Alternative pain treatments and lifestyle changes after anterior cervical fusion

[Susan Logue]

I'm 40 years old and had anterior cervical fusion surgery 2 1/2 years ago. I had ruptured disk C4-5. I was told at the time that the disks above and below the fusion were not in good shape and to be careful. I don't work, I do light strength training 2 days a week and cardio recumbant bike 5 days a week. I continue to suffer debilitating muscle spasms in the neck, trapezius, and mid-back. Is it safe or beneficial to be treated by a chiropractor for the pain? I've also been diagnosed as having myofacial pain and fibromyalgia. I went through all of the trigger point injections and physical therapy a year before I was finally diagnosed with a ruptured disk and subsequently had the surgery. Those treatments helped for a short time but I still had nerve impingement from the disk. Now that the disk is fixed, should I go back for the myofacial treatments again, or should I stick with chiropractic and see if I get any relief. I get very nervous hearing my neck cracking.
Thank you.

[pennie]

This forum replies had scared the hell out of me!.  I will be having anterior cervical diskectomy & fusion on 10/11/00 (this week).................  I know of the hard recovery period, I know of the risk and I also have visited with people that have had POSITIVE results. Only connecting to this forum have I heard horror stories.   I trust my surgeon, I trust my internist and I trust my decision!   Let's hear some success stories...  Pennie

[Renee]

I am scheduled to have an anterior cervical W/fusion sugery procedure and I need to say I am VERY scared.  My doctor has tried to reassure me but I guess maybe if I heard from some others this would ease my fears.  MY biggest fear is waking up in recovery roon with a hard collar on and feel like I am choking, (I can't even wear a turtleneck shirt!!) and post surgery...what are my limitations, will my vocal cords be affect? Please if anyone has had this surgery let me hear from you.  Thank you

[Renee]

I am scheduled to have an anterior cervical W/fusion sugery procedure and I need to say I am VERY scared.  My doctor has tried to reassure me but I guess maybe if I heard from some others this would ease my fears.  MY biggest fear is waking up in recovery roon with a hard collar on and feel like I am choking, (I can't even wear a turtleneck shirt!!) and post surgery...what are my limitations, will my vocal cords be affect? Please if anyone has had this surgery let me hear from you.  Thank you

[Gayle]

I had ACF surgery late July. I am still very stiff and sore across my upper back.  However, there is no pain in my arm like I had before.  I do the exercises recommended but i am still miserable most of the time.  I am a hairdresser and need to get back to work. Can anyone suggest some help?
   Thanks

[sue]

thank you for much of your input.   I had an ACDF with allograft approx 21/2 weeks ago for C5-6 stenosis, spondylosis, cord impression, etc.  Am in hard collar for at least another 21/2 weeks (driving me nuts!).    How long will symptoms of left arm/shoulder pain, numbness, tingling of left havd (sometimes definite fingers, sometimes whole hand/arm,  ALSO REALLY BAD, BLINDING HEADACHJES AND RIGHT ARM NUMBNESS/TINGLING.
I HAD SO HOPED THAT THE SURGERY WOULD BE A "SILVER BULLET" BUT DON'T KNOW IF I AM JUST OVERLY IMPATIENT!     WHAT WILL I BE LEFT WITH?   WHAT WILL BE THE FUTURE?  (NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE!).    I HAVE BEEN ON PREDnisone FOR 30 YEARS FOR PRETTY SEVERE ASTHMA, ETC., AND ALL MY BONES ARE IN PRETTY bAD SHAPE DESPITE TAKING LOTS OF CALCIUM WITH VIT D, FOSAMAx, ETC.   AM  so discouraged at slow/lack of progress!   Any info would be appreciated!

[Dee]

Hi, I was in a car wreck in 96.  At end of 98 had a posterior disectomy of one herniated disk.  That eliminated the radiating right arm pain, thank God.  Now, a short time later, numbness in that thumb and forearm reveal thru MRI that I now need an ACDF due to bone spurs on C5-C7, or else, says my surgeon, my thumb and forearm will become numb and immobile forever.  Surgery is scheduled for 7/5/00.  Of course, I'm scared to death - the 1st surgery was horrible enough, and now bone will come off my hip, too.  My surgeon is tops.  Thankfully he doesn't want to do instrumentation, since he might have to take it out later.  But is this ACDF the only way to go for me?  I wouldn't let the doc do a fusion on the 1st operation, as he wanted to do, because at the time I smoked, so now wonder if I made the spurs occur due to not letting doc fill in with bone and so maybe things shifted.  What do you think?  And will these operations go on and on?  What percent long-term success percentage? Surgery time is almost here and I'm shaking.  Thanks very much.