Pain after anterior cervical diskectomy with fusion (ACDF)

I hope you're feeling better! I had the same surgery as you and would never wish this pain on anyone. 1 1/2 years post op and some days are almost unbearable. I had a previous fusion with no problems at all. However, this last one makes me wish I had never had it done either. Unfortunately, it wasn't a choice.
I agree with you, if anyone is considering this surgery and it's not an emergency surgery, think twice before getting it done.

I am a 63 yo female and had the anterior cervical fusion with one vertebrae removed and a couple of disks too. I had terrible neck pain off and on for 12 years. I had also started suffering from daily morning killer migraines. I had numbness of my fingers upon awakening every morning. Dr. Khoo, formally of UCLA ,
and now runs his own clinic, did my surgery putting in a cage, plates and screws. My headaches are virtually gone, neck pain at about 60% gone, but I have right arm pain, partial paralysis and numbness in my first and second fingers. It's only been 20 days and each day seems a baby step better than the previous day. He told me the nerves are "pissed off" from all the surgical manipulation and past compression. It will probably take months to fully recover, but I am definitely seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Very glad I had the surgery. The migraines were absolutely devastating and life altering. So much relief now. I should be starting PT next week, so am anticipating even better healing. One note though. My Dr prescribed some pretty powerful Vicodin every four hours. I took them for five days and then tried to get off of it and use excedrin. DON'T! The pain became excruciating and I became non- functional. I was told it was very important to take those pain pills for several weeks. When the body is in extreme pain, it is stressed. When the body is stressed, it interferes with healing. I went back on the prescribed dose of Vicodin and everything got better. I am now on half strength of the Vicodin I was taking, and I'm still doing great! I see the doc next week and he may tell me to cut further back on the Vicodin until I'm not taking it anymore. The surgery is pretty scarey and painful at first, but it does get better! Hang in there!

I am glad to see someone on here that understands the process of a fusion healing. September 18, 2015 I had a C4/5 &5/6 ACDF. It's a structural repair! It naturally releases compressed and pinched nerves. Each person is different in the healing process. it does depend on how long those nerves have been compromised as to how long before they regenerate and to what extent. If you go in to this kind of surgery expecting to come out pain free that isn't realistic. I have degenerative disc disease stage 4. The neck surgery did remove the horrible burning between my shoulder blades. I still have some pain and muscle soreness and stiffness. I always will. Next surgery is scheduled for December 28, 2015 with a PLIF of L3/4 & 4/5 due to the osteoarthritis aka Degenerative disc disease to structurally repair one disc has slipped off the other causing my spine to become unstable and the other disc herniation with severe stenosis and flattening of the spinal cord in those areas. I have horrible lower back pain, numbness and tingling down the back of my legs and even walking causes extreme pain some days. It's like a car with a flat tires. Fix the flat and you can theoretically move forward, but that doesn't guarantee the car will run. I don't expect to be 100% pain free, but do know I have to rebuild the foundation and it stands to reason the compression on those nerves will be released. It's just there is no way to tell the extent of the nerve damage and if or when it will regenerate or if some is irreparable. The surgery is worth the pain so I can have a better quality and quantity of life rather than facing the possibility of not walking and being in a wheelchair in my twilight years. I just turned 58 and my first discectomy and laminectomy was 12 years ago at L 4/5. I was told then that I would eventually need a fusion. That surgery was very successful in helping my back pain and the loss of strength in my left leg. Yes, it hurts.......off the 1-10 chart more like 50 plus when those long compromised nerves begin to wake up, BUT for me at least, it has been well worth it for the chance of continuing to follow and support my grandchildren as they go into cheerleading, baseball, basketball. I can be there and be a part of their lives instead of being stuck at home because I can't sit or stand for very long periods of time. And yes, there will be more surgeries most likely as it is an inherited degenerative condition. I'm fixing the cracks in the foundation and getting on with this life God has planned out for me.

