5 months (almost) post C4-7 ACDF pain

Hi,
It is me again, still recovering from C4-7 ACDF (June 5th). I have been working 6 hours a day from home for awhile now. Last weekend even did a bit of outdoor work and household chores and did not feel too bad afterwards. Felt very positive about my improving condition.

Yesterday I went in to my office for the first time since surgery and worked from 8:30-3:30 (my husband drove me in). I felt fine while there but by the time I got home my traps and neck were killing me, and still are! I assume it is due to the fact that I never stopped and rested, laid back in a recliner and perhaps poor body mechanics? Most of this would be normal for me to function at work. I plan on giving it a try again tomorrow, but what if this happens again?

How have any of you dealt with working in an office atmosphere? A combo of meetings and computer time? I am so discouraged.

Thanks,
I think I need request a chair as you describe. My set up for when I work from home is good, just need to get work figured out. Currently at my office I have a stand up only desk with monitor straight ahead since sitting cause my sciatica to flare up so bad. Been working like that for a long time. But I think I need the option of both sit down in comfortable chair or stand up like home now that I have had this fusion.

I feel bad that you must go back for surgery. To have been through it and know what you have to deal with post surgery is awful. I think I have a bit of surgical PTSD from the whole ordeal. If I start talking about it tears start running down my face involuntarily and I am not one to cry. I wish you the best.

I can retire in 31/2 years, so if I can just endure the next few.....

Some of the new ergo chairs are awesome and come in stool height as well, they have a foot rest thing too! Maybe that would be a better option with a stand up desk? I know the sciatica in ny leg does much better if I'm putting weight on it or applying pressure such as pushing against something so the foot platform thing would be ideal!

I know you feel progress has been slow and rough but you really are doing great!! Go back to the beginning and see how much better you are. Spinal surgery is one if not they most long recovery procedures even heart surgery! They damage brain, nerve, and spinal cells that never regenerate or do so at the slowest rate of any other cells in our body. Those that don't require other cells to be retrained to take over the job. That means recovery is slow while that happens.

Your doing great simply because you took it slow and were patient and allowed that healing to happen.

Sounds like you continue to make good progress. I hope you are ok not wearing the collar at night. How does it feel? I'm guessing it scared you to wake up without it. If it does not cause more pain to be without it, I'd take that as a sign that you are ready.

Standing is still a difficult position for me. I'm glad you are getting your office adjusted for whatever you may need. Isn't it strange that you can actually forget all the pain triggers when your mind is busy, then be reminded later? Twice a week in your office sounds appropriate for now. With your determination you will find a way to endure this for at least 3 1/2 years!

Taller Now, I think almost 4 months post op with your type of surgery & being back at work you are doing fantastic. Actually, you are ahead of your game mainly because you had no choice on the rtw situation. Don't let it get you down because most people do not return to work so quickly. I am being dead serious when I say that too. Most people rtw on a trial basis no sooner than 6 months unless it is like your situation they had no choice.

Working on a computer is really hard on the neck & a double whammy on an operated neck. You need to take breaks, not just stand non-stop in one position. You will have to ease yourself back into your work routine rather than jumping in with both feet. Same thing with the collar at night, surgeons here tell the patients to wean out of their collars.

You really are not giving yourself much credit for the strides you have made. So, lighten up on yourself you are doing great.

Thanks for the encouragement. I have always been the tough gal getting through things - not feeling myself these days. I just got off the phone with my neuro and he said, at 4 levels at once they had to move a lot of stuff around and reminded me that even from their perspective I had a major extensive surgery and would be feeling things for at least a year. He also said working and stress also adds pain. He was slightly concerned with my increased throat pain when I swallow and talk so just to be on the cautious side he ordered X-rays (I think more for my piece of mind) although he said it is highly unlikely given my overall health that any screws have backed out. Most likely just swelling. So after a discussion with my husband I am not going for the X-rays unless it gets worse. One of the issues is that I have to drive an hour to my doctor and he doesn't think it is warranted and that the doctor just ordered them to cover his liability. So I will wait and see.

But I am going to go into my office to work just once a week until I can come home without such major pain. Then increase to two days.

I have to remind myself that no surgery would have meant a wheelchair and crazy unbearable pain/headaches etc. but I really had no idea this would be hard for such a long time. I changed my profile photo on my work email to one with my soft collar (which I wear at work so people remember) to remind my bosses to cut me some slack. I left a huge project when I went into surgery and was hoping it would be done when I got back, nope, still there waiting for me to finish with a court mandated deadline. They have given me more staff to work on it, but it sucks.
I am thankful for this place to vent - thank you everyone!