jOANNbristol
02-02-2004, 09:50 PM
I had the ACDF surgery 14 days ago, bone graft from my hip with metal plate, and am doing quite well. I think my surgeon is conservative--he has me wearing the Aspen collar for three weeks (no driving!). Just 8 days to go!
My advice: 1) Take Colace or some other stool softener after you get out of the hospital. I endured a midnight trip to the emergency room due to severe constipation (sorry!)--I hope nobody else has to go through that. The pain medication causes constipation.
2) Get up and move around as soon as you feel like it. I'm walking a mile or two a day and while my hip is still sore, I have much more energy and can feel myself getting back to normal. I play tennis and hope to be back on the courts in about a month or so.
It really wasn't that bad, though the collar takes some getting used to (especially if you have panic attacks/claustophobia like I do). I concur with everyone who says that finding a good spine surgeon, orthopedic or neuro, is the best thing you can do--mine was excellent.
Joann
My advice: 1) Take Colace or some other stool softener after you get out of the hospital. I endured a midnight trip to the emergency room due to severe constipation (sorry!)--I hope nobody else has to go through that. The pain medication causes constipation.
2) Get up and move around as soon as you feel like it. I'm walking a mile or two a day and while my hip is still sore, I have much more energy and can feel myself getting back to normal. I play tennis and hope to be back on the courts in about a month or so.
It really wasn't that bad, though the collar takes some getting used to (especially if you have panic attacks/claustophobia like I do). I concur with everyone who says that finding a good spine surgeon, orthopedic or neuro, is the best thing you can do--mine was excellent.
Joann
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nero
02-02-2004, 10:49 PM
You go girl!
I am three months post op of ACDF same region, own bone and plate as of Feb. 10/03.
I would concur regarding the constipation issue.
However, your desire to play tennis in a month is pushing it (in my humble opinion). I treadmilled five times a week for 45 - 1 hour prior to my surgery and up to depending upon the pain I was in. You are compromising your future recovery if you push yourself too hard - enjoy how well you feel but remember that 30% of the people who have this surgery have it again in another level so why push the envelope.
I would rather read of your posts in a year from now that you are still one of the positive ones like me and havent' been hit with the eventuality of the domino effect.
Good luck... a cautious warrior - Nero
I am three months post op of ACDF same region, own bone and plate as of Feb. 10/03.
I would concur regarding the constipation issue.
However, your desire to play tennis in a month is pushing it (in my humble opinion). I treadmilled five times a week for 45 - 1 hour prior to my surgery and up to depending upon the pain I was in. You are compromising your future recovery if you push yourself too hard - enjoy how well you feel but remember that 30% of the people who have this surgery have it again in another level so why push the envelope.
I would rather read of your posts in a year from now that you are still one of the positive ones like me and havent' been hit with the eventuality of the domino effect.
Good luck... a cautious warrior - Nero
irish34
02-02-2004, 11:39 PM
Joann--
It's wonderful to hear news as yours. I have upcoming ACDF at C5-6 using my own bone(most likely, I have my choice). It was scheduled for the 26th of Jan and has been postponed twice already due to having a tooth pulled.
I truly hope that my recovery goes as well as yours has. My DR has not mentioned anything about the collar, so I'm not sure if I'll have one or not.
Please keep us posted on your continuing recovery...it will be useful in knowing what to expect in my own recovery.
And I agree with Nero's point about too much too quick, domino effect. My cousin has been a NS's nurse for 22 years and she said to take it easy for a good 6 months to hopefully deter the domino effect...she also gave pointers that my DR may clear me for certain things, but think of long term.
I wish you much luck!
It's wonderful to hear news as yours. I have upcoming ACDF at C5-6 using my own bone(most likely, I have my choice). It was scheduled for the 26th of Jan and has been postponed twice already due to having a tooth pulled.
I truly hope that my recovery goes as well as yours has. My DR has not mentioned anything about the collar, so I'm not sure if I'll have one or not.
Please keep us posted on your continuing recovery...it will be useful in knowing what to expect in my own recovery.
And I agree with Nero's point about too much too quick, domino effect. My cousin has been a NS's nurse for 22 years and she said to take it easy for a good 6 months to hopefully deter the domino effect...she also gave pointers that my DR may clear me for certain things, but think of long term.
