Throat pain? - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

anitak1982 · 05-17-2008, 08:39 AM

My husband had surgery last tuesday on C-4, C-5 and C-6. They removed the disks and fused cadaver bone and wrapped a titanium plate around the area. His incision is huge! Goes from below his ear lobe to just below his collar bone. He is having a horrible time swallowing. He is in great pain and can only find some measure of comfort in the recliner I got him. He can't sleep either. We had to drive over 100 miles yesterday 50 each way to see the Doctor as his incision looked odd. They put him on an antibiotic.

How long did your throat pain last? He says that it seems so swollen inside that food doesn't like to go down. I am fixing him things that are like creamed soups and such as this is the only thing that goes down easy.

mommaovfive · 05-17-2008, 12:58 PM

The throat pain is pretty normal, from what I've personally experienced. I wasn't able to eat anything but pudding, smoothies, yogurt and ice cream for about two weeks. I had my cervical fusion on April 24. To this day, there are still things that are difficult to swallow. I just have to remember to chew things up very well. Sleep has been at a premium for me, too. I also use a recliner and while it helps to have a variety of positions to be in, it will take a while before your husband finds a level of comfort.

I wish I had better news for you, but this seems to be pretty consistent recovery behavior for this surgery. Things will get better, I promise.

anitak1982 · 05-17-2008, 01:45 PM

Thank you. How about bad breath?

PNo · 05-19-2008, 12:10 AM

Hi - have hubby drink lots of fluids, he might be dehydrated as well as swollen. I found that I used to take a bite then a drink and took smaller bites. The swelling went down gradually each week. Soon it will be gone for him. It is a problem getting comfortable for many weeks after a 3-level. The best thing is to take medicine on schedule for the first 3 weeks, then gradually start cutting back. Once the pain is out of control it makes healing for difficult.