I recently had bi-level ACDF C5-C6 C6-C7, 4 weeks, 3 days ago. I noticed an immediate relief of the nerve pain, numbness and muscle spasms after surgery ... I was elated! I am a 45 yr old female. I had to wait 15 months after the original injury to have surgery due to workman's comp.
At the 3 wk mark I attended a meeting, a rather long one, I was able to get up, move around and get comfortable as needed. When I returned home that evening I was in agony. I notified my surgeon the following Monday (the meeting was Friday night). After talking to the nurse, she asured me it was normal, and that I had "over done it" in a long meeting. I accepted that the pain was my fault for pushing it.
I am now just a little past the 4 wk mark and I have barely been able to keep the pain at bay daily. I have an increase in muscle spasms, nerve pain in my arms (to the forearm) as well as below the surgery site. I feel as though the vertebra at the base of my fusion is about to explode out of my neck. I have been very close to going to the ER during the night on more than one occasion. I am still taking pain meds and it's not cutting the pain more than 60% of the time. I sleep no more than 3 hours at any given time due to pain.
I am worried, yet continue to be asured by the nurse that this is normal. I have been well behaved since the night of the meeting over a week ago.
Is it just too soon? Am I thinking I should be further along than I really 'should' be at this point? Or, do I need to bypass the nurse and attempt to get an appointment before my 6 wk post op visit?
Thank you for your time. Jenn
PS. I am a K9 handler, and am very concerned that anything I do, or don't do now, may more than interfere with my work in the future...such as climing on rubble piles, wearing a pack or being in the field for long periods of time.
Welcome to the Pain Management Forum. Please excuse my tardy response. I am very sorry to hear about your uncontrolled post-op pain. How unfortunate.
I think you have to rely on the nurse's opinion at this point. She knows far more then any of us do on your particular situation. However your pain should be better controlled. Is your surgeon area of your high levels of pain? In my opinion you should not have to suffer through this post-op pain without proper medication.... and you seem under medicated. So please contact your surgeon and be assertive. Tell them what you have told us. Sleep and rest is important in the healing process, you apparently are obtaining neither.
If in 6-8 weeks your pain has not improved then I would be much more concerned. You know your body better then any physician or any of us. You are your own best advocate so push for answers if you do not improve.
I hope you will keep in touch with us. Feel free to respond to other posts and become active in our community. I'll look forward to hearing from you again soon.
Take Care,
~Tuck