Also, SLPs can evaluate and treat dysphonia (voice disorder/changes to your voice after surgery).
I am 7 weeks post-op from a c5-6, c6-7 acdf. I did a lot of research before surgery and was TERRIFIED of the lump thing because I have a phobia about choking anyway. Since I also had severe spinal stenosis I really had no choice, though. I had a neurosurgeon and an ENT surgeon in the procedure. I think this made a big difference, as I was able to speak normally immediately post-op. I told the ENT I was worried about the lump and he put me on prilosec prior to the surgery and, though I was skeptical, I have to say I think it helps. (I quit taking it for a few days because it can interfere with calcium absorption and the lump sensation was definitely worse). Still, if I eat too much (esp. bulky, bready stuff) it really bothers me because it feels like it's stuck below the esophagus and there's a lot of pressure (and burping). In a nutshell, though, it's not nearly as bad as I thought it'd be and I'm glad I had it done.
I HAD AN ACDF 12/13/12 I CANNOT SWALLOW ONLY LIQUIDS AND SOFT FOOD WITH A LOT OF WATER. I ALSO FEEL LIKE A CANT BREATH. I HAD A BARRIUM SWALLOW DONE IT SHOWS THE PLATE IS PUSHING AGAINST MY ESPHAGUS WHICH THE TOP PART IS REALLY SMALL ON THE TEST AND IT GIVES THE SENSATION OF HAVEING DIFFICULTY BREATHING. MY NEURO SURGEON AND ORTHAPEDIC SURGEON ARE DISAGREEING ON THE RESULT. THE ORTHAPEDIC FEELS THAT PLATE SHOULD COME OUT IN 1 YEAR WHEN ITS TOTALLY FUSED - I HAD CADAVAR BONE - AND THE PROBLEM WILL RESOLVE. HE HAS HAD PATIENTS IN THE PAST WITH SOME PROBELM AND THEY TOOK OUT THE PLATE AND THEY DID FINE. YEARS AGO WITH OUT PLATES AND SCREWS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE THEM AND THEY USED BONE FROM YOUR OWN HIP AND THEY FUSED FINE. GOOD LUCK SHER
DID THE PROBLEMWITH YOUR THROAT EVER GET BETTER,i JUST HAD SURGERY4-7DISC FUSION, I'M HAVING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM .
I am 6 mos post of from a 3 level cervical fusion and can finally swallow capsules and am getting better. I still have trouble though, and they said the areas are fusing nicely all but one small spot, but the nerves may or may not return to "normal" since they were so traumatized. I can take lyrica if need be for the nerve pain. Right now I have a severe sinus infection and laryngitis which has affected my neck a bit and thrown things off, but I'm sure I'll get back on track. It still hurts to do a lot of talking at times. My voice has not yet been back to normal since the procedure. However, I could not even hold my head up for long periods of time b4 the Sx, and now I can, so I am thankful!! Best wishes to everyone that has had this procedure!! :)
Sounds like you have a positive attitude alot of times that is half the battle. it will get better, maybe not perfect but as you stated you can hold your head up!!!!
Sher, Thanks for making me fell like I am not crazy! I am 8 weeks post-op for C5-C6 fusion. I am having a horrible sensation that the plate is pushing on my esophagus. If I could yank it out of there I would (horrible feeling of pressure and like someone is choking me. No one told me about this! Thanks for listening. P.S.
Ever since I regretfully had my C5-6 fusion, I feel extreme heat on the back of my neck and get this horrible pain in my chest just below my collarbone as those everything I swallowed is all trying to go down at once. Never had it before.
Also the first MRI i had after the fusion and I would have swore I was dying! EXTREME terrible pain going from my back to heart. No one can say why tho.
I wish I had never had the fusion done that is for dang sure!!!
Mine was in Sept of 2011 by the way and these issues continue to persist. You are lucky they took yours out. I requested removal of hardware only to get told they very rarely will do that because I might loose my voice.
