Just had ACDF surgery

Hi everyone! I am new here.. I found you guys via a google search.
I am about one and a half weeks post op after a two level ACDF surgery (C4-5,C5-6). I am moving around well, but still in a great deal of pain, especially behind my neck and between shoulder blades. I can only describe it as extreme muscle tension and tightness. Is this normal? I am taking about three pain pills a day and three muscle relaxers.

Initially, I had swallowing difficulties, but thankfully, those have subsided.

I am also struggling with a bit of mild depression, for whatever reason. It's strange.

Any suggestions or thoughts that you all have are welcomed! I go for my first follow up appointment on the 29th. Thank you!

Welcome kelcar to the CP forum!! Glad to have you and my first suggestion is to read CP 101 at the top of the page in blue or shaded and its a locked thread so you can read only but down the page is a mass of information that contains tips, advice and tricks to healing comfortably post spinal fusion. All from members who have had fusion surgery so voices of experience you might say. The biggest point is not to rush healing and think fusion as we say. The time limit the surgeons give are rarely correct and people tend to get discouraged because they think they're not doing well and please know that you can't set a deadline. Everyone is different in their healing process and trying to rush or push through can actually be a big setback and even cause a failed fusion.

On a different note sounds like your progressing well! The depression is also fairly common and could actually be caused by some of your meds especially the narcotics and it should get better but if it doesn't or seems to be getting worse or bothers you please talk to your Dr about your concerns.


Again welcome and keep us updated on your progress.

Depression is a side effect of the anesthesia and medications used during surgery. It is quite common post op. Shoulder ,neck and upper back pain is also normal post op.

Welcome!

Are you in a neck collar of any kind? Some people are, some are not. Is any of your pre-op pain gone? Are you resting a lot-probably in a recliner, not pushing yourself to do more than you feel like doing-which is probably nothing? Just out of curiosity, how long were you told this recovery would take?

Reading the 3rd item in Chronic Pain 101 should be a big help to you. Also, read a post that is currently on our 2nd page here called ...Fatigue 3 weeks post ACDF and written by Taller Now. She had her surgery a year ago but someone recently posted on it so recent comments are also made. Vernita is right there with you on having a very recent surgery.

Best wishes to you. Get ready for a long recovery. Ask anything and we will try to answer. My own surgery was 18 months ago.

Kelcar, please do not plan on being completely recovered in 6-8 weeks. Sure the drs tell us we will be healed but that comes out of that text book he read & none of it applies to the every day life as a patient. It takes a good 12-18 months to completely heal from surgery. The farther out you get with your surgery the better you will feel.

The boredom you are talking about, be very careful, it can get you into some serious troubles.

straydog, I tried the search feature to find Abilene's surgery thread, but was unsuccessful.

Yes Abilene! These chairs just rose to just below your shoulders... so no good!
I am not sure about how long I will be off of work. My doctor could not really predict it. He may tell me more tomorrow.

I work in Law Enforcement investigating homicides, etc., which requires me to be on call pretty much 24/7. I will see what the doctor thinks tomorrow. I am anxious to get back to work, but don't want to compromise my surgery / health either!

I am home from the surgeon!! They removed the steri strips and the scar is about two inches long. The surgeon was pleased with the new X-rays and it was pretty cool seeing the plates in there! They want me to wait another week and possible start light duty at work next Monday. My job offers a good bit of leeway for that kind of thing. I can go home early, work from home, etc.

Thank you for your response, Abilene! Light duty would be some desk duty and admin work. I can change positions as much as needed, and can go home whenever. I would not be on an on call status. I don't want to push it. I keep reminding myself that this is NOT my wisdom teeth surgery. It's a major thing. So I keep telling myself that even though I may feel fine.. I need to go slow. I don't want to mess up what I have already gone through!

I have been reading today and will continue to do that. I don't know what caused it... I was rear ended in an auto accident about seven years ago. I also have been a dancer and baton twirler my entire life. The doctors say it could be a combination of all of it.

I have primarily had terrible muscle pain/tension for the last four or five years. It would become unbearable at times. I would go to work and come home and lie down for the rest of the day for relief. More recently, in December of last 2014, my pain worsened and I went to a doctor for my back. On a side note: I have an autoimmune disease called Sjogren's Syndrome, which can cause joint problems. I think my Rheumatologist always thought my back pain was caused by Sjogren's and work stress. But in December, I just knew it was something more. I went to a spine specialist, who sent me to physical therapy. The physical therapist discovered that I had a "winged scapula" on my left side. My shoulder blade is not connected to the muscle on one side and it makes it "wing" out when I move my arms a certain way. He continued to work with me on correcting that, and it did get a lot better.

When I went back to the spine specialist, he offered for me to have an MRI and I agreed. The MRI showed herniation on C4-5 and C5-6 with narrowing on the nerve. He then sent me to an Orthopedic surgeon.

Lets just say the orthopedic surgeon just did not give me a good feeling. He sent me to have an epidural steroid injection, which gave me six days of relief and cost me about $340. When I went back to the orthopedic surgeon, I told him that I had six days of relief. He expressed that this was a good sign, as it shows that the C4-5 and C5-6 discs were, indeed, causing my pain. But he wanted me to continue with the series of three shots. Before he ran out of the room, I told him that I had just started having nerve pain down my left arm, with some numbness. He stopped, a little surprised, and said "okay well we will do one more shot, but I am hesitant to do surgery because of your age (I am 28)". I understand his hesitance, but I also knew that I could not continue to live my life the way I was. I had to plan my social life around my pain. I could not function. The orthopedic surgeon told me he thought it would resolve itself, even though it just got worse over six years. He just would never really sit down and TALK to me. He had stock answers and just darted out of the door at every appointment.

I had an acquaintance that had the same C4-5 C5-6 problems and had surgery performed by a Neurosurgeon and highly recommended him. My boyfriend went to this doctor and I had the best feeling about him. He was confident and reassuring, without being overly promising. I can't explain it, but it just felt different and I trusted him. He said he didn't feel as though the issue was going to resolve itself since I had tried resting, physical therapy, traction, massage therapy, epidural steroid injections, etc... He felt comfortable with moving forward with the surgery and I did, too. I was desperate for pain relief! Maybe this all makes sense. Feel free to ask any questions.

As of now, I have no more nerve pain in my arms. My main complaint is muscle tension in my neck and shoulders.

Straydog, thank you so much for your input! It may be that I end up going back on leave if I find out that I can't handle it. The more I read from y'all, the more convinced I am that it might be a bad idea. I don't want to regress... at all!

And yes, I Just knew that if he couldn't even sit for five minutes and have a conversation with me, there was no way I would let him do my surgery! I am so glad I followed my intuition and gut instinct on that. My neurosurgeon was truly and answered prayer!

Thank you, Abilene!

I drove for the first time today, with my mom in the car with me.. and only a short distance. I didn't have any problems. In fact, I was honestly in LESS pain than before the surgery! Driving always aggravated my disc issues, and I commute an hour to and from work each day. So this will be such a relief in the long run!

Abilene: that's great that your husband was able to drive for you! What a blessing! I still use a support pillow when I drive just for some extra support. It helps my back and shoulders not to get so tired so quickly.

I was wondering about massages, too. How soon would be safe to get one?

Post Edited (kelcar1987) : 7/3/2015 4:58:26 PM (GMT-6)