post anterior cervical disectomy recovery concerns

mommy3boys2girls

My dad had this surgery 2 1/2 yrs ago and is in alot of pain still. I am going in a couple days due to a fall. I have found all of these posts very helpful although i see my dads situation and wonder will i really be able to return to my desk job in 30 days. my dad is in so much pain but I am in soo much now I think it will be a better than the pain i am in now.

Hi there everyone in the land of pain!! I had a disectomy & fusion 5/6 on the 12 march 2006, what can l say....... the pain ans tingling has gone from my left arm, but the pain in the neck and shoulders still continues, funny enough, it has swapped sides!!! I know it sound mad, and for a while after the surgery l just tried to ignore it, thinking it may just be becasue of the surgery and it would go away!! Not so LUCKY its bigger and better than ever! and now l seem to feel the same pain in my deltiod muscle my left arm again!!!! I am not sure whether it is the inflamation, but the anit inflams didn't make any difference! I take panadine forte, and that only dulls my brain, i still feel pain after taking them!.. Has anyone expereienced this change of sides, l would really love to hear from you as my specialist says things like: I am not for a moment suggesting that your making this up!!! But l do not know what it is! BULL c**p! l say l feel it and its getting worse all the time.... Please help me with this as no one seems to understand except for us like people in painland.
PS I AM IN AUSTRALIA!! we have pain here too!!! :-(

Hi All,
I had surgery on May 23, 2006, on c4 thru c7, so I am about 9 weeks post op. I hear most of you saying you are taking pain meds, however, no one has said anything about muscle relaxants. I am off all meds at this time, but the muscle relaxers worked better than the pain meds for me. I slept in a recliner before surgery and for the first 7 weeks after surgery. I believe the discomfort between the shoulder blades is due to deconditioning. My doctor suggested that I do some non weight bearing conditoning exercises such as arm circles and raising my arms above my head. Did anyone feel like a bobble head doll, after surgery?

I had my surgery 11 months ago. and no it doesn't get better. I felt better when my injury occurred than I do 11 months after surgery. I still can't lay in bed , or lift , vacuum my house,pull laundry out of the washer or dryer. stand and wash dishes, cook supper, I have to sit down and let the burning down my neck and arms and inbetween my shoulderblades subside alittle so I can go back to what I was doing. I still have the numbness down the arms and fingers. and now severe headaches. The docs want to give meds, the meds do not help me. All the meds do is cover up the pain and therefore when you have a good day it cannot be attributed to the actual recovery or healing just the fact that you took some pain meds and dulled your senses for a short time . I want to know why I still hurt. I dont want it covered up with meds so that I dont remember I still hurt. What you have to remember is there is not a doctor out there that is going to say they made an error in surgery. If you have noticed anything with this process it is that prescription drugs are too readily available. If you hurt with the pain killers why take them? Docs would rather write a script than to find out why you still hurt. I had the same surgery. Before the surgery docs told me I would feel as good as before the injury. That has not accurred. Now I have xrays showing "apparent nonunion" as quoted by a different doctor. Always get second opinions, text book surgeries do not work for everyone and when they get that 1 person out of a million that doesn't fit the text book answers they want to push the pain meds. Everyone heals at a different pace and something may work for one that doesnt work for another , but doctors have no clue what to do If they cant read step by step instructions, and there you are sitting out in the cold now because you listened and believed in what you were being sold. I am there, and at this point I dont know what is going to become of my pain and injury, or where I am going to be in 5 years with this. I am a 43 year old female that was very active prior to this injury and surgery. I hope that everyone that reads this does not experience what I have. Be smart get a second or third opinion, This is your life and your future. Good luck[/url]

I had my surgery 11 months ago. and no it doesn't get better. I felt better when my injury occurred than I do 11 months after surgery. I still can't lay in bed , or lift , vacuum my house,pull laundry out of the washer or dryer. stand and wash dishes, cook supper, I have to sit down and let the burning down my neck and arms and inbetween my shoulderblades subside alittle so I can go back to what I was doing. I still have the numbness down the arms and fingers. and now severe headaches. The docs want to give meds, the meds do not help me. All the meds do is cover up the pain and therefore when you have a good day it cannot be attributed to the actual recovery or healing just the fact that you took some pain meds and dulled your senses for a short time . I want to know why I still hurt. I dont want it covered up with meds so that I dont remember I still hurt. What you have to remember is there is not a doctor out there that is going to say they made an error in surgery. If you have noticed anything with this process it is that prescription drugs are too readily available. If you hurt with the pain killers why take them? Docs would rather write a script than to find out why you still hurt. I had the same surgery. Before the surgery docs told me I would feel as good as before the injury. That has not accurred. Now I have xrays showing "apparent nonunion" as quoted by a different doctor. Always get second opinions, text book surgeries do not work for everyone and when they get that 1 person out of a million that doesn't fit the text book answers they want to push the pain meds. Everyone heals at a different pace and something may work for one that doesnt work for another , but doctors have no clue what to do If they cant read step by step instructions, and there you are sitting out in the cold now because you listened and believed in what you were being sold. I am there, and at this point I dont know what is going to become of my pain and injury, or where I am going to be in 5 years with this. I am a 43 year old female that was very active prior to this injury and surgery. I hope that everyone that reads this does not experience what I have. Be smart get a second or third opinion, This is your life and your future. Good luck[/url]

