Hi Jen,
I know what you mean about the feeling of "something sticking" in your throat. I'm told this is a reaction of the throat muscles. I get the same thing.
My surgery was eight days ago, and I'm told I'm doing really well with my recovery. Don't use me as a gauge, though, everyone is different.
One of the things I feel has made a huge difference for me is exercise. I am fortunate enough to have a tread mill and beginning with my second day home I do a bit more ever day on the tread mill. Walking only, of course. At eight days post surgery, I'm up to 1.5 miles at about a 3mph pace. Just a good walk.
It is really surprising how this kind of surgery can really disrupt your body and sap your energy. I have to "crash" for about a half hour after my walk, before I can even get breakfast.
I've also taken to walking around a small lake near our house that has a gravel foot path. It's about .8 miles around and my shoulders and neck are killing me by the time I've done one loop. I sit on a bench and let my wife do a lap by herself. Then it's home for another nap. ;-)
I also know what you mean about being outside. It feels sooo good after being cooped up in the house.
You sound like you are doing really well, Jen. Take it easy and don't push yourself too much. Everyone recovers at a different rate.
I'm about to head for my nap as well.
Take care!
Terry
I know what you mean about the feeling of "something sticking" in your throat. I'm told this is a reaction of the throat muscles. I get the same thing.
My surgery was eight days ago, and I'm told I'm doing really well with my recovery. Don't use me as a gauge, though, everyone is different.
One of the things I feel has made a huge difference for me is exercise. I am fortunate enough to have a tread mill and beginning with my second day home I do a bit more ever day on the tread mill. Walking only, of course. At eight days post surgery, I'm up to 1.5 miles at about a 3mph pace. Just a good walk.
It is really surprising how this kind of surgery can really disrupt your body and sap your energy. I have to "crash" for about a half hour after my walk, before I can even get breakfast.
I've also taken to walking around a small lake near our house that has a gravel foot path. It's about .8 miles around and my shoulders and neck are killing me by the time I've done one loop. I sit on a bench and let my wife do a lap by herself. Then it's home for another nap. ;-)
I also know what you mean about being outside. It feels sooo good after being cooped up in the house.
You sound like you are doing really well, Jen. Take it easy and don't push yourself too much. Everyone recovers at a different rate.
I'm about to head for my nap as well.
Take care!
Terry
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manycolouredhalo & Tbrien,
All good info. Thanks for sharing. It will help you and others who get to read this. The lump in the throat took a while for me to get over. I would say maybe a month or more. The hump as you put it, is still hurting for me and I am 6 months post-op. It does not hurt all the time but I just want you to know, It is normal and you have to learn how to move and how to turn your head say lik when you are in a car. Have others do it for a whil.
Take care, and Good Luck!
Rob
All good info. Thanks for sharing. It will help you and others who get to read this. The lump in the throat took a while for me to get over. I would say maybe a month or more. The hump as you put it, is still hurting for me and I am 6 months post-op. It does not hurt all the time but I just want you to know, It is normal and you have to learn how to move and how to turn your head say lik when you are in a car. Have others do it for a whil.
Take care, and Good Luck!
Rob
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Had a broken dic in 1996 saw 3 dr's. 2 said pins rods plates screws never did it 3rd was the one who took out broken dics. Told me to wait until i couldn't stand it anymore. 2009 now i have to have 2 seperate 3 way rods pins screws and plates in front and back also low back lami and full roto cuff. Machisist for 27yrs. my legs back shoulders hurt burn go numb told i have cord damage. Dropping things and bupping into things as i walk. So the journy begins. Trying to keep a positive attitude!! I am only 51. Same as everyone here no sleep all kinds of meds. Just hang in there i don't know about you guy's and gal's but when this is done and i have any money left i am going to catch me a big old MARLIN!!!! GET WELL PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 8)
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Well it is always good to find positive stories. I have a friend that had a car accident, and now he is really struggling to get better. I am trying to be positive for him as much as I can, but don't know how to help him in the best way. You have all experienced this in personal, but do you have suggestion for me, a guy who is trying to help a friend to get better in easiest way possible??? Any idea would be nice. Thank you in advance.
