Qestions about ACDF

gloryemt

Hi There, I had ACDF C 4-5 and 5-6 3 weeks ago today. I do not have to wear the hard collar but i do have to wear the soft collar. I have read posts on here of people who have had the hard collar and they say that once they get used to it sleeping isnt a problem. Even though i have the soft collar it was hard to get used to and hard to sleep in. Anyway, my husband bought me this pillow at Walmart and it is foam, i cant remember what they call it but it is the kind that forms exactly to your your head and to the neck brace as well! It cost around $19.00. I'll tell ya, i highly recommend you get one, i think that it will do wonders for you. Good luck! Glory

more

I wore the hard collar for six weeks also. At first I slept in a recliner because that was what I found most comfortable. After a couple of weeks I moved to the bed. What I found worked best in the bed was layering of pillows.

What I mean is stacking them to add different layers of support. I think in the end I was sleeping with 5 pillows one flat, - the second one back a little further, supporting the upper part of my head; the third to the front - suppporting the neck and the fourth and fifth filling to the front, supporting more my shoulders and upper back.

Good luck - after a few nights of this you do get used to it. One thing I definitely advise against - DO NOT SLEEP ON THE COUCH using the arm rest for support - I tried this one night and paied for many hours afterward - it was just too hard and not enough give.