Cervical Spine Surgery
 

I had a cervical disc fusion on St Patricks Day and I now sit here with my hard cervical collar on trying to type.
The surgery has relieved the pins & needles in my left hand and the hand is already stronger.
The pain from the incision is minimal but the c-collar is a pain in the **** and I have to wear it for 2 more weeks!! YIKES!:hissyfit:

Of course being a nurse, I had minor complications post op. I had a raging asthma attack[never had asthma before] and bronchospasm in recovery room, which necessitated a stay in the ICU....... which gave my DH a few more grey hairs.
My wonderful sister in law is here helping her big brother stay sane and waiting on me hand & foot. I don't want her to ever leave!!

So I guess I will be spending more time on the computer cause I can't do much of anything else.

Aw, Risby, I'm sorry you've got to wear that contraption for two more weeks. Hopefully it'll go by quickly. It's so sweet of your SIL to come and help. Maybe she'll stay for a while till you get back on your feet.

Gentle hugs..........:hug:

So, the surgery was successful, Ris? Good deal, let's hope your recovery is fast and successful as well.

Hey, you could decorate your collar, maybe some major bling? A fake tattoo? A portrait of DM? ;)

Thank God for modern medicine! :) I hope you'll be better than new in no time.

My nephew in law had cervical surgery a few years ago. His arm was going numb from a pinched nerve. Now it's like he's good as new, playing basketball, riding his bike, etc... And he's in his 40's.

He's 6'7" tall and had been driving a small car that had him slouched over too much.

I hope the next two weeks will go quickly for you!

:circlelove:((((((((((((Risby)))))))))))))

i'm glad your surgery was successful.
isn't that always the case? that if you're a nurse something "happens".

i'm a NICU RN but had to retire with my MS. well, i wish i could retire my MS but you know what i mean. :D

get well soon.

Nurse Nancy
I was a telemetry nurse and also had to retire due to my MS. I was pretty sure I would have some problem as DH is a CRNA and with me being an RN I was tempting the fates!! Luckily it was a relatively minor complication.

:hug: :icecream: treat yourself. Feel better quick!

I am glad that the surgery was a success. It is too bad that you had to 'visit' the ICU. Super glad that your sister-in-law is there helping you hand and foot.:)

It is too bad that you have to wear a collar:eek: That is not comfortable, I am sure. Two weeks will go by fast if you stay at the computer. You might even finish 'playing catch-up...'

Be sure NOT to use the trampoline or anything like that!:trampoline::yikes:

Glad to hear you're recovering well. I was supposed to have ACDF w/hardware 5 yrs ago but still holding off.

One thing I hear repeatedly is people feel really good soon after surgery and start getting back to ordinary tasks way before their doctors tell them that is okay. Please try not to do that, give yourself plenty of time to heal so you do not need another surgery.

Good luck with everything!

Brain
Honestly, the worst part of the surgery is the darn collar, and trying to sleep comfortably. The incisional pain is minimal, Since surgery my hand and arm are 'working' again. It is so nice to have two hands working!! Not to worry about me doing too much too soon, my DH is amazing and my DD , who is my **** Annie is backing her Dad up.
Thanks for the good wishes

i'm glad you're doing so well.
here's more get well wishes.

Hi from a new member (who's glad to have found this virtual community).

I hope you're continuing to heal and feeling better with every passing day.

I'm scheduled for an ACDF (C6-C7) on 4/22 and, given my MS-related challenges, I'm a little anxious about the post-op recovery period. No -- make that *really* anxious.

I first saw a neurosurgeon who suggested doing C5-C6 as well as C6-C7 and said I'd need a hard collar for at least a couple of weeks. A doc friend suggested a second opinion from an orthopaedic surgeon. He thought I'd only need to do C6-C7 since the bone spur there was really pressing on the spinal cord and C5-C6 was arthritic enough that "adjacent disc disorder" might not be a problem down the road. Doing just the one, he thought I might be able to get away with a soft collar. He also said that this approach would make things a bit easier given my mobility-related challenges.

I wear an AFO on my weak right leg just about all the time. (I wasn't wearing it very much but then discovered that I've been stressing the knee by hyperextending it. So my PT strongly suggested I wear it whenever I'm on my feet.) I can put it on by myself now but my wife's going to have to help so I need to find some easier-to-don shoes.

