Those of us that have to sit in the same position for the majority of the day and work on computers are more likely to have neck/shoulder problems to begin with. I didn't realize that my 'desk job' was going to be so challenging either after I returned to work from my ACDF. I could not tolerate more than 3 hours per day at first and had to gradually increase my hours. I work full time now (3 months post op) however, I have a lot of pain and have to use heat and ice throughout the day. This recovery has been very difficult.
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Originally Posted by ABBB
Hi, I had acdf at C4/5, 5/6 and 6/7 on 2/21. I developed excruciating nerve pain in left arm POST-OP and had it for 15 days before it started subsiding. I had no nerve pain pre-op...just a dull ache in left arm. I was terrified thinking that the surgery had caused additional problems, but, now, I'm thinking that the nerve was irritable from being 'jiggled' during surgery and the fact that I had had the pain for almost three years pre-op (assault). I, too, was prescribed PT but have found that it causes pain...we have to listen to our bodies and do what works for us. I cannot do anything repetitive for very long with activating the pain across C6/7 where the worst herniation was. My immediate post-op pain was, also, excruciating; and I had to have strong pain meds which made my blood pressure drop dangerously low. I am just now starting to feel better. My PT and home health nurse think I should be able to do more at this point and have contacted the NS to ask that my x-ray appt. be bumped up since it is scheduled for one month from now...just to try to determine what is going on. Bottom line: listen to your body and do not let anyone dictate how much you do.
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