How do I take care of myself after cervical fusion

[CindyRN]

I will be having a 4 level anterior cervical interbody fusion from C-3 thru C-7 with plating and screws June 8th. Will also be using cadaver bone and bone morphogenic protein. I have a mostly desk type job, and plan to be off work 3 weeks. What I don't know is how do I take care of myself at home. My husband can be home with me as long as necessary. How is the best way to sleep? I understand I will have trouble swallowing for weeks or months but will that be due to pain or swelling in my neck? If you are home resting in a recliner and watching tv, can you take off the front part of the collar as long as you aren't up and walking around? I am sure there are other questions I need to ask and my surgeon isn't very forthcoming with answers other than they will teach me in the hospital in the expected 2 nite stay. I'm afraid I won't remember details while on pain meds and I want to know beforehand how others with multi-level cervical fusions manage at home. Anything that did or didn't work to make you more comfy would be appreciated as I want to get my home prepared before I have the surgery. Thanks to all, Cindy

[LLWB]

While I don't know the answers to your questions, I too am very interested in replies you receive. My disc removal, cadaver bone implant, and single level fusion will be on June 4th. I too would like answers! Am hoping to piggyback on your post and get some info too....if I'm able, I'll post after my surgery, and let you know how it's going. Yours will be more involved, but should be able to give you a little info.Best wishes.

[bev62]

I had a two level ACDF (C5-C7) in Nov 2006.  I only stayed in the hospital one night.  I did not have to wear a collar.  I had a hard time swallowing for about 4 weeks and I still have a hard time swallowing large pills.  I've had a lot of complications since my surgery but most people do very well.  I still have not returned to work.  I am still sleeping in a recliner and I'm still not driving due to the pain meds I'm on and the limited mobility of my neck.  It is really hard to turn my neck well enough to look both ways and to turn around to look behind when trying to drive.  I couldn't imagine having a four level fusion with the lack of mobility I have after a two level.  Most people that I've talked to are fully recovered after three months.  I hope everything goes well.

[rainsummer]

I'm having 3 level ACDF this week may 30th.

My NS said I can nothing for two weeks into I go back for x rays. After the Xrays he will taper my restriction down.

Some of the things I have prepared ahead are: I bought bendy straws, soups, pudding, icecream, soft foods. Also some fruit juice. Extra pillows, a pill crusher. I spent yesterday preparing some meals and freezing them so my husband can pop in the oven when he gets in from work. He will be off with me the first week. I have enough meals ready for the 2nd week and I hope after week two I will at least be cooking.

Hope this helps some....and good luck to you all!!!

[LLWB]

Good luck on your surgery, please keep us posted on how you are doing. All our prayers are with you, and all of us here facing surgery shortly. Gets scarier the closer it gets! Glad you have a husband to help you. Mine passed away last summer, so have been depressed as well as in pain, making facing this surgery even scarier. Oh well, God will help us all.

[rainsummer]

sorry about your loss LLWB!

Good luck with your surgery and take care!

[patsy10]

I had a single level fusion in 2005.  I stayed overnight in the hospital.  My husband brought me home the next day.  I had to sleep with a hard cervical collar on which was very difficult.  It was painful and hard to swallow for a few days.  I had a very hard time getting from a lying down position to sitting up.  I thought the surgery was very painful.  I was bruised down to my chest.  I was off work 2 months.  I think three weeks off work is definitely not enough.  I am a nurse and I don't have a desk job so I had to be off longer.  Still, even with a desk job, it was painful to sit up straight for periods of time.  I would take more time off work if you can.  I was able to take care of myself at home while my husband was working but I couldn't do housework or lifting, grocery shopping etc...

[cindy5715]

I had c5-6 fusion in 2003, and now in 2008 had to have c3-4. I'm still recovering and its been since Jan. 30th. Went to doc on feb 21 and i was not fused yet so he said no going back to work until at least april! Im still having pain, cant drive and only in vehicle for doc. appt. I can now take my collar off and only wear it while sleeping. But not suppose to do anything and just seems like i should be feeling better since its almost been a month. Well we will just keep praying and start thanking the lord for a speedy recovery as i really need to get back to work!

[spinkick]

I had 3-level ACDF 5 weeks ago. I was given donor bone graph and a titanium plate with 8 screws. I stayed 2 nights in the hospital before release.