I understand it's important to walk around a lot while in recovery. Do you have difficulties walking and, if so, how did you cope?

Did you sleep in a chair or in bed?

Sorry to ramble on with so many questions but any/all tips you'd like to pass along would be *most* appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Jim

Welcome, Jim...:):hug:

Hi Risby

I am seeing the neurosurgeon on Tuesday to discuss C3/C4 fusion. What did you have?

I don't know if you have followed or even read about my problems but I was dx'd with CRPS and now have frozen shoulder. In addition, the C3/C4 pinched nerve is now the #1 culprit for the excruciating pain I am having which is also masking the other pain. I cannot differentiate between the 3 types of pain but the docs have decided that we need to get rid of one in order to treat the other two.

So....long story short. C3/C4 is the most intense.

Thanks for your reply and I am glad you are doing well. That's very encouraging.

For Just Jim
 

Welcome to the Board. I am still wearing the hard collar until the 20th but I can take it off for short periods while watching TV etc. I get a soft collar on the 20th and can drive again!!:D

I also wear a MAFO on my left leg and I didn't have any problems walking post op. My surgery was C6-7. I had a horrible sore throat post op,but I did have some breathing issues in recovery room.
The muscles in the neck are fairly sore from being manipulated out of the way during surgery.

About 2 days post op I noticed that I was regaining some small motor control in my left hand.....my strength and motor skill are improving...I can now type with my left hand again!!

I also noticed my left leg weakness is improving. DH & the Dr. think it from having the extreme pressure released on the C-spine which has kind of trickled down and allowed the thorasic & lumbar spine to open up and relieve pressure on the lumbar nerve which was contributing to the left leg weakness .

I have been sleeping on the couch with pillows propped under my neck and shoulders to be comfortable. I only needed the pain meds for the first 2 or 3 days post op and I usually only took them at night. I take an occasional Motrin now for pain.

Eating with the hard collar is interesting, forget pastas & sauces and anything that makes lots of crumbs!!!
Stock up on bendable straws for drinking!!

I honestly feel the worst part of the surgery is having to wear the hard collar for so long. It pushed my hair up in the back [even though my hair is very short] and my scalp actually "hurt".
When I would get warm, which increases the MS symptoms I wanted to rip the collar off and throw it out the window!!

Best of Luck to you, keep us posted on your progress.
If you have any more questions feel free to ask.

Risby

Cheryl
I had a anterior fusion of C6-6 on the 17th, the incision is the the front of my neck and not at all painful. I debated long and hard on whether or not to have the surgery, in hindsight I'm glad I did. I have noticed a big improvement in the use of my left hand, i.e. it works again!!!
Good Luck to You , Keep us posted .

Mine would be C3/C4, so a bit higher up.

Thanks for the two posts, one addressed to Jim and to me. They are very helpful.

:)

Cheryl,

I've had 3 cervical fusions, and they can/have caused problems down the road due to scar tissue build up and addtional pressure on the discs above and below.

If you need it though, you need it. I remember that excruciating pain and sometimes you don't have much choice. YOU, however, may have a choice that I didn't for my priors, but if/when it comes to another (they may need to open up the spinal cord area due to slippage and scaring) I will definitely go this new way.

There are more and more clinics and hospitals doing the surgery microscopically now.
You can do a search on microscopic spine surgery and find out where, how, etc.

There are many advantages. It's a outpatient surgery, basically, with a tiny incision that doesn't damage the muscles and nerves. They don't even have to give general anesthesia which is a big plus for me!

I found out about this procedure years ago, but timing has always been a problem in my cases. For the 1st one I didn't now about; the 2nd surgery they didn't have it perfected for the cervical spine if you had a prior fusion; the 3rd was 1 month after a thymectomy for myasthenia gravis and I was in no shape to research, etc. then.

My old boss rented a condo in FLA to patients of a clinic there that did this type surgery at that time on just lombar spine area, but he was so amazed because these people arrived in a wheel chair and left walking!

Worth checking on for you I think!

Good luck!

I see the neurosurgeon tomorrow after having an MRI this afternoon. I will know more then. He is the best in the area.

Hope it goes well. Keep us posted.

I dread it, but I'm gonna have to go there one day. I did okay putting it off so far, because it was mostly pain. Now I'm having weakness and that is not cool.

