Thank you for being honest about the procedure. Some people dont need to make a decision about.the surgery because their pain is absolutely unbearable, or they are facing paralysis. But for most people the surgery is elective. And its important for us patients to really understand what were getting into.
I had this yesterday, the pain is horrible! Equal to stabbing with an ice pick in your shoulder blades. Good luck to all having this! I watched so many of these , people saying no pain. And I have a pretty great pain tolerance. Thanks for this I wish I would’ve watched you first.
Hello! I am 8 months out 2 levels C567, still have pain in my shoulders en upper back, but since a couple of months I have burning filling in my hands , tingling and a little bit numbness in my fingers. I worry a lot about nerves in my arms, hopefully it get better. I do have a appointment with my surgeon in a few weeks
Thank you for reply, it’s a very difficult recovery for me, physically, mentally and emotionally, I am scared that this symptoms are hier to stay, and if I could go back, I am not sure if I would do this again!
It does not mean that there is necessarily a problem with the surgery. There are lots of points of nerve compression outside of the neck. Palpate the area between the neck and the acromion (area along top of shoulder to neck). If you feel a hard bump or knot, apply pressure and see if it reproduces your pain. If it does, keep applying pressure until the bump softens and do some trapezius and other exercises to strengthen and stretch muscles. The muscle tightness in the area of the shoulder blades can also refer pain to the areas you mention.
So happy to see your update and positive progress. Your honesty and humor is appreciated especially when we see those that are superhuman as you mention and bounce back in a short period of time. Still dealing with discomfort at 3 months but feeling better every day and testimonials like yours give hope and optimism for the future. Thank you again for sharing your experience 🙏
Thanks for the video. I’m 6 months post c4-c6 ACDF and pain comes and goes. You’re absolutely right, the recovery has been tough. I’m 53 and had bi lateral hip replacement 10 years ago, recovery was much easier. Hope you’re feeling better.
Glad you are doing much better! You sound happy! I totally can relate to you. My first ACDF surgery experience was horrible and the Dr never explained realistic expectations of what was coming. I am 2 weeks post revision surgery for my C6-C7 ACDF and the experience has been very different. Still have some pain but able to manage it better. Praying we are pain free soon! As you said, nobody really understands the pain associated with this surgery unless yours e gone thru it! God bless🙏❤
Glad you're doing well. I recently had the same level (c6 c7) on March 3. I joined an acdf group on Facebook. Some people have insanely successful recoveries, but I think that most people take a while to heal. Maybe not a year, but certainly more than the people claiming they're better than ever 2 weeks after surgery. That sounds like bs to me, like putting on a happy face for social media. I'm one month post op, and while I don't think surgery hurt me, I don't know how much it has helped me either. Time will tell.
@mabrenio I recently had my 4 month post-op appt with my surgeon. He said I was 100% fused, so I'm happy about that. I still have a numb left index finger, but overall, I'm doing well. I don't have the radiculopathy in my left arm anymore.
Im 54 years old, I had 2 level c5-c6-c7 3 weeks ago , i immediately had no pain or numbness anymore, the biggest obstacle was my throat and swallowing, narrowing of throat from swelling lasted about a week, now im just waiting for dr to give me the ok to be able to lift more than 15 lbs , cant work until i can lift at least 50 lbs my job requirements.. takes awhile for fusion to take ..some surgeons recommend soft collars, my surgeon didnt, your neck muscles need to be strong to hold ur head, wearing a collar ur neck muscles arent being used and get weak .
Thank you for your information. I had my surgery almost 3 months ago and thought I made a wrong decision to have surgery. I had 2 Disks replaced and am a little older. My pain is still there and may have a day or two OK, but shoulder , upper back and some neck pain still persists. I hope in a year most of that will be gone. Thank you for being open.
see your dr, make sure everything is ok, then start yoga an swimming. Moving and strength is the key. Dont go lifting weights or doing heavy hard workouts, but gentle--this is very important. I have c3/4, 4/5, 5/6 fused and was in an acccident after and fractured c2. Getting strong was a lifesaver.
I have been very fortunate....I had this done at four levels......it has been successful....only minor discomfort due the neck being fused and and loosing some mobility of the neck.
