anitak1982
05-14-2008, 09:16 PM
Yesterday my husband had cervical surgery. He had 3 disks at C-4, C-5, and C-6 that were bulging and pinching his spinal cord flat. In this area which is about 3 inches he had zero spinal fluid showing up on the MRI. He was already losing sensation in his arms and couldn't feel a tuning fork on his ankles. He was told surgery or paralysis.
They cut him from below his ear lobe to his collar bone along the side of his neck. Had to push to the side his esophagus and the jugular vein, they removed these 3 disks and replaced them with cadaver bone and placed a titanium plate around the area.
He is home now. Is there any advice on how to help him. What helped you.
They cut him from below his ear lobe to his collar bone along the side of his neck. Had to push to the side his esophagus and the jugular vein, they removed these 3 disks and replaced them with cadaver bone and placed a titanium plate around the area.
He is home now. Is there any advice on how to help him. What helped you.
Sponsor
debmul
05-16-2008, 01:11 AM
Hi! Here's a post that I did after my surgery in February...maybe it will help!
Tell your hubby to take it easy and not get in a hurry to 'get back to normal'!
Good luck and God Bless!
Some Suggestions Prior to ACDF
I had a 2-level ACDF done Feb 7th, and you all were a great source of information before and after my surgery! Thanks so much for the input supplied on this site. I hope that you're all doing well now. My doctor is one that seems to be cautious with recovery, which suits me, because I surely don't want to do this again! I'm doing great and am taking things slowly.
After my surgery, I compiled a list of things to give my doctor's office that are needed after this type of surgery so they could have on hand for pre-surgery patient visits. Some of these were things I read here and already had on hand, some were things that I found out after the surgery. Hope this helps someone!
Comfortable recliner or chair that you can sleep in for a while (mine lasted a week or more)
Button-front PJ's or loungewear for ease of dressing
Hand-held shower
Mild shampoo - be prepared to get it in your eyes!
Smaller-than-normal toothbrush (can't open as wide with the neck brace I had)
Mild toothpaste - mouth may be sore
Flexible straws!
(Next one isn't pretty, but was necessary) A spit cup for brushing your teeth - can't lean over to rinse without hitting the brace
Soft, easy to eat foods for a few days - and someone to prepare them and clean up
Juice, milk, etc. in small, easy to open containers. Some of the screw on lids are hard to open after surgery
Portable phone to keep nearby - make sure to place it on the charger at night
Tylenol - lots of them! I was off the pain meds in a few days, but still needed 'something'
Throat lozenges
Popsicles or something cold and soothing for your throat
Peroxide
Paper tape - for sensitive skin
Gauze pads
If you have a Philadelphia collar, there is a liner that can be purchased online that is GREAT! We used flannel/felt to line it with until the liner came in. Collar was hot and irritating.
I had surgery on Thursday, came home on Friday and my wonderful husband stayed with me until Monday. I was fine to be on my own after that, as long as meals were simple or easy to heat up and things were within reach. I'd been in pain for so long that the surgery pain was a breeze to get over. A little irritation of my throat and a slight problem swallowing for a few days, but other than that, I am doing great! Still no "BLT" (bending, lifting, twisting/turning) yet, according to my doctor's orders, but I'm following them to keep from having any problems in the future. I don't want to do this again
Good luck to you all and God bless!
Deb
Tell your hubby to take it easy and not get in a hurry to 'get back to normal'!
Good luck and God Bless!
Some Suggestions Prior to ACDF
I had a 2-level ACDF done Feb 7th, and you all were a great source of information before and after my surgery! Thanks so much for the input supplied on this site. I hope that you're all doing well now. My doctor is one that seems to be cautious with recovery, which suits me, because I surely don't want to do this again! I'm doing great and am taking things slowly.
After my surgery, I compiled a list of things to give my doctor's office that are needed after this type of surgery so they could have on hand for pre-surgery patient visits. Some of these were things I read here and already had on hand, some were things that I found out after the surgery. Hope this helps someone!
Comfortable recliner or chair that you can sleep in for a while (mine lasted a week or more)
Button-front PJ's or loungewear for ease of dressing
Hand-held shower
Mild shampoo - be prepared to get it in your eyes!
Smaller-than-normal toothbrush (can't open as wide with the neck brace I had)
Mild toothpaste - mouth may be sore
Flexible straws!
(Next one isn't pretty, but was necessary) A spit cup for brushing your teeth - can't lean over to rinse without hitting the brace
Soft, easy to eat foods for a few days - and someone to prepare them and clean up
Juice, milk, etc. in small, easy to open containers. Some of the screw on lids are hard to open after surgery
Portable phone to keep nearby - make sure to place it on the charger at night
Tylenol - lots of them! I was off the pain meds in a few days, but still needed 'something'
Throat lozenges
Popsicles or something cold and soothing for your throat
Peroxide
Paper tape - for sensitive skin
Gauze pads
If you have a Philadelphia collar, there is a liner that can be purchased online that is GREAT! We used flannel/felt to line it with until the liner came in. Collar was hot and irritating.
I had surgery on Thursday, came home on Friday and my wonderful husband stayed with me until Monday. I was fine to be on my own after that, as long as meals were simple or easy to heat up and things were within reach. I'd been in pain for so long that the surgery pain was a breeze to get over. A little irritation of my throat and a slight problem swallowing for a few days, but other than that, I am doing great! Still no "BLT" (bending, lifting, twisting/turning) yet, according to my doctor's orders, but I'm following them to keep from having any problems in the future. I don't want to do this again
Good luck to you all and God bless!
Deb
anitak1982
05-16-2008, 09:21 AM
Thank you. You have names for things I don't. They called his situation a cervical fusion. I got him a recliner yesterday even though the surgeon said not too. My husband couldn't find a comfortable place not even in bed as lying flat closed his throat off. He loves this chair.
He has a horrible sore throat and things are getting stuck in his throat when he swallows. He can only cat nap and he has a bunch of mucus in his throat. We were told not to use anything on his incision but to just change the dressing daily. He was glued shut so I don't know if this is why we aren't to use peroxide.
His collar is a soft one that Velcro's in back. He has two. He is permitted to shower if he puts "press and seal" over it. Then his collar on top of that. He is too let the collar dry and wear the other one.
I wish I could do more for him. I haven't left his side except to run to the store for meds and such.
Anita
He has a horrible sore throat and things are getting stuck in his throat when he swallows. He can only cat nap and he has a bunch of mucus in his throat. We were told not to use anything on his incision but to just change the dressing daily. He was glued shut so I don't know if this is why we aren't to use peroxide.
His collar is a soft one that Velcro's in back. He has two. He is permitted to shower if he puts "press and seal" over it. Then his collar on top of that. He is too let the collar dry and wear the other one.
I wish I could do more for him. I haven't left his side except to run to the store for meds and such.
Anita