ACDF 11 week follow up

[@vernonjones3613]

Hi Adrienne glad you are feeling better waiting for my acdf surgery this horrific virus is preventing me from having this operation done soon you look good glad it went well for you we’re in lockdown ok the uk at the moment keep safe my friend ❤️🇬🇧

[@Adriennewithane]

Thanks. I hope you can get your surgery soon! I hope you’re not in too much pain...

[@GQ-yj5oy]

Hi Vernon, have you had your surgery yet? I'm in UK too and had surgery 5 days ago, I waited two weeks from seeing the surgeon and getting op. I had to self isolate for two weeks before and get a covid test 3 days before the actual surgery. I had my first fusion 3 years ago, I was on the urgent waiting list for 8 months the last time, I was so lucky this time round

[@timekleos6149]

Looking good, so glad to hear that you are doing great. X-ray looks great, please take it easy!

[@natashamalone3321]

Well thank you for all the advise you and all the other people that I have been talking to my surgery is in 3 days so I can't thank you enough

[@kathrynheidbrink7630]

I just watched this. So glad! I had surgery Dec. 4th it has been 2 and a half months. I’ve been worried about a slow recovery and you answered my questions. Sleeping is the hardest for me too. I scrunch up while I am sleeping then have pain during the day. I work at my desk three days a week. But from what you said I’m doing and having the same things you talked about. Good to have someone to reassure me these things are normal. And I’m 67 and very active and have slowed down. But I have a great granddaughter that is 8 months old and they weigh as much as a daughter.LOL I feel better now. Hope to see more of your progress. Stay safe! And I also live in Indiana!💖

[@Adriennewithane]

I hope you are doing well! Glad we're getting some nicer weather around here these days.

[@LearnAtMyExpense]

Hi Adrienne. Thanks for making these videos! I was recently diagnosed with severe spinal compression (in two places), along with multiple discs that need replacing. Due to the spinal cord compression my surgery is non-elective, and am told I have to get it done within the next couple of months. I've received two surgeon opinions: one is advocating a hybrid approach which would be identical to yours: C6/7: Fusion C5/6: Disc replacement C3/4: Disc replacement but if too arthritic will have to be fusion (determined during surgery) The other surgeon I met with from another hospital is insisting that the hybrid approach is risky (due to lack of long-term data) and is insisting on 4 level fusion and, in addition, going in through the back to insert rods/screws for additional support. Ugh. I'm leaning towards hybrid but have a 3rd surgeon scheduled for an opinion tomorrow and I'll make a decision by end of week. Just wanted to thank you - there are lots of videos and blogs out there on 1 and 2 level fusions or disc replacements, but your case is closer to mine (minus the cord compression). Question: how are you doing now? How is your neck mobility - do you notice any mobility decrease? My one surgeon says very little decline in mobility is expected, while the other says 30% decrease.

[@James-cn9no]

I am 3 weeks post C5/C7 - C6/C7 fusion and doing much better than I anticipated. I do have the upper back/should soreness and have to take it easy for many months to come, but I can drive now and do normal light duty. My scare is surprisingly small and can tell it is going to be nearly imperceivable in a few more weeks. The recover is a good 6 months to start getting back to lifting and such without fear of damaging the grafts and they say a good year until 100% again, so better to start sooner than later.

[@LearnAtMyExpense]

