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Headaches and pain following anterior cervical discectomy.
I am 2 years post-op anterior cervical discectomy with fusion to relieve compression on spinal cord at c5/c6 level. Had lots of pain and progressive leg weakness, right arm pain, and unable to write + loss of balance. I have had 18 months of constant neck pain since the surgery, worse in the night and on wakening. Every morning waking with severe headache and pain radiating from back of head to over eyes and sometimes down one side of face. This feels like a combination of nerve pain and a peculiar sensation, as if the bones at the back of my neck are being stretched from the inside.
Finally, after 18 months, the stretching pain has eased but I still have the headaches 2-3 times a week. On my 2 year check with the Neurosurgeon he said the pain could have been due to the titanium cage having been too big and that my pain should continue to improve, or it is just that my body has taken longer to adjust to surgery.
I also still have difficulty swallowing and have always felt that something is pressing against my throat, and I have a weak voice, my arm pain is worse than before the surgery. My legs are now stronger and the neck pain I had prior to the surgery has gone.
Do you think these headaches will go and the swallowing improve. If not do I have any other options. I was realistic about the surgery and did not expect miracles after having had this problem for over 24 years (now 48), but I am finding the pain so debilitating. I have a desk job which does aggravate the symptoms. Also, will there be any long-term effects of the cage being too big.
Thank you
Finally, after 18 months, the stretching pain has eased but I still have the headaches 2-3 times a week. On my 2 year check with the Neurosurgeon he said the pain could have been due to the titanium cage having been too big and that my pain should continue to improve, or it is just that my body has taken longer to adjust to surgery.
I also still have difficulty swallowing and have always felt that something is pressing against my throat, and I have a weak voice, my arm pain is worse than before the surgery. My legs are now stronger and the neck pain I had prior to the surgery has gone.
Do you think these headaches will go and the swallowing improve. If not do I have any other options. I was realistic about the surgery and did not expect miracles after having had this problem for over 24 years (now 48), but I am finding the pain so debilitating. I have a desk job which does aggravate the symptoms. Also, will there be any long-term effects of the cage being too big.
Thank you
I had ACDF with donor bone on June 30, 2006. Prior to the surgery, I couldn't do much for eight hours at a time. My left arm was losing strength pretty rapidly and the pain worsened with each passing day.
Had my first appointment with the ortho guy. He popped my MRIs into the viewer, did some tests on me, then popped the x-rays into the viewer. I'm no doctor (pretty sure I ditched every anatomy class I had), but even my untrained eye could easily see the gigantic lumps protruding into the spinal column, which definitely had a compressed look to it on those x-rays.
Doc said normally he likes to try a few things - physical therapy, other options - but with the amount of strength I had lost, he was recommending surgery.
I have an acquaintance who sells disc replacements. Through his network, he checked out the doctor for me and assured me he had a good rep and was not one of those docs who is "quick to cut." I decided to have the surgery.
Surgery @ 7:00am on Friday, June 30
Turn off morphine drip @ 7:00pm same day
Released from hospital @ 7:00am next morning
No need for pain killers after Sunday, July 2
Wore the collar for two weeks. Went in for my followup and stitch removal (no stitches - just glue...they simply peeled it off). Was told I'd have to wear the collar four more weeks.
I have had no pain since a day or two after surgery. My left arm is still weak but nothing that some exercise will not be able to cure. The only issue I had was a TMJ-related issue. The collar would push up into my jaw while sleeping. This stressed the tendons and/or ligaments in my TMJ and caused a small amount of pain.
I voluntarily quit wearing my collar at the seven week mark because I was tired of my jaw and inner ear hurting. It's been a week and the jaw/ear pain is still there but not as bad.
Last remaining issue I have is something I don't even consider an issue. Due to having my neck in that collar for near eight weeks, the muscles in my shoulders and neck are reluctant to move. They've had it easy for a while and don't want to work now. Again, just something I'm pretty sure can be handled with a little stretching and exercise.
Back to work slinging cards tonight. No worries, no trepidation -- soooo ready to get the hell out of the house!
I may be one of the lucky ones, or maybe too dumb to know better (it was my first surgery, first stay in a hospital - ever), but I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I feel just as well as I did before I started having the aches and pains, the x-rays look great. Life is good!
