10 Days Post-Op; C4-C7 ACDF
 

Hi everyone!

I wanted to update everyone on how I'm doing. Last Tuesday, March 19th, I had a 3 level ACDF due to severe cord compression (AP diam. of cord at c5-6 was 5 to 6mm).

The day I had surgery, I felt pretty lousy. I was very dizzy and nauseous due to the anesthesia and pain medications. I did get up and go for a walk around the nurse's station. When I got back to my room, I thought I was going to vomit. I did some deep breathing and that nasty feeling slowly went away. My neck/throat was sore enough ~ I didn't want to irritate it more by vomiting. The next morning, I ate a normal breakfast of oatmeal and yogurt and I was able to do so without swallowing issues. Thank God. I was worried about that pre-surgery due to the fact that my herniation also pushed on my esophagus as well and I already felt a lump in my throat. Big pills do get slightly stuck still, but I can get it to go down with more water.

At home, I brought a recliner back into the living room and that is where I am still sleeping. I can't lay flat yet. I'm sure with some time I will be able to. Should I be buying any special pillows for my bedroom? Would that make it easier to get back into my bed? On Sunday, 5 days post-op, I went for a walk around the block and have increased my walking everyday. Now, I am up to 2 miles per day. I have been trying to wean myself from the pain meds - oxycodone ~ and haven't had one in 2 days. I will take it on a as needed basis. The other day, I think I overdid it and was extremely sore & in pain, so I took a pill and it did provide some much needed relief. I think this has been my biggest problem ~ trying to do too much and my body saying no very emphatically.

My first shower at 2 days post-op was not very successful. I had to have my husband help me because it just plain hurt. Trying to wash & condition long hair isn't fun. Since then, I have been able to shower by myself but very slowly. I use one hand to hold my chin and the other to wash one side of my head and vice versa. I wear the Aspen collar 24/7 except for when I shower. I did not get a soft collar for the shower as I have seen that others have. I will be wearing the collar for 8 weeks.

I go for my first appt. on April 9th and will have to ask if I can take it off to drive to work, which is only a few miles from my house. I'm still out of work but have logged in remotely to do a little work from home. My biggest problem so far is that I can't stay on the computer for too long. Additionally, I was shocked to see a long vertical incision instead of a horizontal one. Does anyone else have a vertical incision and if so, how well does it fade? Any tips on what to use to help healing and minimize any scars? Also, while I know everyone is different, when did you go back to exercising? Do you have any permanent restrictions? I won't be able to do anything but walk for a while but am looking forward to when I can do more. God, I miss running. My sister just completed another half marathon and though I'm happy for her, I'm sad for me. Oh well.

Well, I think that is it for now. Will periodically post some updates. Hopefully some positive updates :winky:

Hi ~ Congrats on what sounds to be a successful surgery!

I don't know what others do after they're done with their collars, etc., but I use a cervical pillow. I've never had cervical surgery, but I DO have a herniation there, and the cervical pillow just gives me added support. Whether or not you'll need or want one is totally up to you. But I think I'd have one on hand just in case you feel more comfortable with it.

As far as permanent restrictions, you're still not going to be able to lift heavy things. Even tho it's your neck, it does effect your neck too when you lift. So ask your surgeon when you go back for your 6 wk checkup. I would think he would tell you 10-20lbs would be the maximum. I'm a lumbar patient, so I NEVER lift more than 10lbs.

There are special creams that you can get for scarring but for the life of me I can't think of their names. :confused: 100% aloe is good -- it's very thick, and it keeps it very moist so it won't "pucker" and pull the skin while it's healing. I used that when I had radiation and it helped with the burning and I didn't have any bad results from the radiation,, so the aloe must have helped with that!

Ask your doc when you can start exercising. You DON'T want to start too soon. Perhaps he'll send you to physical therapy. That would be the best.

