post anterior cervical disectomy recovery concerns

Hello all you fellow Pains in the Neck ;-)
I too have have had cervical spinal fusion, on Dec 19, 2006, which makes me 6 1/2 weeks Post-Op. I can feel your pain and sympathize with those that are still having problems. I've searched so many sites trying to find answers to what are "normal" expectations and symptoms/problems after surgery but haven't found any good articles yet. This forum is by far the best thing I've found yet just to see if I'm normal! If yall have found a good site let me know.
I had a severely ruptured disc, C5-6 and a bone spur (osteophyte) on C4, my doc said I was in his top 10 worst cases he'd seen. I had pieces of disc all the way to my shoulder! I'm 45, female, and a smoker. I've read that smoking can prevent or slow the fusion, by the way. The one thing I've noticed in all the posts that is different with me, I did NOT have to wear a brace or collar! They gave me a soft collar and said I only had to wear it if it helped with the pain. I had the disc decompression with the Titanium plate. Was in hospital for 23 hours. Went home and have done really well. I went back to work in 4 weeks, my husband and I "Flip" (remodel) houses, so I have very physical work. I drove in 3 weeks. BUT now I think I've over-done it! IFor the past 3 days I have had constant burning pain on the top of my arm over my elbow area and "aching" pain across my shoulders and neck. From reading all of your experiences I guess this is normal? How long did your doc's say you have to wait for physical therapy? Mine says 12 weeks, but I'm already doing just about everything I did before, just not lifting anything over 10 pounds and trying not to do work over my head. Bassplayer, are you any better??? Good luck and keep posting... this is interesting and we can see how we all do in the next months.

I am 3 1/2 months post ACDF surgery and I feel great! I had a 2 level (c5-c7) ACDF with cadaver bone and titanium instrumentation. I don't have any pain. I no longer have to wear the Aspen brace, I have returned to work full-time teaching, I can drive again, and I am sleeping at night. I am so glad I had the surgery. It's amazing how well I feel. I just wanted people to know that there are some of us who do very well after this kind of surgery. I was in terrible pain before the surgery and completely disabled so there really was no choice for me not to do it. The recovery was slow and painful at first. I think I had the hardest time with the incredible boredom of not being able to work and watching so much tv. I was given the ok to work after 6 weeks. I worked half-time for two weeks until I felt that I could manage full-time without it being too painful. I feel so grateful to have had it all work out so well. But I did do everything the doctors told me to do and it's been working so far. Good luck to you all out there. :-D

to mommy3boy2girls.
wondering if things are better now.
see my last posting to see if you followed same dr directions.
I would like to ad dr say absolutely now advil ibobrfin or asperin, it inhibbits bone fusion healing time. careful use of narcotics is much prefered Brace comes off in 5 weeks.

Hi Papa Bob!
I had my surgery 12-28-06 and am definitely still in the recovery stage. My fusion was done with my own bone graft from my hip which has actually given me more pain than the neck.
I was in the hospital for 3 days and was released wearing a Miami J collar, Percocet and Flexeril. My surgeon was absolutely wonderful!
I had to wear my collar 24/7 for 3 weeks until my post op appointment.
Since that time, I have weaned myself off the foam collar and only wear it for sleeping.
My doctor has me scheduled off work for 3 months. I only have numbness and tingling on occasions, but the pain between the shoulder blades (which everyone seems to complain of), is definitely an issue. I have not taken Percocet since my 2nd week post op and usually Extra Strength Tylenol helps. Flexeril also takes the edge off.
My surgeon prescribed no physical therapy and said that if I needed it he would, but told me to take my time when resuming activities. I am now driving but my neck is still pretty stiff ( I guess I'm afraid I'll break) but heating pads and Ben-Gay really work wonders.
My surgeon said at my post op that the bones were fusing nicely and that full recovery is at least 6 months to a year.
I wish you the best!
And keep your chin up!!! :-)

I also had my surgery on December 28. It's been 6 weeks today. I went back to the office on Monday (3 days ago). I'm working 4 hour days this week, 6 hour days next week, 8 hours the next, and I'll keep adding 2 hours per week. (I'm an attorney). Because I spend so much time at a desk, I am dictating more and resting on a lounge chair with my door closed as needed. I have to wait 6 more weeks before physical therapy. The doctor said that would help and to be patient. I guess he wants the bones to fuse well before I start moving too much. He did instruct me to wean myself from the collar by stopping wearing it while sleeping, then alternating wearing it and not during the day until I'm not wearing it at all. My neck gets pretty tired, so I'm wearing it right now. He said I could start the anti-inflammatories 12 weeks out (i.e. advil, etc). Apparently that will help my throat fell less full and help me not to feel the instrumentation. At this point, I am taking one darvacet and one soma twice a day. The pain is much much better than before surgery and much better than even last week. Somehow, even though each day lasts so long I can feel real progress from week to week.

