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Old 07-09-2013, 02:08 PM #21
valady9 valady9 is offline
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Default ACDF 3 week recovery today

Although I see that these posts are a few years old I just want to share that I am on week 3, off of all meds except valium for muscle spasms and tylenol. I have been walking daily but still battling some depression at the lack of quality of my life. I know it has only been 21 days and I should be easier on myself.
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Old 12-15-2013, 11:31 PM #22
rwgrider rwgrider is offline
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Default Post Surgery spasms

Quote:
Originally Posted by valady9 View Post
Although I see that these posts are a few years old I just want to share that I am on week 3, off of all meds except valium for muscle spasms and tylenol. I have been walking daily but still battling some depression at the lack of quality of my life. I know it has only been 21 days and I should be easier on myself.
I'm 13 weeks post surgery and still experiencing muscle spasms in my right leg at the knee. I'm on 1mg Valium but it doesn't seem to hold it in check. Going to PT which helps flexibility for a while but then I tighten up after sitting or lying down.
Patience seems to be the order of the day. I'm able to function but with some difficulty.
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Old 12-22-2013, 04:24 PM #23
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Default it's been a while writing here

Quote:
Originally Posted by walshka View Post
Ever since my C3-7 surgery three months ago, I find that it feels best to roll a bath towel and put it under my neck. I also sleep on the floor. I never had to wear a collar, and from I read on the posts, I think I maybe should have had a collar - after all of this time, my pain is not only returning to pre-surgery levels, it is now also on my right side, when it was only on my left side before.

I find walking to be excruciatingly painful - has anyone else experienced that? The surgeon says walking is good - then why does every step hurt so much!? I feel like every bone in my neck and back are being shaken and jarred, even my knees are starting to hurt, probably from the goofy way I walk to try to prevent my neck from jiggling. He also says my range of motion is great - then why do I about scream every time I back out of the driveway? My neck does not want to range that far, trust me.
dear friend

5/6-6/7
3-11-10 failed too fuse wore bone simulator
on even in sleep
went back to work 2 weeks after surgery
i was had the okay from doctor
i clerk in my town EMS Division
hope to one day to return
everything that could have gone
wrong did
the after care in this teaching
prestigious referral and an ego maniac
neurosurgeon a good referral
you would think the intricate art work
and an oath to use as their foundation
to begin with
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Old 12-22-2013, 08:03 PM #24
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eva5667faliure eva5667faliure is offline
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by walshka View Post
Ever since my C3-7 surgery three months ago, I find that it feels best to roll a bath towel and put it under my neck. I also sleep on the floor. I never had to wear a collar, and from I read on the posts, I think I maybe should have had a collar - after all of this time, my pain is not only returning to pre-surgery levels, it is now also on my right side, when it was only on my left side before.

I find walking to be excruciatingly painful - has anyone else experienced that? The surgeon says walking is good - then why does every step hurt so much!? I feel like every bone in my neck and back are being shaken and jarred, even my knees are starting to hurt, probably from the goofy way I walk to try to prevent my neck from jiggling. He also says my range of motion is great - then why do I about scream every time I back out of the driveway? My neck does not want to range that far, trust me.
dear friend

5/6-6/7
3-11-10 failed too fuse wore bone simulator
on even in sleep
went back to work 2 weeks after surgery
i was had the okay from doctor
i clerk in my town EMS Division
hope to one day to return
everything that could have gone
wrong did
the after care in this teaching
prestigious referral and an ego maniac
neurosurgeon a good referral
you would think the intricate art work
and an oath to use as their foundation
to begin with
4-15-11 surgery nightmare number 2
my immediate draining incorrectly
at the site of incision
a hematoma size of a half protruding
outside and most certain pressure inward
as it grew to that size over night
there was no place for any relief
there is where all he did was disturb
i believe my hospital after care persons
could have done something
by fixing the drain
it is over a while now
and walk with a cane as my gait is off
i have a feeling since 1st surgery of
water in my ear
you just learn to live with it
except when you have dried blood
in your ear 2 days then abruptly stop
no matter what
we all go down a s similar
roads some way or another
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Old 12-24-2013, 04:21 PM #25
cattymo73 cattymo73 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by garyR View Post
I am on my 4th week after acdf c3-7. I have an aspen (hard) collar 24/7. I could not sleep in my bed, I am a "side sleeper" due to some sleep apnea issues. Last night I don't think I got an hour of sleep. I kept waking up everytime I dozed off. I felt like I could not breath. Started panicicking. I am trying to sleep in a recliner because I found it impossible to sleep in bed. Is there anyone that has had this experience? If so, do you have any advice?
I recently cut down on my pain meds (Norco). last night I tried taking one Norco tab to see if it would relax me. It had no effect.
Hello there!