Again, congrats. I hope the pain STAYS gone! PLEASE keep giving us periodic updates, will you? It will help others who are thinking of having this done. And WE'D like to know too! Thanks for this update, and I'll be looking for more. God bless and please take care. ;) Hugs, Lee

Hi chelkb
 

[Glad to hear your update. I used an incline pillow for about 6 months. That was the only way I could sleep. Risies from nothing to about 5 inches. Found it better than my lazy boy. Keep getting better. I know it isn't any fun. Also hope you have good help at home. I wish you all the best, and that your recovery goes perfect. ginnie:hug:

Good for you!
 

Glad to hear things are going well for you! I had a C4-7 ACDF in Nov 2011 and had a pretty good experience as well with it. I still have some pain from time to time, but it's much better than it was before. I did not have a collar, but did make sure I slept with my neck straight, which wasn't easy since I was always a side sleeper with lots of pillows! Even now I still try to make sure I don't sleep with my head "kinked"... I did go to physical therapy at the 8 week point and was given several stretching excerices to work on. It helped a lot. I find that when I do have pain now, it's because I've gone a long time without doing them and once I restart the pain gets better. It sounds like you might spend a lot of time at the computer as I do and corrections to my posture and the exercises made a huge difference. I haven't been given any long term restrictions for the neck (the lower and upper back is different!). I just try to be smart about what I do and be careful about turning my head too far to either side.

Re the scar, maderma works well, but so does pure vitamin E oil and it's less expensive. I started out with maderma and then changed to E oil at a friend's suggestion and my scar is barely noticable. I put it on twice a day for about 3 mos or so.

Good luck with your recovery and keep us posted!
Leigh Ann

Hi mrsalkrie
 

I used maderma for scar and E. I am surprised you had vertical scar also. I can't figure out why that would have been better for the physician. You might just want to ask him why he had that choice. I would be curious also.
Both mine are horizontal, and match the lines in my neck. Had no stitches, all was done internally.
Keep getting well. You will get better and better in time. ginnie:hug:

I have a long vertical incision too-- on the left side where all my compression was on the right. I still use straws when taking any pills to force it down-- but yet no problems eating. I asked why my scar was so much larger then then others---- he said because they were extremely large herinations pressing in the spinal cord. I think part of one disc cumbled-- he told my brother and they had to fish it out --but we never really taked about it in follow up apt. My scar is noticebale and surgery was in 2010 but honestly I dont care its worth it to get pain relief. Im glad the worst part is over and your on the mend now.:winky:

i to may have to have surgery on my to.glad your doing good/better.giving me encouragement for me to have my done:hug:

Thanks everyone for all of your great support! It is now 17 days post-op and I'm still getting better everyday. I'm up to walking 4 miles per day, log in remotely to work everyday to do a few hours of work (periodically throughout the day ~ still too painful to sit for long periods at the computer), getting kids ready for daycare/school (they are 4 & almost 8) in the morning, making dinner and doing laundry (carefully). That said, I do get wiped out easily and by 8:00 every evening, it's most definitely time for me to rest in the recliner (that I'm still in). I haven't taken any pain medication in 9 days. I feel that it is pretty manageable ~ so far so good. I will take it if I feel I really need one though. My shoulder area - top of my neck is where most of my pain is. It feels very tight and sometimes I get some shooting pains. My throat isn't too sore but I can feel a lump where the hardware is. I hope that goes away in time. I still have numbness in my thumb and forefinger and am also hoping the nerves will regenerate. I have my first post-op appt on Tuesday and have made a list of questions - some of which is pretty random ~ like when I can go for a massage. Man I could use one right now!! Will keep everyone posted. Ironically, a week after my surgery, my neighbor saw me out walking and asked what happened to me. When I told him, he then informed me he is having the same surgery, except on c5-c7. He has been terrified because of everything he has read and not knowing anyone who has gone through it. He told me that I have helped to alleviate some of his fears seeing that I'm out & about. It meant a lot to me.

Hi chelkB
 

I had massage four weeks out in conjunction with PT. This was wonderful! It was an ache, but a good one which relaxed me. ginnie:hug:

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