anterior cervical fusion on C2-C7

I had cadaver bone grafting when I had my surgery (C-3-C-7) fused together.  I believe this is what they use most of the time for these surgeries.  I think working two months after surgery might be a bit optimistic, but I wish you the best.  Hope everything turns out well.  I would definitely recommend sleeping in a recliner after surgery - it really helps with the pain.  I still sleep sitting up and this is two years after surgery for me. Take care, Linda

Have had several surgeries including 5 cervical.  Last cervical surgery was dec 2010 to remove about one inch of left rod that was compressing on nerve root at C6-7.  I have natural fusion at C1 and C2 and have been fused from C2 to C7.  Have rods and screws and stuff in back and plate in front.  Still have head/neck/shoulder/arm/ and sometimes hand pain but usually pain is in shoulder and neck and numbness and weakness in wrist and hands.  After last surgery left shoulder spasms are less severe than before.  Am on several medications for pain and depressiona as well as other health problems.   For the pain I have a Medtronic pain pump (internal) that gives me dilaudid 24/7 directly into my spine and a bolus which will allow me extra diaudid by pump.  I also take 8 mg oral dilaudid every 3 to 6 hours for break through pain.  Take several different muscle relaxers for spams and use ice 2 to 6 hours per day.  I slept in a recliner and use a BIPaP to help me breath.  Taking probeably 12 or more rX drugs.  some for pain, some for sleep, some to get up, some to stay awake, etc.  In 2005 had the medtronic pump implanted and it allowedme to live a better life than all the pills i was on before.  Before teh pump was on Oxyconton 240 mg a day and 100 to 200 mg of methodone a day plus other meds.  I would recommend the pain pump if you have to take so much meds you can't function.  I am not doing as well know because of a large bone spur at C67 that is not in a good place to operate.  If anyone has or gets a pain pump do not use prialt.  It really messed up my brain and i had severe dementa from it that I have never recovered from.  It did seem to work but didn't realize how bad I was memtally until I was off.  K in OK

 

I had c-2 thru c-7 anterior/posterior cervical fusion in 2005.I recently retired on disability after 20 years as a letter carrier for the postal service

Iam in constant pain/burning in my neck and shoulders.I take 60 oxycontin 4 times a day/10.0 vicadin for break thru pain.Lucky my 3 kids live with me help me a lot.

I am now about 3 years post surgery (acdf, plate with 10 screws in neck).  I am in my 50's, and sounds like we (Ola) both have had identical surgeries.  Walking is the best exercise for me, but can cause the lower back to hurt.  But, it is very healthy and I walked a lot after surgery, at least as much as I could.  I don't know that anyone who has had this surgery will truly ever be without the need of pain killers.  I have doubled my use since about a year ago, but can still manage with a relatively low dose of vicodin and valium for relief.  Low dose meaning about 10 mg to 15 mg of norco a day, with valium as needed.  Just wish I could find something that doesn't scramble the mind while getting rid of the pain and will actually work.  I was very active too - I played ice hockey as a goalie and played softball up to the two months before surgery.  I have to say it stinks to not be able to be as active, but there is more to life I have learned.  I would recommend you take it slow.  One bad decision can change life for you, so take it slow and enjoy new things.  I will say that computer work is a killer and I had to quit work, even at part-time.  Just exacerbated the pain way too much.   I guess I am no longer a rookie at this point so I may have pointers for you and would love to help.  I hope your recovery goes really well.  I do think and hope that your pain will ease up as time goes on, and your need for pain killers will decrease.  I don't know that it really will ever go away completely though.  I am so glad I found this site!  It has taken me forever to find anyone who has had the surgery I have had - not many of us out there.  Take care!  Linda

walking puts more oxygen into yr body as you are restricted with the brace , so yes walking is tiring but it puts 100o/o of oxygen to fill yr lungs,. kaxx walton AUSTRALIA

Walking is a great idea and if you can walk with someone at first for a while might be a good idea. You do not want to fall so just be careful.

