Your videos are great. Thank you so much for providing this fantastic information. I had my ACDF C4-5 a month ago, right when covid-19 was getting some press, but wasn’t a huge pandemic. Oh, I also live in Seattle. Birth place of the US covid-19 outbreak. I believe in getting as much information as you can about your medical conditions, so you will be able to understand and discuss your treatment with your doctor. I have spent more time with you (so to speak) than with my surgeon. Thank you again
I had neck surgery 5 months ago but. I have this pain in my upper back after surgery n i went for therapy but it help sometimes but the pain still there in my back.
Doc what if they found an osteophyte at the site of my ACDF C5-C6...8 months after the op. I had 2 nerve root blockers in July 2018?... this was done while I was awake...it was painful what would be my other choices?
What is the " cage" apparatus that is often mentioned with this type of surgery? I have stenosis at C3-5 and bulges, my orthopedist said that I do not need surgery in a matter of weeks, or imminently- but I am facing an ACDF- he mentioned a cage, but I didn't ask- I will not see him again for 3 months. My symptoms are minor and not bothersome, I have been researching as much as I can- and have heard the "cage" mentioned before, but not explained.
Thank-you for the video. I had ACDF surgery for a Hernia between the C5 and C6 vertebrae that had closed the passage of the spinal cord. After the surgery, my surgeon explained that the hernia was difficult to remove as it was deep into the spinal cord, so they had to manipulate my esophagus more than usual. My surgery was on May 19th (a month ago today) and I am still having a lot of problems swallowing. 3 out of 4 times I choke on my food, it gets stuck in my throat and I have to cough it back up or drink a lot of water to get it down. It doesn't matter if they are small, well-chewed bites or how soft the food is, they still get stuck. I always have to have something to drink on hand as I even find it difficult to swallow saliva. Is this normal? How long does it generally take until I will be able to swallow normally? I had one follow-up with my surgeon 2 weeks ago and have another one in 2 weeks. I asked him about it then and he said it was only a couple of weeks and that it was normal, but at a month out, the problem is almost the same, just not painful to eat more normal foods. I'm still taking anti-inflammatory meds and occasionally pain meds (I try to avoid taking them except before bed so I can get a decent nights sleep). Ah, he also told me not to bother with the collar as they are "useless" in his opinion. I used it a few times after the surgery when I had to go to the store (I live alone and have nobody to help me), which did help, but since the doctor said no, I used it for a few days, then stopped using it. Could that also have caused the problem I'm having with swallowing? Thank-you.
how is your swallowing now? my mom had 3 level acdf 3 months ago and had to get a feeding tube because she was coughing on her own salivia. She is more stable now and making some improvements but no food by mouth yet. She feels like a pocket of throat has phelgm or saliva stuck there. Do you get those sensations? She takes about 4-5 swallows to take 1 tspoon of water with thickener right now so baby steps right now.
david pai yes, I still have the problem, though not as severe. I always have to have something to drink handy or I tend to get food stuck in a pocket in my throat as well. I imagine it's a long term healing process since they had to manipulate my trachea more than normal and they took out two discs rather than the one they told me they were going to remove. The screws and plates sit right where I have the problem, but it is getting better bit by bit. Hope your Mom will get better soon.
Your videos are great. Thank you so much for providing this fantastic information. I had my ACDF C4-5 a month ago, right when covid-19 was getting some press, but wasn’t a huge pandemic. Oh, I also live in Seattle. Birth place of the US covid-19 outbreak. I believe in getting as much information as you can about your medical conditions, so you will be able to understand and discuss your treatment with your doctor. I have spent more time with you (so to speak) than with my surgeon. Thank you again
Ty
Extremely helpful advice! I made some notes and I’ll be sticking to your post surgery recommendations. Good news...I’m a non smoker.
I had neck surgery 5 months ago but. I have this pain in my upper back after surgery n i went for therapy but it help sometimes but the pain still there in my back.
Doc what if they found an osteophyte at the site of my ACDF C5-C6...8 months after the op. I had 2 nerve root blockers in July 2018?... this was done while I was awake...it was painful what would be my other choices?
What is the " cage" apparatus that is often mentioned with this type of surgery? I have stenosis at C3-5 and bulges, my orthopedist said that I do not need surgery in a matter of weeks, or imminently- but I am facing an ACDF- he mentioned a cage, but I didn't ask- I will not see him again for 3 months. My symptoms are minor and not bothersome, I have been researching as much as I can- and have heard the "cage" mentioned before, but not explained.
Thank-you for the video. I had ACDF surgery for a Hernia between the C5 and C6 vertebrae that had closed the passage of the spinal cord. After the surgery, my surgeon explained that the hernia was difficult to remove as it was deep into the spinal cord, so they had to manipulate my esophagus more than usual. My surgery was on May 19th (a month ago today) and I am still having a lot of problems swallowing. 3 out of 4 times I choke on my food, it gets stuck in my throat and I have to cough it back up or drink a lot of water to get it down. It doesn't matter if they are small, well-chewed bites or how soft the food is, they still get stuck. I always have to have something to drink on hand as I even find it difficult to swallow saliva. Is this normal? How long does it generally take until I will be able to swallow normally? I had one follow-up with my surgeon 2 weeks ago and have another one in 2 weeks. I asked him about it then and he said it was only a couple of weeks and that it was normal, but at a month out, the problem is almost the same, just not painful to eat more normal foods. I'm still taking anti-inflammatory meds and occasionally pain meds (I try to avoid taking them except before bed so I can get a decent nights sleep). Ah, he also told me not to bother with the collar as they are "useless" in his opinion. I used it a few times after the surgery when I had to go to the store (I live alone and have nobody to help me), which did help, but since the doctor said no, I used it for a few days, then stopped using it. Could that also have caused the problem I'm having with swallowing? Thank-you.
how is your swallowing now? my mom had 3 level acdf 3 months ago and had to get a feeding tube because she was coughing on her own salivia. She is more stable now and making some improvements but no food by mouth yet. She feels like a pocket of throat has phelgm or saliva stuck there. Do you get those sensations? She takes about 4-5 swallows to take 1 tspoon of water with thickener right now so baby steps right now.
david pai yes, I still have the problem, though not as severe. I always have to have something to drink handy or I tend to get food stuck in a pocket in my throat as well. I imagine it's a long term healing process since they had to manipulate my trachea more than normal and they took out two discs rather than the one they told me they were going to remove. The screws and plates sit right where I have the problem, but it is getting better bit by bit. Hope your Mom will get better soon.