Anterior Cervical Disectomy W/Fusion Recovery

[camerd]

I have never posted anything to a forum, but I have to agree with Ronin, there must be success stories out there. My doctor told me that I needed anterior cervical discestomy w/fusion C5-C7. I reseached the internet and decided I should go for the surgery. If I read these forums before surgery, I would have chickened out. I was scared because my brother-in-law had the surgery three years ago which resulted in his being confined to a wheelchair. After three years he is still undergoing surgery. I had a right to be scared but I didn't want to lose the use of my right arm. My surgery was October 17, 2006. On October 19th I went home. I am recovering and except for taking 2 hydrocodone and the scar on my neck, you can not tell that I had surgery. By the 20th of Oct. I was helping my wife with dishes, I drove my pick-up, and feel very well. Today is October 30th and I was raking leaves. I still take it easy, but I was blessed by having an excellent doctor. Since the surgery I don't have the daily headaches, my arm pain comes and goes but is not as bad as before the surgery. Bottom line is that I feel my surgery was very successful and recovery will be quick. I know there are others out there that have had success. Yes it was scary deciding on the surgery, but I'm glad I did.

[Shadowlucky]

That's exactly what I told the PT.  I try to be positive but that only gets you so far.  One thing that is frightening me a bit is that I am four months post op and I had a new PT come in last week to the place I go.  He was the one who gave me a pep talk about attitude and he also had me lay on the table and he pulled and stretched on my neck.  He pulled my neck slowly but so hard that the rest of my body moved up.  Do you think this is ok, Kalvin.  I am afraid that if my fusion isn't totally fused, this will cause it to separate or something. I mean, I know the plate is there to keep it firmly in place. I don't know.  Im sure the guy knows what he is doing, but I am so afraid that he is pulling too hard and stretching the neck vertebra too much.  He also did some firm massaging to my neck and when he rubbed on the spot that hurt to begin with years ago on the back left side, it made me realize that it isn't any better in that spot either.  And when I got up this morning after this being done yesterday, my neck is swollen underneath my ear to the bottom of my neck on the left side which is also where the incision was made anteriorly.  Maybe this is all normal.  Maybe I have unrealistic fear of him hurting the very thing that they just tried to fix, or maybe I am worrying over nothing, but I know I have to trust him.  He's the one that is suppose to know what he is doing.  Just scarey.  

[Kalvin]

Yeah, I did the cadaver bone, plate thing myself. Twice. Bone spurs are just arthritis that forms as in all the other joints in the body. Problem is, in the spine not only do they effect movement, but they can pinch nerves as well.

Attitude is important, I agree. But after awhile a person can't help but get a little discouraged, it's only natural.

Take Care

[Shadowlucky]

Hi Kalvin, I had a cadaver bone inserted into C-5, C-6 area with titanium plate.  No, I did not have this pain before the surgery under the collar bone.  That's what bothers me so much.  At first, I thought, wow, all the pain I had before was on my left side, and now after the surgery, not only is it worse, but it is more on the right.  The only thing I can figure is that the muscles and ligaments that were pulled to get the new cadaver in, caused the pain.  I don't know, but he did tell me that there would be a lot of pain just after surgery because of all the pulling and stretching they had to do down the shoulders and middle of the back.  Also, since I had so many bone spurs, I don't know if maybe that caused the pain to be more severe.  I don't really even understand what a bone spur is and what causes it or if getting rid of them during surgery, causes more post op pain.  My PT told me today that a lot my attitude, will affect whether or not how quickly I will get better.  I told him I try to be positive, I really do, but when I get up in the morning, plant my feet on the floor and walk to the coffee pot in so much pain, the minute I get up, the harder it gets to stay positive when I don't see progress.  He says four months is really not a long time to feel that great yet, and to give it time, so I am trying to direct the anger and frustration into the exercises I do and walking a lot.  But I'm with you, if the surgeon would at least act as though he understood that you do have pain and let you know it will take time instead of just saying, I don't know and shrugging his shoulders, it would sure make me feel more like he cared instead of making me feel like, well, I've got your money now, and did my job, deal with it and go away!  Yeh, right...Gee thanks...That's how I feel.  lol

[Kalvin]

I did a lot of research after surgery myself, its only normal when no one really has any answers for you and you feel like your not progressing like you should.

In my experience surgeons tend to look at things a certain way. You identify the problem or defect, and you correct it. Theoretically, everything should work out great. Given that kind of mindset, one can understand why they say things to post-op patients like” I don’t know why you’re having pain” or “sorry there’s nothing else I can do for you”. In their mind, they’ve done all they can do. End of story.  I praise the Doctor that has the decency to tell you that your operation might not take all your pain away. At least that way we would have such high expectations. Sorry for the rant.


Yes, I’ve heard of TOS. It is a syndrome, but my understanding is that it can be diagnosed. What Cervical level did you have done, and how many? Did you have the same symptoms you have now prior to surgery? Have you had an post-op MRI? I have a couple fingers that are still numb 8 years afterwards, I was told the nerve damage was too severe to heal. I had one surgery back in 2005 and another about 3 years ago. The tingling isn’t too bad; I have pain in my shoulder and scapular area, constantly, some facial numbness,arm strength is about 60%. I’d say I received about 50%-60% pain reduction from the 2 procedures, much less than I was lead to believe.

You mentioned that you were seeing another Doctor, are any of them proving helpful or offer guidance in terms of what is exactly going on with you, and what can be done?

[Shadowlucky]

Hey Kalvin, Thank you for your reply.  You know, I started researching my symptoms since my surgery and I found something that sounds exactly what I am feeling right down to the very last symptom.    
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
• Neurogenic (neurological) thoracic outlet syndrome. This form of thoracic outlet syndrome is characterized by compression of the brachial plexus. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that come from your spinal cord and control muscle movements and sensation in your shoulder, arm and hand. In the majority of thoracic outlet syndrome cases, the symptoms are neurogenic.
Thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms can vary, depending on which structures are compressed. When nerves are compressed, signs and symptoms of neurological thoracic outlet syndrome often include:
• Wasting in the fleshy base of your thumb (Gilliatt-Sumner hand)
• Numbness or tingling in your fingers
• Pain in your shoulder and neck
• Ache in your arm or hand
• Weakening grip
I have complained about my right thumb to the surgeon ever since the surgery.  I am unable to grip anything in my right hand with that thumb.  My fingers tingle and oh, the pain across and under the collar bone.  Sometimes worse than other times but always constant. I don't know what can be done about it, and I know I shouldn't self diagnose; but it makes sense to me and since the surgeon doesn't want to admit something is wrong, I find myself searching for an answer elsewhere.  From what I can see online it is called neuro TOE.  Have you heard of this?

[Kalvin]

The surgeons always say they don't know what's causing your pain, and maybe they don't. But the fact of the matter is that many people have severe pain after these procedures, so don't let them make you feel like you're the only one. My pain was much worse afterwards.

It can take a long time to recover from a ACDF my 1st took about 8 months and I was by no means back to normal.

Try to hang in there, need to chat, you can find me on the Back and Neck Forum.

Take Care