I had a 3 disc cervical fusion in May 2011 where they removed the C5 to C7 discs. Now, a year later, the C3 and C4 discs are giving a problem and my neurosurgeo now has to remove the plate and pins in my neck and fuse the C3 and C4 discs to the fusion which was done last year. I am a 50 year old female, usually extremely active, but the pain that I have been living with is totally debilitating and I feel that if the operation is going to help that, then I would rather have it short term than live with the long term pain. I have been taking pain killers for over a year now so hate to know how much damage this has caused to my stomach. With my operation in 2011, I had to sleep with a soft collar on, but wear a rigid collar for 6 weeks

I am having c2-c7 done. What will I have a soft collar or hard collar..how long? I am hoping for a three week recovery..am I being optimistic . Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Hi ,  jau13

my name is John. I am mow fused c2/c7 also .  6 years ago i had ACDF c3-c7 done all at the same time,  with plate and screws in the front.  on 5/3/2013 I had ACDF c2/3 done 2 1/2 weeks post op. now ,I left the hospttal with a hard collar  i am woried most about how much movement i'll have when i am all done healing and the fusion is solid?  I see the Dr. on the 29th. of this month, i feel like all is going well with the fusion, not to much pain when i take off collar to shower, i hope that's a good sign. I have for the last 5 1/2 years had some pain from my first operation. only can take Dilaudid and Ultram for my pain, get real sick on the heavy pain Meds. The real kicker is my job !!! I drive a tractor trailer for a living and for the last  5 1/2 years done real good with  c3/7 as far as movement goes and no problems driving.  Again I keep hearing how rare it is to be fused top to bottom compleat ACDF C2/C7. I heard  something like  1 in TEN MILLION, nice to have something in comon with someone. take care. 

                                                                                                                John.

hello there. I am a 58 yr old male who rolled over hill in a concrete truck. I was careflighted to trauma center and was complaining of numbness in arms and legs. they did mri and found they had to do fusion from c2 to c7.
there r rods in my neck connected to each c with screws
it was done 13 months ago. I am still experiencing a lot of pain.i am walking now and using both arms and legs
I have only half use of my motion in shoulder(left)which is called frozen shoulder. my small finger on left hand is turned inward and I cannot use fingers anymore to play guitar.i am starting to be able to control bowel vand urinating but still have setbacks occasionally. I have tingling in both hands at finger tips and carpel tunnel syndrome in left hand due to nerve damage. im not sure what kind of help I can give u as im not sure how im gonna end.would be glad to talk on phone if possible

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hi, i just had acdf c3 to c7 with fusion.everything went very well. pain is not to bad.i have trouble swallowing still after 11 days but its getting better.



good luck

I had c2 thru c7 ACF with graph from my hip on March 5, 2014. I'm 46 years old I still have left arm pain and a terrible time swallowing any solid food. I cant sleep through the night. I'm Sleeping in a recliner most of the time. I do walk 30 minutes a day, and I feel like I worked hard all day. I had to stop taking pain pills, they cause to many stomach problems. I just take some Tylenol when I can't stand it any more. My doctor made me temporarily totally disabled and I can't drive but that's probably for the best. I do wear a hard collar all the time and a soft one to sleep. J

I had 3 levels of fusion ( C4 - C7 ) 6 weeks ago and every day is a little bit better. Walking, heating pad on shoulders and neck, and massages have been the ticket. I wore a hard collar for 2 weeks and a soft for 1 more week. I wore the soft collar for all 3 weeks at night. I have not taken any pain meds other than Motrin in 2 weeks. I still have some pain, but it is reducing in severity each day. I'm 51 years old.

had c2-c7 fusion/decompression 4 screws with a plate in the front and 10 screws and 2 rods in the back. been 1.5 months now and just started therapy on left arm. weak shoulder, left hand numb, toes numb, right hand finger tips numb.

I am fused from c2 thru c7 I also have 6 bolts and screws and a plate in the front. I have had nothing but pain!  Is this happening to anybody else?