Back to Work ACDF C5-6 C6-7 (12/9/2010)
 

Well I had another week of work as a teacher.(I worked the week of 2/14 then a week off and then this week of work). I find that I am totally exhausted, achy and at times in significant pain. I have been going to PT 3x a week for 2 weeks now. From here on in, I will go 2x a week. I am hoping that the pain and symptoms that I am feeling is just from the recovery, poor posture (I'm trying to be good) or doing too much. I get pain and tightness on the right side of my neck, pain down my cervical spine from the base of my neck to the area between my shoulders, burning from shoulder to shoulder and major knots in my shoulder blade area. I also get intermittent numbness along with coldness in my left hand and fingers and heaviness in my left arm. I go back to the OSS on 3/14 for my 3 month visit. Hoping to see some bone growth this time. I have all of this written down in the journal that I have kept since the surgery. (The journal of concerns, questions, symptoms and changes is something that I have kept since coming home from the surgery. I highly recommend it since I found my memory is shot. I bring this journal with me to any appointment so that I can keep the answers to all my questions in the same spot.)

Would love to hear if others are having similar situations.
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12/9/2010 ACDF C5-6 C6-7
DDD, severe arthritis
2/14 back to work as a teacher
at 6 week check no bone growth
bone stimulator 4 hours a day
PT as of 2/21
still concerned

Hello frenchfri1003,
Sorry to hear you are still having pain issues, what exercises are you doing in PT, or what do they have you doing? I did not start PT until the 6 month after my 3 level ACDF, at which that time I could not even go back to my job on modified/light duties. Maybe you are back to work to soon or pushing yourself too hard in PT, how is your ROM? Really work on your posture its very important. I feel your pain as I deal with severe muscle spasms(scalene, scapular), headaches, hand/arm pain, numbness and tingling sensations bilaterally. Still have issues with new disc herniations(double crush syndrome), osteophytes and thoracic outlet syndrome, which your some of your symtoms mimic. Great idea on the journal! I hope you feel better soon and get great results from your Dr.

Bunz

I had 3 4 6 6 fused over summer break. I was a school bus driver. I was a bum the whole time off. 6 years later I still have a numb right hand, scapular pain, osteophytes, and lumbar pain. ROM is not so great to the left because of osteophytes.
I also developed scoliosis and khyphosis from this surgery.

Thank you for your relies
 

Thank you for your replies. I may have started teaching a bit too early, but I emotionally needed to get back. I have about a 20 minute drive to work. I am also blessed that I work in a classroom where there are 2 fulltime teachers. So I always have another adult in the room. My co-teacher has been doing most of the full group teaching while I have been mainly working in small group. This way I can sit down and put my head back on my wonderful highback chair. I also have the flexibility to get up and walk around.
I look forward to going back to the OSS on 3/14. I hope that they see some bone growth. I know that I shouldn't be upset if that is not seen on regular x rays.
Well, just a quick note before I get myself ready for the day.
Gentle hugs and good wishes. :)



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12/9/2010 ACDF C5-6 C6-7
DDD, severe arthritis
2/14 back to work as a teacher
at 6 week check no bone growth
bone stimulator 4 hours a day
PT as of 2/21
still concerned

Hi,
Good Luck with your recovery. I had an ACDF of my C5 C6,, 1 year and 1 month ago. I was in the hospital 2 days, I was not ready to go home after only 24 hours. Its been a lonng road for me. Sorry to say , it did not make me better but worse, I have many of the conditions now that the Bunz, person on here has with the double crush, thoracic outlet, bilateral carpal tunnel, lateral epincondylitis, all of which developed after that blasted ACDF surgery.. I forgot ongoing shoulder pain, upper back and neck pain. Also diagnaosed with RDS. Im not sure if that one is totally on the mark though. Do the therapy or whatever they recommend. They did a post op MRI of me 3 to 4 mos. after the surgery. He did xray at a month post op. I was fused by 3 mos. he said. I only used a soft collar neck brace as needed, for comfort. As it was only a single level for me. The first 2 to 3 months are not pleasant. I would not want that surgery again, ever. To help with the swallowing, as i always felt like i swallowed a golf ball, i sucked on butterscoth disc candies. By the 5 th month i was able to swallow without have the feeling like u swallowed a golf ball. That was an awful feeling. For me, my disc level just under the fusion could not handle the weight of the titanium plate and screw, and i now have disc deformity at that level as well as osteophyte formaion. I have osteophyte formation at the c5, c6, level, which was supposed to be fixed by the fusion. Also there is till formainal narrowing. The c3,c4 levels now have osteophyte formation, causing central canal stenosis.

I hope u do not have these problems and that u heal and your other vertebrae are good. Writing everything down in a journal is a good idea. They had my on Dilaudid, Valium, and a muscle relaxant like Flexeril post op, and my memory was foggy to say the least. Good luck! Martina :wink:

Thank you for your replies
 

I appreciate all of the replies. I am much better off than before the surgery. I go on Monday for my 3 month check with the OSS. I am hoping for some bone growth when they take x rays. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Swallowing has gotten much better. I feel that after wearing the bone stimulator it gets worse. I called the company and they said that is the case for some people as it increases the blood flow which in turn causes inflammation. So I wear it for an hour at a time no where near meal time. Most days I get the 4 hours completed, but not always as I do not wear it in the classroom when I teach. My ROM has gotten better with PT. Weather still plays a part in stiffness and achiness. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend as our weather improves. :)