by the way they prescribed me a z-pak and it didnt help at all.
me too....and steroids it has become a seasonal routine because I almost suffocate on the mucous if I get the slightest cold or something. I don't have the proper muscles anymore to clear my passages. These little wierd side effects are worse than the original problem sometimes. My breathing has never been and will never be the same since this surgery. Breathing, eating everything associated with that area is all messed up. The whole innerchange where my breathing and eating all comes together in my throat and espophogus. Seemingly routine bodily functions are no longer routine... =-/
i ended up at the er last night due to not being able to breathe. they found more narrowing around the fusion c6c7 and more bronchitis. they prescribed me vibramycin 100mg 2daily for 10 days and hopefully it will take care of the bronchitis.
I've had enough. I requested a modified barium swallow study to see what was happening, nobody else even considered it. What it showed was so conclusive! It didn't matter if the substance I was swallowing was nectar like, pudding, crackers or croutons, the result was the same. Whatever I swallowed hit the area displaced by the plate and first set of screws and like a bend in a stream rushed to the second set of screws. When the material was supposed to be completely swallowed a residue was left just in front of the two sets of screws!!
I visited my surgeon and again explained my issues since C5-G6-C7 ACDF surgery 7months ago. This time I had pictures and five CD with the video he could see.
I am having the all hardware removed. I can't wait. I'm tired of choking, gurgling when I'm lying down, my throat hurting when I yawn and even choking if I don't tilt my head down. I'm tired of trying to fight off a common cold or nasal infection as though it was life threatening.
I'm not scheduled until later in May. I'll update when the procedure is completed.
I visited my surgeon and again explained my issues since C5-G6-C7 ACDF surgery 7months ago. This time I had pictures and five CD with the video he could see.
I am having the all hardware removed. I can't wait. I'm tired of choking, gurgling when I'm lying down, my throat hurting when I yawn and even choking if I don't tilt my head down. I'm tired of trying to fight off a common cold or nasal infection as though it was life threatening.
I'm not scheduled until later in May. I'll update when the procedure is completed.
I had one of those. Now , what about the hardware itself, isn't that to strengthen that area of the spine? I have one in and no one ever talked about taking it out. I have seen that mentioned a couple of times on this message board. My surgery was in 2005.....I have so many issues as a result I just assumed I had to keep the plates in. When I had the swallowing tests we never really focused on the area of the plate itself they didn't consider that the cause mine was supposedly nerve damage and vocal cord damage. I am so tired of clearing my throat and sounding like a pack a day smoker with this raspy quality.....=-/
My husband died from the same surgery(Anterior Cervical Fusion) in University of Miami hospital on 1/11/12. He was operated on by the chairman of the Osthopedic dept, no postoperative check up was done by the surgeons. eight hour later he had hematoma and windpipe was chocked and incompetent trauma team couldn't intubate him for 20 minutes and he was brain dead. He had herniated disc(c4-c6). We all think that there was raptured vein or soft tissue bleeding during surgery. Please don't recommend this surgery to anyone unless they really need it. I empathize with you. for more info. send e-mail to chandrasanghamitra@gmail.com
Had this surgery and days after my neck swole to the size of a small watermelon ....with loss of breathe, I was rushed to the er and they performed emergency life saving surgery on a massive hematoma in my throat.....horrible
i had the c6c7 surgery they went into the front and removed the disc with a new one. had the choking feeling and excess fluid building up in the throat for the last 2.4 years. went to er and they say its bronchitis,thing is i never got sick. i took zpak and it didnt do anything now they gave me something stronger (vibramycin) 10 day prescription. its been 10 days and its done nothing for me. It leads me to believe there might be some kinda of spinal cord fluid leakage coming from somewhere.
hope this is resolved soon.
hope this is resolved soon.
I am sorry to hear of the issues your having. After the fusion occurs between the vertebrae and the cadaver bone the next step in the fusion process bridges from one vertebrae around the cadaver bone to the adjacent vertebrae. After the bridging is complete then the need for the hardware becomes less a need and more a support structure.
According to "The Spine Journal" Volume 5, Issue 2 , Pages 140-144, March 2005:
"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."
According to "The Spine Journal" Volume 5, Issue 2 , Pages 140-144, March 2005:
"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."
My fear is the residual issues after they go in there and cut out a plate that has pretty much become one with my spine. My tongue already sticks out crooked from the damage as well as loss of feeling and ALL the others issues everyone is expressing on this board. I am so scared....just the swelling in my throat after surgery almost killed me. Where can I find more lit on this I will definitely need to have a stack of cases to show my doctor as ammo. Are these plates meant to COME OUT eventually? I have titanium in my neck, low back and holding my shoulder together and the pain and discomfort I get at times that can only be attributed to the metal.