Thanks so much for your videos, they give me hope. I also am a slow healer and it has been challenging. I had c5 to c7 done last October. Today I went to water aerobics, felt good till later in the day...stiff and sore. Since you are over a year, have you tried water exercising and if yes, how are you doing. My OS states it's ok. I am not in major pain, just sore. Still have tightness in arms and neck and hope it will be gone as I reach a year. I am 65. Love to hear your experience.
I haven’t tried water aerobics but I am sure it would be helpful and low Impact. I do find that doing anything that involves raising my arms over my head repetitively does not work for me or I will be miserable the next day. I am still learning my limits and not to overdo it.
I had my ACDF surgery in March and I still have some pain. I have good days and bad days but they told me it takes a year and a half for a full recovery. I have the best doctor in CT . He is absolutely wonderful and he did an excellent job. I hope as time goes on I will be completely pain free. Thank God it’s not as bad as before the surgery. Praise Jesus I’m still here .
Oh my stars! I am so glad I found this! I just had this exact surgery on May 9th 2024. Excellent surgery experience, but unfortunately I had a Sinus infection, at the beginning of the surgery , I suppose and I am already an anxiety driven person, extra fearful of choking to death. Seeing that the possible side effects of this surgery was swelling of throat, then mix that with constant drainage, mucus, trying to get that out so you don’t choke, so you’re trying to cough but in the same breath, you’re deathly scared you’re going to bust the incision you just had done not 24 hours ago! Forget about the pain in your spine, because people your age or older , 55 usually die of Pneumonia, because they get fluid in their lungs because they don’t move.. oh my stars… to say I was an anxious psychotic mess the 1st week after surgery would be an understatement. lol 😂 Of course, like you , everyone I heard , had miraculous recoveries and were healed immediately. I did not…. 😑😑😑 I believe, that if I didn’t have the Sinus Infection at the same time as the surgery, my recovery would have not been so traumatic, possibly.🤷🏼♀️ It’s been 2 weeks and last night is my first night that I actually slept in a bed and for more than 4 hours ! Yay! Since the Sinus Infection is not as bad (Coughing) I can now focus on the spine pain😂 … but.. I am like you, I do believe we are all different.. we all heal differently and have pain differently and I just have to remind myself that daily. I wanted to say Thank you!! You gave me that reminder today that I needed😁😁I am so glad I find this video! I pray you and your followers continued healing 😘😘😘😘 YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE ❤️❤️ Have an awesome week🤩
Thanks for your update. Its been 6 months since my ACDF C6C7 surgery and I still have muscle issues in my trapezium and back of neck I've been seeing a physiotherapist to help with a stiff neck but I wake up in pain which is disappointing. I think I need to look at the pillow and whether our firm bed isn't helping I'm OK when I walk but sitting down hurts my neck..Would love to hear your feedback. Marg from New Zealand.
@@MargaretNeedham-wo5hf I definitely understand the disappointment. The good news is that it has only been six months. You may see better results after you reach a year or even two. I’m not going to lie. I still struggle with my back muscles especially the trapezius and now the muscles from my mid back attached to my hip are not functioning like before the surgery. Your body learns to compensate over time and it takes a long time to undo that learning, I think the physio is a great idea and staying active, even through the pain, is important. I wish you the best on your journey and let me know if you find anything that helps. (I’m trying red light therapy now.)
I had a CDF surgery recently actually on September 23rd and I feel awful. It's massive severe pain. I also have fibromyalgia, which is a chronic nerve pain and Lumbar stenosis along with other issues so I massive pain if you ever get a chance to reply to me I would like to know do you feel the surgery was worth it or if you could do it all over again would you have surgery again? I know It's still too soon for results for me, but I am still not stable like I'm still stumbling almost to the point of tripping, I know I have a long journey ahead of me with Christ by my side I shall whether the storm Thank you for sharing your experience. God bless 🙏🏼
@@Aerie-dc5jh I definitely remember those early days after surgery. The pain was horrible and I regretted my decision every time I moved. I also have neuralgia apart from the neck and under stress that pain becomes severe. It took a full year to see results for me but the neck pain is better if I don’t overdo anything. We just moved so I am in a world of hurt with myofascial pain and neuralgia and now hip pain. Yay!😁 with something like nerve and back pain it doesn’t seem to end when you have chronic pain. To answer your question about whether I would do it again…probably because I hoped for an “easy” fix. Since I had other nerve problems it wasn’t the completely pain free experience I had hoped. My neck is better, but my muscles in my back and shoulders have never fully adjusted for whatever reason and my nerve pain below the neck comes and goes. Hopefully, you will heal nicely and your pain and compression symptoms will go away entirely. I wish you the best in your recovery!
