Younger person undergoing ACDF surgery on multiple levels (c4-c7)

I'm 31, and I have some concerns. Right now it's only supposed to be 3 levels, but the doctor said he wanted a CT scan so he can figure out an approach angle, and if the one below might indeed need to be fused along with other 3. Guess my big dumb head and neck complicate things.

I'm supposed to be getting some pre op instructions next week. All this downtime has me nervous and anxious. Is there anyone here who has had a similar procedure that can tell me what I might want to have on hand for this extended recovery period?

It's good to know that people are around.

Welcome ManBearPig,

I'm one of those who has had this surgery and is still here 18 months later. Don't worry, I'm still here because I enjoy being here, not because I have chronic pain. You can find my personal story if you put this in the Search box: Posterior C3 - C7

I assume your doctor is deciding if your surgery needs to be anterior or posterior, plus other considerations. Having it done from the back I avoided the swallowing and speaking problems some others have mentioned. I've heard it's a longer recovery if done from the back but I can't really compare. I'm over twice your age, so you may heal more quickly. My advantage was not having the stress of needing to get back to work or taking care of children. I also have a husband who is a great caretaker, so that's a major advantage!

What have you been told about downtime and what type work do you do? It does vary greatly with everyone, but it's also fairly consistent that recovery is going to take longer than you expect. It's also true that pushing yourself does not pay off well in the long run. As Susie said you only want to do this surgery once! Some have checked in to short term disability in order to heal properly. I am not trying to scare you, just want you to be prepared. Are you having lots of pain now? What have you tried before being told you need surgery? Are you healthy otherwise? Do you have realistic expectations? By that I mean are you expecting to be jumping out of airplanes in a few months-that just popped into my mind. Don't think that would be a good plan. If you have any activities that you wonder if you will be able to get back to, discuss that with your doctor, and here too, if you want. Of course you will return to many of your activities sooner, but fusion takes over a year, so expect to have some limitations for that long while you are healing.

I'll add my suggestion to read our notes in CP101. We all added to that list of things after another member started it, so it's certainly based on needs we experienced.

Scroll through the first few pages here and you will see several recent ACDF surgeries. Kelcar1987 had a 2 level fusion, she's younger than you. Vernita had a one level with a new type of implant. Taller Now has osteoporosis which has hindered her recovery. Birder Nancy takes the prize for having the most fusions and she is doing great! White Beard has had anterior and later in life had posterior also.

Stay in touch. Answer our questions if you want. Ask whatever you need to. We will certainly try to help you. THINK FUSION!!

Hey ManBearPig.(From TD?)

Welcome to HW.No Back Surgeries yet for me.

Good Forum here.

Take care,

Rick aka tidalmouse

Hopefully you have gotten a chance to read the post in the CP 101 thread. It's going to be your best friend believe me and start gathering the things folks suggest now and not wait until after. The best advice is be prepared! To need heat and ice and lots of it. I believe we talked about how to make your own ice bags so the consistency of cold can taper fit the area most needed and a comfortable recliner and long handled grabber is a absolute must. Your furniture may even need to be rearranged to allow mobility to be easier and safer,things like garbage can,cooler,extra phone charger,books and magazines must all somehow be around your chair and above normal levels since turning your head,looking down and around is not going to be possible. The other obstacle no one thinks about pre-op is where the lever and release is on the chair,be familiar with where and how difficult it is to find and release without looking down or bending over at all,mine has a button now but the old one had a lever and that was horrible. Make sure you have numerous and various sizes and shapes of pillows next to the chair and I even padded my chair with a 1.5 inch thick memory foam mattress pad cut to fit since after the first experiences it became my place of living and that's no joke,I spent the majority of life for months in or around the chair. A couple of adult bibs simply made from towels with a slit and a few pieces of sticky Velcro will save countless clothes changes since eating and drinking can be messy for awhile. Clothing picked out before hand that requires little effort to get in and out of,definitely nothing over the head. If you can find a potty riser you will thank goodness you did and although any will be better than none the kind will handle bars on the side is better so you can steady yourself pushing up and going down. You will be surprised at exactly how difficult even mundane routine tasks are without turning your head or looking down. A good way to try and get a good take on the height things need to be and the reach your going to have for awhile is using a good thick towel wrapping it around your neck and securing it attempt to do things like sitting and getting up,eating and drinking,reaching for things from your chair and the normally easy stuff we take for granted doing on a daily basis.

Keep us posted about the type of procedure he chooses and the hardware he plans to use be prepared to get bored and frustrated with the slow progress you seem to make and not meeting the guidelines the Dr sets since rarely does anyone,fusing is individualized and no two people heal and recover at the same rate. If its one thing I can say that is important its time has no value post fusion. The goal is to fuse regardless of the length of time it takes to do so.

Well thats annoying.

ManBearPig, did you get more than one opinion confirming these fusions were necessary?

And I so wish karma would step up and send the insurance claims person to surgery without a concise and clear pic and remove the part of the brain so obviously not working! Sorry to all the good one's but really what were they thinking?

My expected outcome is being able to use my left (dominant) hand without constant pain; to be able to walk upright without it being in constant pain and numbness. I can't work with my arm the way it is.

I was made aware that I'll probably need more done in the future. I probably need more than what he's doing right now, but fixing what he's fixing now will allow me to return to work sooner, and all other bridges will be crossed when we get to them.

It's going through my insurance now because I need it done, but I am getting legal advice.

Was there a specific reason the dr wanted a CT & I am assuming it was of your neck? If you have had an MRI I would imagine this is why it was denied too,

You said you work retail, I do hope there is not a lot of heavy lifting involved in your work. Heavy lifting & fusions do not work well together at all. Trying to lift too soon can put you at high risk of not fusing correctly. Most drs tell patients they can return to work in 6 weeks. All that is, is text book reading material, what they read in class. No one can heal & fuse in 6 weeks from a fusion, it takes at least 12 months for the fusion to heal & become solid.

Listen to your body & get in tune with it. Hope this works out for you.

For a good outcome having the right attitude goes a very long ways. Where we see people get in serious trouble is going back to work too soon, doing things around the house they shouldn't be doing. This is one time to really take baby steps at first. Lots of people think if they push things it will help them recover quicker & it does not work that way at all. It causes setbacks & those are hard to recover from.

Don't be afraid to take your pain medications the first few days on a schedule. Trying to out last the pain meds just causes the post op pain to get out of control, then its even harder to get it to settle back down.

Is your dr a neurosurgeon? Keep us posted.