Still looking for info on artificial disc replacement and hoping I can hold off till that is an option for me.

ras - *miss* was my second choice.

Surgery is scheduled for April 22nd. As the doc put it, after my MRI yesterday, it is a no brainer.

Cheryl
 

My thoughts & prayers will be with you on the 22nd. I think that's the same day Jim has his surgery scheduled.

You will be in & out of the hospital before you know it!

Are hospitals all over the country running a special on cervical spine surgery this spring?

With everyone having c-spine surgery lately maybe we should have a
"Decorate Your Cervical Collar" Award:winner_first_h4h:

If you have any questions feel free to e mail me.

Risby

Risby - remember when your mom said - Knock it off or you'll fall and break your neck!

Well, apparently, our moms were right.

:eek:

:p

i'm glad you're still recovering.
and, cheryl, best of luck on your surgery. i hope it helps with the shoulder.

Thanks Risby and yes you are right, Jim's surgery is scheduled for the same day! I hope he does well.

Great to hear how well you are recovering, Risby..:hug:

Many prayers a good wishes coming your way, Cheryl, for the 22nd. May the operation be a breeze and a total success..:hug:

Hi Risby.

I'd email you directly but apparently I can't until I post 20 messages.....

So you'll have been in a hard collar for over a month! Wow! I'm so sorry.

The first cutter I saw was a neurosurgeon and he wanted to do C5-C6 and C6-C7 and a hard collar for 2-3 weeks followed by a soft collar for 2-3 weeks more. He also did not seem very responsive to my concerns related to these weeks in light of my MS-limitations.

I got a second opinion from an orthopaedic surgeon. A much younger guy who came very highly recommended by my PT. ("If I had to have this operation, this is the guy I'd use.") He thought I just needed work on C6-C7 and, unless he encounters something during surgery that the MRI and X-ray didn't show, he thought I could use a soft collar for the first few weeks.

We'll see. . . .

My biggest concern -- well, somewhere near the top of my list of my biggest concerns -- is the (are the?) logistics of putting on the AFO while wearing whatever collar I'm wearing.

I love that, among the recommendations sent me in the "So You're Going to Have Back/Neck Surgery" packet was the importance of walking -- a little more every day. "By the time you're ready for your 6 week checkup, you should be walking a mile every day."

Really?

I can't remember the last time I walked a mile.

But, back in the day, I'd easily walk 10 miles on a Saturday, just roaming the lakeshore and Lincoln Park in Chicaga.

(For the past 15 or so years, home has been Chapel Hill, NC but the original home was Chicaga as you might tell from the use of the terminal "A" in the name of the name.)

I've also heard conflicting things about what I'll be able to eat those first days. Liquid diet only?

BTW, thanks for the tip on bendy straws.

I've rambled on enough.

Any/all other random thoughts/suggestions/warnings/advice would be *most* welcome, Risby.

And hang in there for the next coupla weeks.

Jim

Cheryl, Hope the surgery goes well!

For Jim
 

Walk a mile!!!! That one made me laugh!

I haven't had any issue walking post op. My MAFO is fairly easy to get on and I have my shoes opened wide so they just slip on over the mafo. Somehow I managed to get the mafo & shoes on ,at first I did need someone to tie the shoes. I really didn't go out,where I needed the mafo, until about 2 weeks after surgery. I manage to get around my house without the mafo.

I was able to eat a regular diet after surgery. I did have to cut the food into small pieces, made it easier to get into my mouth without dropping it down into the brace, plus I couldn't open my mouth all the way with the rigid brace ...for which my family has been thankful I'm sure!! Again long stringy pasta with sauces were a no-no. Right now I am dying for Fettucine Alfredo!

My throat was extremely sore post op but I did have respiratory issues in recovery room . I made sure to keep drinking fluids even though it hurt. The sore throat reminded me of when I had my tonsils removed as a child.
Ice cream was a welcome treat! {Or I just used it as a good excuse to eat ice cream!}

My neck muscles were sore for a few days but the pain meds took care of that. The muscles are still sore occasionally. My incision is totally healed now, so the itching has stopped.
I'm on the home stretch only 9 days more with the hard collar although now I can remove it for short periods of time.

Sorry this has turned into a mini-novel,but I hope I have answered your questions.