No. I did not have a catheter neither urinary nor a nerve catheter. I only had the standard drain at the incision site that was removed before leaving the hospital because there was little drainage.
Thanks for your reply to my comment in your previous video. I am sorry that it was such a painful journey for you. May I ask how long did it take for you to return to work? Did you return to full-time work or start with part-time & gradually return to full time? Sorry for asking so many questions. I am actually quite afraid of this surgery. Btw, I also subscribed to your channel - looking forward to explore all your art videos soon 😊 Take care!
Thanks for subscribing! Due to the nature of my work I was able to go back gradually. There are so many factors that would affect the time line. For example, you are usually cleared to drive in a couple of weeks but I couldn’t turn my head well at 2 weeks. Pain meds, age, hospital stay, type of job, and number of discs would also be factors. For me, six weeks would be reasonable to be able to focus on work again.
Indeed it depends on many factors. I am worried as I need a 2 level ACDF and not sure what to expect for my recovery. My work is a typical desk job, 9-5, 5-day weeks. Due to the pain and multiple injections in my neck and also my lower back, I’ve been off on sick leave since April. Not sure how long more it takes for me to recover and get back to the office. My company is going through a major reorganization since Feb this year. I’m kind of worried about that too. Today I just had my second injection on my back, let’s hope it’ll be good this time.
Hello,Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s very helpful, I know that one of the complications after surgery is dysphasia. How about nowadays do you experience those symptoms? Have you ever felt or a sensation that there’s like metal plate behind your throat? how about mobility What is there a big difference? Im just trying to learn the long-term effect of having an anterior cervical plate when having an acdf.
@@algal5354 my symptoms are much better now but they have t totally disappeared. I have never felt like there is a metal plate in my throat but I do know someone who had 2 levels replaced who can move his esophagus over with his hands after the surgery! Mobility is usually dependent on how many levels you have replaced. I have only a slight impairment but it took a long time for me to feel I could turn my head enough to drive properly. I remember being warned about losing your voice but fortunately my vocal chords weren’t damaged. The biggest problem still is not over exerting myself or lifting heavy objects because I really feel it now. I wish you the best!
@@TheWellEducatedArtist Thank you for your kind response, and for your vlogs that gives other people lots of knowledge to help in surgery decision making. God bless you always!
Hello, I'm in the process of probably getting c5-c6 fusion. What type of food were you able to eat the day after you went home ? any equipment you bought or wish you did to make you life better ? such as a certain pillow, etc. Did all you pain went away or do you still have pain or numbness ? How long after your surgery were you able to drive ?
Those are really good questions! After surgery I mainly ate homemade soup and broth since it was very difficult to swallow. I was so hungry I started drinking organic nutritional shakes to keep weight on. As for equipment, it was so very hard to sleep comfortably. I tried a lot of pillows but ended up sleeping on a wedge. If your bed is adjustable it would be easier. Having a pincher/grabber to get things off the floor was helpful. It was also hard for a long time putting my arms through arm holes in clothes but unfortunately there is no equipment for that! I do have numbness down my left side on it off and my shoulders stay stiff but the neck pain and headaches are much better. Strenuous housework, or say, dry walling and sanding or a lot of bending cause a lot of pain. They say you can drive after 2 weeks but be advised that turning your head will be an issue. I waited 6 weeks because turning me head to see was so painful. It would depend on where you live and how much head turning you need to do, as well as any medication you are on.
