bw67
08-21-2006, 12:05 PM
hey.
question- I had the two level acd friday...
is it normal for me to still have the same arm pain that I had before the surgery?? or should it have provided IMMEDIATE relief??
I feel like I've read that it takes time for the nerve to get reacclamated, but I thought I'd go straight to the source and ask the people who've been there!
The doctor let me take the brace off to shave today, it was like Christmas :-)
thanks
bw
question- I had the two level acd friday...
is it normal for me to still have the same arm pain that I had before the surgery?? or should it have provided IMMEDIATE relief??
I feel like I've read that it takes time for the nerve to get reacclamated, but I thought I'd go straight to the source and ask the people who've been there!
The doctor let me take the brace off to shave today, it was like Christmas :-)
thanks
bw
Sponsor
bdh7
08-21-2006, 12:29 PM
Hi...for what it's worth, (which probably isn't much:) ), I also had the same arm pain, along with a lot more pain in my other arm that I didn't have pre-op. It felt exactly like the c6 nerve pain, and for the first week or so was really bothersome. I posted here "Can anyone explain increased nerve pain after acdf?" or something like that. It has died down, although I haven't really noticed any improvement in my left (bad) arm over pre-surgery pain/numbness. I saw my ns last week (I'm only two weeks post-op today), and he said give it till October or November to see what the full results will be. As others have said, nerves take a long time to heal, and there was a lot of controlled trauma going on during surgery. It would certainly be a good idea to talk to your surgeon about it at your post op appointment. I guess not all of us wake up immediately feeling better, which is what I expected, too. I do have some other issues with my shoulder, though, and going into this, we didn't know how much was neck related and how much was shoulder/brachial plexus related. I'm still hopeful for some improvement with time, though! Take care...hope your healing goes well.
Donna
Donna
neckpatient
08-22-2006, 01:04 PM
What you are feeling sounds pretty normal. Some people have such pronounced pain that they do feel what they call "immediate relief" when they wake up. But for most it appears there is an improvement and then gradual lessening of the pain over time. Remember there is inflammation and swelling inside where they did the surgery, it is too early to get worried at this point. Keep resting and do what they told you and hopefully you will improve every week.
After my first acdf C4-6 i think it took around 11 weeks to get complete relief. I am recovering from my second sugery C6-7 and it is now 15 weeks out and I am still having pain.
After my first acdf C4-6 i think it took around 11 weeks to get complete relief. I am recovering from my second sugery C6-7 and it is now 15 weeks out and I am still having pain.
laranol
08-22-2006, 09:32 PM
I think there are different kinds of pain that heal differently. I woke up with the heavy ache in my shoulder gone. And while I'll occasionally feel a shoulder twinge if I am doing too much, it really never came back. I also had a lot of numbness/weakness/shaking in my hand. I didn't see marked improvement in that for a week or two. I still feel it a bit but it's definitely better. I can sign my name again! From what I understand, nerve root damage can take a lot longer to heal, depending on how severely and how long the nerve root was affected. Good luck!
Kissa
08-22-2006, 11:31 PM
I was fortunate in that all my pain went immediately away, I think the reason for this is that I did not hesitate in having my surgery. There has been a great deal of discussion in the possibility of permanent nerve damage if one waits too long before having a decompression. Did you actuall suffer with pain for extended periods before actually having your surgery?
Like any surgery, it does take time to heal and pain to subside, additionally each person is different. I wouldn't give up just yet, give it some more time, your pain should subside over time.
Good luck
Barbie
Like any surgery, it does take time to heal and pain to subside, additionally each person is different. I wouldn't give up just yet, give it some more time, your pain should subside over time.
Good luck
Barbie
jentaylor728
08-23-2006, 01:49 AM
Hello,
I had C5/c7 w/plates,screws and donor bone 4 months ago...in the last 4 weeks, I've developed more constant (though not as bad) pain and 24/7 numbness in the right side of my entire body (including head) and sometimes left side too..