I prepared for the post surgery with protein shakes, pudding, broths, soups, veggie drinks etc. You will probably want to do the same as you WILL have swollowing problems.

I required steroid drip in my IV due to excessive swelling (helped alot). With the inflammation from the incision, scar tissue development and the added thickness of the titanium plate (plus reaction to that tube shoved down your throat in surgery), swallowing your normal size bites will be extremely difficult for a while.

Your throat shape will change and you may develop a temporary "pool" in the back of your throat where it deforms around your plate. This is where larger footbal shaped pills will get stuck. It hurts. Break up your pills into small chunks.

At 5 weeks, I am back in the gym, riding stationary bikes for 30-45 minutes and doing lower body and some ab work. I'm finally off my Percocet and Loritab and have weaned myself from Ambien. Sleeping is presently on and off as my system adjusts to less meds (i still take 3000mg of Tylenol a day).

Oh, In case your surgeon doesn't mention it, stay away from NSAIDs (advil) as they affect the fusion process...

I am excitedly looking forward to the day I am given permission to stop moving like a robot... as you will find that not moving your neck is annoying (to you) and visually disturbing (to others).

In fact, has anyone here been told how long after surgery do they have to wait to begin turning your neck?

[katie566]

Hi, My name is katie and I am home recovering from 2nd ant cerv, fusion.  This last one was 5 days ago and included c3-7, cages, fusions, plates and allografts.  I feel great.  I can finally feel my hands again, and have no more shooting pain in my head and shoulder region.  I have a very high pain threshhold so that's not my issue, boredome is it!  My Neurosurg. promised complete fusion in 8 wks. if healthy. so at that time slow range of motion therapy is a great plan.   I would love a nanny, Driver, laundry lady, personal shopper, cleaning crew until that time.  Good luck to all of you,  Meditation to knock the percocet is a great help.... p.s. buy a proper neck pillow or some mornings will bring pre-op type pain.

[Margd]

Hi

I have been told that i hav to have a c5/6 decompression and fusion. Same symptoms as many people on this site. I see that you had your first op in 2003. would you recommend this operation and did it achieve what it was suppose to do. Hope you dont mind me asking.

[jandalg]

I had C3, C4, C5, C6, C7 and T1 fusions (two separate operations - one in 2001 and a 2nd cervical fusion in 2008).  First let me say, if you have more discs with problems than your present doctor can safely do, then go see another doctor who can do ALL the fusions that you need done.  Example:  some doctors only do 3 levels and tell you you will have to live with the pain in the 4th level - you should see another docotor who can safely do all 4 levels at once.  Also,  neck braces keep our (woman's) necks lovely. Without wearing collars for months afterwards, your neck becomes shorter (yes shorter from the weight of your head on you newly fused and soft bone) and you begin to see, sometimes, a ring or wrinkle that goes across the neck.  Also, no doctor who does a cervical fusion should leave a scar that goes across and up (for those of us who have neck creases) - a doctor also should do the stitches in a way which is also asthetically pleasing to the eye of the patient, and those who have to look at her.  Please do not poo- poo wearing a collar, my first doctor made my long neck look short and the scar he left between my two neck creases was so ugly.  The doctor's response was, "the scar had to be made this way" ---wrong! it didn't and he lied.  My first doctor left my lovely long neck shorter and looking stocky like a guy's neck!  Now my second, more carefully selected doctor did ALL levels at once and redid the poor work the 1st doctor left.  My neck is now long, as before any surgery and the scar is almost unnoticeable.  THE COLLAR WILL ALLOW YOUR LOVELY NECK TO STAY LONG AND SLIM SO WEAR IT EVEN IF IT IS 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE!   I wore a hard collar for 3 months and a soft collar for 1 and 1/2 months but sleeping in a hard collar all 4 and 1/2 months.  6 weeks after surgery I had physical therapy for 4 months!  Now I have a beautiful neck, just like when I was a teenager with a scar that is so minimal, it blends into my crease (I am 56 years old).  No arthritis medicine until the bone heals 100% (about 4 to 6 months), no epidurals because steroids interferes with the bones healing after an operation so talk to your doctor about what can be done if you have arthritis problems because you may have no arthritis medicine while your bones heal and if you need epidurals, well, you can't have any while your bones heal!  If you follow this and your doctor is very good with his hands, your neck should end up looking just as long (or short) as it was before the surgery so TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR NECK with a ruler beside your neck.  I am very serious about this because so many women complain that their neck "doesn't look as good as pre-surgery."  For the first 2 weeks after cervical fusion, you must sleep sitting up, this is a must!  So a recliner you can sleep in or get or rent a bed that elevates your head and back into a sitting position is great.

