Pain after ACDF

[Mollyt61]

How long does the pain last??? My surgery has been now 2weeks ago, my left shoulder/neck and arm are still hurting like crazy. My shoulder on the fusion side, left, is all swelled up and sleeping is close to be a nightmare unless I take my "Happy-pills" They put me on Lortap, Neurontin and Medrol Pack, that puts anybody too sleep , anybody who has some feedback please respond, I am thinking of checking with my Doc by Monday if it does not improve. I have posted here before about Horner's syndrome, and the good news is, my eye is actually getting better, so there is hope that it will get back to normal,
Thanks for reading, and please give me feedback on the pain and swelling issue, Thanks,
Martina

[DonnaKay]

Martina -

I'm sorry you are so miserable! It's been almost a year since my last surgery, and I honestly can't remember that pain as being part of it. I do remember, though, that if I did the slightest thing that I wasn't supposed to do I would suffer the consequences. I hope you aren't doing anything to aggravate your surgery.

I remember after my first surgery I did have a lot of pain afterward, but I also had been dealing with pain for years beforehand. I think the longer you have symptoms before surgery, the longer it takes to leave after it is fixed. Hope that makes sense. I remember calling the doctor in tears asking why I am hurting and they asked me what I had been doing. I told them I had been putting pictures in a photo album. They told me that *anything* that I do with my hands will make it hurt. They were right! I remembered that this time around and just sat and did NOTHING. lol

Good luck! (I am happy to hear that your eye is better.)

Donna

[Mollyt61]

Thanks for the imput, really, I think there is something else going on in my shoulder, my arm seem to be getting worse with each day, but thanks for responding, Martina

[solardust]

What levels did they do ???? At 2 weeks I was still a zombie,afraid to even think I may sneeze,and god forbid I should get a cough,I really mean,I was walking on egg shells.I had surgery Aug 13th,honestly I was beginning to wonder if I was ever gonna feel well again,went on ride with hubby to get new collar like 4 wks into recovery and spent that night in pain and weakness,talk about a set back,trip there was fine,(45 miles) even had a couple beers at a bar and grill,but paid for it in end.Not that you should not bounce it off your Doc, cause he should know,but like Donna said, if nerves have been inflamed for some time the longer it takes to feel well.I was lucky compared to alot of the folks on here,because I had lower back surgery in June, I had a NS, so when my neck went, I only was in unbearable pain for 3 wks,(I can say "only" now, cuz I am out of it,but at the time,it was 3 wks too long!!)and I am still paying the piper if I over do it.And by that , I mean washing a few dishes,sitting to long, standing to long,....try to relax your shoulders and rest,I still catch myself hunching up my shoulders and that in itself causes pain.I hope all is better for you soon keep posting ok, Solar

[dennisgb]

Hi,

I agree with Solar.

At two weeks I felt like I had had major surgery two weeks ago. LOL. Sorry, that probably isn't funny to you. But consider, you had major surgery. This takes time to heal. Besides if your like most of us your body was in pain for a long time before the surgery...

I didn't really start to feel better until about 6 weeks, and that was about 50% of normal. I'm 12 weeks out, and I notice improvement each day.

Take it easy and it will get better each day. If your not seeing improvement, then call your doc. If there is a problem, you want to know.