I wish you much luck!
jOANNbristol
02-03-2004, 10:43 AM
"""However, your desire to play tennis in a month is pushing it (in my humble opinion). """
Well, actually my surgeon said I might be able to play 7 or 8 weeks post-op. I don't think I'll be starting PT until 6 weeks out, and of course I'll wait to see how that goes. I play competitive recreational tennis and love it, so I'm hoping to get back to it as soon as possible.
On the other hand, I don't want to be one of the 30% who have to have ACDF at another level! I have a lot of questions for my surgeon about this, things I didn't know before I had the surgery. My reasons for having the surgery were a diagnosed herniated disk compressing my spinal cord, causing tingling, burning and numbness in my index fingers, which spread to my arms and legs when I played tennis (several matches in a row during a tournament). The surgeon, upon viewing my MRI, said I had a high risk of paralysis if I had a fall or was in a car accident causing my head to jerk back. After my surgery, I had no further symptoms in my fingers, which I now attribute to the pain meds--the burning/tingling has returned, but not as bad as before (I was taking Vioxx pre-op for three months, but nothing now). Surgeon said, since he could see on the MRI that my spinal cord had already sustained damage (and when he removed the disk, it had calcified and left a dent in my cord), these symptoms may never go away, or they may over time.
Thanks for the adivce--I don't plan to take any risks that will further damage my spine, but am hoping to have excellent fusion and a good prognosis going forward.
Joann
Well, actually my surgeon said I might be able to play 7 or 8 weeks post-op. I don't think I'll be starting PT until 6 weeks out, and of course I'll wait to see how that goes. I play competitive recreational tennis and love it, so I'm hoping to get back to it as soon as possible.
On the other hand, I don't want to be one of the 30% who have to have ACDF at another level! I have a lot of questions for my surgeon about this, things I didn't know before I had the surgery. My reasons for having the surgery were a diagnosed herniated disk compressing my spinal cord, causing tingling, burning and numbness in my index fingers, which spread to my arms and legs when I played tennis (several matches in a row during a tournament). The surgeon, upon viewing my MRI, said I had a high risk of paralysis if I had a fall or was in a car accident causing my head to jerk back. After my surgery, I had no further symptoms in my fingers, which I now attribute to the pain meds--the burning/tingling has returned, but not as bad as before (I was taking Vioxx pre-op for three months, but nothing now). Surgeon said, since he could see on the MRI that my spinal cord had already sustained damage (and when he removed the disk, it had calcified and left a dent in my cord), these symptoms may never go away, or they may over time.
Thanks for the adivce--I don't plan to take any risks that will further damage my spine, but am hoping to have excellent fusion and a good prognosis going forward.
Joann
nabrown
02-11-2004, 02:37 PM
[QUOTE=jOANNbristol]I had the ACDF surgery 14 days ago, bone graft from my hip with metal plate, and am doing quite well. I think my surgeon is conservative--he has me wearing the Aspen collar for three weeks (no driving!). Just 8 days to go!
Joann-
I have a bulging disc at C-5,6 and it is "abutting" the spinal cord; MRI report says it extends into the foramina, causing mild foraminal narrowing bilaterally;
the abutting does not displace or deform the cord.
I see the NS next week and I have heard he isn't knife happy. I have been having migraines for 3 yrs - no other triggers apparent - increased physical activity creates this neuralgia on the left side, behind ear, down in neck, and the left shoulder blade. I have to sleep on a wedge pillow (since Oct.) - What else could a NS offer if it isn't surgery? Why did you not go with the cadaver bone replacement and have bone removed from hip?
I'd like to know about your situation. I am a 51 yr. old female who is so very tired of pain. (on valium, and skelaxin until ns sees me; the neurologist has also switched the valium to lexipro, but I have to fade off valium over a 3 wk. period).
Thanks,
nancy
Joann-
I have a bulging disc at C-5,6 and it is "abutting" the spinal cord; MRI report says it extends into the foramina, causing mild foraminal narrowing bilaterally;
the abutting does not displace or deform the cord.
I see the NS next week and I have heard he isn't knife happy. I have been having migraines for 3 yrs - no other triggers apparent - increased physical activity creates this neuralgia on the left side, behind ear, down in neck, and the left shoulder blade. I have to sleep on a wedge pillow (since Oct.) - What else could a NS offer if it isn't surgery? Why did you not go with the cadaver bone replacement and have bone removed from hip?