[browneyes145]

I was wondering if anyone has used a wedge pillow to sleep, instead of the recliner. I really don't want to sleep in one that long. I'm really worried about the sleep pattern. I was rear ended last July,2007 they have done all they could to help with my chronic pain in my upper shoulders and neck area.Just sitting here typing aggervates it. Plus I am on percosets too and they don't take the edge off of my pain, I've tried a lot and nothing I take works. Except I have tried a few viccodin750mg and they did take some edge off, so I'm going to see if they will give me them. I read that we can't drive for two weeks well I have a standard shift so I might be longer, because of the stress it might put on my neck I hope not though I will go NUTS!!!! Well my husband has a automatic I can go somewhere after I can drive.
I can't even think about getting a pill smasher this aprt is going to be hard to deal with, because I have to throw my head back and swallow. I need to start and go out and get things I need though to eat. Like they have been saying in this blog, is it really going to be 2 weeks to be able to eat good again too? I'm 50 years old and in pretty good shape, so i hope to heal fast. I can't wait to get back an exercise like I did before this accident. I had lost 50lb's before the accident then put back on 30lb's pretty depressing, so I really am looking forward to get back to my exercise program.
I have a GREAT PS and he is one of the best in my area, plus I know of other people who had him, and they don't even feel thier pain no more. That one felt great after her 2 weeks so I am really BLESSED in having him. He is Dr.Rahn from Northeastern,Indiana. I had crotizone shot, epidural shot, theraphy twice, and all kinds of meds, so that is why he said syrgery. So can you get by and use a wedge pillow instead of the recliner I will need to ask him or call his nurse a week before. If she says I can get a wedge pillow I will be sure to post how it did for me. I've had a breast reduction and i had to sleep on the sofa for 6 WEEKS which it S_ _ _S!!! I just hate to think about the recliner. Some people still say even after all this it is still hard to sleep in bed. I love these blogs I've have learned a lot about what I am in for.
Donna

[fianllyrelief]

Just had second cervical fusion at c 5-6 and replacement disc at c 6-7.  Had a fusion at c 4-5 18 months ago,  After both surgeries I have been able to eat and or drink and take my medications with no problems.  My throat all the way down my chest area was sore/tight.  Drank a lot of ice water to help with swelling.  Soreness.tightness completely gone by day 3-4.  Have slept in bed as normal since came home after just an overnight stay.  Pain completly gone.  I am having some pressure I assume from swelling, in my neck and the back of my head and some muscle spasms still. Using ice and heat to help along with narcotics and muscle relaxers.  Very optomistic with recovery.  Wearing soft collar at all times except to sleep and use heat and ice only while lying down though.  So sorry for all those who have poor outcomes but for those facing this surgery know that there is positive outcomes probably more often than not.  People are more apt to complain than to spread good cheer.  So good luck and god bless to all.

[kat740]

hi evryone, this looks like a great forum, i am having a cervical fusion, c-5, c6, and c-6 and c7 and i have bone spurs.  has anyone had bone spurs?  my surgery isn't till july 20.  a friens of mine had the same operation done 7 weeks ago.  he is very satisfied with the surgery, but his throat is very inflamed i guess. he is now on steroids for this.  but i am so so so nervous,  but i want it done.  i have gotten alot of good advise here.  i cut hair for a living,  they told me i should only have to be off of work for 2 weeks and then light duty for a couple of weeks.  but from what i am reading, the recouperation sounds like its longer.  any advise?

