITH THIS! The hospital physio's were not interested when I approached them and did nothing .

I have been back to have my clips removed today and again the nursing staff were amazing and the ward sister was genuinely interested in what we found worked to help with the huge amounts of pain post surgery

Good luck with your op.


kind regards.



Dave.

Since my first ACDF surgery in January 2012 for C5-7, I have had to have a subsequent surgery. The fusion during this surgery failed to fuse. Because of this, the top screw in C5 became loose and challenged the integrity of my vertebrae. I also suffered horrid neuropathy and total numbness in my right hand. As a result, I went to a new neurosurgeon who was not impressed with the work of my first surgeon and he did a corrective surgery posterioraly on August 28, 2012. Due to the damage of C5, he needed to fuse from C4-7 to provide sufficient structural strength to my neck. I have recovered far better from this second surgery, despite the miserable 2 night hospital stay (with a very unknowledgable staff) and 6 weeks in a c-spine collar (including during shower and sleeping - UGH). My only remaining symptoms are numbness in my right forefinger and the tip of my middle finger (which may still resolve over time) and a persistent muscle spasm under my right shoulder blade, due to the still inflamed nerve between C5-6. I will be receiving an injection soon to see if we can calm this angry nerve. Otherwise, my range of motion is adequate to drive and ride my motorcycle. I frequently have to ice the spasm at the end of the day, but compared to the symptoms before the second surgery, I am quite pleased with the results. Good luck to all here. In wellness, Chris

I am a 62 yr old male, had chronic neck pain since a whiplash accident 34 years ago, after trying everything--chiro, massage, injections, acupuncture, PT, etc with decreasing results the past several years--I chose to have ACDF of C6-7 which had degenerated the worst.  I am day 5 post op and don't require the brace, although I wear it when being driven around (I could drive easily but haven't yet).  I have stopped the meds (Percocet and Flexaril) and only take Tylenol pm and melatonin at night to sleep.  First night, I couldn't sleep but that was because the staffers would come in every couple of hours for routine tests, wish they would have just left me alone to sleep and that I'd opted for Valium instead of Perc and Flex (it's one or the other).  I'm walking alot (even with my dogs) without a collar, using ice as needed for discomfort and eating whatever I want which feels good.  Took Collace (stool softener) for 4 days before my first BM this am (end of day 4 post op), that's typical from what I hear.  The jury is still out because mine was not acute but long term chronic discomfort.  I'm feeling more discomfort (of old and some new) but that's on par with what I was experiencing before the surgery.  I'll give it 3 months (for fusion of donor bone graft to take hold) then I expect big improvements from more physical activity.

 

What surgeon did you have in DC? I am looking for a third opinion.

I'm a little nervous reading this, my hubby is having this surgery in 12 days and in some ways I wish I hadn't found this site! I'm taking notes though and hopefully he's going to be one of the success stories - however I know he won't be able to pick up our one year old for a good few weeks (possibly months) after it so I'm psyching myself up to be a working studying mother as well as his carer!

 

If anyone has any useful tips on how I can look after him best they'd be very much appreciated - things you found were priceless post-op or things that you wish you'd had?

 

Thanks!

Mrs H

Hi, in hindsight I would not have the operation at all, the post op pain is awful, (60 year old male from the uk) I had my op 3 years ago and I've been told i need the op again for problems with my other arm ! I don't think I'll take up the offer, I've recently been prescribed pregabalin, which in my case has helped me enormously, please try this or other options before having this op, because so far down the line I'm really not much better than before, in fact my first op has left me with more problems than I had in the first place. I hope you make the right decision in your case, good luck.

david

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Hi,  I had a 2 level ACDF 9 days ago (London) for C5,C6,C7 and I also need C3,C4 done possibly within the year. Upon reading these replies, the thing that really strikes me is that people have to remember that this surgery is performed to STOP things progressing - in my case, to avoid me becoming a quadriplegic. Any benefits in change after surgery are a bonus. I am truly grateful to my surgeon for his skills to help me.  I came home after 2 days, I do not have a collar and have been taking it easy with recovery. Today, the nurse looked at my wound and declared it great. Was surprised to find mine done completely at the front (2 inches) instead of slightly to the side, but I am sure that it should blend in ok over time, tbh, the scar is the last thing I am worrying about. I only hope that my fusion 'takes'.  Cannot say I am looking forward to another operation especially so soon after this one, but if that is the case, then so be it.

I did not have any choice in the matter of deciding whether to have my operation as this was the only option available to me as I had serious cord compression and was told that a fall ect could result in me becoming paralysed so I felt as if I was a ticking timebomb.  Believe me, if I could of avoided this operation, I would have done as I had already had a disectomy and laminectomy on L5,S1 6 years ago  and of which is still a problem with a further 2 more discs too.

I too, like another person here have had terrible pain at my shoulders/shoulder blades and I too have found trigger point pressure a way to relieve it

I just had c5-c6 acdf on the 11th. I'm a teacher, & my dr still said 3-4 months out of work if possible. No lifting more than 7 lbs for months, and certainly no driving for first two weeks (I'm hoping this is amended when I see him on Wednesday) bc I'm in an aspen collar as much as possible. I waited two years- filled with every other try at a cure- till I couldn't bear it any more- and it seems the inflammation is receding from my hands BUT the dr told me NOT to use my arms as much as possible. I feel very optimistic, however, since Well, i had nothing left to try :) I've got two school aged kids, and if I had to look after them, it would be downright scary. I was advised by many to listen carefully to the doctors advice, & my husband and I are, no matter what it is & how hard it might be short term. If you can't make that promise to yourself, you might want to reconsider the date. best of luck!!

I just had a disc fusion on C4/5 this last Monday. I had my first surgery on C5/6 in May, 2011. For the surgery in 2011, I didn't even get out of bed for five days. Surgery pain and pain from the aggravated nerve was quite high for most of that time. With this current surgery, I have to say that overall it has been easier. I have been up and around some in the last few days But the pain is still quite high and I tire very easily. Your recovery from the surgery itself will be at least 2-4 weeks before you feel back to normal. Nerve recovery can take as long as a year. My doctor told me that I could not lift anything over ten pounds for several weeks so I am not sure about your ten month old. Exercise for me has been non-existent for the last two years. I was in recovery from the first surgery and that pain morphed into the pain from my new herniated dsic. I would take things slow because setbacks are likely if you try to do too much.

A sunnier report than most I see below. I am 10 days post op on a c4-c5, c5-c6, ACDF with plating along with considerable clean up for arthritis on c6-c7 and feel fabulous. I had an allograft in lieu of an autograft so no hip problems. I was allowed to take my soft collar off whenever I felt comfortable doing so--which was after getting home from the hospital. Some stiffness and discomfort in the back of the neck from the stretching of the muscles and ligaments to get at the disks and work in the area which subsided in about 7 days. My throat has been pretty sore but that is now subsiding as well--some throat lozenges help there. As for the results--great. I put the surgery off for more than 5 years by living with the pain but finally had to give in when the impingement got to the spinal cord and caused me serious balance problems in addition to significant weakness in my arms, along with pins and needles in many parts of my body. More than 90% of the symptoms were gone immediately following surgery. (Because I am only 10 days post-op I am restricted to testing strength so can't say 100% yet but am confident I will be close to that.) Sorry to read that so many of you have been less fortunate than me. Good luck with your recovery.