What Irritates me is when I see a nurses or doctors note about me stating my pain is being well controlled. What a lie ! By who's interpretation ? Pain is What the patient states it is not what the doctor or nurse say it is. I read in my chart the nurse documented that patient is yelling and demanding things. Did she explain further to give a complete picture to those that would. Be reading my chart ? NO ! I certainly was screaming because no one at all came for one hour after my anterior and posterior procedure . No call bell was left by my side and I had to scream for someone to come to me after an hour of trying to belt out the word HELP. Then it took another hour to get a change in medicine that helped better than the first med. My experience was absolutely terrible from hospital to nursing staff in the city of philly. The doctor and his team did an excellent job . I did go in with a functioning right arm and came out with a painful right arm with muscle fatigue and decreased strength. Supposedly from positioning me incorrectly during the procedure with my shoulders being taped down. I'm hoping this nerve impingement will resolve with therapy.
Sounds like a horrible experience! The hospital can definitely make a difference on your experience. It has taken me a full two years to recover, so give it time as your body tries to adjust. Things are still not perfect but better. Best of luck to you as you recover.
Thank you so much for all your videos… I’m terrified, I’m having 2 level ACDF in a month C4C56.. after watching your videos I’m very concerned about recovery, my neurosurgeon told me about three weeks I can return to work, I do office job remoting from home...also told me he does not do brace therefore I will go home on the same day of surgery without a brace.. I’m really scare on how I’m going to be able to manage that.. what are your thoughts ?? My husband is saying to listen to the doctor that has to be a reason not to wear a brace.. he told me I will have swollen neck, sore throat, sore shoulder.. I’m going to brain and spine hospital.. did you have to sleep on a recliner? Hope you are well now and not experiencing pain as much as you did. Very positive vibes for you, hope I hear back from you, I’ll really appreciate it!! ❤
Hi there! Thank you for your comment. It has now been 2.5 years since the surgery and I am doing much better but it has been a long journey. I think everyone has a different experience with this surgery and hopefully yours will go smoothly and without complications. I think there have been some studies that indicate that a neck brace after surgery doesn’t help…. and you shouldn’t wear it long term because of loss of muscle strength. That being said I would not have survived without my brace. I would not have made the 45 minute home from the hospital without it even! It stabilizes the the neck and those weak muscles that they cut through during surgery to get the cage in. It definitely takes the weight off the shoulders. My surgeon recommended two weeks but I needed longer and still go back to it when my neck is bothering me. His philosophy was if it is helping wear it, if not, don’t. They are not terribly expensive if you feel you would like to have one for the first couple of weeks. The problem with most surgeons is they have never experienced this surgery and have no clue what it is like. They read STUDIES whose data is flawed based on the design and bias. Through any medical situation you have to advocate for you because the doctor generally will not. As for sleeping I tried a recliner but it was very uncomfortable as was every sleeping arrangement the first couple of weeks. You just have to figure out what is least painful. I found sleeping on a wedge in a bed was easier but it was trial and era to figure out what was least painful when getting up. Hope this helps and will be glad to answer any other questions. Best of luck with your upcoming survey. You are not alone is feeling terrified about this surgery.
Thank you for being honest about the procedure. Some people dont need to make a decision about.the surgery because their pain is absolutely unbearable, or they are facing paralysis. But for most people the surgery is elective. And its important for us patients to really understand what were getting into.
I had this yesterday, the pain is horrible! Equal to stabbing with an ice pick in your shoulder blades. Good luck to all having this! I watched so many of these , people saying no pain. And I have a pretty great pain tolerance. Thanks for this I wish I would’ve watched you first.
I hope you're feeling better these days. You have a beautiful soul.
You are very kind. Thanks for watching.
Hello! I am 8 months out 2 levels C567, still have pain in my shoulders en upper back, but since a couple of months I have burning filling in my hands , tingling and a little bit numbness in my fingers. I worry a lot about nerves in my arms, hopefully it get better. I do have a appointment with my surgeon in a few weeks
I have also had tingling on and off 18 months out. The burning, though, is mainly in the shoulder blades. Hope things I improve for you!
Thank you for reply, it’s a very difficult recovery for me, physically, mentally and emotionally, I am scared that this symptoms are hier to stay, and if I could go back, I am not sure if I would do this again!
