Upcoming ACDF Surgery, second one.

[Kitti_Katt]

Hi there,  I am very new here and quite scared.  I had a ACDF done Aug 2008 of my C-5/C-6 and had no major problems afterwards, so I thought.  I had to go to a new Neurologist because I also have Multiple Sclerosis and my other Neurologist left the area.  He ordered new MRI's and other tests and called me in 2 days later telling me that my neck was in serious condition.  I was then sent back to my surgeon 2 days ago and he was suprised as well at how bad the pressure on my spine has gotten.  So, now I am scheduled for surgery once again  for October 11, 2010 and I am quite scared.  This time he has to take off the old "hardware", and fix C-4 thru C-7.   My question is, has anyone had this happen so soon after and how are things going with you?  Any support would be greatly welcomed.
Thank you,
Kitti

[soonergalstef]

I am having my first one done on the 26th on two levels C5-C7.  I am very nervous and don't know what to expect.  Good luck to the both of you on yours.  Please let me know what to expect if you can.  Also did you get the graft from your sternum?  My doc is doing that for me and says it is much less painful.
Thank you and God bless.

[Kalvin]

Thank you, and I hope yours goes well too!

[Kitti_Katt]

That's awful that you too have to go through this again as well and I do hope this one will help your pain.  I hate when the nerves are involved as they can give you so many different problems.  My thoughts are with you and just hope this will be the last one.  I am in pain as well and have numb hands that feel like having two baseball gloves on each hand and my neck is quite painful and gives me a constant headache for the last two months.  Somedays it is worse than others, but I do hope this will get rid of the headaches.  There is quite a significant compression and that is why they are so expediant with getting me in.  I am hoping for good results for the both of us.

[Kalvin]

I'm bracing myself for a 2nd one as well, although mine was over 5 years ago. I should have had it done years ago, I just couldn't handle again so soon and I deluded myself into thinking I might get better, one of my Doctors actually told me I would. It's just gotten to the point now that it has to be done, because the pain's unbearable much of the time.

Sorry to hear you have to go through this again, one time's enough for anyone.Our situations are different in the sense that most of my problem is nerve related, I do have some cord compression but it's minimal. Sounds like they think you have significant compression,which is a little more urgent. Are you in alot of pain, are your arms and hands weak and tingling?