@@James-cn9no a lot has changed for me since I originally commented on this video. I sought out a 3rd surgical opinion and was told that, since my pain was reduced, I should not get surgery and monitor. I was thrilled...and then a week later I woke up to a major loss of strength in my right bicep/tricep. I immediately searched for top neurosurgeons on the east coast, where I live, and made appointments. I had the first appointment with a very well known neurosurgeon in NYC this past week. He said that the original recommendation I received was ideal...but that no insurance company in the US would pay for it as it isn't FDA approved : ( The next best thing, and what he recommended, is ACDF C5-7 anterior, along with posterior laminoplasty to relieve compression at C3/4. Since he'd be going in through the back for the laminoplasty he would also add rods/screws to support the ACDF, thereby ensuring fusion. He made clear that it is one of the most painful post-surgery recoveries ever for the first 2 weeks after, sometimes with pain persisting into weeks 3 and 4, but the benefits: 1. Guaranteed fusion. 2. No loss of mobility. The alternative effective approach would be a 4 level ACDF along with posterior rods/screws, which the literature shows would result in a minimum 30% decrease in neck mobility. I have surgery scheduled with that surgeon in early August but do have a final surgical consult with another well known/respected surgeon this week to confirm the approach. I am fortunate to have excellent health insurance that has allowed the multiple opinions, thank goodness. Regardless, due to the weakness in my right arm, I must get surgery soon, but am told that the data shows that I should get 100% of it back after surgery. Fingers crossed. Regarding recovery - this surgeon insisted to me that there is no activity restriction after 2 weeks post-op, but that I would still have soreness for quite a while and might need another week or two before feeling up to resuming workouts (both aerobic as well as weight lifting). He said he's performed a similar procedure on professional athletes, even UFC fighters, who were back in a couple of months, which seems crazy.

[@James-cn9no]

@@LearnAtMyExpense Sorry you had such a turn for the worse. That's awful!I too was told to wait as long as possible as fussing can wear heavily on the joint below and eventually require a procedure there. I wouldn't fault the doctor for recommending you wait. I waited 6 years until mine was bothering me too much. Sorry to be pessimistic, but seems odd this doctor wants to go in from the back when they have access to everything from the front and it is defiantly an easier recovery. I had sever Foraminal stenosis (narrowing where the nerve exits the spinal canal at the back) and the doctor was able to grind this spaces open again from the front after removing the discs at C5-C7. Seems odd this doctor insists on going in from the back. My doctor also use an implant like seen here that does not require a fussing plate and extra screws. (thespinemarketgroup.com/6-acif-cages-that-you-will-know-soon/) A doctor cannot "guarantee" fusion. Can provide a positive prognosis based on your age, bone density as reflected in Xray and MRI as well as procedure track record...but a guarantee would be a red flag to me. And you CANNOT return to "normal" just a few weeks post surgery. That is a HUGE RED FLAG. You can return to driving after 3-4 weeks, take a walk, do typical housekeeping, return to the office, etc. But you MUST take care for months not to lift heavy, take care not allow your neck to be jostled hard, or other wise strain your neck. You will essentially have a broken neck and like any broken bones they require a few months to stitch themselves back together...and fussing is essentially going bone between the vertebrae where there was not bone previously. The disc is replaces by the pours cage implant and bone has to grow all through it connecting one vertebrae to the other. It is more involved than a leg fracture, for example. In three months you can increase intensity but it's going to be a full year before you can really trust doing anything intense without thinking about it. I am sorry for being pessimistic. I realize I am not a doctor and am being a KZbin comment analyzer, but I have been seen two different doctors over those 6 years leading up to my C5-C7 fusion, and I have been through the procedure now. I had seer compression too. The post surgery X-rays are dramatic in the amount of space now between the vertebra and restoration of a normal cervical curvature. With that my instincts based on what you have told me is...get another opinion. Make sure you find a doctor that is up on the latest techniques and implants.

[@sherrylantrip9328]

Why did you opt for a fusion instead of total disc replacement like the other ones?

[@jessavery7860]

thank you

[@natashamalone3321]

You had acdf surgery and the dis replace . I have to have it done to and it hurts so bad when the pain run down my left arm

[@Adriennewithane]

Yes. So far the surgeries really helped my pain. It’s not perfect, but better! Best of luck.

[@natashamalone3321]

Do have any advice for me

[@Adriennewithane]

My advice is always to do your research. Be comfortable with your surgeon, the surgery type, learn about the procedure as much as you are comfortable with. Learn about spine anatomy so you know what they are doing. For me this helped me understand my precautions and how to have a good recovery. But don’t get too anxious about what could go wrong. If you trust your team you can feel confident and at some point you just have to let go and trust the experts to do their job. I am the most anxious person in the world and I’ve done this twice. You can do it. Just be careful and let others help you when you’re recovering. There’s no good results when you “push it”. That’s my best advice.

