ACDF Surgery
 

Alrighty...I''m here because I went to the doctors about two months ago for a stiff neck. Two days later I had severe weakness in my right arm. Back to the doctor, several tests later turns out I have a herniated disc C4-5 could be more so the doc says. What I want to know is if anyone has received a similar diagnosis and put off the surgery for any extended period for any reason. Any input would help greatly.

Hello MJC1977 !
 

I'm sorry you are having to go through this struggle!

This is a wonderful forum full of caring folks!
I see you've found the Spinal forum here at NT....

Although I am not familiar with your particular condition, I'm sure you'll get responses soon.......

In the meantime, try doing a 'search' at the top of this forum and maybe it'll lead you to posts people have discussed in the past regarding your struggle......
I wish you the best!
Rae
:hug:

I didn't put off the surgery simply because I had every symptom of spinal stenosis except for 1 (incontinence). I didn't want to wait until that symptom decided to show up.

Hi! I was diagnosed with bilateral cervical stenosis at C5/C6 4 years ago. I had pain down one arm and numbness. I do not have a herniated disc so your situation sounds worse. Initially, I put off the surgery because I had a two month old, my husband was unemployed and I was self-employed (i.e. we were dependent on my income). I couldn't take more time off without income so I put off the surgery and tried conservative treatment to deal with the symptoms.

There were several times when the pain and spasms were so bad that I almost threw in the towel and went for surgery. I even talked with the surgery scheduler one time. Since then (until now), I've been able to manage the symptoms with acupuncture, pain meds and muscle relaxers. I'm currently trying PT, massage and acupuncture to calm the neck down but the symptoms are worsening and I know the surgery is in my near future.

Each person must make the decision for themselves based on their symptoms and their doctor(s) input. I'd recommend getting a 2nd or even a 3rd opinion before tackling surgery. A friend of mine sought 4 opinions before settling on who was doing her C5-C7 fusion. She wasn't comfortable with the answers the surgeons were providing so she got another opinion. She finally found a surgeon who took the time to answer all her questions and proceeded with the fusion. She's doing great, still recovering but doing far better than pre-surgery.

So, you can postpone making the decision but you do risk causing permanent damage. And one of the other posts mentioned the possibility of incontinence. You need to weigh both the pros and cons and decide when it's best for you given your symptoms, impact on your family, impact on your relationships with friends and co-workers.

MJC1977. I would listen to what your doc suggests and always get a second opinion before surgery. Surgery should be the last thing you do, unless there is a chance for permanent nerve damage. I had my first surgery for a single level in 2000. I just had my last surgery on Monday. I now have 4 levels fused in my neck. I wish you the best, I say listen to your body, and trust your doc if you have a good one. If not, find one. Most people here will be glad to give you thier opinions. Do you have any more info. Such as MRI results or symptoms that your having? Has your doc already suggested surgery? Again, I wish you the best. Be patient, sometimes replies come slow here, but people will show up and share.

I just had a ACDF C5-6 C6-7. I realize that everyone is different, but can you share your recovery as far as lifting, driving, rotation of your neck and going back to work. I am a teacher and 4 weeks out of surgery. Had excessive swelling in my neck and was on a 5 day pack of steroids, using cervical stim for 4 hours a day. Thanks for your insight.

HI, Had the same surgery on Dec 21st, my neck, shoulder (right) and upper arm are still killing me!!! My voice has not fully come back, but thats ok. Doctor said the way they have you on the table during the surgery, is they rise up your shoulders so your head will actually just hang there, mine was 5 hours long, so he said your neck and shoulders are going to hurt for a few months just from that!! Did not have swelling and only used pain and muscle meds. As for doing things around the house, just a little at a time, I can feel it a few hours later!! Just started driving again last Thursday still kind of nervous, afraid to turn my head fast!! Well Good Luck to You!!

Wow, your surgery was long. How many vertebra were fused? Did you have an ACDF? I had a 2 level and my surgery was only 2 1/2 hours. I am now feeling some tingling on my left arm and getting nervous. I will put a call into the surgeon on Monday to see if I can speak with him or move up my 6 week appt. I only feel comfortable driving a mile or 2 within my town. Since we have had snow, I won;t drive at all. Still trying to increase my strength and stamina. Only wear the soft collar when I am in a car or sleeping unless my neck hurts. Hope all is well with you.

Hi I'm Joce from Australia, I've just turned 28.
I got my ACDF surgery 2 and a half months ago on C5/ C6. I immediately noticed that the pain I've had in beween my shoulder blades since I was in a car accident 7 years ago was GONE, it was wonderful, I was so grateful to my surgeon. But I've had a lot of neck and shoulder muscle pain ever since. I was careful not to lift pretty much anything for about the first 6 weeks, and as I've gotten more involved with life (ie- shopping, washing the dogs, cooking, housework) the pain in my neck muscles seems as bad as it ever was after my car accident :( Turning over during the night is particularly painful, and I'm always rubbing very stiff tender muscles in the back of my neck that weren't really a huge problem before the surgery, but are very bothersome every day now, despite taking 2 voltarin 25mg tablets with every meal and in between taking 20mg of codeine, also I might add, the painkillers don't actually seem to help that much- I'm very much in the habit of taking them after 7 years of agony with an undiagnosed herniated disc. I FINALLY saw a physio yesterday for the first time since the surgery (for $28,000 the hospital costs did not include one) and she has me doing some excercises that will apparently strengthen the "little" muscles between the vertebrea, as I'm relying on the "big" muscles to do my lifting in my neck. So we'll see how that goes...

Hi there,

I'm scheduled for an ACDF next month, and I put it off for quite a while. Went through all the alternatives first, accupunture, PT, massage, etc. I progessively got worse over the last 8 months and now I can no longer even drive. I'm a very active 40 year old, love to scuba dive, kayak, hiking, running, so it's very disheartening to be unable to do these activities. i'm a graphic designer and can not do my job anymore either. I'm having a 2 -3 level fusion done (my neurosurgeon will decide whether to do the 3rd level after the results of last night's MRI come in). I was giving some very positive outcomes after surgery, although it is very very scary. I have herniated discs from C4 through C7, osteophytes pushing on the nerves that are running down both my hands, worse on the right, and spinal stenosis.

In my opinion, dealing with pain and inability to do things is far worse than going through the risks of surgery. I just want my life back, so I'm going for it.

The surgery will take approx. 2-3 hours I'm told, and a hard collar is to be worn for 6 weeks post op. Voice changes and problems swallowing after surgery are all expected, but they usually go away in time.

I hope this help you make a decision, good luck to you, it's not fun dealing with this sort of pain. I wish you all the best!
Cathie