I am not sleeping worth a hoot. Prior to my surgery ACDF 5-6-7 I got help sleeping from a contour cervical pillow and while sitting in a recliner it helped to put a rolled up towel under my neck.

Now, I have given away the cervy pillow, have tried to neck pillows and all seem to give me pain. How about you others with fusion? Do you think it is the now one bone over three vertebra that will not allow me to have neck support without pain?

I am using a teeny flat pillow at present about and inch thick. I bunch it up a bit for some side neck support but the regular cervy pillow seem way too tall now.

Lord...I wonder if it is the thorax spine causing this now. Afraid to get a check up..what they will find.

Oh...can you have an MRI with a titanium plate in your neck? I've heard MRI's are all over for some people with hardware. Anyone know about that?

JB outta here to Canada Mon. ohhh...plane rides.

I am about 2 months post acdf and can only sleep with my contoured cervical pillow. All other ones cause me grief.. Before my surgery I couldn't use the cervical pillow.. go figure..Sorry I am not much help..Hope you get some relief soon!
Valerie

I have not been able to find a comfortable pillow either. I have bought a few of different types but none of them are all that great.

About the MRI yes you can get an MRI with the titanium plate, at least I could. They did use contrast though because of it, to get a better picture. ...Sue

I can't find a pillow either JB and Sue. My neck and shoulders and rt elbow, and lower back hurt so badly I can't seem to get much sleep lately. Am wondering if the Welbutrin I started 2 days ago is keeping me awake too. Haven't slept since Istarted it! I took a sleeping pill last night...tonight....?
Hope we all find a good pillow soon! Gaye

I have cervcial, thoracic, and lumbar problems...I sleep on about four pillows propped up ...I have asthma too so being in a sitting up position is a breathing issue for me as well...I have two really soft pillows that I can squish into almost any position and I use those to cushion around my head, but it is very difficult to get comfortable. I have an even more difficult time because I just had the lumbar fusion so laying flat on my back sometimes hurts..but the hips hurt too...so you just have to hope the pain meds knock you out for a few hours...

As for MRI's ...Look at my signature...I am fused 360 or around the world as someone so nicely put it...in both the lumbar and cervical spine...Cervical spine has the plate in the front with screws and rods and screws in the back...The lumbar is fused with cages in the front and screws in the back with rods...I go into the MRI machine without any problems ...Since my last fusion in April I have had a cervical MRI and a brain MRI without any problems and they were able to get good pictures....So you should be able to get an MRI...You aren't getting out of it that easy...

JB-

I don't even use a pillow anymore. But I do get some extra relief from a leg roll that I use to remove pressure from my lumbar spine. I got it at www.healthyback.com .

joe

Hi.
I am on 6 days post acdf c6/c7. I finally slept last night laying down. I have 2 memory foam pillows stacked up, and slept with my back against the back of the sofa and slightly slanted on my side. i woke up with my incision a little bit tugged and in a minor amount of pain but i slept!! The cervical u-shaped pillow is too tall for sleeping flat, but the two pillows stacked are perfect for sleeping on my side.

Otherwise, I feel great! No more headache. No more arm pain, numbness or tinglies. I think my biggest problem will be resisting temptation to do things i'm not supposed to do. I was very anxious that this would be too painful to bear, and it was quite the opposite. I still don't have any voice, and have troubles swallowing fluids without aspirating (i can drink slowly) but i believe it will come back eventually. I feel very positive about the whole thing.

My big question now is, how still do I have to keep my head to promote fusing? Can I lean over at all? With plate and screws, isn't the neck fairly stable? I am not required to wear a cervical collar at all.

I am shocked at how different drs are. My neurosurgeon had me in a hard cervical collar for 8-1/2 weeks post ACDF with titanium plate c5,c6,c7. I was dying to get out of it and couldn't hold my head up once I was finally cleared to take it off. I still wear my soft collar for pain relief when my neck gets sore andmy surgery was last march.

Resist all your temptations and give your body time to heal. You will be grateful in the long run!

Cathie

Hi,
I have ACDF c5, c6, c7 also... Same titanium plate, yes you can have MRIs after, I have had three since surgery.

As for sleeping, I have found sleeping on my obus form cervical pillow, smallest side (approx 3") on my side with a pillow supporting my arm and another between my legs works best. Also cleared this position with my PT tp ensure posture and it's all good.

Still have nights that are bad, but that position works better then others.

Cathie