One thing that Doctors neglect to inform cervical surgery patients is that they will need a recliner to sleep in. It is extremely painful to lie on a flat bed. I found that when talking to other patients that this is true for most. We did not own one before I got home from the hospital, so my husband had to go out to buy one. It has to be a study one, that won't tip over when you lay it back (my mother had a cheap one that did that). An adjustable bed would be great (like a Craftmatic or something like that). A neighbor used a foam wedge (that people use to read or watch TV in bed).
I was the exact opposite. Laying flat actually felt better to me. I even slept without a pillow under my head because the pillow would trust my neck/head forward too much and it was painful. I found sitting straight or laying flat felt the best for me.
At about 3-4 weeks I was really barely sleeping trying to get comfortable it felt pulling around plate area very weird and bit sharp even. Found finally that sleep flat help allot and sleeping on back which hard cu I'ma side sleeper and wearing soft collar during sleeping helped me not wake in raging pain. Mine was acdf c5-c6
Luckily I have an adjustable bed. I had 3 level ACDF few weeks ago 7-13 ( C4,5,6&7 ) I had several Slipped VERTABRAES ( Retrolithesis) and All bulged discs ETCETC .. I had a big Lumbar surgery again a 3 level Discectomy, Fusions, Laminectomy 6 MONTHS to the day of neck surgery. It’s been a challenge to sleep ! BC I’m still recovering from Back surgery. Only few hours ( I was already quite used to that ), Prior to Surgeries , So much pain unbelievable) .. I am doing SO much better now . I thank God first & My Wonderful Neurosurgeon for saving ME !! Good luck to all 💙💕🙏🏻
Great info! I go in for my 6 month x rays and re check today. I’ve healed pretty well, I think, and most of my issues are gone, except for when I accidentally do too much or the completely wrong activity (word to the wise: chopping ice from the sidewalk is NOT a good idea). Then my fascinations, weakness, and tremor come back for a few days, but still at a much less intensity than before the surgery. I am so glad I did this! The spasms, the tremors, the fascinations were making me just miserable. I wish I’d seen this sooner! Great video!
Great information to understand what we need to be doing as patients. Makes me more aware of my limitations and what I need to do to make modifications. Thank you !!
I completely agree with this video except that (seeing as the video was made 6 years ago), there’s been recent literature stating that NSAIDs inhibit bone growth, and that’s why the increased use of narcotics- but he does go into this and mentions use of ice. I’ve also added in a TENS unit for the traps, and a theragun also the for traps and upper chest muscles. I’ve never been a smoker, but I did manage to go for a brisk walk around the park where my apartment complex meets up with. Good info about the incision site. I’ve been wanting to start rubbing at it because I can feel the scar tissue forming, but I’ll let that be for a bit longer. I’m 6 days post op, and the first 3 days were pretty miserable trying to sleep on a bed. Get a zero gravity chair or something comparable- being reclined those first few days does help!
More folks need to comment--sooooooo entertaining AND informative. I was unaware of many of your tips that would have made my recuperation from the surgery much easier. THANK YOU
A very helpful video for me prior to having surgery. I am determined to be diligent and follow your advice. I need about 30 mores years out of my neck!
If you have had any surgery as a consequence of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) then chiropractic is CONTRAINDICATED - it can cause more problems with spinal cord injury.
I had it, the fear post surgery is way worse than the surgery. I had no muscle or tendon cut which makes a huge difference. I’m day 4 and off the Hydrocodone. Tylenol every 6 hours. Otherwise I’m bored. That’s it! Sleep, eat, drink water and poop. You’ll be glad you did 🤗
Great video. My neurosurgeon's advice was to not go bungie jumping. I had to ask for physical therapy. Thank you for your guidance and detailed explanation. I wish you were my doctor.
5 years post-op after 2 ACDF surgeries, the pain is only getting worse. No insurance, so I can't see my own surgeon, let alone a surgeon from a voluntary clinic because I can't get any scans/xrays done, or any operations to fix a possible malfunction. ACDF was the worst decision of my life. I turned from manager to a depressed & hopeless recluse. I know it works for many, but be aware, you could fall in the small percentage of people whose lives only gets worse after surgery.
Vicky Manson what country are you in? If you are in the US you need to be on Obamacare! If you are low-income you may end up even getting your low premiums reimbursed at income tax time. You need to find out what is wrong with your surgery!
Better option is holistic chiropractor. Regenerate your joints through nutrition, omega 3, bone broth, hidrate your bones. Do your research. You’ll see most of these surgeries are unnecessary.
