I will be having ACDF with cage plate surgery on December 12th. I am a little nervous about the recovery...I have a HARD time sitting still, and lot's of chores around the house on a daily basis. How am I going to do this ??? ANY SUGGESTIONS !!!PLEASE HELP !!!

I had ACDF surgery July 2011. I did NOT wake up in the hospital with my arm pain gone! Unlike some lucky people. The first month of recovery was hellacious. Lots of pain in my arm and shoulder. It wasn't until the 5th week that the pain began to lessen. It's now four months later, and I'm down to about 1800mg. of Gabapentin daily, instead of 3600 mg. before my surgery. Of course, I hope I continue to improve, but sometimes I wonder why it's taking so long (I had two huge disc herniations as a result of a fall. Have no DDD at all).

I am a 50 year old male in good health. Last February, I went to the doctor as I was having these strange headaches that I thought were sinus related. To my surprise the doctor said that I had neck problems. The initial X-rays confirmed this diagnosis.

Within a few weeks I started experiencing mild pain in portions of my right hand, wrist and fore arm. This quickly progressed to tingling and occasional numbness in my right thumb and first finger.

Since that time, I have been through physical therapy (it did not help, made the arm hurt worse), X-rays, two MRIs, nerve function study, three spinal epidurals (the third made my arm worse) and an MRI, in which I was injected with a radioactive dye that was absorbed by my bones. All of the studies confirmed the earlier diagnosis of DDD and compression on the brachial (?) nerve root.

I have tried all of the NSAIDS, three months of Neurontin (all that did was make me sleepy during the day) and heat. Right now only heat and lying down bring me any relief from the headaches.

My arm actually improved slightly during December, but since then my shoulder hurts more and the headaches have increased in frequency, intensity and duration. I know have headaches and neck pain every other day.

Fast forward to today and I am looking at having C5-6-7 disk removal and fusion on February 16. The neurologist who did the nerve study said that I was going to need this surgery sooner or later as he felt the sensory issues and motor issues will only progress. My neuro-surgeon felt that I could have the surgery now or anytime in the near future.

Because I fear permanent pain, sensory disturbance and loss of motor function in my right arm (I am right-handed). I have elected to do the surgery now, before things get worse.

My questions are: (1) What was the age that many of you had the surgery?; (2) Did physical therapy help after the surgery?; (3) Are there any concerns, questions to ask, recommendations, or issues to be aware of that you did not anticipate before your surgery?

Thank you in advance for your responses.

Regards,

David

P.S. I have a six year old "active' son and I want to be able to better keep up with him.

Welcome to Neuro Talk. There are alot of people here who can answer some of your quesions and concerns. I just happen to be on of the greeters on the site who also has your condition. I was 56 for the first spinal fusion. I had no choice in the decision, as there was a risk of being paralzed. So I had C6-7 done. This Failed as not all the issues in my neck were told to me or resolved at time of this first fusion. Second and third opinions, I should have done. My pain specialist in 2010 discovered through a ketamine infusion just what my spine looked like. He directed me to the best neruo surgeon in my are. I was re-fused C3-7. I have no regrets from doing this last surgery even though I was terrified. That is why I joined this forum. Yes, I was allowed PT at four weeks out. I thought it was too early as I was still in pain, but the PT helped me alot. They never pushed beyond what I was able to do. The pain in my shoulders and arms is gone. I take a low dose of pain killer still, as I have other degenerative disorders. My spine is in pretty good shape. This can be a very successful kind of surgery, but should only be done as a last resort. Please seek out more than one opinion, as I didn't do that, and I paid price for my lack of knowledge. I didn't question my first neurologist enough as my pain was so great I just wanted to have something done about it. That was one of the lessons I learned the hard way. I do wish you all the best in this. You will need some time and TLC while you recover. I wore a soft collar for about 3 months, but did not have to sleep in it. If there are any other questions you think I might be able to answer I am here for you. Have a good superball sunday. ginnie

