Are you both still on medication for pain relief post op ? If so what are you on? Just wondering if the pain is because no meds are being taken or whether the pain is seeping through ???
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Had ACD with fusion at C6-7 on 9/11. Great results so far- numbness and pain were gone when I woke from surgery, pain from the surgery has been minimal. Having slight trouble swallowing, but ok. Post op appointment on 9/26.
My question is this: what kind of limits will I have over the next year (or four) as the bone(s) fuse? Will I be able to life 25 or 50 pounds in a month or so? 25% of my job would require that. Lucky for me, the injury is workers comp, so light duty would be an option. Is this something I can request the doc to order? I don't want to end up in pain again in a few months.
Thanks,
Hestia
My question is this: what kind of limits will I have over the next year (or four) as the bone(s) fuse? Will I be able to life 25 or 50 pounds in a month or so? 25% of my job would require that. Lucky for me, the injury is workers comp, so light duty would be an option. Is this something I can request the doc to order? I don't want to end up in pain again in a few months.
Thanks,
Hestia
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I had the c-5 c-6 fusion and my doctor told me that it takes 3 months for the bone to completely heal/fuse. I am still getting some tingling and light aching in my arm. I asked my doctor when I should be worried and he said after a year. He said it could take that long for the nerve to completely rebound from it's compression.
I am 3 weeks post surgery and I am taking more pain medication now than I was in the week and a half after surgery. I have been taking ibuprofen like clockwork since the surgery but before, I was only taking maybe half a loritab during the day (7.5) and now I am taking a half a loritab 2 to 3 times a day.
I think that once I got in the soft collar and started moving around, my neck must have gotten aggravated. Don't get me wrong, in the past week, all I did was drive to school, study (with the books on top box, on top of a table, to keep them at eye level), some light straigtening up, and I ran to the store a couple of times. All things that the doctor approved and nothing that, while I was doing it, caused me any pain. But still, the past couple of days, my neck, shoulders and back have been aching much more.
Has anyone else experienced an increase in pain once they started moving around and doing things?
I am 3 weeks post surgery and I am taking more pain medication now than I was in the week and a half after surgery. I have been taking ibuprofen like clockwork since the surgery but before, I was only taking maybe half a loritab during the day (7.5) and now I am taking a half a loritab 2 to 3 times a day.
I think that once I got in the soft collar and started moving around, my neck must have gotten aggravated. Don't get me wrong, in the past week, all I did was drive to school, study (with the books on top box, on top of a table, to keep them at eye level), some light straigtening up, and I ran to the store a couple of times. All things that the doctor approved and nothing that, while I was doing it, caused me any pain. But still, the past couple of days, my neck, shoulders and back have been aching much more.
Has anyone else experienced an increase in pain once they started moving around and doing things?
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I am approx. 5 wks. after my surgery, and I feel great.
I went 9 mos. with terrible pain, numbness,on my left side of neck,shoulder,arm wrist fingers. My First doctor had me try physical therapy. Then Epidural Injections, nothing helped! I was then referred to a Neurologist, and he really did not believe that my pain existed! He told me numerous times that there was nothing anatomically wrong with me.
It wasn't until he performed an EMT did he finally believe my pain was real. I could not deal with this doc. anymore!!
After months of frustration I took it upon myself to seek a Neuro. Surgeon. What a pleasure to find a Doctor that cared, and was determined to comfort my pain.
I underwent a three level cervical fusion. I still wear an Aspen Collar, and use daily a cervical stimulator 4 hours a day.
I had only mild pain after the surgical procedure. The hard part for me was swallowing! I felt like I had the grand canyon stuck in my throat.
My procedure took approx. 9 hours to complete.
I am doing physical therapy, and hopefully can stop wearing the collar next week after seeing the doctor.
I took pain medication for a short period of time.
My only regret was waiting to find this wonderful surgeon.
Please do not put off your surgery, start feeling good , you deserve it ! XD
I went 9 mos. with terrible pain, numbness,on my left side of neck,shoulder,arm wrist fingers. My First doctor had me try physical therapy. Then Epidural Injections, nothing helped! I was then referred to a Neurologist, and he really did not believe that my pain existed! He told me numerous times that there was nothing anatomically wrong with me.
It wasn't until he performed an EMT did he finally believe my pain was real. I could not deal with this doc. anymore!!
After months of frustration I took it upon myself to seek a Neuro. Surgeon. What a pleasure to find a Doctor that cared, and was determined to comfort my pain.
I underwent a three level cervical fusion. I still wear an Aspen Collar, and use daily a cervical stimulator 4 hours a day.