It does not mean that there is necessarily a problem with the surgery. There are lots of points of nerve compression outside of the neck. Palpate the area between the neck and the acromion (area along top of shoulder to neck). If you feel a hard bump or knot, apply pressure and see if it reproduces your pain. If it does, keep applying pressure until the bump softens and do some trapezius and other exercises to strengthen and stretch muscles. The muscle tightness in the area of the shoulder blades can also refer pain to the areas you mention.
Probaly want to do a nerve study pre surgery and one post surgery
So happy to see your update and positive progress. Your honesty and humor is appreciated especially when we see those that are superhuman as you mention and bounce back in a short period of time. Still dealing with discomfort at 3 months but feeling better every day and testimonials like yours give hope and optimism for the future. Thank you again for sharing your experience 🙏
Thanks so much! Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Glad you’re doing well! Congrats on 100 videos!
Thanks for the video. I’m 6 months post c4-c6 ACDF and pain comes and goes. You’re absolutely right, the recovery has been tough. I’m 53 and had bi lateral hip replacement 10 years ago, recovery was much easier. Hope you’re feeling better.
Glad you are doing better, neck surgery is never a quick fix. Keep your chin up and blessings to you.🤗
Thanks, Georgann!
Thankyou. I had surgery 9 weeks ago (c5-6) and i still get tired. Which is why i was googling. Its so reasuring to know its normal. Thanks again x
Good luck with your recovery!
Glad you are doing much better! You sound happy! I totally can relate to you. My first ACDF surgery experience was horrible and the Dr never explained realistic expectations of what was coming. I am 2 weeks post revision surgery for my C6-C7 ACDF and the experience has been very different. Still have some pain but able to manage it better. Praying we are pain free soon! As you said, nobody really understands the pain associated with this surgery unless yours e gone thru it! God bless🙏❤
Thanks you so much! Glad you are doing well!
Glad you're doing well. I recently had the same level (c6 c7) on March 3. I joined an acdf group on Facebook. Some people have insanely successful recoveries, but I think that most people take a while to heal. Maybe not a year, but certainly more than the people claiming they're better than ever 2 weeks after surgery. That sounds like bs to me, like putting on a happy face for social media. I'm one month post op, and while I don't think surgery hurt me, I don't know how much it has helped me either. Time will tell.
Erik, thank you for your honesty. Glad you are doing well!
Do you still have symptoms even after the surgery?
@mabrenio I recently had my 4 month post-op appt with my surgeon. He said I was 100% fused, so I'm happy about that. I still have a numb left index finger, but overall, I'm doing well. I don't have the radiculopathy in my left arm anymore.
Im 54 years old, I had 2 level c5-c6-c7 3 weeks ago , i immediately had no pain or numbness anymore, the biggest obstacle was my throat and swallowing, narrowing of throat from swelling lasted about a week, now im just waiting for dr to give me the ok to be able to lift more than 15 lbs , cant work until i can lift at least 50 lbs my job requirements..
takes awhile for fusion to take ..some surgeons recommend soft collars, my surgeon didnt, your neck muscles need to be strong to hold ur head, wearing a collar ur neck muscles arent being used and get weak .
Thank you for your information. I had my surgery almost 3 months ago and thought I made a wrong decision to have surgery. I had 2 Disks replaced and am a little older. My pain is still there and may have a day or two OK, but shoulder , upper back and some neck pain still persists. I hope in a year most of that will be gone. Thank you for being open.
@@debbieeagan8262 Best of luck with your recovery. I hope you find relief in time.
My back neck pain is constantly 4 months now since my 3 level surgery
I hope it gets better over time. My last trip to the surgeon he told me up to 2 years. I still have pain off and on.
see your dr, make sure everything is ok, then start yoga an swimming. Moving and strength is the key. Dont go lifting weights or doing heavy hard workouts, but gentle--this is very important. I have c3/4, 4/5, 5/6 fused and was in an acccident after and fractured c2. Getting strong was a lifesaver.
I have been very fortunate....I had this done at four levels......it has been successful....only minor discomfort due the neck being fused and
and loosing some mobility of the neck.