I have also been getting a very painful lump that I only feel when turning head a certain way and if I strain my voice at the time my neck is turned. It happens every two to three months, last for two to three days and goes away by itself and I had never had it before.
I had full cervical spinal fusion November of 2011. Since then I have had nothing but trouble, esp. the choking and swallowing. Now I am being told there may be a few loose screws possible, am seeing doctor tomorrow. The lump on your scar may actually be scar tissue. My recovery time was long and painful and I am still in pain management. This year I began to notice swelling in the neck and went through a series of doctors only to find nothing but polyps on my larynx, and gerd. Never had a problem before the surgery. i thought it would help, and it did to a small extent, but at the end of the day, even if I don't really do anything, my neck is hurting. Check with and ENT about the throat, that's how my polyp was found.
I too have debilitating symptoms since my C7-T1 fusion: constant choking feeling, belching, chest pain, regurgitation etc. I am on ss disability and that really helps with the stress from feeling like someone is constantly choking me. However, research (only one prospective study) shows that removing the hardware (plate and screws) helps in virtually all cases. Only about 1/3 of the patients had a slight residual globus (feeling of something caught in ones throat). So I am going for this and hopefully my spine surgeon will agree.
Good luck to those who rely on speech therapy for a resolution to these issues (choking, regurgitation, swallowing etc). I went to one for months and it did not help rather it hurt and exacerbated my symptoms. These symptoms are likely due to the plate and screws: how they were placed, at which level, how much space you had between the fused vertebra and the esophagus, and tolerance of the metal type. On PubMed there are 44 references for these symptoms post spine surgery. Only ONE STUDY has been performed on patients with these symptoms and removal of the fixation device (plate and screws) after fusion. This study shows that virtually ALL patients were improved with only 1/3 having a remaining slight feeling of something in their throats. During the sugery it was found that extensive adhesions had formed between the plate and the esophagus. This immotilizes the esophagus and anyone who knows anything about paristaltic motion of the gastrointestinal tract will tell you that this causes problems and symptoms of choking and regurgitation; the feeling like swallowing is not complete! Insist on having the plate and screws removed soon after fusion. Delay will only increase the adhesions and liklihood of the device loosening causing more problems.
Sorry for the slow response.How are you doing with your tongue? Still crooked?? I try not to dwell on my issues but lately they have been front and center. I never thought about breathing or eating before, it was just something I did. Now I feel every breath, every time I chew......I am so over this. Becasue of the deadness on the one side I only chew on one side which is TEARING up my teeth! Do people think you are joking when you show them your tongue? You don't see me laughing =( I always thought my spine would be my downfall, but I am worrying more about choking to death or succombing to a respiratory illness from all the congestion. When was your surgery?
I am very curious as to your outcome. I deal with all the same things you are dealing with. Throw in there nerve damage to my tongue so it is numb and sticks out to the left. I am scared to have them go in and remove it.....
I had my c6/c7 fused with plate 4 1/2 years ago. I was told the thumb in the throat feeling was normal and would go away. Well almost 5 years later, it's still there! After having my thyroid checked, i was all ready to have it removed when the thyroid surgeon suggested that it was scarring from my fusion. The anxiety attacks people here talked about I understad! I am going to have the swallow test done next month, and I sure hope there is proof of a problem as the doctors here in upstate New York don't seem to understand the choking feeling as being a serious problem. If there are any successful stories out there I would love to hear about them!
I had the same surgery about two years ago and still feel like there is something stuck in my throat. I don't think that will ever go away. By this time, I'm wondering if it's just scar tissue. The laryngitis flare ups are frequent as well. If I try to sing, such as in church, I get laryngitis after a few minutes. I have constant pain in my shoulder and ear as well, and the headaches have returned. I do know, however, that without the surgery there would more serious health issues than what I have now. You are right, the pain will never be completely gone, but I feel the benefits of the surgery outweigh other problems I would have if I never had the surgery.