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I hope you all are taking care and getting better! I see my neurosurgeon again on July 1, after a month of physical therapy. At first it was miraculous and I thought I'd avoid surgery for sure, but now I just want it done! I broke my neck at age 19, now almost 48. No surgery then or since. I have episodes of difficulties, mostly burning sizzling sensations where I almost scratch my skin off, but now my right hand/arm have been sizzling for 2 months. I just want to crawl out of my skin! I'm a teacher and want to be ready to work when school starts. I barely made it through the last month of school and CANNOT imagine starting a year out like this!
2 years ago I was told I'd need 5 fusions, so wait as long as possible. I'm not sure what this surgeon is thinking needs to be done, we only talked about my hand/arm. Boy am I going to be asking questions at my appointment!
2 years ago I was told I'd need 5 fusions, so wait as long as possible. I'm not sure what this surgeon is thinking needs to be done, we only talked about my hand/arm. Boy am I going to be asking questions at my appointment!
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Good for you....ask questions. It is the only way you are going to know what to expect. After the questions are answered go on line and see how the info there relates to what the doctor told you. Compare notes so to speak.
Wow I can't believe it's been almost 30 yrs since you've been injured and are just now going to have surgery. I agree with the surgeon....wait till you can't wait any longer.
I only had C-5, C-6 done about 3 yrs ago. That was a long drawn out recovery so I'm sure your surgery will be also.
I wish you a speedy recovery...just remember to take it slow. Give your body time to heal. Post so we know how you are doing.
Wow I can't believe it's been almost 30 yrs since you've been injured and are just now going to have surgery. I agree with the surgeon....wait till you can't wait any longer.
I only had C-5, C-6 done about 3 yrs ago. That was a long drawn out recovery so I'm sure your surgery will be also.
I wish you a speedy recovery...just remember to take it slow. Give your body time to heal. Post so we know how you are doing.
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Had C 5-6 fusion in Oct. 2008, previos symptoms were numbness in right arm/hand, and couldn't raise my head up to look at the sky. After surgery and PT, no driving a car for 10 weeks, I was symptom free in Feb. '09, until I was passenger in a car that drove over 2 speed bumps at 40 mph, (my Father-In-Law), and I woke up the next day with symptoms back in R arm. My right hand won't close in the morning and it hurts to force it to make a fist. It loosens up during the day, but I have no grip strength. Currently going to PT 2/week now, but that will run out. My In-Laws deny that they did anything wrong! Very sensitive subject telling a 75 year old man if he can't see the white lines he shouldn't be driving.
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I am getting discouraged reading all of these posts. Prior to my surgery I competed in bodybuilding and was very active. I woke one morning and felt like I had slept wrong on my neck. After a few days I went to urgent care at the orthopedics and had an x ray and it was discovered my C5-6 and 6-7 were almost deteriorated with 5-6 disk bulging into spinal cord causing pain and loss of strength in right arm. Surgery was agreed upon as I wanted nothing to stand in the way of my aspirations. Surgery was one week ago today. Surgery was a cinch. Recovery has been less than desirable. I could not swallow for 5 days without excruciating pain. Now that is gone but this unbelievable fatigue has set in and I am experiencing pain in between my shoulders and at the base of my neck. I am thinking my surgery did not work but my husband says it is muscle strain from holding my head weird. I am happy I did the surgery because my arm strength and pain is gone but now all these other weird symptoms are depressing me. Am I ever going to be "Good as New"? From reading these posts I do not think so. What have your doctors told you? Mine say I will return to bodybuilding etc. but I just don't know? Anyone really post surgery, like many months post surgery who can reassure me it will get better? I need a huge upper today. Really feeling sorry for myself.