I had only mild pain after the surgical procedure. The hard part for me was swallowing! I felt like I had the grand canyon stuck in my throat.
My procedure took approx. 9 hours to complete.
I am doing physical therapy, and hopefully can stop wearing the collar next week after seeing the doctor.
I took pain medication for a short period of time.
My only regret was waiting to find this wonderful surgeon.
Please do not put off your surgery, start feeling good , you deserve it ! XD
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To anyone having the surgery,
Myself and others have mentioned how much a recliner helps during recovery but there is one other thing that was absolutely essential:
BENDY STRAWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just a tip.
Myself and others have mentioned how much a recliner helps during recovery but there is one other thing that was absolutely essential:
BENDY STRAWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just a tip.
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This is my first time to post. I am a 44 year old female that otherwise is in good health. I had the surgery on August 12, 2006, c5/6 & C6/7. One big difference that I seem to have from all of the blogs that I have read is that prior to the surgery I was never in any pain. For this reason, I believe that is why it took 4 ER visits, one 3-day hospital stay and countless visits to a variety of doctors before they figured out what was wrong with me. I am very active and play a lot of softball. My first symptoms came about one afternoon after playing only one game. My legs from the knees down turned to jello. Everyone assumed that I was either dehydrated or the ER thought that I might have had a stroke. And for the next 4 weeks I experienced a myriad of symptoms. From a motion sickness feeling, to tingling, etc. Anyway - post surgery, the first week was bad because I didn't get any sleep, but not because of pain, I think that it was more from anxiety, the "what if" factor. Each day was better than the previous, however, yesterday I went for my 6 week follow up. Although, the news was great, I have been a nervous wreck ever since. This feeling is overwhelming. I am not sure if it is anxiety or if I am experiencing some residual effects of the bulging disks and the surgery. I am to see my neurologist again tomorrow as a follow up - I was just wondering if anyone had syptoms aside from pain. Take care, daisy
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Well have decided to have the invasive surgery hopefully will be in the next few weeks... the endoscopic procedure they will only do awake, so that is a no-no !
As far as anxiety goes (the last post ) I have been having strange feelings lately due to anxiety ie face going numb and not feeling my toes - so much so that the doctor sent me for an MRI brain scan on Friday which came back clear.
The only thing that worries me is the swallowing as this is linked as I mentioned before.
As far as anxiety goes (the last post ) I have been having strange feelings lately due to anxiety ie face going numb and not feeling my toes - so much so that the doctor sent me for an MRI brain scan on Friday which came back clear.
The only thing that worries me is the swallowing as this is linked as I mentioned before.
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Tracey-ann,
Just curious, when you say endoscopic, do you mean that they could go in through a tiny hole and just remove the bulging portion instead of having to take the whole thing out and fuse the vertabrae?
P.S. What's the weather like in Spain this time of the year?
Just curious, when you say endoscopic, do you mean that they could go in through a tiny hole and just remove the bulging portion instead of having to take the whole thing out and fuse the vertabrae?
P.S. What's the weather like in Spain this time of the year?
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Cassie
Not 100% sure . The surgeon is at the spinal foundation in Congleton Cheshire. I am assuming that was what was going to be done. As I didnt go ahead with the full consultation I didn;t get the full sp.! Ps still very warm here x xx x
Not 100% sure . The surgeon is at the spinal foundation in Congleton Cheshire. I am assuming that was what was going to be done. As I didnt go ahead with the full consultation I didn;t get the full sp.! Ps still very warm here x xx x
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Tracey-ann,
I really wanted the endoscopic but I was not a candidate for it so I had to go with the full discectomy and fusion. If your endoscopic is the same type that I read up on before my consult, it looked like a much better option. Less invasive, less recovery time(almost none), and, best of all, no collar. And, since your discs are not fused, less chance of arthritis setting in later on in the vertabra above and below.
The way it looked online, they go in through a small hole (not a two inch incision) and just take out the portion of the disc that is pushing on the nerve. You go home that day and you are almost normal within the week. I know doctors make their procedures seem wonderful on their sites so, who knows, but find out before you choose.
I really wanted the endoscopic but I was not a candidate for it so I had to go with the full discectomy and fusion. If your endoscopic is the same type that I read up on before my consult, it looked like a much better option. Less invasive, less recovery time(almost none), and, best of all, no collar. And, since your discs are not fused, less chance of arthritis setting in later on in the vertabra above and below.
The way it looked online, they go in through a small hole (not a two inch incision) and just take out the portion of the disc that is pushing on the nerve. You go home that day and you are almost normal within the week. I know doctors make their procedures seem wonderful on their sites so, who knows, but find out before you choose.
