Needing level 3 cervical disc fusion need advice! - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

Queenie22 · 08-16-2008, 07:54 PM

Hello everyone. I am new to this board and I am looking for some advice. I am seeing my neuro surgeon this Thursday, I have been told that I will need a level 3 disc fusion surgery. I have been dealing with my pain for 3 years now. I underwent 2 rounds of epidural injections, the last set this year hasn't helped at all. So I have been on pain meds ever since. They are no longer really helping me. My neck pain is bad. I have pain radiating down my shoulders and arms. Right greater than left. But it is bad. I can't sleep at all. The bad thing is I am still recovering from total knee revision surgery in May. So two major surgeries like this so close together scares me! I can handle the knee surgeries as I have had many, but the neck is so new to me I think that is what is terrifying me. Any advice would be so appreciated. I need to know what to expect. What questions to ask my surgeon. and how long is the hospital stay, how long will the surgery take? Etc. Thank you so much.

Susan

SpineAZ · 08-16-2008, 10:21 PM

Queenie:

I have had reconstructive knee surgery and I can tell you that my ACDF (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion) was far less painful than any of my big knee surgeries. If you have an ACDF they go through the front of the neck and thus not through major muscles. I did have a small amount of post-surgical pain but the surgery itself relieved so much of the pain I had that I could easily deal with the surgical recovery pain.

I stayed two nights in the hospital. One to two nights is usually what is required for ACDF. I had the surgery in the morning (around 8) and including time in recovery I was in my room by about 12:30 pm.

I think the key to my recovery was using a post-surgical brace (aspen brace) for 6 weeks and using a bone growth stimulator (external device that hung around my neck to aid in the fusion. Most surgeons operating on more than one cervical level do use the brace. Pre-surgically I really thought the brace would be awful but in actuality it kept me in a good position and prevented me from doing anything to move the wrong way. By day 5 post-surgery I could remove the brace for showering. I showered nearly every day but only washed my hair every 2-3 days in the first few weeks.

Queenie22 · 08-20-2008, 06:30 AM

Thank you so much for the advice and sharing with me what you went through. That helps a great deal. I can't wait for tomorrow morning to get here so I can get some answers and feel better about it. Did you have any problems with swallowing or waking up feeling like you couldn't breathe or swallow because of going through the neck?? That worries me. I hate the feeling of not being able to breathe or feeling choked! I just want to hurry up and get this over with. Sleeping is horrible. I wake up in pain every night. What is good pain control for you? I haven't found anything that seems to help. I think because I have been on and off pain meds for years now that it isn't working as well. So any advice on pain control would be great!! If you think of anything else to share with me before tomorrow let me know. Thank you so much!

SpineAZ · 08-20-2008, 05:59 PM

I just got home from a transforaminal ESI. How fun...NOT.

I had some minor throat irritation and they gave me cepacol lozenges. My surgery was in the morning but I was able to eat a light meal at dinner with very little discomfort. All I've really used for true pain control is Vicodin or Norco. Norco is a little less potent so I can use that and still work, etc.

Queenie22 · 08-21-2008, 02:55 PM

That is good. So did you do really well? I saw my neuro surgeon today and he was overwhelmed with how bad my neck is for my age. I am 43. I have already had both knees replaced as well. so he was blown away. He said my neck is bad and that it is that of an 80 yr old. I am having a myelogram next thursday so he can determine if I can get away with just 2 disc fusion instead of 3. He really hates to have to do 3 on me at my age. But with the pain I am having I have no choice. I really liked him a lot! He came reccomended by my ortho surgeon. so we will see what the test show. have you had it done???