I too had issues and still have 2 1/2 years after C3-4 and C4-5. I had already had C5-6 and C6-7 in 2 separate surgeries 20 yrs apart. The surgeon removed the plate over 5-6 and 6-7 replaced the plate JUST over C3-4 thru C5-6. Simply forgot to plate it. The prev bone graft fell apart and is visable on a CT scan I had a year ago. So I have nothing in C 6-7 not a plate over it. Since thats where you neck bends, any accidents etc and I could really be in trouble.
The last surg 3-4 and 4-5 I developed a massive hematoma when I arrived home after a 3 day stay, He had a drain in there and knew it was still bleeding but removed it anyway. I called for my one week appt and they put me off for 2. The hematoma was the diameter of a softball. I've had trouble swallowing since. If I get a sore throat (OFTEN - feels like razor blades going down) that causes an infection which then goes into my lungs causing pneumonia. I have had it at least 15 times. My plate was placed too far into my throat causing my spiglottis not to work, which means there is nothing to keep my food, drink etc from going into my lungs instead of stomach. I have damage nerves in my throat and no longer have the gag reflex.
Saw a swallowing specialist who scoped me - I was awake and saw everything he was doing. Was so bizaare. I could see the imprimt of the plate inside my throat. On CT scan the screws are loose at three places. He said I mostly aspirate liquids and felt that a feeding tube was a good idea, along with surgery of some sort. When I heard feeding tube I went into shock and never went back.
Did get a 2nd Neurosurgeon appt who said he could remove the hardware BUT it could cause more problems than I already had. He also said that I was full of scar tissue adhesions everywhere so he would have to have an ENT there to cut down thru the scar to get to the plate. That scared me too. All of this has been over a year ago. Soon when I get the courage I will seek a 3rd opinion at a teaching hospital to see what can be done.
I have slept in a recliner since last surg. It would be so nice to sleep next to my husb in bed, but they say I will aspirate into my lungs at night if I lie flat.
Because I had 2 successful previous surgeries I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be in this nightmarish place.
I will pray for all of us, a miracle. Please share with me anything that is similar or that can help.
Thank you and God bless
The last surg 3-4 and 4-5 I developed a massive hematoma when I arrived home after a 3 day stay, He had a drain in there and knew it was still bleeding but removed it anyway. I called for my one week appt and they put me off for 2. The hematoma was the diameter of a softball. I've had trouble swallowing since. If I get a sore throat (OFTEN - feels like razor blades going down) that causes an infection which then goes into my lungs causing pneumonia. I have had it at least 15 times. My plate was placed too far into my throat causing my spiglottis not to work, which means there is nothing to keep my food, drink etc from going into my lungs instead of stomach. I have damage nerves in my throat and no longer have the gag reflex.
Saw a swallowing specialist who scoped me - I was awake and saw everything he was doing. Was so bizaare. I could see the imprimt of the plate inside my throat. On CT scan the screws are loose at three places. He said I mostly aspirate liquids and felt that a feeding tube was a good idea, along with surgery of some sort. When I heard feeding tube I went into shock and never went back.
Did get a 2nd Neurosurgeon appt who said he could remove the hardware BUT it could cause more problems than I already had. He also said that I was full of scar tissue adhesions everywhere so he would have to have an ENT there to cut down thru the scar to get to the plate. That scared me too. All of this has been over a year ago. Soon when I get the courage I will seek a 3rd opinion at a teaching hospital to see what can be done.
I have slept in a recliner since last surg. It would be so nice to sleep next to my husb in bed, but they say I will aspirate into my lungs at night if I lie flat.
Because I had 2 successful previous surgeries I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be in this nightmarish place.
I will pray for all of us, a miracle. Please share with me anything that is similar or that can help.
Thank you and God bless
i had c6c7 fusion 2.4 years ago with the choking/swallowing irritation. the plate being in the way makes sense. My question is has anyone had any problems with blurry vision or loss of balance due to all of the swallowing or choking issues. it seems to me i do. but im not sure if its something else. just asking.
I would suggest immediately going to a UNIVERSITY that can diagnose what's going on. They are not in it to make profit so they should be able to help. GOOD LUCK.
i have had 1 surgery 6months ago.i have had swallowing issues and still have pain in neck and right shoulder and numness in right hand.i just had another mri to c what is going on.i dont want another surgery.this swallowing issue is terrible but they say it goes away when i dont know thank you
Im now 7 years after c-spine fusion 5-6,6-7 and still have inflamtion of neck and chronic swalling issues... My surgery was in June 2005,perhaps this does not happen to everyone but for some of us a long time....