One week post op ACDF - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

jcjiii · 05-04-2004, 07:44 AM

and honestly feeling lousy. numbness in arm did not resolve with surgery. Kinda disappointing. I can sit at the desk here for about 5 min but other than that it is me and the recliner...and the tylox. My shoulders all the way across ache, I expected it but I guess I am just in that depressed feeling sorry for myself mode these days.

My throat has been sore but I am able to eat but now I notice there is a hard spot under the incision area, like a lump that I can feel when I touch the area. Does this sound normal?

I see the doc on May 12 for follow up. I am not happy with him. I did not see him at all before surgery, didnt even come in a say a thing. And he never came to see me after surgery, the day after someone stopped by and said I could go home. Didnt even look at the incision and I was so sick from the meds I opted to stay an extra day. My discharge instructions were almost nonexistant. I am not pleased with his involvement level at all

kathy

X-man · 05-04-2004, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcjiii

numbness in arm did not resolve with surgery. Kinda disappointing. I can sit at the desk here for about 5 min but other than that it is me and the recliner...and the tylox. My shoulders all the way across ache, I expected it but I guess I am just in that depressed feeling sorry for myself mode these days.

My throat has been sore but I am able to eat but now I notice there is a hard spot under the incision area, like a lump that I can feel when I touch the area. Does this sound normal?

kathy

Hi Kathy,

A couple of things that might be helpful...

I was told that numbness/tingling could take up to 6 months to subside by my NS. I experienced the same pain across/between shoulders immediately after my operation (ACDF C-6/7 on 4/6). They said that this was probably due to positioning during surgery. Try icing this area. It may not feel great at first to have it so cold, but it helped me. Yeah, the throat soreness and lump feeling is normal. I'm about a month out and the incision area still is a little sore to the touch. The lump is the area where they went through muscle and closed with sutures beneath the skin surface.

Best get used to the recliner and keep taking your pain meds on schedule to stay ahead of things. You've been through major surgery and you need to rest and keep neck motions to a minimum for awhile. You'll have bad days, then better days, then worse days again, but overall you should make progress. I noticed it improving most rapidly about mid week 3, but I still have setbacks (like last night when I felt pretty sore again). And if you have specific concerns, by all means keep bugging your Dr and get some answers to your satisfaction. Good luck to you. It does get better!!

secondfiddle · 05-08-2004, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-man

I was told that numbness/tingling could take up to 6 months to subside by my NS.

You'll have bad days, then better days, then worse days again, but overall you should make progress. I noticed it improving most rapidly about mid week 3, but I still have setbacks (like last night when I felt pretty sore again). And if you have specific concerns, by all means keep bugging your Dr and get some answers to your satisfaction. Good luck to you. It does get better!!

Wow, did you just hit the nail on the head for me!

I was getting concerned about the aching in lower left arm and numbness in pinky and ring finger. I'm encouraged to hear you say that it could take up to 6 months to resolve - not that I WANT it to take that long, of course. To me, it just means that all hope is not lost.

As for the good days and bad days, I am now just over 3 weeks out, and have had THREE good days this week! Not pain free - still taking pain meds and Soma - but definitely much better days. Even after a good day, the pain increases in the evenings. But again - hearing you say this about week three kind of means I'm where I *should* be. Thanks for sharing!

BTW, I picked up one of those "memory foam" contoured pillows and slept on it last night - the best night sleep (with less neck pain) since my surgery!!

Bev
ACDF 4/15/04 C5/6 with donor bone