I had suddenly Experienced numb & weak hands then shooting pain down both arms. A year after being rear-ended three different times at high speed. Mri found I had cervical myopathy, bone Spurs etc pushing on my spinal cord and needed surgery immediately or the damage could get worse. I had ACDF surgery c4; c5, c6 three years ago. Had lots of physical therapy afterward. It’s been three years and I feel worse. Both my hands are completely numb tingly I still get shooting pains down both my arms sporadically I can’t lift anything I can only raise my arms right above my head, my right leg bad, now drop foot So I have to look down 24/7 so I do not fall. I probably could go on and on but my iPad battery is getting dead. Oh on top of all that my sciatic nerve is pinched about six months after surgery I can barely get out of bed in the morning from the pain. I don’t know if that’s associated with the surgery but I never had sciatica pain before. Right after physical therapy then Covid hit so I haven’t did anything in two years which probably doesn’t help but I feel worse than before the surgery. I actually got on RU-vid just to see if there was any neck exercises I could do or somebody could help in some small way
I'm just seeing this old video. I had this surgery on March 11 2021. I started driving short distances the last week of March. It hurts! That's interesting to know about the antibiotics for the 1st 2 years for dental work.
I wish I had seen this before my surgery (4 1/2 months ago). It would've prompted a few more questions to my neurosurgeon. I didn't see him in the office until just before I went back to work (6 weeks after surgery). Coming back to work has been a real challenge to me. In some ways, I was lucky I came back the week of Thanksgiving. I got 2 days off and really haven't worked a full week (until this week) since coming back. I am exhausted at the end of every day and in considerable pain. I cannot seem to get my surgeon's office to coordinate with my HR department to get me an ergonomic work station. My doc also keeps telling me I don't need physical therapy. I don't know if he feels patients shouldn't exercise after this surgery or what, but it has to help. It can't get worse than how I'm feeling now. My mother had the same surgery (except I have a cage around my implants, she doesn't) 20 years ago. She still has residual numbness in her left hand and fingers. I don't have numbness. Just a lot more pain. When will that go away? My doc also told me to avoid motrin, but didn't say for how long. Tylenol doesn't help much at all.
If your mom's ACDF was 20 years ago, your implant system would be completely different than what she has. She either has a piece of her iliac crest or donated fibula where you have a cage. If symptoms like numbness have been going on for awhile, the patient may always have some numbness in the fingers. Hopefully by now, your pain has decreased.
jazzbess, how are you feeling now? How many levels of ACDF did you have? How many levels of ACDF did your mother have? 20 years is a long time. Did she ever need any revisions on the adjacent segments above or below?
I watched this video after my ACDF. It helped a lot and I followed every steps as suggested in this video. However, it has been 3 years I am still not feeling normal because I still have burning sensation around my neck and aches in the back of my neck. I don’t smoke or drink or doing any strenuous exercise other than swimming and walking . I wonder if I had a bad surgery. 😢
Sir I had a ACDF 7 months ago..all was going well but from last 10 days I have pain in my neck and upper back..when I talked my surgeon he said it will pass away with time..becUse my nerves getting setteled.but I'm worried ..pls any one tell me that is this happened to him??
4 months in after this surgery and all is well however I do get sharp pains now and again but have a follow up in two weeks to see how the fusion is going
Exactly a week ago I had my ACDF surgery.my neck wound feel pain ,the wound scar doesn’t look good, but again it’s fresh wound.But the greatest pain and complain I have right now is the numbness in the back of my shoulders and lower back of my neck. It comes and go, when it hits me, I need a fast relief, I run to my freezer for my Gerry gel ice bags. They provide instant relief.but if the pain persists, I run to my tramadol and the pain blocker the surgeon prescribed for me. Today, i also managed to walk again, and was happy to walk one mile.but after tow hours the pain hit me. I only take the pain killer as needed,not every 6 hours as it says on the bottle.maybe I should.
Getting past the first week is the hardest but after that the intense stretching eases up and start feeling more normal mine was in neck and that stratxh was just wicked but week and half you just have allot pain eased it's a great relief
Has anyone had an ACDF where their surgeon also installs a " cage" ( this is how he referred to it, I don't know the actual medical term) how does this work? And how does it affect the recovery rate?
I was told the cage goes where disc was and then the bone will fuse thru and around it I had a acdf 6 weeks ago. Also look you tube alexplains cage and shows it
Postop...when will the tightening/swelling stop...also when will I be able to cross my legs without causing that tightening/swelling to return...also sitting uneven be that on the edge of the bed with one side a little higher than the other. My surgery was 11/7/2016 and no I don't smoke. Any info would be appreciated. I am aware that full healing takes upwards 1 yr. but does crossing my legs and sleeping without tightening. I will practice some new habits but am missing crossing my legs.
I must have had a quack. No therapy, no mention of therapy. It's been almost a year and still extremely painful. Had a MRI two weeks ago an the Dr. said everything looked good. Wouldn't address why I still have a large amount of pain. Five minutes on my feet and I'm in serious pain. Still can't tilt my head back at all.