Hello I am 8 months down the line from my own op 1 and 2 discs I can move my neck better but still have burning down my arm and shoulder pain can't walk well thought I would have ...doc says 12 month don't know if I'm fused yet though gonna try for a scan just pray it will calm down hope you see improvement.... Chrissie

i am 2 months post op on my second surgery. I had C/5-C/6 done in 2012. I am a fulltime firemen/paramedic and with hard work I made it back to work in 6 months after surgery. Here i am in 2015 with pain getting bad again. I found a new doc(neuro) that i liked and had an MRI done the disc's below were going bad. stenosis, arthritis, bulge disc protruding into the cord at C/6-C/7, C7/T1. We went with nerve blocks first so i could continue my work. After the facet injections i learned what a migraine is. low dose percocet took that away after an e/r visit but i found after a fire or lifting heavy patients it took longer to recover. i finally had the surgery in oct and i can say i feel worse know with 3 levels done. i get numbness in my left shoulder to my fingers and neck pain is constant. pain between the shoulder blades is bad but neck is worse. I try to cut down on my pain meds. I need more sleep. xray just came back normal which means the screws are holding. but my plan to return to full duty in 3 months post op is not looking good. If you have to do this surgery good luck. get lots of support. watch depression. go for those walks. and pray. Once one goes they all start to seem to go.

Hi. I also had a c4-c7 acdf August 2015. The pain I'm going through now is excruciating. The neck pain is certainly worse with shooting pain, weakness and numbness down both arms. I have consistent headaches and i am in a very depressed state of mind. I'm on a total of 6 meds for my neck alone and already gone through a round of PT which was useless. I start aquatic therapy next week, but at this point....I'm not very hopeful.

I am 62. Its 20016. In 2007 my neck broke in car accident. I had ACDF in C3-4, 4-5. With DDD in 3,4,5,6. Now it hurts everywhere in C area to thorasic area. Weakness in R arm and tingling to foot w heal pain. No Dr will give enuf pain meds to help. Now taking 15mg morphine ER and 15mg Oxy. Wish I could know what to do. Life is in unbearable pain.

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Personally, I was in 4 days after my surgery. Some people posted 1-2 & 3'4. So I believe it depends on the health factors of the patient.

Just had a c-4,c-5 fusion, plate from previous spinal fusion at c5,c6 was removed and plate put on c4,c5..i am only 5 days after surgery, my biggest problem is my EARS hurt so bad, ans spasms all across both shoulders,, god knows i hope this goes away..still on pain meds and robaxin...

I am 1 yr post op 2 level acdf 4-6 with surgery successful but still very painful. Just visited my surgeon this past week and said everything looked fine and said he had no idea what could be wrong. I have severe pain in my neck running down my arm and down my back. It is worse than it was before my surgery. They now think I have permanent nerve damage

I know how you feel!!!! I am a week out, I have pain in both shoulders down my arm, and tingling in my lips......numbness in my (literal) right thigh....and when I called my Neurologist, he said numbNess is normal, because of nerve compression to get graft.... (SAY WHAT????? NORMAL???? OKIE DOKIE!) I hope things improve.....because this is one surgery I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND OR DO AGAIN!!!!! The worst decision I ever made. Seeing as how I have been smoking for 31 years, and he never told me to cut down or quit before the surgery.......my prognosis for success.....questionable at best....Ugh!!!!!

I had the ACDF Level 2 done in January of this year, for the most part I have done well. Recently, I am experiencing wrist pain in my right hand. If I bend my hand downwards, it gets stuck in a cramp and sends me through the roof. I was laid off shortly after my surgery and no longer have medical group coverage..I have not been to any physical therapy afterwards and was wondering if I could get a massage and if yes what kind? Hurting in Dallas

I am a 53 year old female. I had ACDF surgery in my C4-5, C5-6, & C6-7 on 3/8/2016. I am six months out and I feel horrible. I feel worse than before the surgery. I too have a titanium plate with 8 screws... My left arm is numb from the top of my arm to my fingertips. Also, in a lot of pain in my left arm .
My insurance did not pay for a bone stimulator, so I do not know if that would have helped me or not. I take 4 calcium citrate pills per day. The doctor says that this will help with the bone fusion. Last month when I went to the doctor for my x-rays.... the x-ray showed that the C7 was settling on my T1........ I am not sure if that is why I am having so much pain in my upper back now! I have been very depressed since the surgery, because I don't feel any better. I have a granddaughter & I cannot even play with her, because I am in so much pain. :(
Please let me know If anyone else has had the same symptoms after their surgery. Thanks

marijuana helps me

I just had C4 & C5 ACDF yesterday. The doctor use the disc tissue to put back in my disc. It looks like a phone jack with a hole in the middle. (Middle hole has my bone in it). I am already discharged one day later. Is this normal? The doctor said I don't have to wear a neck brace. I am kind of freaking out.