strange question - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

CTmom · 10-12-2005, 06:48 PM

Okay, this is a strange question, but if I can't ask you guys, who can I ask?

I had ACDF about a year and a half ago. Very successful - long recovery but no residual pain.

I have been having trouble with a sore throat on just one side of my throat for many months now. (I had no sore throat in the postop period!) My doctor noticed that my uvula (the long thing in the middle of the back of your throat) is moved over to one side (away from the sore throat.) Anyone else notice this? Anyway, he mentioned something about nerve damage and I was wondering if anyone else had heard of such a thing as a complication from ACDF surgery. The nerve, as I understand it, runs down the middle of the throat so I guess it could theoretically be affected by the surgery or metal plate. It's the same nerve that affects the voice. Anyone heard of such a thing? Just trying to avoid lots of expensive tests just to find out this is something I have to live with. Thanks!

feelbad · 10-13-2005, 05:22 AM

ANYTHING is possible,honestly,the crap I am dealing with from my last surgery is just unbelievable.But in your case,it appears that it is a possible scar tissue issue(hey,i can rhyme)i know that when I was sent for surgery no2,this was only 9 mo after my first surgery,my NS told me it took him like almost two hours just to cut through all of the really fiberous scar tissue that had grown there already.It does not take alot of time for the sar tissue to appear and wreck havoc.Just the fact that you did not have this problem immediately post op may indicate that this may be at least partially respnsible for your problem.i am just not too sure what type of testing they could do to detect if this is actually affecting a nerve somewhere or just causing compression on your throat.Perhaps an MRI? i would talk with your doc about this.just a thought.Marcia

Socalgrl · 10-13-2005, 08:48 AM

I had 5,6 and 7 replaced last Nov. with donor bone and a 5 screw plate. I have been having neck pain and a soar spot in my throat as you mentioned since July. Now, Oct., xrays this week show 7 never fused and the two screws there are loose. There's my problem. My surgeon wants to go in and work on the bone that didn't fuse, take out the plate and put in a smaller one. Not sure I am ready for this! I would like to know why it didn't fuse! He questioned my smoking history (never have), my diet, alchohol intake . . .
Any feedback would be appreciated. I will keep searching the board meanwhile.