I'd like to know about your situation. I am a 51 yr. old female who is so very tired of pain. (on valium, and skelaxin until ns sees me; the neurologist has also switched the valium to lexipro, but I have to fade off valium over a 3 wk. period).
Thanks,
nancy
jOANNbristol
02-11-2004, 10:46 PM
Nancy,
I'm 42, mother of two, very active. My case seems unusual in that I wasn't having any pain, just neurological symptoms -- the MRI showed the disk severely herniated and compressing my cord. My surgeon was afraid of further compression (caused by a fall or car accident) which could cause paralysis--he said it was serious enough that he postponed other surgeries to work me in within two weeks of seeing me.
I saw him again today--my x-rays show excellent fusion with the plate firmly intact (a bizarre thing to see!). I wore a hard Aspen collar for three weeks, and tonight is my first night sleeping without it--yay! I chose to use a hip bone graft over donor bone for two reasons--my surgeon recommended it because he feels it provides a better fusion rate, and 2) I would have had to wear the collar longer (6 weeks instead of 3--no driving). Doctors all differ over the amount of time required to wear the collar.
My best advice is to find a good doctor--mine was an orthopaedic surgeon, trained in spinal surgery, woprking in a sports medicine practice. He does huindreds of ACDF surgeries every year. The anticipation of the surgery was harrowing, the actual surgery and recovery was long, and now that it's over for me and my life is almost back to normal, it feels like "that wasn't such a big deal!".
Good luck,
Joann
I'm 42, mother of two, very active. My case seems unusual in that I wasn't having any pain, just neurological symptoms -- the MRI showed the disk severely herniated and compressing my cord. My surgeon was afraid of further compression (caused by a fall or car accident) which could cause paralysis--he said it was serious enough that he postponed other surgeries to work me in within two weeks of seeing me.
I saw him again today--my x-rays show excellent fusion with the plate firmly intact (a bizarre thing to see!). I wore a hard Aspen collar for three weeks, and tonight is my first night sleeping without it--yay! I chose to use a hip bone graft over donor bone for two reasons--my surgeon recommended it because he feels it provides a better fusion rate, and 2) I would have had to wear the collar longer (6 weeks instead of 3--no driving). Doctors all differ over the amount of time required to wear the collar.
My best advice is to find a good doctor--mine was an orthopaedic surgeon, trained in spinal surgery, woprking in a sports medicine practice. He does huindreds of ACDF surgeries every year. The anticipation of the surgery was harrowing, the actual surgery and recovery was long, and now that it's over for me and my life is almost back to normal, it feels like "that wasn't such a big deal!".
Good luck,
Joann
Bilbo
02-16-2004, 07:06 AM
Joann,
Wow, you think your doc is conservative by having you in collar for three weeks? My NS has me in mine for 3 months! 2 level ACDF with metal 1/12/04.
Bilbo
Wow, you think your doc is conservative by having you in collar for three weeks? My NS has me in mine for 3 months! 2 level ACDF with metal 1/12/04.
Bilbo
jOANNbristol
02-17-2004, 10:56 AM
Three months--wow! I can't imagine. I am out of my collar now and continuing to recover. All of my symptoms have been resolved except for a minor occassional burning in the lower joint of both index fingers--very minor. I've had the collar off for one week, and am working out the stiffness in my neck. Yoga is helping.
Bilbo
02-17-2004, 11:27 AM
Yah the collar is getting to me. I did not sleep at all last nite. Tried at 11pm, 2am and 4ish but gave up. Just went a got starbucks coffee with my sweetie which is something I havent done in a few months. It was strangly nice :yawn: .
I think your symptoms are bearable, right. Yoga...my body dont do that :nono:
I love success stories. Thank you! :)
I think your symptoms are bearable, right. Yoga...my body dont do that :nono:
I love success stories. Thank you! :)
Ramsfan
02-18-2004, 10:28 PM
Just came from my Neuro for 2 month check up. NO MORE COLLARS!!!!! I don't even need the soft collar to sleep in. I felt naked driving home without Aspen. I go back to work Monday. Went to Starbucks to celebrate and have been bouncing off the walls since!!!
:D Frank
:D Frank
marhall57
02-19-2004, 07:55 PM
LOL! Gotta love that caffeine!