Hi all. I had cervical spine surgery 2 weeks ago. The whole procedure went just fine, except for sore throat and swollen neck where the cut was made, I am also experiencing numbness under my chin and same pain and numbness pre ops from shoulder to fingers, he said that will take longtime to disappear. My Surgeon did not gave me instructions on how to behave and what to do during first 6 – 8 weeks after the surgery. He doesn't want me to wear collar brace for he doesn't believe on them.. I’m just wondering if anybody here experienced anything similar, and what you did during first 8 weeks after the surgery. BTW I do drive my car now and do things I normally do in our house except for heavy lifting..Thanks for your comments.

My surgeon doesn't believe in collars either - I am three months from my C3-7 ACDF. At first, I accepted the fact that I might be gradually getting better and that my progress was so gradual that maybe I wasn't noticing it. But it seemed like I was overdoing the work (I work at a computer all day) and housework because I would find myself really suffering after too much computer time or too much cleaning. Gradually my pain has been increasing - and spreading to my right neck and arm (it was mostly my left should and arm pre-surgery) and I am starting to think something is terribly wrong. I go for my third post-op visit tomorrow and I know I have to stand my ground - it hurts a LOT and it shouldn't.

look at my sig, Had hard neck brace for 3 weeks and soft collar for another 3 weeks. Started driving after hard brace came off, doc said could drive after 2 weeks but waited for hard brace to come off. I took it easy for the whole time i had neck braces on, no house cleaning or lifting anything heavy. My chin and right below chin was really numb after surgery, now very little numbness on chin and neck. My arm and shoulder pain is much better since surgery. Also did pt to help with stiff neck and upper back. Seemed to help.

My neurosurgeon had me wearing a hard collar for 8 1/2 weeks after my ACDF. I have C5, C6, C7 fused with titanium plate and screws with cadaver bone. I am still not allowed to lift over 5 lbs and I'm at 12 wks post op now. I didn't drive until I was 9 wks post op. I'm shocked you aren't wearing a collar. I'm still not allowed to have physio therapy until the 6 month post op to allow for proper fusion. My neuro is probably over cautious, but he explained how much cleaning out he had to do and relieved a lot of pinched nerves. It takes 12 weeks for your bones to even begin to fuse to the plates.

Please be careful driving, I was told I could risk paralization if I was ever in a car accident during the first 3 months after surgery. If someone hit you from behind you would be in a heap of trouble.

Do you mind me asking where you live? I'm in Canada, I do find a big difference between different parts of the world and the rules to follow post op.

Good luck with your recovery. It's a long road back to being normal again.

Cathie