I had surgery on 5/05/06 cervial discectomy w/fusion at c5-6 and c6-7. I was off work for 8 weeks, although my doctor seemed to think I'd be able to go back after about 3. Post surgery was a lot more painful than I expected, especially the first couple of weeks. I wasn't able to take the strong pain meds, they made me nauseous even after eating, so I just toughed it out (took tramadol). Fortunately, I was already taking sleep meds (Trazadone), so I was able to sleep, although not deeply.

My problem is I am now almost 11 weeks out of surgery and I'm still experiencing a fairly high level of pain. It feels muscular to me, and I'm feeling it mostly in my upper back and shoulders, also some in the sides of my neck. I'm in more pain than I was pre-op. Most of my pain was in my left shoulder/upper back, now it is bilateral. I'm still very stiff and turning my head is painful. I've been going to physical therapy for about 3 weeks now, and I don't notice much improvement. My doctor finally allowed me to take anti-inflammatories, (I'm now taking Relafen), and they seem to offer some relief, although not consistently.

My doctor has suggested that I should not be in pain, that everything looks good with my post-op x-rays and MRI. He's planning on referring me to a specialist for fibromyalgia. I've read up on this, and it doesn't seem as if I fit the profile very well.

I guess I would find the pain more manageable if I knew that it was "normal" and that there's some light at the end of the tunnel.

mommy3boys2girls wrote:

Junebug wrote:

Dylette - How long ago was your husband's fusion? My husband had it done three years ago and has done very well. I have never heard of someone being told it would take four years! That is nuts. I had it done six days ago and am virtually pain free. I would seek a second opinion if I were you as four years of non-stop pain is not something anyone should have to endure.

No his Dr said he should be pain free now... but he is not... he is 1 yr post op. His neuro said it would take 4 yrs for the fusion to be complete. As for the pain. His Dr is not willing to hear about it or treat him for it.... because he "has many patients who are totally pain free" I was just wondering if there were many others a year or so out who are still in pain. Its a worker comp case so Jeremy is getting the run around.

~*Dylett*~

I tend to read these sights and not participate...hope I'm doing this correctly. Had to respond to what this woman's husband is going through. Seven years ago I had a two level posterior lumbar fusion.It failed . The procedure was redone from front and back and taken up another level three years later.Two six hour surgeries over a four day period--it was hell!!!

I won't take you on the entire recovery journey but will add some insights:

I continued to have pain problems....for most of the last three and a half years I used liberal amounts of percocet and soma. I also dealt with a significant amount of depression.It was only after finding a good shrink who treated patients with chronic pain and depression did I begin to understand some things about my condition.

Yes, it can take many years to begin to feel better after such a surgery---but when your body breaks down your mind often follows and you fail to do the things you need to do to recover.

Pain management doctors are certainly more understanding then surgeons when it comes to extended post op pain---but PM doctors fail to often understand the mental trauma of chronic pain.

If I had not, through my own research (not my doctor's advice), found a Psy. who treated chronic pain I am not sure I would be where I am today.
And that is : drug free(man , did I misread how meds fuel depression) and finally engaged in an exercise and health program that is beginning to give me back my life

It is a difficult journey----everyone's story is different. But, please, don't look to your surgeon for any post op comfort(other than drUgs) .My last surgeon said to me when I asked about physical therapy--Why do you need that I fixed you ?

Need I say more ....

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hi, I had thew surgery on Dec. 6, 2005, on c4,c5,c6, and c7. It hs not helped me at all. I also am in pain all the time, you sound just like me, I used to have the nickname Taz and now I can't seem to hardly do anything. You can email me if you want****

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Use the subject line as Cervical Disc so I'll be sure to read it. Good Luck to you and God Bless

I had my ACDF on c5 6 7 last Tuesday (two days ago). Spent one night in the hospital and am home now. I have the titanium plate with 6 screws and am wearing a soft collar. I used cadaver bone so I don't have any hip issues. My main problem is the pain in the middle of my upper back and lower neck and inner tops of my shoulders.

