[Spinal Fusion / Cervical] C4-C5 & C5-C6 Discectomy and Fusion

[rgvtexas]

Hi all!

Name is Jeff, looking at a 2 level anterior disctectomy and fusion on Nov 11, 2010

[jss]

Hi Jeff,

Condolences on the upcoming surgery. I have fusions at C4/5 and C5/6 (2000 and 2002 respectively), and ADRs at C3/4 and C6/7. I was up and around immediately upon waking up after the fusions. The worst pain was a sore throat caused by the tube they cram down, oops, I mean, insert down your throat to keep oxygen flowing. I hope that your recovery goes as easily as did mine.

Where will your surgery be done? Who is your surgeon?

Good luck, Jeff (we Jeff's have to stick together)

[Katie]

Hi Jeff, and welcome to our site. As the 'other' Jeff said, the worst thing we experienced from cervical surgery was that dang tube they gently inserted

I had several diagnosis and surgical plans from over half a dozen surgeons until I finally had surgery in March, and ended up with the new Nuvasive NeoDisc at C5/6 and love it. Other surgeons wanted to do something with C4/5 too, but so far so good with just the single level. The neurological problems they all thought were permanent have been resolved, so things can get much better than all the experts predict

Good luck, and I hope you can share more about your upcoming surgery and symptoms.

[KBear]

Welcome to the site.

[Gilbert P]

Jeff



Gil

[rgvtexas]

Hi everyone.....thanks for the welcome Just a little background....i am not really sure of the original cause of my problems...but i suspect a couple of car accidents i had about 15 years ago when i was 29......about 2 years ago this month started having really bad muscle spasm in the right neck and shoulder....got some xrays with an orthopedic surgeon and went to therapy....therapy helped and went on my way.....One year ago this month the spasms returned....this time therapy did not help and I started having numbness....cue the MRI...which I wish I had gotten a long time ago.....showed a not so significant bulge at C3-C4....herniation at C4-C5 and C5-C6 all others normal.......to make a long story short I ended up getting a laminectomy at C5-C6.....did great for about 3 months and then started having muscle spams again......pain from that sent me to a pain mgmt dr. and trigger pint injection took care of the spasm and pain....that is when the bicep and deltoid weakness reared its head and has not gotten better with therapy..... Saw Donald Hilton in San Antonio...came highly recommended by my therapist.....after reviewing all my history and doing a good exam told me that the discectomy and fusion would be my best bet....he did sit with me for about 30 min and answered all my questions.....adr was not an option because of the degenerative changes.....laminectomy not an option...would just be another temporary fix.... I felt much better about the surgery after talking with him....will be in a foam collar for 6 weeks....cn start driving as soon as i an comfortable turning my head, 1 to 2 weeks....I am fortunate to have plenty of accrued sick leave so I am going to take about 7 weeks off work an focus completely on recovery....surgery os on November 11 and I expect to get out of the neck brace December 23 I hope things turn out well....Kinda scary reading some of the horror stories on these boards...but then you have to realize that there are thousands of these done every year.....my big thing is driving.....once i can be independent again i think i will be fine...... sorry about the long post.......

[Cindylou]

Welcome rgvTexas........ Glad you found us for all the right reasons. Your surgery will be here before you know it. I wish you only the best. Hopefully, we can support you after surgery as well. Good luck! Cindylou

[Katie]

Do you mean that you are approved to drive a week after surgery, or a week after the soft collar comes off at six weeks? I wasn't allowed to drive for three months, but also had a two level fusion at L4-S1 along with the ADR at C5/6. It took quite awhile before my neck felt 'right' to be turning enough to look over my shoulder. But I'm pretty anal about doing that, while hubby depends more on mirrors

Like most here, you've certainly been through the wringer, but it sounds like you have found someone that you are confident in to move forward. Keep us posted !

[rgvtexas]

I asked him 3 different times during my last visit......he is not putting restrictions on turning my head side to side.....when i am comfortable doing that I can drive.....1 to 2 weeks post op......no significant flexion or extension for 6 weeks.......the collar i will be wearing will not restrict rotation

[Justin]

Hi Jeff,

I was just popping in to see how your surgery went and how your recovering is going. I hope you are doing well!