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I had the surgery two weeks ago on 6-7. You may want to try the Water pillow as I have been sleeping 8-10 hours a night with no pain pills. I am still in neck brace for another 2 weeks.
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I will have the surgery in a few weeks (4,5,6and possibly 7) and I have been a little scared but thanks to all the post my nerves has settled a little bit. Do any of you that has had the surgery also have any other problems like heart disease, blood pressure, or diabetes?
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i h more pins and needles in myad c3, c4, c5 done on jan7th, it was the best thing i eever did!!!! no pins and needles in my arms and hands and i can sleep now, never thought that would happen!! no more aching in my hands and arms still alittle tingley but no pain, i feel like i have a new life, the only thing is the surgeon had to move my esophagus over to get to my neck so i couldnt swallow very good but i'm so glad i had the surgery my husband can get a good sleep cause im not sitting up crying, at on point the pain was so bad i wanted him to 'cut' my arm off!!! it was that bad, and i have diabetes and high blood pressure, i only stayed over night in the hospital, the ride home kind of hurt but that comes with the teritory, good luck and god bless
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I had my c5&6 done in Nov 09. I am doing ok. My right side vocal chord was damaged and taking a while to heal.. Overall I am happy that I did the surgery. The bump on my neck hurts off and on. I still have problems bending my neck, lifting and standing for a period of time. I use a neck pillow from select comfort- wonderful pillow. I know people at my work think I should be back to normal by now..
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Yes it is amazing to me how some people think...let them go through this and then they have the right to comment on "how fast you should recover."
This happened to me also...I did my very best not to show how much pain I was in while at work but sometimes its hard to hide.
Hopefully it will get better for you soon :-)
This happened to me also...I did my very best not to show how much pain I was in while at work but sometimes its hard to hide.
Hopefully it will get better for you soon :-)
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An old topic, but I thought I would add my experience; I had 5-6/6-7 fusion done on February 23rd of this year, and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I had nearly unbearable pain/burning in my left shoulder and down my left arm. It started as a mild annoyance but progressed (over the course of 3 years) to an intense, mind-numbing pain.
I was back at work exactly 5 weeks after the surgery, and back in the gym doing light weightlifting workouts in 6. I only wore a soft brace for 3 or 4 days, and was off pain medication in 5. I still get occasional light pain in my neck, but it's nothing that 2 extra strength Tylenol can't mitigate.
I was back at work exactly 5 weeks after the surgery, and back in the gym doing light weightlifting workouts in 6. I only wore a soft brace for 3 or 4 days, and was off pain medication in 5. I still get occasional light pain in my neck, but it's nothing that 2 extra strength Tylenol can't mitigate.
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I am suppose to have fusion surgery on c-5-c-6 this month and I have to say I am terrified. Reading all of everyones comments it seems like some are glad they had surgery but are still experiencing pain. Am I going to be exchanging one pain for another?
I have pain that starts in my neck and runs down into my shoulder and then runs into my arm. I take all sorts of pain pills that don't really help. My pain is constant. In reading all these posts not one person said that their pain started in there neck. I still have strength in my hands and I do drop things all the time with the hand that's not hurting. Does anyone know of any other procedure that would correct bulging discs other than fusion? What about decompression?
I am a avid Horse back rider and I would be devasted if after surgery I could not ride my horses anymore and be in pain permanantly.
Rae
I have pain that starts in my neck and runs down into my shoulder and then runs into my arm. I take all sorts of pain pills that don't really help. My pain is constant. In reading all these posts not one person said that their pain started in there neck. I still have strength in my hands and I do drop things all the time with the hand that's not hurting. Does anyone know of any other procedure that would correct bulging discs other than fusion? What about decompression?
I am a avid Horse back rider and I would be devasted if after surgery I could not ride my horses anymore and be in pain permanantly.
Rae
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