I miss doing the simple things. Posts: 55. HHS Vulnerability Disclosure, Help After surgery, patients should eat soft foods and liquids until their first follow-up appointment. (i.e. Recesses and foramina are patent. You could have thoracic outlet syndrome in addition to the other issues you mentioned and it causes arm and hand pain, and TOS is more common with spine injury patients. over a year ago, Big Z The last couple of weeks, by neck has started hurting pretty bad. Complications with anesthesia. THE PAIN RETURNED ABOUT 6 WKS AFTER SURGERY. Careers. (around C6-C7?) Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. The average recovery time is 4 to 6 weeks. Initially, after the surgery, I was doing great - went back to work in a week and gradually increased gym activities. WHEN I STRETCH, IT FEELS LIKE I AM SEPERATING MY SPINE AND I HAVE INTENSE PAIN WHEN RETRACTING FROM THE STRETCH. Pain I have to also say that the physical therapy and myofascial release I did before spine surgery prepared me well for a great recovery, and I had an excellent surgeon. Bone healing may take as long as 12 months, but generally, activities are unrestricted after 3-6 months. 3 Months Post ACDF There is nonacute endplate Schmorls node T7-T8 with small central disc protrusion without mass effect. after ACDF Surgery How are you getting along now. THE ONLY THING MRI SHOWS IS A BOOMERANG SHAPE IN MY NECK WHERE THE TITANIUM PLATE IS. But I am having excruciating muscle spasms/tightness in my thoracic spine and trapezius muscles and in between my shoulder blades. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON. Neither of the shoulder issues was the source of my ongoing pain, it was caused by my spine (cervical stenosis) and TOS. It feel like I have done 500 pushups or really strenuous exercise every single day. In some cases, however, patients go home the same day. I to had a Cervical Discectomy on the C5,C6,C7. The most common post-operative neural disorder is C5 nerve palsy. Issues With Cervical Fusion Years After Surgery ACDF Welcome to the board. They do my front first then I rest a day and have my back done. Posts: 55. If you have pain early on, that can actually just be part of the operation. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/ My pain was immediately gone, and my arm feels great. Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Recovery After surgical intervention (ACDF), 48 patients (68.6%) noted the cessation of shoulder symptoms (pain, weakness, and numbness) during their last visit. @jenniferhunter thanks for your insight. Pain After 2. It is very common to have some pain after the surgery, but when pain persists for months there are several possibilities. Craniocervical junction is intact. I know i have arthritis and have had it since 16. There is no knowledge if short-term outcome in patients after anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) can be used to identify which patients have remaining deficit in long term. Pain I don't know if anything (other that waiting until COVID-19 urgency has passed) has changed. There is some imbibition of the intra-articular contrast into the superior labrum suggesting degeneration. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a type of spine surgery used for the treatment of neck or arm pain caused by cervical radiculopathy. I will say that the arm/shoulder issues I have been having over the past month and a half or so are different than the ones I had pre-op. WebThe orthopedist sent Tom for an MRI and, the same day, referred him "right away" to Michael Kachmann, MD, a neurosurgeon with Mayfield Brain & Spine. That is bad for spine and shoulder alignment and I want to prevent any future problems that could be caused by wear and tear with poor ergonomics. The MRI notes degenerative changes of the disc and no evidence of nerve of cord compression. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. DR IS OUT OF SUGGESTIONS. Almost 5 months post op acdf surgery The cervical spinal cord demonstrates normal caliber and signal without syrinx. What to Expect from ACDF Surgery Doctors generally say that nerve pain can take up to a year to resolve, sometimes as long as 18 months depending on how long the nerve was compressed. The radiology report was very similar. Copyright 2004-2023 Duke University Health System, Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring May Be Feasible During Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy, Man Walks Again Weeks After Severing Spinal Column. and transmitted securely. It is very common to have some pain after the surgery, but when pain persists for months there are several possibilities. To minimize discomfort, avoid sitting or lying down for long periods; change position or take a short walk every 20 minutes or so. Recovery time after ACDF surgery generally lasts about four to six weeks. 2021 Oct;37(10):1096-1108. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2019.1683921. If I see another drs shake their head and tell me to just give it time, I'm going to scream. The stenosis in Tom's cervical spine was serious, causing spinal compression at four levels. This procedure (along with all other spine surgery procedures) requires the surgeon to navigate delicately around, and between nerves and muscles. On Jan 11th 2007 I had ACDF without plate or screws C6/C7 with only a soft collar perscibed. The patient's pain did not improve with 6 months of conservative treatment that included physical therapy and epidural injections. That is roughly where my pain/stiffness is located (between shoulder blades/thoracic), but Im wondering if the pain is stemming from directly below the fusion site and if that maps to my shoulder blades/rhomboid area. THE LORD IS GIVING ME THE ONLY STRENGHTH I HAVE. The risk factors for C5 nerve palsy are male gender, OPLL, and posterior cervical approaches. good luck to all and hope we all feel better soon. pain Some patients may need to start physical therapy about a month after ACDF and continue it for a couple more months. 