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ACDF surgery in 2 weeks - how bad is the recovery

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rebeccab82
rebeccab82

Im 36 years old and have 3 young children. I've struggled for 9 months now with neck/arm pain, pins and needles and awful nerve pain shooting through my fingers. After a ct scan and mri scan the only thing they could find was a lot of wear to c5/6 and a bone spur at c6/7. Im now booked in to have acdf surgery two weeks tomorrow on c6/7 but he stated ill most likely need c5/6 doing within the next couple of years. Im looking for any experiences about the recovery. My letter says 3 nights in hospital, no driving for up to 6 weeks and no flying so i had to push back my holiday for 2 months. 

How bad is the pain after?

Do you have to wear a collar?

Im trying to put plans in place to get my 3 kids to school, clubs etc and look after them. so im trying to gauge just how long the recovery is.

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • mike09523
    mike09523 rebeccab82

    Posted

    Hi,

    Are you having private or nhs, I only ask as my c 5-6  on nhs  was cancelled 3 times.

    Never had it done and now require full cervical fusion.

    Good luck whatever, hope all goes okay for you.

    Mike.

    • rebeccab82
      rebeccab82 mike09523

      Posted

      Thank you Mike. Thankfully my employer has a private medical scheme that i've used so its only been 6 weeks since i had my first scans and was given a date for surgery.

      I hope your op goes ahead next time and goes well.

  • samantha08562
    samantha08562 rebeccab82

    Posted

    i had a C-spine fusion with a bone graft, multi layer the recovery wasnt bad for me at all. i know they hospital stay is supposed to last 3 days but i left the next day. I did have to wear a neck brace for the first 10 days which means no driving, there will also be follow up x rays to make sure the bone graft is healing. I have also have surgeries in my lower back and now have a stim unit in the lower back and let me tell you i would let them do my neck anytime before i let them cut the lower back again. Are they going in through the front or back because i think that would make a difference, they went in the front on me. Scaring wasnt bad either which i was worried about. I will say my problems in my arms and fingers went away almost instantly, they was such a big difference on how i felt that i would do it again.I would have a plan in place only because everyone recovers differently. Have your plan and then play it by ear when you get home. I wish you the best of luck
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