I am a 40 year old woman, and in August I had c5/6,c6/7,c7/t1 fused.. so I guess it's only been 5 months.. immediately after the surgery, I was so incredibly miserable because, in order to create space in my vertebrae to introduce the bone grafts, the dr. had to yank up my spine.. and disrupt all of the muscles along with it. it was so collapsed for so long, so. it was a miserable recovery needless to say. i spent an entire month sleeping upright in a recliner.. i felt sitting like that helped my muscles adapt to their new position and create some relief from their screaming..
so, i support sleeping upright, and understand it..
ICE is amazing. I"m in love with ice.

2 levels fused perfectly, and about 3 mos ago i started noticing a sharp pain on the left side. had an xray, and the bone graft at c5 had totally collapsed. i also started noticing a ton of 'clicking'... not like muscles poping. totally different. like, the hardware was creating these noises..

i've had 2 xrays and one ct scan since. pain is still dominant on the left side. sharp pain. not like i had before. not sure what to do.. we might refuse c5. would rather have a nice high space between than a collapsed fusion...

anyone else?

i hope you feel better!!
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Old 12-24-2013, 04:44 PM #26
ginnie ginnie is offline
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Default Hi Cattymo,

I do understand what you are going through. Have faith that it will get better. Can you find or order a GEL incline pillow. This allows the collar, and for you to sleep in your own bed. It may help you. We are all so different as we heal. I am fused the same as you C3-7. I reversed the curve of my spine, so I presented much the same way you did. Hopefully there will be a real good result a few more months from now. It was 6 months for me, before I really started to feel better. May your holidays be filled with less pain, and healing. ginnie
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Old 12-24-2013, 04:45 PM #27
ginnie ginnie is offline
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Default Reply to Garry

The post was for you Gerry, and the person I answered. Wish you all the best. ginnie
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Old 07-19-2018, 06:42 PM #28
ltaggart ltaggart is offline
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Default Collars post-surgery

Quote:
Originally Posted by Spiney95 View Post
I found it very helpful to put a soft foam collar under the hard one. Of course, the restriction is madening but it does cut down on the rubbing and irritation. My surgeon laughed when I went in for my first post op check up and he saw what I had done but said it was a great idea. I had two more cervical surgeries that he performed and when I woke up, there was a soft collar under the hard one.

This can be pretty hot but that is why I just let my airconditioning blast away when I was wearing them. You need two of them as they need to be washed frequently as they can get pretty nasty. You need a fresh one to wear while the other one is drying. Best wishes.
I'm 3 weeks post surgery on C3-7 ACDF plus posterior D-trax. I began wearing a nice quality travel pillow that had conforming foam and velour exterior after my accident in January until surgery in June. It was a godsend to get through the night being able to keep my neck from falling side to side. Now post surgery I wear it each night and it is much more comfortable for me than a hard collar. My surgeon indicated he didn't think I needed to wear a collar during the day at all. Also, just invested in a really good cervical pillow.
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Old 08-23-2021, 07:49 AM #29
jpugliese22@gmail.c jpugliese22@gmail.c is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ABBB View Post
Hi, I had acdf at C4/5, 5/6 and 6/7 on 2/21. I developed excruciating nerve pain in left arm POST-OP and had it for 15 days before it started subsiding. I had no nerve pain pre-op...just a dull ache in left arm. I was terrified thinking that the surgery had caused additional problems, but, now, I'm thinking that the nerve was irritable from being 'jiggled' during surgery and the fact that I had had the pain for almost three years pre-op (assault). I, too, was prescribed PT but have found that it causes pain...we have to listen to our bodies and do what works for us. I cannot do anything repetitive for very long with activating the pain across C6/7 where the worst herniation was. My immediate post-op pain was, also, excruciating; and I had to have strong pain meds which made my blood pressure drop dangerously low. I am just now starting to feel better. My PT and home health nurse think I should be able to do more at this point and have contacted the NS to ask that my x-ray appt. be bumped up since it is scheduled for one month from now...just to try to determine what is going on. Bottom line: listen to your body and do not let anyone dictate how much you do.
I too had acdf at C4/5, 5/6 and 6/7 surgery and am 2 months out. I have an intermittent extremely painful numbness in my left hand that is unbearable when it appears. Much stronger and painful than before I had the surgery. It really happens most when I lay down. I have had 4 or 5 nights where I literally don't sleep a wink. I try every position known to man. The only thing that helps is getting up and walking around. This is torture and completely disturbs my quality of life and effects my ability to function effectively at work, as a parent, husband etc etc.

Is this type of pain normal 2 months out? Does it go away? The doctor said structurally the surgery couldn't of gone any better. The pain I feel is excruciating and has me somewhat depressed to think that this is my new reality. I am an active 53 year old ex athlete that was (is) very hopeful that I can have a better quality of life and be active again.
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