anterior cervical fusion/choking and swallowing issues

Did you ever find out what caused the lump or globus sensation? I have the same thing.

Hi there ... I am 2+ yrs post op of a 3 level cervical fusion of C4-C7 and have had 5 choking episodes which started right after the surgery and have continued since. They told me they are spasms, so when it happens, I try and relax, PRAY HARD, and it usually passes, however I have come close to calling 911 twice now. I wish I had better news, but my life has NOT been the same since my surgery. Yes, it helped me in ways and for a time, so I am grateful, but if I had the choice, I would not go back and do it again. God has been so faithful to me, and I thank Him each and every day! Lyrica does help me with the nerve pain. Tramadol made me violently ill, so that is out. I still, to this day, get pain at the original inscision site too, and things like coughing, sneezing, and vomitting, all of which I have had this past week due to a nasty bug, only makes my neck scream!! Again, God has been my anchor, my hope, through all of this!! Best wishes to you!! Surely there has to be hope after fusion surgery!!!! I am determined and on a mission to let God prove that!!! God Bless you!! And remember...I can do ALL things through CHRIST who strengthens me!! :)

If you have the metal plate like I do, the "choking" happens. What helps me in reducing the number of episodes is I consiously chew my food more before swallowing and I ALWAYS have a glass of water with my meals, nothing carbinated. I admit it feels scarey as hell but try not to tense up, don't gasp for air. try breathing through your nose first, if nothing drink some water.

I had c4-5 done july 07 and a month ago I had a coughing fit and I've been in pain ever since, worse than the first one. c5-6 is now at that stage of possibly needing to be fused. not sure what i'm going to do.

Remember Water and chew!  '

Nearly two years ago I had a c5-7 fusion, I experienced a hard time swallowing and it always felt as though someone was chocking me. I ended up having to have a eshopageal wrap and thaide symptoms have subsided. In early spring I had issues with y shoulder and range of Orion (same side I had prior issues on) I did PT  and in September finally went back to my surgeon who took X-ray and said fusion looked good and forwarded me to a shoulder surgeon. My shoulder was very tight and the surgeon decided that releasing the bicep muscle would help with what appeared to be frozen shoulder. The pain down my neck shoulder and arm once again became inbearable so back to the surgeon I went to find out after another MRI the nerve between the 4-5 is compromised and causing issues. I have had two injections to calm the nerve one was yesterday. My question is do we have to keep having surgery until we are completely fused so there are no issues with pain? The muscles that become so tight and affect the range of motion and strength in y arm are debilitating. Any ideas

I always wondered if the globes was caused because the esophagus was moved during surgery I never had issues prior to surgery. My eshopogeall wrap stopped the globus sensation.

Four weeks out from acdf w hip bone harvest. Surprised still swollen. Down to two percocets and two soma a day. Slow going.

I had neck surgery 1 year ago , they fused 5 levels , did not help much but my throat is still a huge problem , a week after the surgery they put me in the ICU because I was unable to swallol and now a year later , I have to be very carefull with solid foods because they keep on hanging and are choking me . I have to chew it so long that it just don't taste anymore .

Hospital is trying to get around it and telling me , it is going over but I need another surgery and now I am affraid and I never was .

What happened here ?

Is there a doctor who can give me an honest answer ??? 

I am now 7 years post op. Sorry to say the choking and swallowing is still here. Like was said before, try to be more then careful when eating something that also has liquid (like cereal, soup) for some reason, I'm guessing the juice gets down before you're ready and the choking begins. I have learned to be careful but I'm not restricted and there's no pain. I will take this anyday over the pain I had before the surgery.

did you still having that issue, I got my surgery 10 weeks ago, and I am having the same issues, my voice goes away when I'm talking, my throat is swolled , paint look like my tonsil are swilled too, I went t see my doctor (throat and ears dr.) he said it is reflux , i'm taking omeprazole, almost a week but it looks like it isn't helping. I use my voice a lot in my work, and I can stand a throat swilled and sometimes with pain. please let me know what you didi to get better.

I had c5-6 c6-7 fusion in 2012 and this was a disaster. There is more and new pain then there was before the fusion. There is stiffness and burning pain which always begins at the fusion sites. I am awake all night/every night in pain. lately my throat feels like it is closing over and I cannot get air. Have you told your surgeon about the lump? Maybe that it is a postoperative complication and fixable.

Hello my name is Linda, I had my first c-spine surgery 8 years ago in front of my neck and it was a difficult recovery but after year I felt much better and had no problems with my voice, everything went back to normal thank God. Now I had two surgeries back to back front and back of my neck due to a severe fall causing severe impact to my neck pinched nerves compressed disc. I was in ICU for four days now May 15 it will be one year and I am having serious problems with my voice swallowing eating drinking and I cant sing the way I used to. I had to ENT doctor is look and and thank God my vocal chords are not paralyzed just a lot of acid reflux and inflammation. But yet my voice is not back to normal I am a soprano or used to be at least. I have days when I can sing of course feeling pressure and tightness around my throat, and I have days when I cannot sing at all. I had another test done a x-Ray and they had me drink a liquid as they looked on the monitor to see what was going on. The doctor said the plate is in front of the esophagus and that definitely causes pressure but cannot quite determine if that is what is causing my singing problems. This did not happen to me when I had the first surgery 8 years ago and I was fine before these two back to back surgeries this past May. I'm taking Nexium for my acid reflux and I continue to wait for a miracle. I choke on pills, food sometimes even the liquids, I feel tightness and a lump feeling in my throat as I swallow please keep me in your prayers I will pray for everyone I hope everyone recovers quickly, God bless everyone!!!

I am greater than 5 years out from 2 separate anterior fusion surgeries. The first was C 6-7 and the second, C 5-6, a few years later. I still have the exact swallowing issues and feeling of pressure on my throat that you have described. At times it has been so severe that I start to panic. One doc said it could be muscle spasm. Low doses of flexeril really did help. However, this medication is not meant for long term use. I just stopped taking it last week and my symptoms returned almost immediately. Just now being referred to ENT.

Hi i has surgery 5 month ago I was fused and plated in my cervical C4C5 I am still having a lot of neck spasms and a also have trouble swollowing, if I eat or drink anything feel like if I have something stick I. My throat. I am going to schedule an appointment with my surgeon to see what he suggest. You should go back to your surgeon for some answers. Good luck.

I had C-3-4-5-&6 ACDF with Hardware as well. I have very difficult time swallowing ,Vitamin and food as well.Under my chin is very tender still and areas of neck. I am 1 1/2 months since surgery also I have a Lump near my Neck like a half avocado? I wonder is that normal? Still have electrical sensation go up into my Left side of Head as well as Numbness in both arms. Right arm exhausts after typing this even . Still same after surgery :(. Still have Pain in Femurs which is another Issue I am told.Not a great thing to push trachea Intubate and muscles of throat over for four hours to have this done. I am Happy to be alive.

Me 2 . Totally the same. I guess this is normal for this procedure. I had C3,4,5 &6 with plate as well. ACDF Anterior Cervical Diskectomy Fusion.