ACDF - not for pain but mobility questions
 

Hi every. Quick synopsis. In the last 13 years; 2 brain surgeries for aneurysms, 5 strokes, 5 seizures and the assorted TIA here and there.

My spine is a mess from years of pounding from being an elite athlete. I' slowly losing the ability to walk. I can't stand for more than 30 seconds and I fall a lot.

No myelopathy so it's most likely nerve damage. I've already had Lumbar surgery. Here's the thing, Everything I read on ACDF talks about pain. I don't hurt for Pete's sake, I'm just hemiplegic. Do cervical issues always have to hurt?

Thanks

Hi SDFencer, I actually had ACDF for just this on Monday. In late
July I noticed my gait was off while I was playing with my 7 year old son. 3 months of MRI’s, X-rays, blood draws no one could figure out what was wrong. I finally got a neurologist to look at my spine, it turns out C3-C5 needed to be fused and a discectomy done. I had no pain like you are mentioning I had weakness and shaking in my legs and numbness in my hands. The numbness in my hands is gone as of now and so are the symptoms in my legs but I am only 4 days post surgery, and haven’t done much. Please let me know if you need any other questions answered.

Hi- I am considering same surgery for instability, stenosis, myelopathy, et. al; how are you progressing? I am not having the surgery for pain primarily, and am concerned about ending up with new pain...