Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion

[go high fast]

I would appreciate hearing your story. Did you have muscle weakness?

What symptoms did you have and did you try other treatments before opting for surgery?

How was your recovery and how is your current quality of life.

Did you have multilevel fusion.

Thanks for your time.

 

[HDEMWET]

not quite the same location, but i've gone through the same operation, in the lowermost vertebrae. had an outward herniation of two discs, which they dissected, then took a chunk of hip bone and fused over the three vertebrae, essentially making one. was in serious pain for only a few days or so. could actually feel the tips of my toes again for the first time in months right after the surgery. went back to work after 21 days (as a heavy equipment mechanic in a gold mine). never lost any range of motion, felt like a 6 yr old kid again. sadly after a yr and a half i re-herniated the same area, helping an electrician put a roll of 4160 cable onto a trailer, this time it was an interior herniation, the surgeon refuses to operate as the scar tissue would build up directly on the spinal cord and she's scared she might nick something in there. i haven't felt my right leg in a couple of years, but the pain is bearable enough for me to take up sledding again this winter, so far so good. good luck to you, i was my own worst enemy, shoulda took er easy.

 

[LM.]

I had L-5 done back in '92. Mine was a culmination or MX and other stuff. My disc finally pushed out and rested against the nerve the runs my right leg. Pain you can not believe. The Dr went in and clipped the disc and all is well now. I have full range of motion and I can do most whatever I want to.

The key is to follow the Dr's orders for PT after the surgery. Dont try to rush your recovery if you do you will be back in for more. Stay active, do your stretches and stay in shape. I still snowmobile, MX, Road Bike, pretty much everything I did before, except jog, that is too hard on the back. I stay away from lifting heavy stuff, or helping move people.

Right before the surgery I told the Dr., as long as I can Snowmobile, MX, Cycle, have sex with my wife we are good to go, if not, keep cutting & don't wake me up! He did not think that was too funny.

 

[Chubby]

My advise is to workout and do anything it takes to get away from surgery. I have dodged it for 25 years sos far so good . Here is may last scan.....

 

[Holzee]

Had two discs and part of a vertabrae removed from my neck year and a half ago.

Implants put in and titanium plate with a bunch of screws.

Mine was not an optional surgery.


Outpatient deal. started first thing in the morning. Was in hospital cafeteria at 1:30 and home by 4:00
Shoulders hurt like hell as they pull em down and tie up for the surgery
Throat very sore for about two weeks because they go in from the front and shove it over to get by.

Still have a little problem with shoulder muscle but more from the wreck than surgery they think but my neck is good.

Rotation is a little limited so I use a wrist mirror when riding

 

[stum1967]

I had a c-5, c-6 fusion done in 2008. With in 3 days of feeling tingling in my shoulder and arm, my left arm totally quit. I could only move my hand and make a fist. With in 2 weeks of treating with strong anti-inflamitories, my left bicep was pretty much just soft tissue , no tone left. They did the fusion and it was about 3 months before I had any nerve reponse with electric nerve stimulation. About 6 months of Physical therapy, things finally started to look better. It was a whole year before I could lift my arm over my head. I still only have about 75% of the strength in that arm. If surgery is the only option, ask a physical therapist which surgeon to use. They get to see the end results of what the doctors do.