Acdf surgery almost 4 weeks Post op

Hi Raew & thanks for making a separate post. You are still really fresh from surgery & have months ahead of you be completely healed. It usually takes a good year to completely heal. Probably not what you wanted to hear but this is a big surgery. Things may look healed on the outside but not on the inside. You had a lot of work done.

Time is going to be your best friend from this point on. Don't try to overdo things that will only make things worse. Some people think if they push to hard the recovery will be quicker. It doesn't work that way. Listen to your body it will tell when its had enough. Use this time to heal properly so you will have the best result. Try to get out & walk, that is the best way to strengthen yourself.

Yes, we have had a lot of members have swallowing issues after surgery. If this does not improve over the next few weeks, ask to be referred to an ENT for an evaluation.

As for sleeping most found sleeping in a recliner was much better than trying to get in & out of a bed. If you are not sleeping well it will affect your healing process.

If you will look at the top of this page in CP101, there is a list of ideas & tips made by members here that has had surgery. I urge you to click that on & scroll down & read this info.

TallerNow checked in a couple of months ago & sadly she is not doing well. She has seen a 2nd opinion & may be going for a 3rd opinion with regards to more surgery. She has bad osteoporosis going into surgery. Her surgeon had concerns of her ability to fuse with this in mind. Keep in mind her situation was not the normal to begin with. Hopefully she will check in again.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.

I am glad I am doing as well as I am!! I am glad I had this done.. My neck pain is gone that I had!! I am actively person so this down time is hard!! Lol!! I am very optimistic for a good recovery !!

Hi Raew64333 I had a C6/7 ACDF done in March of 1985 (right side of neck)and lost my voice for over 3 months and had lots of swallowing and gagging issues for along time afterwards!! In September 2009 I had to have another ACDF done at C5/6 the surgeon wanted to go in on the left side, but knowing all the problems I had with my first ACDF he wanted my vocal cords scoped by ENT first before doing the surgery . ENT found my vocal cords were still partially paralyzed on the right side from my ACDF done in 1985. So the surgeon opted not to go in through the left side and take a chance of damaging the nerves going to my vocal cords on my left side. So he done the ACDF on the right side again where the nerves were already damaged.

That ENT doctor told me he was amazed that more people that had ACDF'S didn't have problems with swallowing and losing their voice after having that Surgery because of the way they have to pull everything out of the way to get at the anterior cervical spine and the possible damage it can cause to the nerves there! Anyway I can definitely empathize with you, as I know all to well what that is Like! The best thing I can tell you is to eat slowly and take very small bites and chew it up very finely, and maybe try drinking milk shakes or liquids that are thicker, as they tend to be easier to swallow. Hopefully in time your swallowing difficulties will ease up and go Away! But be for warned that can sometimes take a long time to Do! Avoid doing anything that will put a physical strain on your neck as this can sometimes make it Worse! For me it would cause laryngeal spasms and cause me to have violent gagging episodes, which although now days is allot less frequent, but on occasion if I strain my neck to much I will still have them!

The only thing I can say to you right now is you had a lot done, and you still have very long way to go before your cervical spine is healed and your fusions Complete! So be patient and gentle with yourself and give yourself plenty of time to heal and Mend!

I wish you all the best and good luck to You!

White Beard