ACDF surgery Wed, C3,4,5 Second guessing now

Hi ImTryin & welcome to the forum. Glad that you found us but sorry you have to be here. Good to see you have checked out CP101 & read the tips & suggestions from members that has had surgery.

Of course you are scared. While it is a big surgery, it is also a very common surgery, not an unusual one at all. Pre-surgery jitters are ok. If you said you weren't scared I would really be worried, lol. What I do want to suggest right off the bat is insist on an overnight stay. I think this will be in your best interest. You need to see how your pain is a few hours after surgery. Insist on an over night stay, your insurance should pay for it.

Have you got a recliner? If not, if you see this post tonight get on the phone to a friend or family member that has one & ask to borrow it. If no one has one, then look for a furniture rental company & rent one. You truly will find sleeping in a recliner is going to be much more comfortable. Trying to get up & down out of bed is rough. And you certainly do not need to have someone trying to help you up pulling on you or you pulling yourself.

about the swallowing issues, yes it is normal for it take that long, in fact some have had issues longer. It is strictly up to your dr about the brace, since you are having 3 levels done i expect you will be in a brace for a bit. If the dr puts you in one, wear it. I know a lot of people hate them, but you need to listen to your dr, he is the expert in this, not you. Do not make the mistake of taking matters in your own hands as you may pay a dear price for it.

Whatever medication you are sent home with, take it on a schedule exactly as it is written on the bottle. If you do not feel your medication is not being as effective as it should, contact your dr immediately. You want to stay on top of the post op pain not under it. This is why it is important to take it on a schedule.

Considering the ages of your sons I am betting they will be a great help to you. Many people have no one to help them after surgery & that is hard. Sure post op pain is never fun, but you can get through this. Remember the post op pain is temporary & the end result of fixing your neck problems. Everyone has different reactions to how they deal with pain.

You will be given instructions when discharged to go home. Follow those directions to the letter. You will need to get up & move around, you don't want any issues after you get home. Lower your expectation bar somewhat on what you think you will be able to do as soon as you get home. This is the time to be kind to yourself so you will heal properly. Its not reasonable to have this surgery thinking once home you will be able to do your normal things. That will come in time. You are going to find time & patience are your new friend.

All I will say about the smoking is this, it can interfere with the anesthesia, interfere with the healing process & the fusion healing as it should. You will get through this you just need to be patient as the healing process is a slow one.

Take care.

Hi ImTryin and Welcome to the forum. It amazes me that they would even consider sending you home the same day after doing a 3 level ACDF! I agree with Susie I would request or insist staying at least the first night after surgery if not longer! A 3 level ACDF is not like having your tonsils or appendix taken out, this is a major surgery! But with that said it is getting to be a pretty common one. Anyway there are quite a few of us here on this forum that have had ACDF's done, some of us multiple times and some like you, have had multiple levels done at the same time. So your in good experienced company at this forum! I found laying flat was very uncomfortable for me and sleeping in a recliner in a reclined position was allot better. I slept in a recliner for many many years until I got my adjustable bed. I sleep with the head of the bed raised up.

It's not all that uncommon to have voice problems and swallowing difficulties after this type of surgery. Not everyone has problems of course but it sometimes happens! After my first ACDF I lost my voice completely for over 3 months and had swallowing problems for allot longer than that! But with my second ACDF I didn't have any of those problems! Hopefully you won't have any problems either! Anyway just remember you have all of us here on this forum supporting you, and keeping you in our prayers, so please try not to worry to much!

I do wish you well with your surgery tomorrow! Good luck to you ImTryin!

White Beard

We will be thinking of you in the morning. I wonder what conditions your doctor was thinking of when he said be prepared for an overnight stay. I have not read of others who went home the same day. Like has been said you just need to know how you are reacting to the surgery and medications. I was only in the hospital for 27 hours, but that was just long enough to let me get up and down a few times and be confident that I could do it.

I expect that one of your sons staying with you at a time for the first week will be sufficient. I would tell them to take care of your meals for a week, then you will know what you can handle on your own. Have someone drive you for your follow up until you are released to drive. Spending lots of time in that recliner is to be expected. Recline it as much as you like, we have all found it is more comfortable than our beds at first. You will probably be told to get up and move around every two hours or so. That does not mean wash dishes, do laundry or go to the store!! Just move around in your house right at first, then short walks on flat surface areas like porches or driveways or stay in the house for that-I did. I was in a neck brace for two weeks, some doctors don't use them at all.

Pushing yourself to get up and moving too quickly often results in set backs and taking longer to heal so as has been said: Follow orders! Be gentle with yourself! Let your sons wait on you! Check in here and let us know how you are doing. THINK FUSION! That's our motto! Fusion varies on how long it takes but it's more than just a few weeks. Your doctor may be able to see fusion just starting in a few weeks, but it still needs care to heal well and completely like you want it to.

Blessings on you.