Thanks so much for your videos, they give me hope. I also am a slow healer and it has been challenging. I had c5 to c7 done last October. Today I went to water aerobics, felt good till later in the day...stiff and sore. Since you are over a year, have you tried water exercising and if yes, how are you doing. My OS states it's ok. I am not in major pain, just sore. Still have tightness in arms and neck and hope it will be gone as I reach a year. I am 65. Love to hear your experience.
I haven’t tried water aerobics but I am sure it would be helpful and low Impact. I do find that doing anything that involves raising my arms over my head repetitively does not work for me or I will be miserable the next day. I am still learning my limits and not to overdo it.
Wishing you well!
I had my ACDF surgery in March and I still have some pain. I have good days and bad days but they told me it takes a year and a half for a full recovery. I have the best doctor in CT . He is absolutely wonderful and he did an excellent job. I hope as time goes on I will be completely pain free. Thank God it’s not as bad as before the surgery. Praise Jesus I’m still here .
@@veronicamamiful Your surgeon sounds very realistic! I wish you the best on your road to recovery!
I just had my ACDF surgery today and pain and my sore throat is HORRIBLE!!
Hang in there! This is the worst part!
Oh my stars! I am so glad I found this! I just had this exact surgery on May 9th 2024. Excellent surgery experience, but unfortunately I had a Sinus infection, at the beginning of the surgery , I suppose and I am already an anxiety driven person, extra fearful of choking to death. Seeing that the possible side effects of this surgery was swelling of throat, then mix that with constant drainage, mucus, trying to get that out so you don’t choke, so you’re trying to cough but in the same breath, you’re deathly scared you’re going to bust the incision you just had done not 24 hours ago! Forget about the pain in your spine, because people your age or older , 55 usually die of Pneumonia, because they get fluid in their lungs because they don’t move.. oh my stars… to say I was an anxious psychotic mess the 1st week after surgery would be an understatement. lol 😂
Of course, like you , everyone I heard , had miraculous recoveries and were healed immediately.
I did not…. 😑😑😑
I believe, that if I didn’t have the Sinus Infection at the same time as the surgery, my recovery would have not been so traumatic, possibly.🤷🏼♀️
It’s been 2 weeks and last night is my first night that I actually slept in a bed and for more than 4 hours ! Yay! Since the Sinus Infection is not as bad (Coughing) I can now focus on the spine pain😂 … but.. I am like you, I do believe we are all different.. we all heal differently and have pain differently and I just have to remind myself that daily.
I wanted to say Thank you!! You gave me that reminder today that I needed😁😁I am so glad I find this video!
I pray you and your followers continued healing 😘😘😘😘
YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE ❤️❤️
Have an awesome week🤩
I had a 3 level fusion in my neck. And just let me tell you it was a walk thru Disneyland compared to my lower back fusion 😮
@@johnmitchell8925 I hear you. I am having trouble with my lower back now and I am trying to avoid a back surgery at all costs!
Hallo, how are You, can you show us your MRI before surgery, I also have a pinched nerv 😢
Thanks for your update. Its been 6 months since my ACDF C6C7 surgery and I still have muscle issues in my trapezium and back of neck
I've been seeing a physiotherapist to help with a stiff neck but I wake up in pain which is disappointing. I think I need to look at the pillow and whether our firm bed isn't helping
I'm OK when I walk but sitting down hurts my neck..Would love to hear your feedback. Marg from New Zealand.
@@MargaretNeedham-wo5hf I definitely understand the disappointment. The good news is that it has only been six months. You may see better results after you reach a year or even two. I’m not going to lie. I still struggle with my back muscles especially the trapezius and now the muscles from my mid back attached to my hip are not functioning like before the surgery. Your body learns to compensate over time and it takes a long time to undo that learning, I think the physio is a great idea and staying active, even through the pain, is important. I wish you the best on your journey and let me know if you find anything that helps. (I’m trying red light therapy now.)
