Four days post ACDF C4-7 surgery

Miss Mom,
My whole reason for posting in your thread was to let you know what might happen. I also did not want to worry anyone who may need this same surgery. You are off to a fine start. Please be aware this is a life changing surgery. I was much better initially also. As the years progressed ASD set in and well....you know how that goes. I hope you do not suffer the same fate.

Take care of yourself and please realize your new limitations. My prayers are with you. God bless

I’m glad a recliner was suggested. I found in the hospital I needed to be almost straight up to sleep otherwise I would feel like I was choking on water or phlegm. Since I’ve been home I’ve been sleeping on the reclining couch and find the further I lay back the more I feel like my throat is swelling or I’m choking on phlegm. I suspect this may be part of the type of surgery I had but I’m going to talk with my doctor about it Thursday at my appointment. Until then I seem to sleep just fine if I just put my legs up with the recliner and keep the upper body part of the recliner in the upright position.
Last night I finally relaxed the neck brace a little bit while sleeping. Because my dogs like to sleep in my lap or next to me I’m afraid to completely take it off just yet while I sleep so last night once they were settled I loosened one side of the Velcro so I could just move the front of the brace over but could quickly get it back on. It did feel kind of good to have the brace partially off for a little bit while I slept.

Hi straydog! I’m doing pretty good. I’m walking 3+ miles a day now and have been doing a little cooking and laundry. Keeping it simple not cooking big meals, I’ve warmed up soup on the stove and made grilled cheese sandwiches in the air fryer and I’ve made goulash the other day and warmed up canned veggies. I’m going to make some zatarans tonight for dinner. The laundry I make multiple trips with 2-3 items at a time, it takes a while but I’m doing something. I’m letting pain be my guide if I feel a tug or pressure between my shoulders I put down what I’m doing because it’s too much.
I got my bone graft stimulator yesterday. I was expecting a collar type thing to wear a few hours a day but mine is similar to a tens unit and can be worn 24/7. It was recommended to wear as much as possible.
I’ll get an X-ray later next week and have my 6 week follow up on March 8th. I also get another CT of my artery on the 8th before my follow up appointment to check the status of the blood clot.

All in all I feel like I’m doing really good. I’ve been sleeping in my bed for a couple weeks now, I keep my brace on when I sleep because I have a tendency to toss and turn and I don’t want to do anything in my sleep to hurt my neck. I’ve been able to crochet so that has helped in keeping me busy and from going stir crazy.

I set myself back yesterday I realized last night I forgot my afternoon dose of gabapentin and robaxin so I’m feeling it today.

Left arm still feels like it’s asleep I don’t trust it to carry or pick anything of substance up. I still get pain in my thumb, not sure if it’s because of the nerve or the arthritis in my thumb and my ring finger still catches a lot again could be the trigger finger or the nerve. It’ll be hard to tell until my nerve calms down.

The glue came off my incision last week so it’s looking better. I’ve been putting neosporan on it because it’s what I had at home. My daughter in law is bringing me some Mederma Advanced cream which is for scars due to surgery.

My husband took me for a weekend away with friends last weekend. The initial 4 1/2 hour car ride was a little daunting and I definitely used my tramadol for the breakthrough pain a couple times during the weekend, but the ride back wasn’t bad and it was good to be out of the house and spend a weekend with him and friends.

I still feel like I have a lump in my throat but I can really eat anything just somethings I need an drink of water to help wash it down. Some pills are hard for me to swallow which I find frustrating because I’ve never had a problem swallowing pills before. At my 1 week follow up with primary physician I asked for tramadol instead of OxyContin and it’s worked great for me for the break through pain. I really haven’t had to take it this week except late last night because I forgot to take my gabapentin and Robaxin in the afternoon.

Because I have numbness in my left hand still and pain in my thumb I had a problem with button up shirts. I found for me pulling a big loose shirt over my head was easier than trying to button a shirt.

For women I recommend a front zip bra or size up one or two sizes for a sports bra so it’s easy to pull over. My first week or two I used a bra that was really equivalent to a training bra, no support just gave an extra layer of material. It was easy to get on and I could actually step into it or out of it on the days I hurt to much to pull it over.

The first week it was really hard to shower and really to get a good shower I needed help. The second and third week I could shower on my own if I did it every couple of days and washing the back of my hair was the most difficult. My hair is well below my waist so I found if I let the water help me pile it on top of my head I could clip it there then after I dry off I could put my neck brace on then let my hair down and comb it. If I had it to do over I think I would have had my hair cut up closer to my shoulders prior to surgery. Now I’m 4 weeks post surgery and I can shower everyday. I still feel it when I try to wash the back of my head and my back but not as bad. I can now get dressed and comb my hair then put it in a high ponytail before I put my brace back on. (It really irritates me having loose hair down in my neck brace).

I’m sure I’ll think of something else later that I wished I would’ve known before surgery. If I do I’ll try to get on here and post it.

Hi, I am also recovering from anterior cervical fusion. This is actually my second surgery, first one didn't fuse properly. This one is actually more painful than the first. I am in a rigid C-collar until the end of March. At this point their is not a lot I can do on my own, showering is the most difficult so my husband helps me.

I walk around the house and take little walks on the block, but that's the extent of what my husband lets me do around the house.

I’ve been experiencing severe neck pain, left shoulder pain & loss of strength in my left hand for over a year. I’ve had pain management, PT & injections but nothing has worked. The last injection I had scheduled, the doctor couldn’t get the needle in between the disc to inject the medication. My Orthopedic Surgeon ordered X-rays, an MRI & CT SCAN & is recommending a 4 Level ACDF. He said my neck is among the top 10 worst he has seen. He said my neck is severely arthritic. I’ve been researching all the pros & cons of this surgery and it appears there are more cons than pros. I fear having to have another surgery 3or 4 years down the road due to ASD due to the arthritis in my neck. I haven’t decided whether or not to have the surgery.

Cocker Spaniel Mom I’m glad you got some relieve. Did a orthopedic surgeon do your surgery or a neurosurgeon? I know you discussed ASD with your physician preop; did the surgeon discuss ASD postop?

Cocker Spaniel Mom, so nice to see an update from you. It sounds like things have improved, that's a great.

Does the dr think you will get more improvement in your hand as more time goes by?

Keep us posted.

Hi Straydog

Yes I’m getting more improvement in my hand as time goes on. We’re starting resistance training in PT (actually occupational therapy) to strengthen my arm. I’m able to do a lot of things I could do before like wear jeans do buttons and lift some even cooking is better. I’m still not able to sweep and mop floors. Hoping the resistance training will help get the strength back so I can give the house a good cleaning. The grub strength in my left hand is half the strength of my right which is a huge improvement. Doc doesn’t feel there was any permanent damage but he said it’s going to take a while to heal it had been pinched for a while and I had a lot done at one time.
Just like with my neck surgery I’m taking it one day at a time and letting the pain be my guide. Some days are better than others but I am seeing quite a bit of improvement post surgeries.