[Artificial Disc Replacement / Cervical] Having surgery in two days! (Agh!) Post-op questions (Prodisc C5/6 and C6/7, Dr. Zink, ATOS Klinik)

[ShannaP]

Hello from Heidelberg, Germany!

I am brand new to this website - what a wonderful resource and wish to introduce myself. Please bear with me if I do not use the correct "spinal lingo" - I have been thrown into the world of cervical discs and surgery rather quickly...I am still trying to catch-up.

My name is Shanna and I live in Heidelberg, Germany. My husband is stationed here and we have lived in Germany for six years. We are very blessed. I am a kindergarten teacher and have one child. That said...

I am scheduled to have cervical Pro-Disc C surgery in two days at the local ATOS Klinik by a Dr. Zink. He is said to be very good and so far, that is the case. I know I am blessed to already live here but I am scared to death! I have two herniated discs from an auto accident and college cheerleading falls 10 years ago. Affected are my C 5/6 and C6/7. I have "remarkable" and "significant" spinal cord impingement - though I rarely have any true pain that disables me or affects my quality of life. More discomfort, numbness, tingling - I am sure you all know the deal. I am set to have (2) Pro-Disc C implants this Wednesday - in two days.

I am concerned about post-op recovery more than anything. My doctor tells me I will be intubated and have pain from this, on top of the post-op pain.

Can anyone reading this shed some light on post-op recovery? My surgeon is great but I am unsure of the normal way things should work post-op. I had rods placed along side my spine when I was 15 (I am 35) for scoliosis so I am somewhat familiar with this whole process. I think.

1. Those of you who have had this surgery in Germany...how bad was post-op pain?
2. How long until you were up and moving around?
3. Any advice to calm my fears?! :-)

Thanks for reading - I wish you all well in your spinal recoveries!

Shanna

[Dave]

1. Those of you who have had this surgery in Germany...how bad was post-op pain?
2. How long until you were up and moving around?
3. Any advice to calm my fears?! :-)

Hi Shanna, welcome to this fine site.

I had two level disc replacement done in Michigan on 06.04.08. Hopefully this will help.

1. Post op pain was not horrific by any means but it was not pleasant either. Your throat will hurt for a week or two from the intubination, your shoulders and upper back will be somewhat painful from the "stretching" they have to do to remove the disc tissue and set the proper height for the artificial disc's and the actual incision will be tender for a month or two. I wore a "hard" brace for two weeks and a soft collar for an additional 10 days.

2. I was up and moving 3 hours after recovery. I walked as much as they would allow so things would not tighten up to much.

3. Stay AHEAD of the pain. This is important. Do not try to tough it out. Once the pain kicks in it takes twice as long for the meds to work. Take your pain meds on time, every time. Do not try to overdo things at first, but stay as mobil as you are allowed. Sleeping will be a challenge. I found that reclining in a chair with pillows under both arms was the most comfortable way to sleep, but you will have to experiment with different positions.

Please feel free to ask as many questions you want and you can PM me any time.

Good luck and don't be to worried. Recovery from cervical surgery is a lot quicker than lumbar.

[jss]

Shanna,

I've been to Heidelberg twice when visiting my oldest son that was stationed at the time in Darmstadt. I enjoyed the castle there, but wasn't all that impressed with the Heidelberger. But, I had a great time on each visit.

I've had three cervical spine surgeries, the last being a double ADR (M6 in Barcelona last November). My experiences were pretty much like Dave's.

1. The sore throat was far more painful than the incision or the digging around they did on my bones. I had the sore throat pain for only about 24 hours. Though that pain was significant, I still felt better upon waking up than I did when they put me to sleep.

2. When I had my fusions in the US, I was up and walking around after the anesthesia wore off; two or three hours. With the ADR in Spain, I was required to lay flat on my back for 24 hours. I was able to get up and move around, but that particular doctor didn't want me to move.

3. While there are risks involved with any surgery, this one has a very fast recovery and a very high incidence of excellent outcomes. For all three surgeries I took pain medication for only two days, then Tylenol for two more. Each time I was ambulatory immediately after surgery, and able to care for all of my own needs within a few hours. Beginning two days after the Barcelona surgery, we walked many many miles each day seeing the city. All in all, each of my surgeries were no big deal.

Good luck, Jeff

[Justin]

Hi Shanna,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society!

Dave and Jeff have shared priceless firsthand experience with cervical artificial disc replacement.

1. Those of you who have had this surgery in Germany...how bad was post-op pain?

I've had two surgeries in Germany. Even though I was a lumbar case, I'd thought I'd share what Spine Patients have shared with me over the years. The majority of Cervical Spine Patients do really well "pain-wise" post-op. The approach for cervical surgery is "less" invasive than the approach for lumbar surgery.