I take 10/500 hydrocodone/APAP 1 every 4 hours and that knocks it back a little but not enough to releive the pain. This feels muscular in nature and could be related to being in traction on the operating table.

Did anyone else have this type of pain and did it finally ease off? It's absolutely unbearable w/out the pain drugs and it's worse than the pain I went into to surgery to get fixed.

Hey Down Under!!! I was so relieved to find one other person in the world who could say that they have experienced the same thing that I am going thru (not that I would wish it on you or my worst enemy). I had ACSF at the C5-6 level on 8/11/06 for predominately right sided misery between my shoulder blades, my trapezius muscles and down my right arm. 6 days post-op, I rolled over in bed about 4:30AM and experienced a horrible snap that sent me into severe pain in my neck and now down my left side that exactly mirrors what was on the right side pre-op. As things go, I now have pain between my shoulder blades, in both traps, and a sensation of being randomly shocked at various points down the length of both arms to the point of being driven mad. Of course the neuro wants to prescribe more meds, more time off work, more PT, and oh, by the way, now I have another bulding disc at the c7 level!!!! He did do another post-op MRI and EMG that shows C7 nerve root irritation. I am going to go for a 2nd (3rd - bazillionth if necessay) opinion(s) to try to get some answers. Hopefully you have found somehting that helps your situation. If I find anything out, I will certainly post again. I hope to see another posting from you! Goosey.

I had ACF on my C4, 5, & 6 on 4/13/06. I do not have pain; however, I have extreme soreness and stiffness in my neck. Can anyone tell me if this is related to my ACF and if so does it go away with or is this a permanent side effect?

To ALL of you that are experiencing the "middle of the shoulder" between the blade pain know this.... I am four months out from my C6-7 fusion and I am STILL having it.... 3 extra strength tylenol is about what it takes to knock it out though... Problem is I operate a machine that vibrates and it seems to aggravate it to the point of me having to come home and lay down for a minimum of 2 hours... AFter the 2 hours the pain subsides and I am just left with a sore area in the middle of my back... I really hope this goes away some day, as I dont want to live with it forever... To EVERYONE out there dealing with this..... I feel ya...

lejester wrote:

monspain wrote:

Hi there everyone in the land of pain!! I had a disectomy & fusion 5/6 on the 12 march 2006, what can l say....... the pain ans tingling has gone from my left arm, but the pain in the neck and shoulders still continues, funny enough, it has swapped sides!!! I know it sound mad, and for a while after the surgery l just tried to ignore it, thinking it may just be becasue of the surgery and it would go away!! Not so LUCKY its bigger and better than ever!

Hey Down Under!!! I was so relieved to find one other person in the world who could say that they have experienced the same thing that I am going thru (not that I would wish it on you or my worst enemy). I had ACSF at the C5-6 level on 8/11/06 for predominately right sided misery between my shoulder blades, my trapezius muscles and down my right arm. 6 days post-op, I rolled over in bed about 4:30AM and experienced a horrible snap that sent me into severe pain in my neck and now down my left side that exactly mirrors what was on the right side pre-op. As things go, I now have pain between my shoulder blades, in both traps, and a sensation of being randomly shocked at various points down the length of both arms to the point of being driven mad. Of course the neuro wants to prescribe more meds, more time off work, more PT, and oh, by the way, now I have another bulding disc at the c7 level!!!! He did do another post-op MRI and EMG that shows C7 nerve root irritation. I am going to go for a 2nd (3rd - bazillionth if necessay) opinion(s) to try to get some answers. Hopefully you have found somehting that helps your situation. If I find anything out, I will certainly post again. I hope to see another posting from you! Goosey.

Goosey-
You are describing the exact pain I am feeling, and yes I am relieved to know that it may be part of the recovery. I am 3-weeks post op and some body movements will put me on my knees from the pain. Luckily it is not all day. Reading all these post make me so nervous, I have a very active lifestyle, so I hope to heal fully in a few months. I was back at work in 2-weeks. Take care and get well soon!

Stephoakes, I am 4 weeks post-op today, and my pain level is finally down to a 2.5 to 3.0 without pain meds. I don't know how 'normal' it is to have this kind of pain post-op, but I did contact the specialists at Univ of CO spine center and spoke with a very knowledgeable PA who was very informative and reasurring for second opinions concerning what was going on. She suggested several things that I will try. Anyone that is concerned about their recovery experience should seek a second or third opinion if needed to get what they need. We don't go thru the expense, time and suffering (pre-op and post-op) to live life in constant pain. So do everything you possibly can for yourself, including listening very intently to what you body is telling you and don't push... Take care and get well soon.
-Goosey

Thanks for the information, did the PA suggest any specfic exercises?
I hope you continue to get more healthy!