Had my first appointment with the ortho guy. He popped my MRIs into the viewer, did some tests on me, then popped the x-rays into the viewer. I'm no doctor (pretty sure I ditched every anatomy class I had), but even my untrained eye could easily see the gigantic lumps protruding into the spinal column, which definitely had a compressed look to it on those x-rays.
Doc said normally he likes to try a few things - physical therapy, other options - but with the amount of strength I had lost, he was recommending surgery.
I have an acquaintance who sells disc replacements. Through his network, he checked out the doctor for me and assured me he had a good rep and was not one of those docs who is "quick to cut." I decided to have the surgery.
Surgery @ 7:00am on Friday, June 30
Turn off morphine drip @ 7:00pm same day
Released from hospital @ 7:00am next morning
No need for pain killers after Sunday, July 2
Wore the collar for two weeks. Went in for my followup and stitch removal (no stitches - just glue...they simply peeled it off). Was told I'd have to wear the collar four more weeks.
I have had no pain since a day or two after surgery. My left arm is still weak but nothing that some exercise will not be able to cure. The only issue I had was a TMJ-related issue. The collar would push up into my jaw while sleeping. This stressed the tendons and/or ligaments in my TMJ and caused a small amount of pain.
I voluntarily quit wearing my collar at the seven week mark because I was tired of my jaw and inner ear hurting. It's been a week and the jaw/ear pain is still there but not as bad.
Last remaining issue I have is something I don't even consider an issue. Due to having my neck in that collar for near eight weeks, the muscles in my shoulders and neck are reluctant to move. They've had it easy for a while and don't want to work now. Again, just something I'm pretty sure can be handled with a little stretching and exercise.
Back to work slinging cards tonight. No worries, no trepidation -- soooo ready to get the hell out of the house!
I may be one of the lucky ones, or maybe too dumb to know better (it was my first surgery, first stay in a hospital - ever), but I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I feel just as well as I did before I started having the aches and pains, the x-rays look great. Life is good!
Wow! I was scared before i astatrted readin these..now im really really confused!! I don't unerstand some of the problems that are associated e/ this procedure..Where are the Good stries that are involved w/ this operation?? I am being told that you are in-n-out like a cheese burger... I am thinking abour doint the dugery in a few weeks. Iam being told theres no other way to fix the problem...With all the advances in medicine today you would think they could do this w/ a laser so theres no scars or plate, screws etc>> that is why i decided to write thisI have reallly been searching the web for as much info on this as possible. Can someone enlight me on this?? It seems theres alot more of negatives than positives w/ this?? Please help me understand this...Thanks--db
Wapy if your fusion did not take I would be very concerned. You ddfinately do NOT need to be skiing etc.
I am fused at c5/6 and 6/7. I get pain on the right side of my neck radiating up the right side of my head similar to a migrane. This happens most days.
I figure I will just live with it. My concern is I am 56 in good health otherwise and wonder what my neck will be like if I live to my late 70's or mid 80's since most of my family has lived to be in thier late 80's to late 90's. Good genes.
I am fused at c5/6 and 6/7. I get pain on the right side of my neck radiating up the right side of my head similar to a migrane. This happens most days.
I figure I will just live with it. My concern is I am 56 in good health otherwise and wonder what my neck will be like if I live to my late 70's or mid 80's since most of my family has lived to be in thier late 80's to late 90's. Good genes.
Waby if your fusion did not take I would be very concerned. You ddfinately do NOT need to be skiing etc.
I am fused at c5/6 and 6/7. I get pain on the right side of my neck radiating up the right side of my head similar to a migrane. This happens most days.
I figure I will just live with it. My concern is I am 56 in good health otherwise and wonder what my neck will be like if I live to my late 70's or mid 80's since most of my family has lived to be in thier late 80's to late 90's. Good genes.
I am fused at c5/6 and 6/7. I get pain on the right side of my neck radiating up the right side of my head similar to a migrane. This happens most days.
I figure I will just live with it. My concern is I am 56 in good health otherwise and wonder what my neck will be like if I live to my late 70's or mid 80's since most of my family has lived to be in thier late 80's to late 90's. Good genes.
