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4 week post op acfd

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Posted 5/20/2014 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
hello I am new to this but I am at 4 weeks and 3 day since myc5-6-7 surgery of left side n they use my own bone from my collar bone on left side they put a plate and three screws.. I been in pain that my pain meds are not working I am on flexril and Xanax for night and narco 10/325 for pain and current not on pt due to my dizzy spell and fainting spell that started happening a couple of days afther surgery .. my whole left side hurts shoulder blade and chest on left side hurts , arm burning and tingles and back of my neck constent pain I put heat pad on it an no comfort I was told not to use collar from surgeon and now pcp got involved and stated yes wear collar and no pt and rest and nurologist needs to see me for dizzy spells and now have me on valuims .. I am current stop taking them due to chills I have been getting ... So question is am I going to ever get better will the pain ease... will I be pain free.. shakehead
Posted 5/20/2014 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi michelle,
I'm also new-have not introduced myself yet but will very soon. I'm recovering from similar surgery. Ice packs are my greatest relief. I wore a collar for 2 weeks. From reading here I see there is great variation on that. My surgeon would not allow PT for 3 months post op. I'm 5 months post op now and still have neck pain but it's getting better. It's a long hard recovery, but I hope we both will some day be much better.
Posted 5/20/2014 5:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hi michelle Welcome to Healing Well Chronic Pain Forum, I am sorry to hear that your having so much problem with pain. I must admit I have never heard of taking the graft for the fusion from the collar bone? My first C6/7 fusion they took the bone from my right illac crest of my pelvis, for the bone graft, but back then they did not use a plate or bracket or screws to brace it. and I had to wear a soft cervical collar for over four months! When I had my second C5/6 fusion, they used donor cadaver bone for the bone graft and a bracket and screws to hold it together, and I only had to wear the soft cervical collar a couple of weeks.

It just goes to show you how different each surgeon is, in doing this type of surgery. I did not have the problem with pain that your are having, however I did lose my voice and had swallowing difficulties for many months after my first fusion. But the surgery itself eliminated my pain really well right from the beginning. When I had the posterior fusion of the articular joints at C3/4 back in 2010 I had major pain problems and that lasted quite a while, it was at least a couple of months before I had PT and the pain from the surgery took along time to go away. But with that surgery I had 47 staples going up the center of the back of my neck, from my shoulders to the base of the back of my head. That took along time, but in the end it did what it was suppose to do and the pain did go away.

The only thing I will tell you is please please please don't over due it or put to much strain on your cervical spine, you have had some major trauma to your neck and it needs some TLC and time and patients to let it all heal!

Again michelle I Welcome you to our Chronic Pain Forum family! And also you Abilene! Please do start a new thread and introduce yourself to us.

White Beard
Posted 5/20/2014 6:07 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear you are having so much pain after your surgery...I am currently 3 weeks post op from having my acfd surgery involving c5 and 6. The only pain I have had since surgery is around the incision which I hardly notice now. All the pain I had before was gone when I woke up after the surgery. I had a tough time swallowing the first few days but not any more. The only real problem I have now is the tip of my thumb is still numb...before surgery it was the whole thumb, now just the tip. When I went for my 2 week follow up they told me that should resolve in the next couple of weeks. I haven't been doing much for fear that I will overdo things and be set back after coming so far. I was told at my follow up I no longer needed the soft collar except for comfort and while in the car but I still do wear it while sleeping since I toss and turn so much. I hope you will get relief soon!

also...welcome to the community here :)
Posted 5/20/2014 1:05 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry that pain meds don't work, but in cases where there is spinal cord damage that's the way it is. The pain is not where you feel it. It's coming from your brain which is interpreting every little touch, even from other areas as pain.

It's called central cord syndrome, and it's not fun. Sometimes a big course of prednisone will reduce the swelling and help, but if it goes on then that's the way it may stay. I crushed 6 vertebrae and broke off a bone spur, which crushed my cord at C3-4, in a fall on my head. Sometimes the pain problem is called central pain syndrome. http://centralpainsyndromefoundation.com/

After a few weeks or months you may get spasticity and possibly big clonic spasms/jerks. You also have to watch out for the symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia, which can be fatal if not treated immediately. Look up the terms!