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D Day !!!!! 4th October next Wednesday - all set for the op - trying not to get too nervous. Positive thoughts !!!! :'(
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I just had my surgery on 9/20/06 and I feel so much better! I could not lean forward, type on the computer or even sit to eat dinner with any amount of comfort. Although my MD did give me pain meds before the surgery, they didn't really work for the nerve pain. No I suffer from a sore throat, discomfort between shoulder blades and incisional pain, and the Percocet I take every 4 hours works! I am starting to go longer with out it. I think what is making me feel the best was having the my neuro MD perscribe the same sleeping pill that I got in the hospital. I am taking Ambien 10 mg at about 10pm and I can sleep through the night with no break through pain! I feel like I'm ready to do more around the house but I'm so afraid to have any set backs. You might try Benadryl for sleep (It is the PM in Tylenol PM). They give that at the hospital that I was in to help with sleep as well.
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Hi !
May I ask : how old are you ?
brodyg47 wrote:
May I ask : how old are you ?
brodyg47 wrote:
brodyg47 wrote:
I am approx. 5 wks. after my surgery, and I feel great. Had C4-5,C5-6,C6-7 Fusion with Hardware.
I went 9 mos. with terrible pain, numbness,on my left side of neck,shoulder,arm wrist fingers. My First doctor had me try physical therapy. Then Epidural Injections, nothing helped! I was then referred to a Neurologist, and he really did not believe that my pain existed! He told me numerous times that there was nothing anatomically wrong with me.
It wasn't until he performed an EMT did he finally believe my pain was real. I could not deal with this doc. anymore!!
After months of frustration I took it upon myself to seek a Neuro. Surgeon. What a pleasure to find a Doctor that cared, and was determined to comfort my pain.
I underwent a three level cervical fusion. I still wear an Aspen Collar, and use daily a cervical stimulator 4 hours a day.
I had only mild pain after the surgical procedure. The hard part for me was swallowing! After afew days this passed.
My procedure took approx. 9 hours to complete.
I am doing physical therapy, and hopefully can stop wearing the collar next week after seeing the doctor.
I took pain medication for a short period of time.
My only regret was waiting to find this wonderful surgeon.
Please do not put off your surgery, start feeling good , you deserve it !
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I am scheduled for a 3 level fusion on October 18. My neurosurgeon has already told me what to expect afterwards (sore throat, muscle and burning pain in shoulders, lack of energy, limited activities etc)
He told me that I may not require a cervical collar but cannot move my head up and down and VERY limited side to side. This may sound really stupid but HOW do you limit that motion without a cervical collar???
I had a lumbar fusion in February with a back brace for 3 months so having 2 fusions within a year doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy but either does the pain I have been enduring. I was a perfectly active, athletic, healthy person until a year ago when the pain started in my back after coughing too hard.
Any helpful hints post op would be appreciated. Is the incision scar bad? lol He told me anywhere from a 2 - 4 inch incision in my neck ACKKK.
I am sure I will have alot more questions but this is a start lol
thanks!!
He told me that I may not require a cervical collar but cannot move my head up and down and VERY limited side to side. This may sound really stupid but HOW do you limit that motion without a cervical collar???
I had a lumbar fusion in February with a back brace for 3 months so having 2 fusions within a year doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy but either does the pain I have been enduring. I was a perfectly active, athletic, healthy person until a year ago when the pain started in my back after coughing too hard.
Any helpful hints post op would be appreciated. Is the incision scar bad? lol He told me anywhere from a 2 - 4 inch incision in my neck ACKKK.
I am sure I will have alot more questions but this is a start lol
thanks!!
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I can't imagine how I could have controlled my head movement without my collar, especially when sleeping or startled. When you hear a sharp noise behind you or when you drop something, you automatically react with movement. I hated my collar but I needed it.
My incision is really nice (for an incision). It is thin and healing nicely. My only problem has been having the disolvable stitches try to make their way out. This happened about 6 weeks after the surgery. I think my body doesn't break them down easily so it tries to push them out through my skin. I have had it happen twice but it wasn't bad. A little irritation, a small red/white bump that broke and a knot that popped out. I cleaned it, a couple drops of blood came out and that was it. Of course, I had my doctor check it too.
My incision is really nice (for an incision). It is thin and healing nicely. My only problem has been having the disolvable stitches try to make their way out. This happened about 6 weeks after the surgery. I think my body doesn't break them down easily so it tries to push them out through my skin. I have had it happen twice but it wasn't bad. A little irritation, a small red/white bump that broke and a knot that popped out. I cleaned it, a couple drops of blood came out and that was it. Of course, I had my doctor check it too.
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