I am 40 years old and10 days postop now from an anterior cervical discectomy with fusion at C6/C7. I had a variety of pain from my neck down my left arm over 6 weeks, some of it quite debilitating...particularly in the shoulder area. At times it felt like I had dislocated my shoulder. I also had numbness develop in my index finger and thumb and less noticeably my entire left arm. A large loss of strength in my left triceps and chest was my ticket tosuregry however, as the doctors all said it could become permanent without surgery.
Immediately after surgery all of the arm/shoulder/neck pain I had before was gone. All that was left was a slight numbness to the finger and thumb, and of course some weakness still in the left side which no doubt will go away with a little physical therapy. It feel a ton stronger already regardless. Surgery was on a Thursday and I was back to work(desk job) 4 days later on Monday(unfortunately).
The surgery did cause some severe difficulty swallowing for the first 4 days or so, and then gradually lessening to be almost unnoticeable right now at 10 days. I had on again/off again headaches for the first 4 days as well, but not so severe that the pain meds didn't control them. The numbness in my finger/thumb went away after a few days post op. Needless to say I am incredibly happy with the results. I was lucky in that everything else in my spine checked out and this appears to have been a singular anomaly.
Right now Im just waiting on my followup appt. to see whether the fusion is happening or not.
Immediately after surgery all of the arm/shoulder/neck pain I had before was gone. All that was left was a slight numbness to the finger and thumb, and of course some weakness still in the left side which no doubt will go away with a little physical therapy. It feel a ton stronger already regardless. Surgery was on a Thursday and I was back to work(desk job) 4 days later on Monday(unfortunately).
The surgery did cause some severe difficulty swallowing for the first 4 days or so, and then gradually lessening to be almost unnoticeable right now at 10 days. I had on again/off again headaches for the first 4 days as well, but not so severe that the pain meds didn't control them. The numbness in my finger/thumb went away after a few days post op. Needless to say I am incredibly happy with the results. I was lucky in that everything else in my spine checked out and this appears to have been a singular anomaly.
Right now Im just waiting on my followup appt. to see whether the fusion is happening or not.
I am 40 years old and10 days postop now from an anterior cervical discectomy with fusion at C6/C7. I had a variety of pain from my neck down my left arm over 6 weeks, some of it quite debilitating...particularly in the shoulder area. At times it felt like I had dislocated my shoulder. I also had numbness develop in my index finger and thumb and less noticeably my entire left arm. A large loss of strength in my left triceps and chest was my ticket tosuregry however, as the doctors all said it could become permanent without surgery.
Immediately after surgery all of the arm/shoulder/neck pain I had before was gone. All that was left was a slight numbness to the finger and thumb, and of course some weakness still in the left side which no doubt will go away with a little physical therapy. It feel a ton stronger already regardless. Surgery was on a Thursday and I was back to work(desk job) 4 days later on Monday(unfortunately).
The surgery did cause some severe difficulty swallowing for the first 4 days or so, and then gradually lessening to be almost unnoticeable right now at 10 days. I had on again/off again headaches for the first 4 days as well, but not so severe that the pain meds didn't control them. The numbness in my finger/thumb went away after a few days post op. Needless to say I am incredibly happy with the results. I was lucky in that everything else in my spine checked out and this appears to have been a singular anomaly.
Right now Im just waiting on my followup appt. to see whether the fusion is happening or not.
Immediately after surgery all of the arm/shoulder/neck pain I had before was gone. All that was left was a slight numbness to the finger and thumb, and of course some weakness still in the left side which no doubt will go away with a little physical therapy. It feel a ton stronger already regardless. Surgery was on a Thursday and I was back to work(desk job) 4 days later on Monday(unfortunately).
The surgery did cause some severe difficulty swallowing for the first 4 days or so, and then gradually lessening to be almost unnoticeable right now at 10 days. I had on again/off again headaches for the first 4 days as well, but not so severe that the pain meds didn't control them. The numbness in my finger/thumb went away after a few days post op. Needless to say I am incredibly happy with the results. I was lucky in that everything else in my spine checked out and this appears to have been a singular anomaly.
Right now Im just waiting on my followup appt. to see whether the fusion is happening or not.
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