2. How long until you were up and moving around?

They will typically have you up and moving the first day. The quicker you are on your feet, the better.

3. Any advice to calm my fears?! :-

If you've exhausted all conservative options and you've "worked up" your spine completely, have confidence in your decision to move forward with surgery (easier said than done--I know from personal experience).

You'll be on the other side in no time--I'm excited to read about your successful surgery. As always, we are here to support Spine Patients. Feel free to contact us with any questions by private message or email.

[ShannaP]

Dear Dave, Jeff and Justin,

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions (help calm my fears). This is exactly the type of information I was seeking. Truly - I appreciate it!

If you're ever around my way...we have plenty of extra (free) space. (And, I'm with ya, Jeff. Heidelberg is a great city but quickly becomes underwhelming.)

Wish me luck tomorrow - everyone have a wonderful week!

Most appreciatively,

Shanna

(P.S. I can't say it enough, Justin - this site has been more helpful than my own surgical team. Keep up the great work.)

[jss]

(And, I'm with ya, Jeff. Heidelberg is a great city but quickly becomes underwhelming.)

Wish me luck tomorrow - everyone have a wonderful week!

Most appreciatively,

Shanna

(P.S. I can't say it enough, Justin - this site has been more helpful than my own surgical team. Keep up the great work.)

Shanna,

I'm glad that you've found this information helpful. I guess that your surgery is today or tomorrow. GOOD LUCK! And please let us know how you're doing when you get home.

Jeff

BTW: Either time I wasn't in Heidelberg long enough to get bored with it. By Heidelberger, I meant the lager at the local brewery. That was a great thing about Germany; a brewery in EVERY town.

[ShannaP]

Hi Dave, Jeff and Justin,

Just wanted to stop by and say hello. I am five days post-op and moving along quite nicely. Now. Quite jealous of all three of your quick recovery periods. I became violently sick and was in ICU for two days due to meds. After I begged to be removed from the morphine....things started rolling along. I felt like vegetable there though, for a few days. Now, steady as she goes. Just wanted to say hello. I found myself reading and re-reading your posts for support. Funny as I'm not "that" person - (too independent to "need" any sort of support. ahem.) But found all of it remarkably refreshing and uplifting. I should go home in a few days and now the biggest struggle is sleeping longer than 10 minutes. I am in desperate need of a good sleeping position (will try the propped up in a chair with pillows method, though - thanks!) and the odd throat swallowing deal. Oddly, I feel better than pre-surgery so that's all that really matters, I suppose....and as far as the Heidelberger beer (duh, sorry I missed that one) - you are correct. German beer - brewed in any town, is very special. Come visit anytime for a taste!

Have a great day, gentlemen.

Shanna

[jss]

Shanna,

Congrats on getting both the surgery and the medicine problem behind you. By the way, isn't that such an weird phenomenon? That someone has just cut through your skin and several muscles with a knife and scissors, been grinding and cutting on your bones, removed part of your anatomy, but you feel better when you woke up than when they put you out!?

Is the sleeping problem because of pain? Residual from the morphine? I had that problem PRE-surgery, but it cleared up the second night post-surgery.

Well, it sounds like you've hit a few more bumps in the road than I did, but that things are progressing pretty well. Keep hanging in there, and good luck!

Jeff

[Katie]

Hi Shanna,

I'm sorry that I completely missed your post, but you were in good hands anyway I'm very interested in your experiences, as I am scheduled to go for C5/6 ADR surgery, plus three level fusion L3/4-S1 in a few weeks. They will all be rolled into one, so I won't know which end to complain about first

With the pain in your throat, have you tried popsicles (or do they even have them over there??) or custards, etc? Something that would coat the throat and ease the pain? Also, does ice or some heat help with the residual pain?

Did you manage to find the list of 'must-haves' that are posted here somewhere; things to have on hand when you go home to make life easier? I'm slowly stocking up ;-)

I've had a similar reaction to the fentanyl pain patch, but it wasn't right after surgery! That must have been horrid, and I'm sorry you had to go through it.

Good luck with everything, especially in getting some much needed sleep. It is so important in the healing process.

[Dave]

Shanna, welcome to the "other" side and a new beginning. Congrats on making a huge leap forward.

Every day will feel better than the other, but just a note that some of us hit minor bumps along the way. Mine was an infection 2 weeks post op, but heavy doses of anti-biotic took care of that. Cold things for the throat work great, just like a kid with their tonsils out. SOOTHING....

Not sure if you have a collar, but that made me feel like my head wasn't going to fall off. On the flip side, when I removed the collar, my muscles did not want to work the way they are supposed to.

Take things slow and easy and heal well. We look forward to hearing more of your story.