[@Olivia-hu8eg]

When did the numbness start to go away?

[@Adriennewithane]

There was immediate improvement in my symptoms, it took a while for the numbness to completely go away... maybe 2-3 months. It would come and go for a while and then eventually I just realized I didn’t feel it anymore. It’s hard to say exactly. But it was probably 75% improvement immediately, with some lingering affects for awhile longer.

[@Olivia-hu8eg]

@@Adriennewithane the numbness was in your hands or legs? Because I feel tingling all over my legs without numbness ... thankfully it’s getting better (before surgery it was consistent all day, now 6-weeks-post-op I have realized that it’s been stopping for about half an hour then coming back then stopping etc... which is an improvement than before! I’m hoping it will completely go away with time

[@GQ-yj5oy]

@@Olivia-hu8eg Hi I had c5/6 fusion 3 years ago, the pain has gone but the numbness in my hand never went away. My surgeon said the nerves repair around 1-2 mm a month so it can take sometime. Im now five days post op for another fusion, c6/7 this time. The surgeon has told me he cant guarantee the numbness in my hand on the left side this time round will get better. I dont mind as long as the pain has gone.

[@Olivia-hu8eg]

@@GQ-yj5oy so did the neck pain completely go away? Because I still feel neck pain everyday .. and I’m afraid to go do physical therapy for it! (Btw I am 2.5 months post-op)

[@GQ-yj5oy]

@@Olivia-hu8eg The surgeon told me before I had my first op that he could take away the pain in my arm but couldn't fix my neck. After about 12 weeks I felt a lot better, my neck still ached after sitting at work in front of a computer for 8 hours, sometimes it just felt stiff and other times I would have what felt like someone tightening a screw which got worse as the day went on but it was nowhere near as bad as the nerve pain I had before the surgery. I never had any physio afterwards, they told me it sometimes makes things worse rather than better. I know that sometimes when the pressure is removed from the nerve, it can become over-excited and maybe why you are getting tingling, tingling can also be a sign that the nerve is healing as far as I know, especially if there is no pain. My nerve had been compressed for too long to repair itself, I had no tingling before surgery or afterwards, it just didn't hurt anymore but is still as numb as it was before I had the op. Im sure things will settle down for you, it can take a while to get back to normal x

[@Olivia-hu8eg]

When does the neck pain completely go away? Pleaseeee reply and thankyou😭❤️

[@Olivia-hu8eg]

My neck had severe pain until the 2nd week after surgery .. then it stopped hurting .. until the 6th week where it started hurting again (and has been hurting for about 2 weeks now) but the pain isn’t that severe but I’m still worried!!! Is this normal? And does it have to do with the fact that I didn’t do physical therapy for my neck? I don’t know if I should do it or not because I’m scared that they will hurt my neck or ruin the surgery😂😭😰

[@Adriennewithane]

My best advice is to talk to your doctor. My neck pain has never 100% gone away. It flares up here and there. PT could be a good option. If your surgery is solid and stable it would take something pretty severe to ruin it. Your bone is growing around it. I had the same fear. They should be careful. You will most likely be given gentle stretching and strengthening exercises to do at your tolerance. It could be especially helpful if your dealing with muscle pain, tightness.

[@Olivia-hu8eg]

@@Adriennewithane ok thankyou so much for replying I really appreciate it💗

[@MamaPalma]

Hi, what they do not tell you after this surgery is that it takes at least a year until you’re back to normal. somewhat normal.I had my surgery 2 1/2 months ago and I have had weeks of neck pain and weeks I had forgotten that I even had the surgery. I finally found someone on KZbin who posted a video re postop stating that it was off and on pain during the whole year of recovery. So hang in there!

[@Olivia-hu8eg]

@@MamaPalma ok thankyou so much🙌🏼🙏🏼

[@أستاذعمارمحمودمدرساللغةالإنكلي]

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