hey guys, I am new here and I am one week into my recovery post my ACDF surgery c4/c5. I dont have any pain aside from muscle tensing up in my neck. I do however have shoulder weakness in my right arm.

Lifting my right arm is fine, still not as easy as my left one but generally fine. However trying to lift something else is quite difficult.

I am just curious whether this is normal post surgery? Is it something that can be fixed with PT after 3 months when i can remove my collar.

any advice is greatly appreciated as i am 29 and I am very much an active person in the gym and I would like to return.

thank you

I had the same reaction from that type of surgery when I was 26, I am 60 now. Sometimes, the Nerve Root having been freed up heals from the furthest end back to the nerve root. I think this will ease over time. Be good to yourself, Follow the regiment given. It can take a while. If you stress that Nerve out while healing, you will pay a price for it. Be active, but be smart. You body ache will tell you enough is enough. It's a Neurological issue, not muscle. That was very hard for me to learn as I am still extremely strong,(to the point that people don't realize I have 5 fused discs and 5 ruptured ones, I hide it well) repetitive moves mess me up, neurologically, that is.

you reply means alot to me and thank you my friend. you made me feel alot better and I thought for a second I was never going to the gym. since im 3 weeks out of surgery. i tend to take it easy and trying not to lift anything and trying not to stress out my right shoulder.

thank you very much and Im glad to hear you are very strong and doing well.

Only 3 weeks out!! Take it easy my friend. Nerves are nothing like muscles. You do not want scar tissue to anchor to the closest spot because you over used it. You are going to have to give yourself months. But that does not mean staying still, it just means the second the "special" pain starts, stop moving, and let it subside. Then let it recover for a day or two. Try to stop before the pain starts Take the long road home, you will be very happy you did 20 years from now. Nerves take a very long time to heal, a millimeter a month my Neurosurgeon told me. He was the on call Neurosurgeon whenever the past few presidents visited Connecticut, unfortunately for me, he has retired, and he deserves it.

How long did you wait before your strength came back to your shoulder? and how long after your operation did you do fisio if at all?

thank you my friend for the advice

Could be C5 palsy. Minor case.