[Mikey4154]

I had C4-C7 Fused 4 weeks ago and I'm doing very well so far!  I had donar bone and the plate screwed in place.  My doctor doesn't require a neck brace at all.  I had mostly muscle spasms the first week that caused most of my pain due to lying flat on my back during the operation which took about 2 1/2 hours.  I can't lie down long enough to do an MRI without severe pain due to curvature of my spine.  The only thing is that I have a numbness in my right thumb that I didn't have before but most of the pain in my right arm is gone and I slept in the recliner for about 2 weeks and then for 1 week would sleep about half the night in the recliner and half in the bed and the last week I've been in the bed all night long.  I was allowed to drive a limited amount after two weeks and I had so many bone spurs (arthritis) that after the operation I had more mobility that before.  It gets better every week.  I'm supposed to go back to the doctor next week for a checkup to see how things are going.  I work from home a lot anyway so I was back to work from my recliner soon after the operation.  I had the operation on a Thursday, released on Friday, back to work from home on Monday.

I was leary of the operation but I'm really glad I did it!

[maggiend1]

Hi everyone, I too am having an anterior cervical fusion C-2C3 on the 29th of March, then 2 months after that C4-C5 and 2 months after that lumbar surgery too. My Neuro said it looks like my vertebra have been crushed and are sliding off to the left side so he really doesn't know what he will find when he gets in there. Needless to say, I'm pretty scared but the pain has made the decision is the only one I can make now. I've learned a lot through this forum and I want to thank you all. I'll check back in after my surgery and let you all know how things are.  

[criscia]

I have had three fusions,  All at seperate times.  The C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 and S1(think that is it the one above the tailbone.)  Anyhow,  my question are not being answered by my doctor.  I know that I will have nerve damage in lots of different areas.  However this past surgery has been the hardest.  Everything was going ok and then less than two weeks after the surgery I got rearended and now I am having numbness in my arms and legs after sitting up for a while or even laying the wrong way.   If I lift my arm above my head it goes numb, I am worried that I am not going to be able to go to work anymore.  I dont know what to do I have tried heat, ice muscle relaxers and pain meds I dont know where to go from here.  Please if anyone have any advise email me, or post here my email is ***@****.

[leigh327]

3 weeks ago I had fusion at C-4, this after having fusion at C5 and C6 four years ago. Problem is finding the right pillow to use to be comfortable all night sleeping! Has anyone tried the one with water in it or can anyone share what works for the best neck support?  

[kay290]

I had 2 levels done 7months ago. Never used a collar-no longer used according to my surgeon. It may depend on how many levels. I was driving on day 3, no neck mobility problems, swallowing problems for 3 weeks and very little pain in my neck. I did go to PT to iron out the pain I was having and that worked. All pain should be gone by the 3 month mark. My incision is beautiful. I had a wonderful surgeon and that is crucial!!!  

[taxpiggy]

I wish I had another doctor, or maybe I was too severe to be doing great.  I have c4-c7 with plate and cadiver bones.  I am three months post op, I still hurt.  Before surgery I was a 10 or over with pain.  My pain stays between a 2-5.  I can not sit for over 15 or 20 minutes at the computer or I will get the burn in my shoulders.  I still do not have the feeling in the thumb.  Sounds like your doctor has you prepared and outcome looks great!!!  The choking thing w/the plate is not fun, but I will say that has gotten better and I do feel it with every swallow, just used to it by now!!!!!!

[leigh327]

Wow! Great for you that you've recovered so nicely. I, too, had a great surgeon...my incision (done right over the last one) looks good. The only problem is the stiffness and feeling coming back that I have something stuck in my throat! I think this is all related to coming off the Flexerill (muscle relaxant) 3X a day and certainly, how the neck is positioned during sleep...that's why I wondered what others have used for a pillow...soft or firm, contoured or flat?? What have you been using?

[kay290]

I never changed my pillow and it is a pure feathered pillow that contours with your neck when you lay on it. A regular cheap pillow is not good and they are usually too elevated and is bad for posture.

[mtwnrocket]

Am in Day 4 following C3/4, 4/5, 5/6 ACDF with autograft.  Autograft site is a pain.  Only took two Lortabs first 24 hours. Ever since a couple of Tylenol PMs help to sleep.  Difficult to get into that small comfort zone window.  Sore throat is getting better by the day.  Wear collar at all times except showering (my shower has a sitting area; slipping & falling without a collar would be very bad).  OS says 6 weeks in the collar.

[Kalvin]

So you're completely off pain meds after 4 days? Thats great, always happy to hear success stories. Hope you're recovery continues to go well.

Take Care