Two months ago, I had a follow up x-ray done and the surgeon said it was fusing fine.
I've also developed severe, short (5 seconds or less) headaches.
As you can see, it seems like it may be a long process....healing, that is....
The neurologist (that the surgeon) referred me too now tells me that there were some ischemic abnormalities in the right side of my brain before the surgery...he says it's due to age (I'm 41)....
Any thoughts/courses of action/ideas out there?
Thanks
Jennifer
I had C5/c7 w/plates,screws and donor bone 4 months ago...in the last 4 weeks, I've developed more constant (though not as bad) pain and 24/7 numbness in the right side of my entire body (including head) and sometimes left side too..
Two months ago, I had a follow up x-ray done and the surgeon said it was fusing fine.
I've also developed severe, short (5 seconds or less) headaches.
As you can see, it seems like it may be a long process....healing, that is....
The neurologist (that the surgeon) referred me too now tells me that there were some ischemic abnormalities in the right side of my brain before the surgery...he says it's due to age (I'm 41)....
Any thoughts/courses of action/ideas out there?
Thanks
Jennifer
bw67
08-23-2006, 07:49 AM
thanks for all your comments-
"Kissa"- yes I've been dealing w/the pain in various levels for two years. So that could possibly explain it.
What concerns me is that the exact pain I had before is now WORSE and IMMEDIATE- I used to have to drive 15 minutes, or sit in a hard chair or stand somewhere for a bit for it to kick in.
Now- post surgery- the pain sets in AS SOON as I sit.
I'm trying my best to chalk it up to the nerves being so damaged for so long that it's going to take time for them to bounce back. That's really all I can do...if a month goes by and it's still this bad, I'll obviously have to look further into it.
Thanks again
bw
"Kissa"- yes I've been dealing w/the pain in various levels for two years. So that could possibly explain it.
What concerns me is that the exact pain I had before is now WORSE and IMMEDIATE- I used to have to drive 15 minutes, or sit in a hard chair or stand somewhere for a bit for it to kick in.
Now- post surgery- the pain sets in AS SOON as I sit.
I'm trying my best to chalk it up to the nerves being so damaged for so long that it's going to take time for them to bounce back. That's really all I can do...if a month goes by and it's still this bad, I'll obviously have to look further into it.
Thanks again
bw
disjointed
08-24-2006, 02:11 AM
You really need to give it a lot of time to heal. I had the same questions and problems early after my surgery as well. I'm at 18 months now and am MUCH better! Don't misunderstand - I still get occasional pains even this far out from surgery. However, as others have stated, I think it takes the nerves a long, long time to slowly get better.
But if your experience is like mine, you will improve - just give it more time!
Good Luck,
Kevin
But if your experience is like mine, you will improve - just give it more time!
Good Luck,
Kevin
bw67
08-26-2006, 02:35 PM
thanks again to all who have posted-
I am now back home in TN. I have to say, NOT TO JINX ANYTHING, I'm feeling pretty good.
the dr's prescribed me a new med before I left FLA- TOPAMAX and it seems to be helping.
of course the majority of my pain has always been from DRIVING, and I won't be allowed to do that for several more weeks yet.
but the constant immediate pain that caused my initial post has subsided for now...
bw
I am now back home in TN. I have to say, NOT TO JINX ANYTHING, I'm feeling pretty good.
the dr's prescribed me a new med before I left FLA- TOPAMAX and it seems to be helping.
of course the majority of my pain has always been from DRIVING, and I won't be allowed to do that for several more weeks yet.
but the constant immediate pain that caused my initial post has subsided for now...
bw
sunshine221
08-28-2006, 12:31 AM
BW - hang in there - it takes time!!!! I was at my worst about 5 weeks post op and at 12 months I still have some problems but am better off than I was a year ago.
That said, even though I have full range of motion in my neck I am less comfortable and confident about driving - take it easy!!
That said, even though I have full range of motion in my neck I am less comfortable and confident about driving - take it easy!!