I had a CDF surgery recently actually on September 23rd and I feel awful. It's massive severe pain. I also have fibromyalgia, which is a chronic nerve pain and Lumbar stenosis along with other issues so I massive pain if you ever get a chance to reply to me I would like to know do you feel the surgery was worth it or if you could do it all over again would you have surgery again? I know It's still too soon for results for me, but I am still not stable like I'm still stumbling almost to the point of tripping, I know I have a long journey ahead of me with Christ by my side I shall whether the storm Thank you for sharing your experience. God bless 🙏🏼
@@Aerie-dc5jh I definitely remember those early days after surgery. The pain was horrible and I regretted my decision every time I moved. I also have neuralgia apart from the neck and under stress that pain becomes severe. It took a full year to see results for me but the neck pain is better if I don’t overdo anything. We just moved so I am in a world of hurt with myofascial pain and neuralgia and now hip pain. Yay!😁 with something like nerve and back pain it doesn’t seem to end when you have chronic pain. To answer your question about whether I would do it again…probably because I hoped for an “easy” fix. Since I had other nerve problems it wasn’t the completely pain free experience I had hoped. My neck is better, but my muscles in my back and shoulders have never fully adjusted for whatever reason and my nerve pain below the neck comes and goes. Hopefully, you will heal nicely and your pain and compression symptoms will go away entirely. I wish you the best in your recovery!
Thank you so much for your response it was very helpful to me and I really appreciate it. 🙏
Did you have a catheter bag on both during surgery and at home afterwards?
No. I did not have a catheter neither urinary nor a nerve catheter. I only had the standard drain at the incision site that was removed before leaving the hospital because there was little drainage.
NO. never ----but I did after surgery in the hospital and it was removed after 2 days. I had multiple levels done so was in the hospital several days.
Thanks for your reply to my comment in your previous video. I am sorry that it was such a painful journey for you. May I ask how long did it take for you to return to work? Did you return to full-time work or start with part-time & gradually return to full time? Sorry for asking so many questions. I am actually quite afraid of this surgery.
Btw, I also subscribed to your channel - looking forward to explore all your art videos soon 😊 Take care!
Thanks for subscribing! Due to the nature of my work I was able to go back gradually. There are so many factors that would affect the time line. For example, you are usually cleared to drive in a couple of weeks but I couldn’t turn my head well at 2 weeks. Pain meds, age, hospital stay, type of job, and number of discs would also be factors. For me, six weeks would be reasonable to be able to focus on work again.
Indeed it depends on many factors. I am worried as I need a 2 level ACDF and not sure what to expect for my recovery. My work is a typical desk job, 9-5, 5-day weeks. Due to the pain and multiple injections in my neck and also my lower back, I’ve been off on sick leave since April. Not sure how long more it takes for me to recover and get back to the office. My company is going through a major reorganization since Feb this year. I’m kind of worried about that too. Today I just had my second injection on my back, let’s hope it’ll be good this time.
Hello,Thank you for sharing your experience.
It’s very helpful,
I know that one of the complications after surgery is dysphasia.
How about nowadays do you experience those symptoms? Have you ever felt or a sensation that there’s like metal plate behind your throat? how about mobility What is there a big difference?
Im just trying to learn the long-term effect of having an anterior cervical plate when having an acdf.
@@algal5354 my symptoms are much better now but they have t totally disappeared. I have never felt like there is a metal plate in my throat but I do know someone who had 2 levels replaced who can move his esophagus over with his hands after the surgery! Mobility is usually dependent on how many levels you have replaced. I have only a slight impairment but it took a long time for me to feel I could turn my head enough to drive properly. I remember being warned about losing your voice but fortunately my vocal chords weren’t damaged. The biggest problem still is not over exerting myself or lifting heavy objects because I really feel it now. I wish you the best!
@@TheWellEducatedArtist Thank you for your kind response, and for your vlogs that gives other people lots of knowledge to help in surgery decision making. God bless you always!
Hello, I'm in the process of probably getting c5-c6 fusion. What type of food were you able to eat the day after you went home ? any equipment you bought or wish you did to make you life better ? such as a certain pillow, etc. Did all you pain went away or do you still have pain or numbness ? How long after your surgery were you able to drive ?