The swallowing and talking is because the surgeon shoved the trachea out of the way in order to the surgery. I had particular trouble with that because of being post-polio and not swallowing well to begin with. I had a naso-gastric tube for feeding for a couple of months.

Hopefully your problem will not be this severe. I would ask the doctors if a course of prednisone might help.
Posted 5/21/2014 1:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi michelle and welcome.

Sorry about your pain, but it will get better with rest. I had 3 level ACDF (C4,5.-C6,7) in January. I was in a collar (7x24) for 6 weeks and part time 1 week after. Shoulder and next pain and burning were a big problem for me, but rest eased it after 4-5 weeks. I tried walking every day, but seemed to make it worse, so I stopped and just sat with head and shoulders back in a chair. I strongly suggest rest, it was the best medicine for me. I continue to try to do physical things, but the pain and discomfort soon follow. Just not accustom to sitting around.

I had muscle spasm and pain meds, but eased off them after 2 weeks. I still take gabapentin at night, so they help me sleep. I did sleep in a recliner for 7 weeks. It just was not comfortable to lay flat.

Swallowing is still an issue for me. I have a swallowing test scheduled for Friday. Hopefully, a resolution is close by.

I hope time and rest provide relief for you.

Texas122
Posted 9/6/2015 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
It been a yr since my surgery access and still in allot of pain. To back of neck al my left side n now severe headache unable to turn neck ..what went wrong is question n I have uhh p allot of thing I love to do not cause I want to but cause I can't do it with put pain
Posted 9/7/2015 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Michelle & welcome back to the forum. It has been a long time since we have heard from you.

I am really sorry to read that you are not doing well after surgery. When is the last time you saw your surgeon & what does he have to say about what is going on? Have you considered getting a consult with another surgeon for an evaluation? Sometimes having a different & new set of eyes look at a situation can be very helpful. If I were in your shoes I would be looking for myself a board certified, fellowship trained neurosurgeon to consult with.

Just my 2 cents, but a year out from surgery you should be feeling better than this. I hope you will consider getting in with a neurosurgeon for an eval.

Take care.
Posted 9/7/2015 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
So very sorry your having a tough time still, I agree with Susie on this go and see another neurosurgeon maybe a few and get a couple of looks to see what they would recommend...a new mri might be need, and at least an x-ray,, if it was me I would go to three different neruosurgeons and get their opinions just to see what could be done...
Really hope your doing better soon...Please keep us posted, very concerned...
Posted 9/7/2015 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Michelle,

Are you in the US? Did you ever have PT? What did the neurologist say about your dizzy spells you had shortly after surgery? What kind of doctor did your surgery and what does he say about it now? Any testing done, any evidence of fusion? Sorry, lots of questions, but I'm curious. I'm also very sorry you are still having such pain a year later. Obviously, something is not right and as Chartreux said we are very concerned.

Ice and resting the neck by sitting in my recliner was the best relief for me, still is at 18 months post op, but I don't have the pain you have.
Posted 9/7/2015 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
smhair yes I will take that idea now that I have insurance . it is hard for me I had so much going on bit hopefully I get back in track I fell in mrs depression n anxiety a long with my bipolar ..my neck is the major issue cause it starts up all my other issues ..thank u for hearing me out
Posted 9/7/2015 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
Michelle so glad to read you will start your search for another dr to check you out. Seriously, try to find you a neurosurgeon that is specialized. My son was referred to one & I could not believe the difference with the one being specialized. From the way it sounds you have a lot on your plate & you need some relief. I remembered you after reading how the dr used some of your collar bone for your surgery. I am like WhiteBeard I had not ever heard of that before & these drs have their own preference.

Keep us posted.
Posted 9/13/2015 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
I had a 2 level acdf in April 2014. Unfortunately, my surgery didn't really help. I was in a hard collar for 6 weeks. They took marrow from my left hip. Just be sure you rest and wear your collar, even now I wear a hard collar if I have to fly or having a bad bad day, and also use my soft collar regularly. Take care of yourself! Oh, and ice is good. It helps reduce swelling.
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