Doing well
 

I guess being in upstate NY you have gotten as much if not more snow than we have on Long Island. We are due for some snow, sleet, ice and rain on Tuesday and Wednesday. I am not sure if you will have all snow or it will be south of you. Oh Joy! How long before you felt better after your surgery or is your surgery upcoming? If it is in a week let me know and I can let you know what I learned. I am going on 7 weeks now. I don't have daily pain, burning or discomfort, but there are times if I over do it, sleep funny I am in pain and take a flexeril or hydrocodone. Have a safe day.

Good luck with surgery adkpegleg
 

Good luck with the surgery tomorrow. I had the same surgery, so if you have any questions I can share my personal experience although each person is different. Just remember to stay on top of the pain and do not try to do with the pain med too soon. I'll be thinking about you.

Keep us post.

muscles relaxers not prescribed?
 

So, I had my final appt. with my neuro yesterday to discuss surgery and post-op pain control, etc... we must have different docs in Canada then you because he did not want to prescribe me muscle relaxers, said I shouldn't need them after surgery. I hope he is right, but I can get them through my family doctor if need be. Is that what the flexeril is? Does Robaxacet do the same thing, I have a prescription of those already? Or is the flexeril stronger?

How much should I push for the muscle relaxers I'm wondering, I have lots of oxy's saved up since they have played with my doses so much I have unused prescriptions of higher mg's that I haven't been taking.

How are you feeling now anyway? It's been about a month now for you right?
Take care,
Cathie

Cathie
 

Cathie,

So what are your plans as far as the surgery is concerned? Levels? when? plate screws? etc...

Once I was home I took hydrocodone for pain for about 4-5 days and the flexerial for muscle spasms for about the same time frame. I am not familiar Robaxacet so I can't compare. I still take the flexeril if I have a spasm. I would get some if you can. I did not take oxy once home only in the hospital.

This Thursday will be 9 weeks post op. Generally I feel fine. My ROM and strength is still limited. I get sore and muscle spasms more than I would like. But I made an appt with Dr's office today because I want to get cleared for work. Tired of being home.
Good luck and keep me posted.
Gail

Hi Gail,

I'm so anxious to be 9 weeks post op... it seems like an eternity waiting to get better. I understand you being tired of staying at home, I've been off work since last May and I'm literally climbing the walls!! And with all this winter white stuff it is much worse! Blah. I hate snow and ice. :p

We decided to fuse C5, C6 & C7... he was undecided about C4, but we are going to cross our fingers and skip that one to allow me for better ROM. He has decided to lower my incision in the front and go horizontal to allow for a possible second surgery through the front if C4 starts giving me more issues later in life. But he feels that with a lifestyle change I have a good shot at avoiding future surgeries. I hope he is right. The surgery with be anterior, with cadaver bone (bone bank) and titanium plates. I don't remember about the screws? Doesn't really matter at this point I just want to be healing instead of coping. Surgery is March 2nd at 6:00 am.

Really like my neurosurgeon, he's so easy to talk to and explains everything so calmly it made me feel so much more comfortable about it all.

The hardest part about this last month is staying cheery and out of pain. The weather is cold, and I'm stuck at home (car rides cause me so much pain with the pinched nerves) I'm working really hard at not getting sad. I'm usually such an active & happy person, but this has been the hardest thing I've ever endured.

I'll have to talk to my family doc about flexiril, since my neuro said just Oxy and Percacets once I leave the hospital.

I hope you get cleared for work.... I'm sure you are excited to get back to a normal life again!!
Take care,
Cathie

Flexeril vs. Methocarbamol
 

Robaxacet is methocarbamol plus acetaminophen (paracetamol/tylenol).
Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) and methocarbamol are both muscle relaxers, though they are different classes and work differently. I wouldn't necessarily categorize one as "stronger" than the other, because that depends on dosage, patient tolerance, and other variables. See:
http://www.ehealthme.com/compare_dru...rbamol-2974474
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methocarbamol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flexeril

Doc

adkpegleg
 

adkpegleg, How are you doing since your surgery? Hope you are handling the pain ok. How is sleeping and eating? Keep us posted on your recovery.

************************************************** *****12/9/2010 ACDF C5-6 C6-7 with plate, screws,
BMP & bone fragment filled cages
2/14/2011 trying to go back to work as a teacher
2/17/2011 starting PT
wearing bone stimulator 4 hours a day
DDD, arthritis, herniated disks, pinched nerves

Hello Cathie and evveryone else
 

Good luck with the surgery. I may not be on the site too often if going back to works out ok. Feel free to send me a private note which I think goes into my regular email.
Went to the PA at OSS office to talk to him about returning to work. He originally wanted me to go back 2/28 which is after a week holiday and 11 1/2 weeks post op. I wanted to go back last Friday. We comprised on Monday 2/14. This way I have 1 week of work and then 1 week off. After that I will go until the end of April when there will be a week off again. i am lucky to have the breaks as a teacher. I am very nervous but excited.
************************************************** *****
12/9/2010 ACDF C5-6 C6-7 with plate, screws,
BMP & bone fragment filled cages
2/14/2011 trying to go back to work as a teacher
2/17/2011 starting PT
wearing bone stimulator 4 hours a day
DDD, arthritis, herniated disks, pinched nerves

Progress
 

Went to the PA at OSS office to talk to him about returning to work. He originally wanted me to go back 2/28 which is after a week holiday and 11 1/2 weeks post op. I wanted to go back last Friday. We comprised on Monday 2/14. This way I have 1 week of work and then 1 week off. After that I will go until the end of April when there will be a week off again. i am lucky to have the breaks as a teacher. I am very nervous but excited. ALso got approved for PT. Went to a few places and spoke to the therapists. I wanted one who would really work on my posture, strength, ROM and sitting properly at the computer and driving. Only a few places were willing to go out to my car and help make sure I had everything in the proper position. That made choosing a location easier. Wish me luck.
************************************************** *****
12/9/2010 ACDF C5-6 C6-7 with plate, screws,
BMP & bone fragment filled cages
2/14/2011 trying to go back to work as a teacher
2/17/2011 starting PT
wearing bone stimulator 4 hours a day
DDD, arthritis, herniated disks, pinched nerves