I had surgey last week and I cannot even move my right arm....I am so upset, I can not even breath with out having pain right shoulder below neck, I had 2 bad discs in my neck, it hurts to even cry cough get up sitting hear now hurts what the hell is going on?

To all out there, i have had both the anterior and posterior fusions done on c 5/6, first op failed due to body rejecting donor bone. the answer to most all your questions about the post op pain and symtoms, are not good. i wish that i would have never had the first op to begin with. I have seen most the docs in my county for the pain, it is the same if not worse. now that my neck is locked into place, the disc above and below are starting to go, along with the bone spurs to go along with that. My doctor was not very clear about the aftermath of what happens when you lock your neck into place and pretty much set himself up with job security in doing so, for now the others need to be fused. PLEASE DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE THEY CARVE YOU UP AND BUy THAT NEW B.MER with your hard earned money, you will eventually run out of places to go and most people will think you are a drug addict and it's all in your head. It's not ! I am living it now since 2001 and can't believe that some sort of help is not out there to releave the pain, but our government can waiste money on mars trips. oh well enough venting. I wish each and every one of you living in this cage, that one day we will be free and or understood that it's not all in our heads. best of luck to all. Greg from melbourne florida.

I am scheduled to have one disc that is pressing into my spinal cord removed and then bone fusion with metal (I haven't yet learned all the medical terms, but I'll know them for my next visit with the surgeon). I did have an MRI and I've seen the films. The disc, wedged between two vertebrae, is very clearing protruding into my spinal cord.

What I read here horrifies me! There is so little good news!! I'm reasonably healthy and was very active before all this pain. Most of the pain I have is near constant with shooting pain and/or very active pins and needles down my right arm). I'm not in terrible, awful pain too often, but my energy is drained by my pain and I regularly feel on edge due to its nagging presence. I sometimes wonder how it is that I haven't started grinding my teeth. Tylenol can help for a couple of hours, especially when I take 6-8 per day. Muscle relaxers can also help, but they make me a terrible space-case, a hazard out on the road and an incompetent in the classroom (I teach for a living). I did try some mild pain-killers, but they fogged up my brain even more than the muscle relaxers. Overall, in my lifetime I've had almost no experience with drugs and I've never had surgery; and, very importantly, I need clear mental faculties for my job and my sense of self.

Please write to me if you think this surgery is worth it or not. I fear that by continuing to avoid it I am simply postponing the inevitable and that if I wait I might risk further problems (including falling into worse shape and worse moods). But maybe I'm asking for even more trouble than I already have.

Thank you very much for your time and I hope that your own cervical stenosis odyssey is leading you to freedom from pain!

I had c3-4, c4-5 removed and I had bone fusion back in 1987. I just wanted to tell you it does get better with time. For those experiencing nausea just ask your doctor for nausea medicine. I did and I also ate wheat crackers which helped. Just eat your crackers before you get too nauseated. Good luck to all.

Hi,
I'm a 49 year old female with bulging discs. I've gone through therapy and pain management with only temporary relief. So my neurologist recommended surgery.
I am 16 days post-op from a anterior spinal surgical fusion c-5-6 and c-6-7. Cadaver bone was used along with titanium plates and screws. I was released 2 days post-op, with tons of meds, and some basic instructions....which I don't remember considering the narcotics I was taking. I was released wearing an Aspen cervical collar which is to be worn at all times, even when showering. This collar is a real pain to sleep in and really hot! 6 days post op I began having chills and sweating with a low grade fever. I was instructed to go to emergency room and have testing. I was diagnosed with pneumonia. More meds and more instructions. Things seem much better as far as pre-surgery pain but sleeping is the worst thing.....I don't sleep well at all. They discharged me with sleeping pills which don't help. When will sleeping be possible again? Does anyone have a time frame? This collar seems to be the biggest reason along with pain between the shoulders. Has anyone else had to wear this Aspen collar for 6 weeks or more?

Thanks,
Sleepless in WI

My husband had ANTERIOR CERVICAL DISCECTOMY WITH FUSION on c5-c6 and c6-c7 6 days ago. He has deep bruising from his shoulders to his nipples. Do any of you have this?

I had my cervical discetomy and fusion (c5-6 c6-7) 14 months ago. Just came back from seeing the surgeon for me (belated) 1 year check-up.

I'm not totally pain-free, but it's very tolerable. (I still have some neck and shoulder pain when I move my head around). I also still have occasional headaches which I believe are related. The x-ray shows the bone they took from my hip is growing fine, so that's ok. I developed some scar tissue at the incision site but it's not a huge thing.