6 months after anterior cervical decompression The thoracic surgeon had to decide if he thought my biggest symptoms where coming from my cervical spine or the compression of nerves because of TOS which he discussed with me, and he consulted with the neurosurgeon about this, actually in a phone call while I was at the appointment with the neurosurgeon. My neuro has advised that he has fixed the cervical herniations and is at a loss as to what to do for my chronic pain/muscle spasms. If I do something that stresses my neck, like lifting something heavy, I tend to cheat and use my neck muscles to help, then I will get a neck spasm. Following surgery the body begins its natural healing process and new bone cells grow around the graft. On Sunday, I rode about 20 miles on hilly terrain and was really exhausted after that because of not riding for months during winter, but now, I feel much stronger. With this new technology, we have the opportunity to advance how we take care of patients with cervical spine disease, Haglund says. I am 16 months post surgery now and life is awful. I could move my arm and shoulder without pain (once going through therapy and strengthening). It's been almost a year since my surgery. The most common post-operative neural disorder is C5 nerve palsy. It's as if it's gotten worse. Thank you, I am pursuing the CT scan. Recovery Time Following ACDF months It is not a sharp pain but a steady dull ache like you would get from over exercising. 3. No discrete cuff tear. If you had a bone graft taken from your pelvis, you may experience pain, soreness, and stiffness at the incision site. In younger and/or more physically fit individuals, recovery time can range anywhere from 46 weeks. No disc protrusion or mass effect. WebIn the end, after recovering from anterior cervical fusion surgery, most patients report significant improvements and a decrease in pain. Different Treatment Options For Neck Pain: How Effective They Are? I know without cervical spine surgery, my quality of life would have suffered a lot, but I got my life back and I can do most anything I want to do and have no pain except for normal muscle aches because I just rode 20 miles on a horse. This site needs JavaScript to work properly. Recovery after ACDF Surgery One image did stand out. !he read all of my issue and details and his replies really helped me in decidingi am now confident about my decision and i now totally understand the procedure thanks to the in-depth information providedthank you ever so much ! The primary goal of surgery is to relieve your symptoms by decompressing, or relieving pressure on, the compressed nerves in your neck. Number one, you should always be concerned about non-union of the bone graft. Permanent Restrictions After Spinal Fusion Three to six months after surgery: You can advance your level of activity but avoid lifting, twisting and bending in combination. I feel stiff as a board and pop/snap when I move and Im only 28. ACDF Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Conditions of Use linked below. WebA physical therapist will help you regain muscle and joint strength and restore full range of motion in the cervical spine. Three months after undergoing C5-T1 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), an active 60-year-old man from Florida began to experience recurrent neck and left shoulder pain. This website is the stand out source for me. Take any medications that your doctor prescribes for pain and constipation. In an attempt to bring these individuals back into their full-speed lives again, doctors and other spine treatment providers focus on mitigating pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books. The expected length of a hospital stay after an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion usually overnight for one or two level procedures. The first was c6 & c7, found out it didn't fuse. The recovery time following ACDF varies. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). pain The screws", "@lilypaws yep, I had an ACDF. Case Description:A 45-year-old male initially underwent a C3-4 and C5-6 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).At age 49, 4 years later, he presented with worsening dysphagia accompanied by neck and right upper extremity pain. (thoracic/paraspinal and trapezius pain/spasms upper/mid/lower trapezius and paraspinals. Patients may continue to feel some degree of pain three to six months after spinal fusion. MOVING MY HEAD IN ANY WAY SENDS SHARP PAINS THROUGH MY NECK, SHOULDERS AND IN THE CENTER OF MY SHOULDER BLADES. the movement of the shoulder is being affected because of the weakness). ACDF Surgery What to Expect from ACDF Surgery Recovery Time Following ACDF Spine J. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a type of spine surgery used for the treatment of neck or arm pain caused by cervical radiculopathy. Except for a worsening in expectations of surgery fulfilled (p = 0.04) there were no significant differences between 6-month and 3-year outcome. In an attempt to bring these individuals back into their full-speed lives again, doctors and other spine treatment providers focus on mitigating pain. WebIt is not uncommon to have pain in the neck following fusion surgery which slowly gets better over 12 to 18 months. However, an ACDF is still considered major surgery, and complete recovery from an ACDF procedure can take between three to six months. 2007 Apr;16(4):507-14. doi: 10.1007/s00586-006-0271-0. I know I have posted before here but just wondered if anyone else feels like this. Purpose: The stenosis in Tom's cervical spine was serious, causing spinal compression at four levels. Workouts May Speed Your Recovery From ACDF Surgery WebACDF surgery may be an option if physical therapy or medications fail to relieve your neck or arm pain caused by pinched nerves. It was from C4-C6 with two spacers and a plate", "So your fusion was in your cervical. There has been interval anterior cervical discectomy and fusion C4-C6 and C5-C6 with apparent osseous integration of the intervening bone graft material. subacromial subdeltoid bursitis). Epub 2007 Jul 17. 3 Months Post ACDF Computed tomography at Duke confirmed solid fusion at all 3 levels but incomplete fusion at C6-C7. I have been in & out of therapy, trouble sleeping and tired of popping pills. WebACDF surgery may be an option if physical therapy or medications fail to relieve your neck or arm pain caused by pinched nerves. Both of them, along with two physical therapists, said my issues were cervical spine which is why I had surgery. operative nerve injuries after cervical spine surgery It may take weeks or months to fully recover. @jenniferhunter do you have any thoughts on what I posted?