Those are really good questions! After surgery I mainly ate homemade soup and broth since it was very difficult to swallow. I was so hungry I started drinking organic nutritional shakes to keep weight on. As for equipment, it was so very hard to sleep comfortably. I tried a lot of pillows but ended up sleeping on a wedge. If your bed is adjustable it would be easier. Having a pincher/grabber to get things off the floor was helpful. It was also hard for a long time putting my arms through arm holes in clothes but unfortunately there is no equipment for that! I do have numbness down my left side on it off and my shoulders stay stiff but the neck pain and headaches are much better. Strenuous housework, or say, dry walling and sanding or a lot of bending cause a lot of pain. They say you can drive after 2 weeks but be advised that turning your head will be an issue. I waited 6 weeks because turning me head to see was so painful. It would depend on where you live and how much head turning you need to do, as well as any medication you are on.
@@TheWellEducatedArtist Thank you.
Try to get an cold compression unit to help with icing
What Irritates me is when I see a nurses or doctors note about me stating my pain is being well controlled. What a lie ! By who's interpretation ? Pain is What the patient states it is not what the doctor or nurse say it is. I read in my chart the nurse documented that patient is yelling and demanding things. Did she explain further to give a complete picture to those that would. Be reading my chart ? NO ! I certainly was screaming because no one at all came for one hour after my anterior and posterior procedure . No call bell was left by my side and I had to scream for someone to come to me after an hour of trying to belt out the word HELP. Then it took another hour to get a change in medicine that helped better than the first med. My experience was absolutely terrible from hospital to nursing staff in the city of philly. The doctor and his team did an excellent job . I did go in with a functioning right arm and came out with a painful right arm with muscle fatigue and decreased strength. Supposedly from positioning me incorrectly during the procedure with my shoulders being taped down. I'm hoping this nerve impingement will resolve with therapy.
Sounds like a horrible experience! The hospital can definitely make a difference on your experience. It has taken me a full two years to recover, so give it time as your body tries to adjust. Things are still not perfect but better. Best of luck to you as you recover.
That comment sound just like what I experienced at. Baptist Health in little Rock where I had my back fused. It was pure Hell👹
Thank you so much for all your videos… I’m terrified, I’m having 2 level ACDF in a month C4C56.. after watching your videos I’m very concerned about recovery, my neurosurgeon told me about three weeks I can return to work, I do office job remoting from home...also told me he does not do brace therefore I will go home on the same day of surgery without a brace.. I’m really scare on how I’m going to be able to manage that.. what are your thoughts ?? My husband is saying to listen to the doctor that has to be a reason not to wear a brace.. he told me I will have swollen neck, sore throat, sore shoulder.. I’m going to brain and spine hospital.. did you have to sleep on a recliner? Hope you are well now and not experiencing pain as much as you did. Very positive vibes for you, hope I hear back from you, I’ll really appreciate it!! ❤
Hi there! Thank you for your comment. It has now been 2.5 years since the surgery and I am doing much better but it has been a long journey. I think everyone has a different experience with this surgery and hopefully yours will go smoothly and without complications. I think there have been some studies that indicate that a neck brace after surgery doesn’t help…. and you shouldn’t wear it long term because of loss of muscle strength. That being said I would not have survived without my brace. I would not have made the 45 minute home from the hospital without it even! It stabilizes the the neck and those weak muscles that they cut through during surgery to get the cage in. It definitely takes the weight off the shoulders. My surgeon recommended two weeks but I needed longer and still go back to it when my neck is bothering me. His philosophy was if it is helping wear it, if not, don’t. They are not terribly expensive if you feel you would like to have one for the first couple of weeks. The problem with most surgeons is they have never experienced this surgery and have no clue what it is like. They read STUDIES whose data is flawed based on the design and bias. Through any medical situation you have to advocate for you because the doctor generally will not. As for sleeping I tried a recliner but it was very uncomfortable as was every sleeping arrangement the first couple of weeks. You just have to figure out what is least painful. I found sleeping on a wedge in a bed was easier but it was trial and era to figure out what was least painful when getting up. Hope this helps and will be glad to answer any other questions. Best of luck with your upcoming survey. You are not alone is feeling terrified about this surgery.
Kap kun krup 🙏