I too had the pain switch sides during the past year. It was mostly in my right shoulder pre-op and moved to my left when the pain started returning after not wearing the collar after 6 weeks. Eventually the pain went away though, and now the pain I have is pretty much on both sides, but, like I said, it's pretty tolerable. I'm hoping it gradually lessens til it's totally gone.

Basically, I guess I'd call it all a success, but it was a pretty tough year.

they made you stay on pills that you had a reaction to? that could not be helpfull to your neck throwing up like that right after surgery! I suggest you find another doctor and get your neck checked out. you may have some damage.

I had a herniated C6-7 disc this spring. I went for three epidural treatments and found some relief. I also had weakness on the affected left side. I was recommeded by the nuerosurgeon to have the surgery (C6- disectomy with fusion and plate) to correct the weakness.

I had the surgery and only stayed overnight. I have had severe hoarsness since the surgery. I also have had lots of phlem production ( I have to clear my throat constantly, I drink lots of water to keep my throat clear.) I experienced difficulty swollowing following surgery, this was from the associated swelling from the surgery. My difficulty swollowing and difficulty breathing caused me concern. I was instructed to go to the ER and they performed a CAT scan (to check for a hematoma - bleeding) which came back negative. I was relieved. It turns out the difficulty swollowing was causing anxiety. This caused the breathing issues. After learning this was not a swelling/choking scenerio I was able to get past that.

Since then I have had continued pain in my neck, shoulders and upper back. It is not unbearable. I asked my neurosurgeon about this. He said the dynamics of the neck bones/muscles have changed with the fusion and plate. The muscles will have to learn the new normal neck structure. I can live with that. Will discuss physical therapy for the future. Muscle relxers do not seem to work They make me loopy, but the muscle is still in spasm.

My biggest problem is the hoarsness. I have not had a strong voice since the surgery. I was told about hoarsness prior to the surgery. I was told there was possibility that the hoarsness could be permanent too (just like death is a risk of all surgeries you sort of dismiss that). I went to an ENT (Ear Nose Throat) doctor. He visualized my vocal cords and said my right vocal cord is paaralyzed. This could still be temporary. The cause is that the Right Recumbanant Vocal nerve is either cut, pinched, compressed or otherwise temporarily or permanntly injured during the surgery. Some people have the same hoarseness yet recover without further treament.

My surgical incision is well healed, I did not have a collar after surgery. I am sleeping well throughout the night. I am on O2 (oxygen) at night due to low O2 sats while in the hospital and the vocal cord paralyzation. vocal cords move out of the way when you breathe and my right one is paralyzed in a position that covers part of my windpipe). I am on antibiotics and strong meds to clear up the phlem (infection in my lung). I am fully back to work and only have a few situations that remind me to slow down. The excrutiating pain and weakness I had before the surgery are gone.

If the rest of these (managable) issues I described above resolve then I will be happy.

I noticed in other peoples posts that they experienced 1 - 2 years of recovery. That stands to reason. The body has been invaded, it takes a while to get back where you were before.

Has anyone else experienced vocal cord issues? I am concerned since my job requuires team meetings, most of which are on the phone.

I'm a 51 year old active woman. Before the beginning of this past summer I was working out for an hour a day 4 to 5 days a week. I had backed away from my routine due to visitors to our home for the summer (entertaining them did not allow me to get up at 4:30 in the morning to squeeze in my workout before heading to work by 7:00). I woke up one morning at with a very stiff neck. Thought I had slept wrong. Tried working it out with different stretches and such. My doctor put me on around of anti inflamitories and muscle relaxers. Nothing helped. When I had enough I insisted on seeing a specialist.

Hence my question: To all of you that have had surgery. Did anyone try an alternate treatment such as Vax D or endoscopic procedures where they go in and shrink the disc?

I had a doctor that upon reading my MRI wanted to put me in surgery in less than 5 days. I was in such pain that I let the doctor and my husband talk me into. I spent an afternoon in all the preop tests, spoke to someone that night who had the surgery, couldn't sleep because I was so worried. I called the whole thing off the next day. I told my husband that I understood that he thought it was the right thing but that since I really didn't know what was going on and what other treatments were out there I wanted to wait.

I'm glad that I did. I sought a 2nd opinion and while the doctor told me that I would eventually need surgery he recommended treating me with steriods. I have taken a round of oral steroids and can report that my pain is all but gone. I still experience stabbing pain depending on how I move but not the gut renching stabbing, twisting and throbbing pain that I was in for most of the day.

I'm hoping to hear that others have tried different treatments and that they worked for a while.

How about chiropratic (sp)? Of course I don't want to do anything that is going to hurt me.

I hope that someone has a good ending for me.