I'm scheduled for mine the 31st of January and reading this board is scaring me to death!! LOL I'm terrified of the surgery anyway - just because of the proximity to the spinal cord and the anesthesia. I told the surgeon that if I was in pain, I wouldn't be there! What I have isn't what I consider pain - it's a burning, itching sensation down my arm that is unbearable! Would wake me from a dead sleep clawing at my arm till I drew blood. Now I am afraid of what I might face afterwards! I have 4 small children to take care of - I really can't afford the downtime of a week or two, much less continued problems.

Please tell me that someone has had good results and I am just overreacting to a wonderful supportive community!

Seawind,

Yes, I did have good results with my cervical surgery. You do not say what levels...

I had a 360 cervical fusion, with a plate in the front and rods and screws in the back. I have no regrets and most of the pain is gone. I have, unfortunately, new problems with my cervical spine though, so we are watching that now.

All of my pain was gone immediately after this surgery. My surgeon woke me from my deep sleep and asked about pain levels and if it was gone...Go for it! Of course, this is just my opinion and I am not a doctor.

I want to add that I hope you have gotten at least two other opinons on this surgery. I had many, many opinons before I allowed him to do anything.

Good luck

Thanks, GJZH! This is at the C5/C6 level. This has been going on for almost 4 years and nothing else has worked! I've been on meds for about a year and a half that were helping, but they aren't working anymore. It is interfering with day to day functioning now. I have had a number of people tell me today of success stories with this so I am feeling a good bit better about it. I'm still scared to death, but that's OK, that's normal! LOL

Can I ask what ACDF is?

I have some C5/C6 problems and was curious.

Thanks and best of luck!

Seawind,

Yes, I have had two fusions; C3/C4 (2004) and C5/C6 (this September). I agree with Gloria...go for it! But it IS VERY NORMAL to be frightened. I was...both times. But both surgeries went very well. You should be up and walking around the same day. But since you said you have 4 little ones to care for, I would definitely enlist some help. It is not the downtime from the surgery, it is the "fusing" itself...it can take a few months and during that time you shouldn't lift anything over 10 lbs. at first and for me, at the moment, I am still not to lift anything over 25 lbs. Hang in there!

Shelly,

Check my post on abbreviations....

Gloria

I know exactly the type of pain Yr referin to. Today is the 12th day post surgery for me (i/11/07) was performed...and I no longer have that burning itching Pins & Needle-Numbness. I always had it on ONLY my RIGHT side..The Only pain I have NOW is & swelling at my upper back where the cervical ends & the thoracis starts. I think it is from the hard collar-brACE i WEAR MOST ALL THE TIME...i WENT FOR 3, YES THREE opinions from 3 different surgeons...they all said YES surgery.
I tried physical therapy (traction) not on a machine but physically from the therapist....Next day it was a million time worse. That only confirmed I needed surgery...The surgeon said I had alot more arthritis in my neck than He realized. Mine was at C4 C5 C6 & C7...I didn't use my own hip bone...used donor bone & a metal plate-put in...If you use your own Hip bone recovery time is longer plus No PROOF that it's better...so think about that, especially U have little ones to care for...So far I'm glad and confident surgery was the right choice...God Bless and don't be afraid...it's not that bad....JoAnne...Email me @ joannema@webrv.net

My name is Dave, and I am going feb. 28 for acdf on c5-6 and c 6-7. I am in very bad pain and wonder what to expect. I am a Printer, and run heavy paper all day long. My surgeon says he will build my neck like a tank, and I will be back working in 2-3 weeks... Is he over optimistic?

I had terrific results when my neck was done in 1997. It's been fine since.

Remember, most people who do well are NOT on the boards. Those of us who are may have more serious disease or more widespread disease and not simply a bad outcome.

That is very encouraging! I never thought about that...I was wondering what i was getting into! Thanks so much for your post!
Dave