ACDF with cage plate C6 and C7

Dr. Smith · 01-19-2012, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigerbear17

It's so hard to follow the rules about No bending, lifting, turing or twisting. When I over do any of these...I pay the price and am hurting for quite a while !!!

Patient: "Doctor, it hurts when I do this...."
Doctor: "Then don't DO that."

It's a corny old joke, but I've actually had it happen once in a doctor's examination room.

It's completely understandable; we're so sick & tired of hurting so bad for so long, we want to feel better and be healed NOW, and get back to the business of living (and enjoying for a change) life to the fullest.

OTOH, this could be your big chance to act out the fantasy of living like royalty and having others wait on you hand & foot while you recover. You may not ever (and hopefully, never) get a chance like this again, so Kiddo... milk it for all it's worth!

Practically speaking, depending onhow long you're going to recuperate for, there are some gadgets/tools that can make life a whole lot easier (and less painful). An improved recliner for TV/Computer use....
http://cdn.coolest-gadgets.com/wp-co...gravitonus.jpg

A full-body blow dryer....
http://www.disabledhands.com/_gadget...yDryer_250.jpg

Robotic walking suit....
http://sclick.net/cool%20gadgets/exc...bot_suit_1.jpg

Or the full-blown exo-skeleton....
http://thecoolgadgets.com/wp-content...le-493x358.jpg

A "TANK" chair....
http://news.upickreviews.com/wp-cont...tank-chair.jpg

Or just one of those grabbing tools...
http://images.centralrestaurant.com/...ge/038-001.jpg
(or similar)

Need help working an ATM?
http://cdn.coolest-gadgets.com/wp-co...ds/dog-atm.jpg

Even my cane works for some things; I can reach the wall switch without getting out of my recliner, and the hook end is handy too.

Doc

eva5667faliure · 01-19-2012, 08:01 AM

doc
ya kill me

thanks!

tigerbear17 · 01-30-2012, 06:38 PM

Just an update...This week will be three weeks post op for my ACDF c6c7. I still have pain in my neck and across my shoulders and around the incision, but the extreme pain I had in my right arm is GONE. I do still have some tingling in three fingers and weakness in the arm. I see my doc for a follow up tomorrow. I will be having a xray done first. I am still in my soft collar, I take a loratab every 6 hours, also cyclobenzaprine at bedtime. I am still sleeping in the recliner. I have tried several times to sleep in my bed, but it is just too painfull. Thanks, Karen

ginnie · 01-30-2012, 07:11 PM

I think you are doin great! If that arm pain is gone, that is fantastic. Your neck pain and shoulder pain will be there for a little while longer. I started PT at four weeks, and did not find it painful, but rather helpful. when you go back for your checkup, ask him if it is too early for you to do this. It did make me ache after the session, but it also helped me to heal faster, and I began to have alot less pain after a couple of weeks in therapy.Just keep being good to yourself. Have you tried a wedge in bed? I sleep on one of this all the time now. I no longer can sleep on my side because of my neck. Just something you may want to try so you can sleep in bed again. Do you take your colar off at night? I was allowed to do that. I wish you all the best tiger bear, just keep healing. ginnie

tigerbear17 · 01-31-2012, 06:18 PM

I had my re check today. Doc said everything is looking good. I had my xray done before this appt. It is so cool to see the plate in there. Doc wants me to keep the soft collar on for another 3 weeks. No pt yet. I also got refills on my meds. Doc said the weakness should get better with time, not sure about the numbmess in my fingers. Doc said that might be permanent

Doc also said the pain in my back and across the shoulders will eventually go away. He want's me to GO SLOW and not to do ANYTHING that might aggrovate my neck. I see him again in 8 weeks. I do have a wedge pillow in bed....I have to sleep on it for a older shoulder injury. I am a side sleeper...this is why I keep going back to the recliner. It's just too painfull on my side. I will update again soon. Thanks again, Karen

ginnie · 01-31-2012, 08:09 PM

[It is cool to see what they put inside you. I am glad you are coming along on your recovery. I took it easy for a long time. I still am careful to this day to not over do it. sleep well Karen, I use that wedge every night. You are in my prayers. ginnie

carleen332 · 02-03-2012, 12:07 PM

I think you should post how your surgery came out, I too will be having this surgery in the near future, but my C5 and C6 disk. I need to know how much recovery time is involved with this surgery. I hope you are doing well after yours. Could you please reply.

Thanks, Carleen

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigerbear17

I wil be having ACDF surgery on December 12. I am not sure what to expect or just what is going to be done at the time of surgery. I currently have a partial knee replacement on my left knee, I have to walk with a cane since I can not move the knee. It is locked in a bent position due to massive scar tissue. I injured my neck about 8 month's ago while walking into the grocery store. I misstepped and stumbled as not to fall. When I did this fast abrupt movement I felt a burning/stabbing pain in my neck and back. That night the pain got even worse !!! I went to the ER, they sent me home with a diagnosis of nothing but a muscle sprain. I was in so much pain, I went to my regular doctor. She sent me for a MRI which confirmed that I had a ruptured disc and a free floating fragment pressing on the nerve. I have had neck, arm, and hand pain, as well as tingling/numbness in 3 fingers since then. I started going to a chiropracter and a neurosurgen for some releif. With chiropractic treatments 3 Xweekly the pain that was off the charts in the beginning has come down a bit to a 6 or so. I do at home streching, went to PT in the beginning also. I also do at home traction. This really helps !!! I have seen the neurosurgen 3 times since this happened. Each time he did a strength test on my hand and arm, everytime the number's have gotten worse. The last visit he sent me for another MRI, this told him that whatever is going on in my neck is not improving with conventinal treatment. It seems that the pain, weakness and numbness is a progressive thing that I am not aware of. I did not realize just how weak my right arn and hand has allready gotten. If I do not have surgery to correct this I mght lose function in my right arm. So I will be having ACDF surgery soon. Any advise or help ??? Thanks, Karen

Dr. Smith · 02-03-2012, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carleen332

I think you should post how your surgery came out,

Carleen,

Welcome. Tigerbear has been posting her progress right along; you need to keep reading the thread beyond 1/11/12 (the pushed-back date of her surgery) on page 5.

Doc

ginnie · 02-03-2012, 12:38 PM

Welcome to Neuro Talk. You will find alot of information and a lot of compassion. I too have had cervical fusion. My first was at C6-7. I recovered, but other issues were not addressed and I didn't know about them. six years later, 2010 I was in again to re-do 6-7 and address those issues that were not resolved before with a differernt surgeon. My results are good. I had C3-7 done. the re-coup for the first was easy without alot of pain. The second took a long long time, almost a year before I felt really good again. I still am under the care of my doctors. I do wish you all the best if you go into surgery. We are all different in our presentations, be we all want the same thing, a good outcome. Lets us know how you do. ginnie

tigerbear17 · 02-03-2012, 04:51 PM

My biggest issue right now is trying to get comfortable at bedtime...I tried last night to sleep in my bed. Even with lot's of pillows and my wedge, it was too painfull. My back and shoulders are in PAIN !!! I guess it's back to the recliner for me. Don't get me wrong...I am VERY comfortable in the recliner. I just want to get back to "normal"...whatever that is !!!

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