Bouncing > no TOW TRUCK DRIVING!!! MY son thinks he's jumping in his tow truck the very next day after all his cervical diac are going to be fused!!!! I am so afraid hes going to mess himself up permanently!!
I I had a neck infusion i was in hosputal 3 days due to heanatoma in neck which they drained 3 times but was still swollen .I still have hard lumps. I work as a community carer so do alot of driving plus the care .I work along shifts 7 am to 21.30 with a 2 hour gap .Its a physical job and I already have fatigue due to a blood condition and suffer nausea and dizziness. I also have osteoporosis in lower and upper back and hips .How long do you recommend I have off work .I had op through throat
Near the end of the video you imply ACDF can be a lifelong solution without further surgery. What about ADD adjacent segment disease? Sooner or later isn't it inevitable?
splash, I have seen that more with lumbar than cervical. Another reason I have seen patients come back is due to a patient's insurance. I was an OR nurse for many years, mainly in spine. I bring a patient in for spine sx. When I look at the MRI, they may have issues with multi levels, but their insurance only approved surgery on the worst level. I know they'll be back in a few years. It's ridiculous!
It is 5 days after my acdf surgery, i was supposed to have c4 c5 c6 c7, i have a clotting problem with my blood so after doing c4 c5 my wonderful surgeon started on c6 c7 but had to stop due to excessive bleeding in that area, i ended up staying in the hospital and my pain was really bad, at first, when discharged, my pain was in my throat,neck, and across my shoulders but when i woke up wednesday i have been going thru really bad pain in both calves and walking is really hard, its an intense locked cramping sensation in both of my legs. Spoke with dr and they said for me to do stretching exercises to help loosen the tightness so i have been trying to do that, ok here is my question... has anyone else had that happen, its very painful and im walking finny
Sara Hi, Do you still have that cramping sensation in your legs? Did stretching work? I had the surgery 2 months ago, and have the same cramping in my legs. My dr. told me to get Physical Therapy, I also have burning feeling in my hands?
Hi Dr Rodz I had my ACDF on 31.10.2017 and in early 2018 Feb, I missed a step on cream coloured tiles and just fell to my knees...below the knee caps though. I have been worst since then. I've been to an Osteopath twice but this has worsened my condition. What do you advice?
After ACDF, how long before I can get back to physical activity, like running, wrestling with kids and bouncing? Is it unsafe to engage in rough sports after surgery? (With given wait periods)
@@ko2ni yes, there was no definitive answer. It all depends on the individual's lifestyle. You'll have to consult and follow up with your provider to monitor the fusion and then physical therapy also.. After that, your physician can have an idea of wait time for physical activity.
The same with mine. 3 fused discs. His ratings and reviews were very good. I am 3 weeks out. Still have numbness in right hand and left arm and hand. Some new pain and soreness between shoulder blades. Much better that what I was before surgery. Good luck to you.
Hello friends wanted u to know that getting an x-ray super early isn't helpful because there is too much inflammation. Healing is still happening so they can't see proper clear and numbness is just annoying but normally happened when u go do things like driving too long of days of activity u best resting in between things and icing is key constantly thru day and after walks or activities it is key to keeping pain and swelling down and numbness at bay. When u do to much which is very little during surgery recov lol it causes swelling which presses on nerves and then creates numbers. You must get resting and icing in cycles 20 min increments especially first two weeks intensively. I'm 6 weeks and still icing thru day after anything I do. It is pain management . Tens unit is awesome form back of shoulders sigh
Also the pain and tight or even spasms in between shoulder is totally normal for after cervical. It's not fun but also increased and even some caused by laying in bed so much recovering . Chiropractor is awesome for all these stuff keep you in alignments
Hi thanks I called nurse and she advised small amount of alcohol is okay as long as you do not get too drunk to fall :)) SHe said alcohol does not effect bone fusion so only the interaction with medication can be a problem.
Yes, nicottine has completely diferent effect to bones and density so that is a huge risk for screws falling out and bones not fusing. Luckily I do not smoke for over 30 years now :)
In october 24 .18. I had surgery everything went well but not after 4 1/2months. I started having neck pain n upper back my arm close to the shoulder. I called my dr he say. I need therapy which. I will start next week. Does anybody have this problem ? Please let me know thanks
Yep...Everything was going very well until weeks passed. I'm at 15 weeks. My doc stated to me that I am having abnormal upper thoracic pain that is going to take time to heal. (Neck pain, shoulders pain) That's as of right now. Ya, they push PT. I have yet to get there.
@@GodsGadfly Same here. Numbness was so bad in arms and got bad so quick I had to do something. Gait was really off as well. Better but not where I want to be 3 weeks out post surgery. Hopeful more healing will come. Good luck to you.
Doctor I've been putting off acdf surgery for 5 years I am in excruciating pain I'm 67 years old so I think it's going to take me longer to heal what do you think