Thank you so much for all the information. Especially about the eating and the sore throat. I had my tonsils out when I was 24 and had a horrible time with it. I was on a liquid diet for about 2 months. I lost a lot of weight.

My biggest concern is sleeping! I am having problems sleeping now! I guess if you get tired enough, you will eventually sleep!

Thanks, Risby!

The "walk a mile" suggestion reminded me of that old joke:
"Doc, after my surgery, will I be able to play the violin?"
"Well, with rest and therapy, I don't see why not."
"Great! I never could before!"

My AFO -- what does the "M" stand for? -- lives in my right shoe so I need to get my foot into the shoe. (I bought cheap running shoes at Target because I needed to buy 2 pairs: one 10 and a half and one 13. The left foot goes in a 10.5 and the brace is so big it needs a size 13. When I drive, I walk to the car in the brace, change out of it into the right foot 10.5 since, of course, I can't drive in the brace. Then, at my destination, I change back into the brace.)

I might try walking around without the brace but I have pretty bad foot drop in that foot. Scuffing the toes has been the cause of many a fall over the past few years. So I may need to get into the hated brace each day.

Please don't apologize for the length of your response! I was hanging on every word. As the operation gets closer (and my anxiety increases accordingly), I appreciate all the info I can get.

Thanks again.

Have a good weekend.

PS
 

Having a good excuse to eat ice cream sure sounds like the best part of this whole deal.

Gotta stock up on my faves. . . .

JustJim
 

My MAFO [M]oulded ankle foot orthotic is a piece of plastic which was made from a mold of my lower leg/foot. It is not very big or thick and I didn't have to get different shoes in order to wear it. Although heels are out of the question!!

Yours sounds like it is much bigger and bulkier.
My advice would be to wear the AFO.
DO NOT RISK FALLING FOR ANY REASON!!!

Falling has been my biggest fear since the surgery. I didn't want to un-do everything, so I have been super careful!!

I can recommend peanut butter ripple ice cream with extra peanut butter topping post op. After all peanut butter is a good source of protein!!:D
Of course good old chocolate is always a good choice!!

Sleeping
 

Cheryl
Sleeping is challenging!!. I found my best spot was on the couch, where the arm helped hold the pillows in place.
It takes me a few minutes and sometimes some "&*^$#" to get everything "just right".
For the first few nights I didn't even attempt to sleep without first taking the pain med!
Stock up on your favorite ice cream. My favorite was peanut butter ripple with extra peanut butter sauce on top. As I told Jim, peanut butter is an excellent source of protein!:D

I will be thinking of you both on the 22nd

As always, thanks for the reply.

In fact, my AFO sounds like your MAFO. (And, since the orthotist took a plaster cast of my lower leg and foot and then used that as the mold for forming a piece of plastic that wraps around the back of my lower leg and the bottom of my foot, I guess mine is also a MAFO.)

It's not that big or bulky but, for some reason, when I first put it on, it wouldn't fit in my size 10.5 shoe so I had to get a pair of 13 and use the right shoe from it. I thought that was the way these things worked but I just looked at it and the sole doesn't extend any beyond the ends of my toes. So now, after my recovery, I'll need to ask her why. (Guess you just got a better orthotist than I...) <wink>

Of course, falling is my major fear. We have an 18 mos. old dog that I'll have to be extra careful around.....

Great ice cream suggestion! And, you're right -- extra peanut butter makes wonderful sense, dietetically speaking.

Thanks again.

Somebody -- the neurosurgeon? the ortho surgeon? somebody who's gone through this before? -- recommended sleeping in a recliner. So we're going to borrow one from a friend.

Can't imagine it will be terribly comfortable but, with the pain meds, it might not matter.

Jim

My NS suggested it to me but I think someone here recommended it.

Welcome and good luck!

:D

Recliner for sleeping
 

Cheryl & Jim

I think the recliner would probably work pretty well for sleeping, as long as you were reclined.
My post op instructions stated "minimal sitting", so I would try to 'recline' as much as possible.
I did find that lying down was most comfortable in the first couple of days at home.
Hope you both find something that is comfortable for you!

Jim. my MAFO is the same as yours. The plastic stops just before my toes, kind of at the end of the ball of my foot. I can't believe the difference it has made in helping me walk. I know what you mean about dogs, I have two bassets who are always underfoot!


FIVE [5] DAYS until I lose the HARD C-collar!! But who's counting???:D