Hi Dricher, Good luck with your upcomming ACDF surgery. I am 43, and not as active as I should be. I have other issues as well...LOL. I did PT before my surgery, that just aggrovated my condition. I will be going to PT after 4 weeks, I am 3 weeks postop now. I also went to the chiropractor a few times a week before my surgery, this did help with the arm pain. I did this conventional treatment for 9 months with little improvement. This is why my doc suggested doing the surgery. I can happily say that I am glad I had it done. I am in some pain now, but it is so much better than it was before the surgery. When I woke up in recovery, the arm pain was GONE. I am in a soft cervical collar for 6 weeks, no driving yet. I do still have some weakness in the arm, as well as numbness in 3 fingers. I do hope this goes away with some PT. I only had one level done, and my doc told me the recovery should be around 8 weeks or so. Just make sure you listen to all the restrictions, and don't do too much too fast. I did this a few times, and was in some extreme pain afterwords !!! The only place I can get comfortable is in my recliner. You will need plenty of rest after your surgery. Also make sure your doc gives you meds that control your pain as well as a muscle relaxer, and maybe even sleeping pills. All of these meds really help you heal better. Take care, Karen

Hi David,

1.) Given your general good health and parental aspirations, unless there's some other factor that makes surgery a greater than average risk for you, I don't think age should be of concern.
2.) Except in rare cases, rehabilitation (physical therapy, exercise) can help patients recover from spine surgery as quickly and completely as possible.
I can't think of a reason why anyone wouldn't at least try postoperative physical therapy.

3.) Those issues constitute a significant portion of the discussions on this forum. One good way is to make use of the Search functions, which can be found on and just beneath the blue bars across the forum screens. Also,
Google: questions to ask before surgery
Google: questions to ask before spine surgery
Google: questions to ask before neck surgery
Google: failed neck surgery syndrome
Google: arachnoiditis

Surgery can fix physical/mechanical damage; it cannot fix already damaged nerves, and it may not alleviate pain.

Get multiple opinions.

Best Wishes,

Doc

I am VERY stiff and sore today. Doc's assistant called earlier and said I could wean myself out of the soft collar. He wanted me to try and go a few hours doing my normal daily activities without it today. I am 4 weeks post op today. My chest, neck, upper back, and across my shoulders are in spasms right now !!! This is the most pain I have been in since my surgery !!! I did call the office, they said to take a muscle relaxer, put the collar back on, and it is normal to feel some pain. As the muscles are getting used to holding up the weight of my head again. I think I over did it again....when will I ever learn.

[Hi tiger bear, you are right at the time I remember that happening to me, about 3 or 4 weeks post op. got those spasms. I was given soma just to take when they accur, knocked the spasms down and cut the pain all at once. Maybe you doctor would give just a few for then this occurs. I had taken off my collar the same way, same timing. You are doing just fine. It will continue to get better and better each week....ginnie

Hello

I have had pain in shoulder as a deep ache and then going down arm and into thumb and fingers cramping. Neck pain with bulging disc in all cervical areas but the main one touching or abutting the spine is C5 C6. I also went to ortho doctor about mid back pain around or between shoulder blades which I have had for over a year and no one has been able to see what was causing it except this doctor. The arm, shoulder and hand/palm pain only started about a month ago. I thought I had carpal tunnel. It bothers me and it feels numb sometimes off and on during the day but my hand (left) is killing me the most..cramping and mid thoracic area.

This orth doctor said it is all coming from my C5 C6. Is this true? I can see the shoulder, arms etc but the mid back at shoulder blades around T6. Should I get an ortho guy that specializes in cervical or spine or neurosurgeon. I am in Texas so if anyone could email a private message and recommend a top notch surgeon I would be willing to travel. I have good insurance. I am afraid because I do have adrenal insuffciency and two other autoimmune diseases. I have had surgeries with these but still I am reading not so good about these Peek Anterior Cervical Surgeries...Any information would be greatly appreciated. God Bless us all with chronic pain..

"It's frustrating to me that man can put a robot on Mars, harness nuclear energy, invent jets that fly 10-times faster than the speed of sound, predict a lunar eclipse 100 years from now to the minute; BUT they can't make one's pain go away. "

Linda:

Hi Linda, Welcome.

This might have been a New Thread (button in upper left of forum screen) but we're not too picky here.

Pain can be telegraphed to places far from its actual origins, so it's possible, but so are some other things.

Have you looked at/into Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)? We have a forum dedicated to that condition.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Fibromyalgia (which also has its own forum) are two other possibilities.

Doc