Re: Has Anyone Had Back Surgery?

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

@ECBG wrote:
@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
@ECBG - one thing I neglected to mention. I'm not sure what kind of procedure you're contemplating, but with ACDF it's very common, expected even, to wake up from surgery with significant upper back and shoulder pain. You can get meds for that.
@JeanLouiseFinch

ACDF?

My back is like a country road.

@ECBG - Sorry, the abbreviation is how it's usually named. It stands for Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion.
Anterior = front access

Cervical = neck

Discectomy = removal of the bad disc (s)

Fusion = treatment to get two (or more) vertebrae to permanently grow together.

Sage04 · ‎07-10-2011

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
@ECBG wrote:
@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
@ECBG - one thing I neglected to mention. I'm not sure what kind of procedure you're contemplating, but with ACDF it's very common, expected even, to wake up from surgery with significant upper back and shoulder pain. You can get meds for that.
@JeanLouiseFinch

ACDF?

My back is like a country road.
@ECBG - Sorry, the abbreviation is how it's usually named. It stands for Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion.
Anterior = front access
Cervical = neck
Discectomy = removal of the bad disc (s)
Fusion = treatment to get two (or more) vertebrae to permanently grow together.

@JeanLouiseFinch I don't remember hearing that abbreviation before. Maybe I did and just blocked it out. All I wanted was to get rid of the pain.

My two Cervical Fusions were done by 2 different Neurosurgeons. One was right handed and the other left handed. I didn't realize that my Primary Care doctor could tell. I didn't even know that.

Did you say you had pain when you woke up? I was shocked that I didn't even though I was told that I wouldn't. I remember the nurses telling me even though I was not having any pain I should just push the pump and use it because I was paying for it.

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

@Sage04 wrote:
@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
@ECBG wrote:
@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
@ECBG - one thing I neglected to mention. I'm not sure what kind of procedure you're contemplating, but with ACDF it's very common, expected even, to wake up from surgery with significant upper back and shoulder pain. You can get meds for that.
@JeanLouiseFinch

ACDF?

My back is like a country road.
@ECBG - Sorry, the abbreviation is how it's usually named. It stands for Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion.
Anterior = front access
Cervical = neck
Discectomy = removal of the bad disc (s)
Fusion = treatment to get two (or more) vertebrae to permanently grow together.

@JeanLouiseFinch I don't remember hearing that abbreviation before. Maybe I did and just blocked it out. All I wanted was to get rid of the pain.

My two Cervical Fusions were done by 2 different Neurosurgeons. One was right handed and the other left handed. I didn't realize that my Primary Care doctor could tell. I didn't even know that.

Did you say you had pain when you woke up? I was shocked that I didn't even though I was told that I wouldn't. I remember the nurses telling me even though I was not having any pain I should just push the pump and use it because I was paying for it.

Yes, @Sage04. When I woke up from my surgery I had pain in and across my shoulders. Didn't have a pump, but I had an oral narcotic.

Scorpio1971 · ‎03-10-2010

I am facing C4-C5 ACDF surgery in 3 weeks and am not thrilled about it. I have herniated disc pressing on nerve root that goes to deltoid muscle. I have not been able to lift or move my right shoulder in 5 weeks. It all started in mid-May with a stiff neck low on my right side. Used heating pad for couple days, woke up on 3rd day all was fine with my arms but later in afternoon tried to reach up to close shower curtain an could not lift my arm from the shoulder. Terrible pain all across back of neck and about 4 inches down across top of back over to right shoulder. MRI shows moderate to severe right foramimal narrowing due to facet degenerative arthritis. To say I am very nervous is an understatement since every surgery I have had I have had complications or issues, including lifetime low platelet counts and IgA Deficiency which requires treated blood to be on hand for surgeries if needed for blood loss. Have to be cleared by hematology beforehand, requiring extra appointment to have to travel to in pain, in addition to having platelets drawn upon arrival for surgery to obtain current count and decision on whether to go ahead or cancel surgery. Also nervous about movement limitations since I live alone, am a fall risk, am responsible for house & tenants, been trying to reschedule other appointments already booked for months in advance into next couple months into next 3 weeks which is proving impossible, the severe limitations on movement after surgery and the 6-8 week recuperation required with 2 months physical therapy starting 2 weeks after surgery. Not to mention possibility of them sending me to rehab due to unstable walking of because of severe knee pain. Just not looking forward to this.