Results from Neuro apt. 2 level ACDF coming soon! Scared - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

skych · 05-24-2008, 11:00 AM

Hi everyone,

I went to the neurologist yesterday and given the results of the recent discogram he said that I will need an 2 level cervical ACDF

I think he said C 4-5 5-6. Everything was such a shock.
I was hoping I would be offered the ADR but once I saw the discogram results I knew in my heart that was off the table as an option. There was just to many things at to many levels.

The neuro wants me to see a Pain Psychologist before setting a date for surgery. He wants to make sure that I have no unrealistic expectations of surgery.
He said given that I had a very long work comp injury resulting in 4 surgeries and serious pain and that in my past I abused street drug he would like me to see the P. Psyc. He did back that up telling me he in no way thought that I was haveing Psychological issues or any issues with my 12 step recovery. He said its just to make sure and he passed no judgements.

I do not know what to expect from this and I am wondering if anyone has ever seen one.

I am somewhat scared of this surgery. I know that it has a 70% success rate, but that some folks have worse outcomes. Right now deep inmy gut I feel that I knew it has always been in the cards. Even early on the neuro told me before the Jan surgery Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy that I may need an ACDF or an ADR.

Anyway, I would love to hear people's experiences and also if they have seen a P. Psyc.

Thanks for the support.

Chrissy

Fiona_Jo_324 · 05-25-2008, 07:48 PM

Chrissy -

I understand 100% your concern and fear, I think being scared is a completely normal reaction.

I think it's a good idea to talk to a pain Psychologist ahead of time and actually wish I would have. I had complete unrealistic expectations of my surgical results. I had expected the results to be the same as my lumbar procedure (which I really did pretty well after, all things considered). I completely trust my surgeon, it was body that didn't respond like I thought it would. So, I do agree the with what your surgeon is recommending. However, I am hoping you do get the results that you so deserve - pain relief. I know you've endured so much

Keep us posted on what you find out. I will keep you in my thoughts.

~ Fiona

hugg724 · 05-25-2008, 10:37 PM

Chrissy, I actually had to see a Pain Pyschologist before my surgery because of my insurance company requiring it. I had C4/C5, C5/C6 and C6/C7 fused. That was quite a surgery and recovery ahead of me.

The guy I saw was wonderful. He even recommended some books for learning to cope with pain and things that might help. He also told me to expect to have some level of depression and it was completely normal. While part of me hoped surgery would be a "cure all", I knew it wasn't. I knew there were risks and potential long term things to deal with.

It wasn't a bad thing at all, more of calm me down and bring me back down to earth type appointment. My surgical expecations going in after seeing him was that at minimal, the pain level would be reduced and at maximum, I would feel like a new person. Unfortunately for me, I didn't reach my maximum expectation lol

Good Luck!!!

skych · 05-27-2008, 08:06 AM

Hey there,

Well thanks for all the comments. I appreciate them.

I have discussed with my mom about the appointment and I am now looking forward to it. I am in the process of getting it scheduled.

My Mom and I also discussed that maybe I want to see someone on a regular basis that has experience with people in chronic pain etc.

I really think it may help.

So if anyone else has anymore input please share!!

Chrissy

SpineAZ · 06-08-2008, 05:11 PM

If it's any consolation I found the ACDF a bit easier to deal wtih thean the posterior cervical foraminotomy. While I had to wear an Aspen brace for 6 weeks after the ACDF I didn't experience the muscle spasms and now what I call "cervical muscle fatigue" (after being up for 3-4 hours I have to lay down to relieve this thing I now call "muscle fatigue"). I had more pain waking up from the Post Cerv Foram. than I did from the ACDF (again, since they don't go through muscle it seemed far less traumatic to me).

Do you have a surgery date? Maybe I missed that post.

Karin