12 days post op c5/c6 fusion
 

Just want some input. I had a herniated disk which needed to come out. Had a one-level fusion. Thank God for no major complications. I'm in a collar and sound's like I will be for several more weeks. I went with a graphite biomedical device instead of my own or donor cadaver bone. The NS also used a titanium plate with screws for stability. I'm hoping it was the right choice. I took about a week for my sinus membranes to dry up as I suspect they were quite irritated from the anesthesia??. I also report the common sore throat which continues to get better by the day. After reading some of the posts, I invested in a bed wedge which allows me to sleep pretty comfortably. I have yet to be able to sleep stretched out. I've done very well with the pain and can't say more about making sure you're prescribed pain relief that can control the pain. It helps!!

I have experienced a "rare complication" (according to my NS). A nerve in my throat seems to have been injured during surgery. This is one of the nerves that controls the eyelid elevator muscles. Consequently, if I look closely, my eyes do not open evenly i.e. "lazy eye". Hoping it's a temporary thing and the nerve will recover. I'm not sure how I feel right now about it but I want to know if this is really rare or has this, or similar, happened to anyone else.

On a lighter note, my steri-strips are driving me crazy and I'm going to turn my attention to getting them off soon. Thanks for your suggestions.

Oh yeah. Any input on hair shampooing???

Thanks for your input!!!

Glad you are doing well, even with the eyelid problem. Today is Day 6 post surgery for 2 level ACDF with cadaver bone and plate. Steri strips are starting to fall off, which makes me look a little less like a Jack the Ripper victim. Still cannot find a real comfortable sleeping posi8tion -- by morning my left shoulder really begins to spasm. Otherwise pain is pretty much in check. Sore throat and swallowing, as with you, are improving.

Shampooing -- I take a sheet of Saran Wrap and wrap it around my neck and shoulders. I then take a small children's bucket, like they would take to the beach, and stick it under the shower. I find that I can lean back just enough to use the bucket to get my hair wet. Add the shampoo and repeat process to rinse. Works pretty well for me.

Jeff

Okay Guys...
You know my surgery is scheduled for tomorrow am... (2 level ACDF)..are you all trying to send me running off in hysterics??

hahahaha
just kidding, can't wait to get it over with.
Hope you both recover soon!!
Dave :winky:

I had a 360 C 4-5, 5-6, 6-7....and I think I was allowed to take my collar off to shower guys....It was two years ago...but I am almost certain he allowed me to take it off to shower...I also did not wear the hard collar after two weeks..I went right to the soft collar....I used an OSS for my surgery...I was in the hospital almost a week though...so maybe that is the difference...but I know I did my hair...

Last thing I am worried about is hair!! I had mine cut off for this...it is about 3/8 inch long all over. hahaha I hate messing with it and keep it very short anyhow... :winky:

Dave

I was allowed to shower as well; with both fusions. As a matter of fact, I was trying to protect the steri strips/incision with this last fusion. It was taking so long for them to come off that I called the NS's office. The nurse said, "Oh, no, hon, you WANT the warm water to sort of loosen those." NOW, this was not right away. I think I was something like three weeks into recovery when she told me this. Anyway, I don't recall covering my neck up with anything. I just showered and patted that area dry.

Thanks everyone!!

I think I'm a bit timid about moving my neck when the brace is off. I'll give shampooing a try. I have a lot of hair so I'm a bit worried about accidentally moving my neck.
I actually used some of Glad Wrap Press & Seal secured around the edges with tape over my steri-strips for showering which has worked great. I'm exactly 2 weeks post op today and my steri-strips show no signs of coming off on their own.

You know I might be wrong, but I have had lots of surgery....You do not want the steri-strips on there forever...It does not hurt to get them wet ...You want them to come off on their own...so you want them to get wet so they loosen up a bit and come off...You are not going to hurt anything by moving your head a little bit...The hardware or plate holds things...Of course...I had rods and screws in the back...so I know that was holding my head on...Talk about having your head screwed on right!:winky:

And Dave....I was worried about my hair...I am a woman....They shaved half way up the back of my head...Made for a real nice hair cut until it grew in...I cried a lot after this surgery...especially when I looked at the back of my head...I have a really ugly scar down the back of my neck...into the back...My head itched so badly from the gunk from surgery I could not wait to wash it...so we all have different priorities...!:)

Hi, Dawnmarie here,
I had C5-C7,C6-C7 acdf on 01.03.07
I to have had issues with swallowing and sour throught. A slight loss of sensation on the left side of my throught, close to where the sergical site is.
Some of the reading I have done has lead me to believe that nerve issues can arise but should subside over time.
http://www.spineuniverse.com/display...ticle1309.html
This web site and article helped me out a lot.

I have a follow up this thursday and hope to go back to work Friday.
I have not had an issue with hair shampooing as I wore my Miami collar in the shower. I also can recomend a rice bag that is heated in the microwave for two min. This is wraped around my neck and applies heat. Helps with the low grain head aches at the bottom of my skull top of my neck.

Hope this helps