Guest guest Posted May 24, 2004 Report Share Posted May 24, 2004 Howdy All! Been doing some catching up on post readings, and I find myself a bit surprised at the number of CSpinal fusion patients that seem to be wearing cervical collars for long periods of time when my surgeon didn't put me in one at all. The way it was put to me was " they are given for patient comfort and not as a necessity when there is hardware used, " and he also said " with the amount of hardware in your neck it would take a major jolt to knock anything out of place. " While I did wear a collar while I was out and walking outside, I only did so for 3 weeks or so, and have found a large consensus among former patients as well as qualified medical people that feel long term use of cervical collars can lead to muscle atrophy and complicate healing and actually create a need for physical therapy down the road. My surgeon is of the opinion that, once I am fused, I will need little (if any P.T.) at all. While I will certainly say to always go with what your surgeon tells you, anyone looking at surgery may want to question the medical necessity for the cervical collars in light of the potential payoff in lack of muscle atrophy on the backside as it is a payoff worth considering. While I remember all too well how much muscle pain and weakness happens post-surgically, I am happy about my decision to seldom use the collar as I feel it forced the muscles to start working much quicker, and I doubt I will be doing any P.T. at all after fusion. Just my .02 cents! Have a good one! Gordon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 My surgeon has me wearing a cervical collar for 3 months! I have an appt this Thurs so you can bet I will question him about this. > Been doing some catching up on post readings, and I find myself a > bit surprised at the number of CSpinal fusion patients that seem to > be wearing cervical collars for long periods of time when my surgeon > didn't put me in one at all. The way it was put to me was " they are > given for patient comfort and not as a necessity when there is > hardware used, " and he also said " with the amount of hardware in > your neck it would take a major jolt to knock anything out of place. " > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 I can't believe anyone would think the c-collars are for comfort. They are far from comforting. And after almost a year of wearing one, I had the honor burning mine. I had so much hardware put in my neck along with bone that my doc wanted to make sure nothing happened during the healing time. My legs don't work right and fell several times and without the collar, I could have done more damage. Even tho its been 5 years since the last surgery, I still do all the PT that I did when wearing the collar. It all depends on how bad you are and how well your doc thinks you will heal. I am not a smoker but smokers are more likely to be in a collar longer than a non- smoker. Also, sometimes the hardware breaks and the collar can save you. Irene Ohio > Howdy All! > > Been doing some catching up on post readings, and I find myself a > bit surprised at the number of CSpinal fusion patients that seem to > be wearing cervical collars for long periods of time when my surgeon > didn't put me in one at all. The way it was put to me was " they are > given for patient comfort and not as a necessity when there is > hardware used, " and he also said " with the amount of hardware in > your neck it would take a major jolt to knock anything out of place. " > > While I did wear a collar while I was out and walking outside, I > only did so for 3 weeks or so, and have found a large consensus > among former patients as well as qualified medical people that feel > long term use of cervical collars can lead to muscle atrophy and > complicate healing and actually create a need for physical therapy > down the road. My surgeon is of the opinion that, once I am fused, I > will need little (if any P.T.) at all. > > While I will certainly say to always go with what your surgeon tells > you, anyone looking at surgery may want to question the medical > necessity for the cervical collars in light of the potential payoff > in lack of muscle atrophy on the backside as it is a payoff worth > considering. While I remember all too well how much muscle pain and > weakness happens post-surgically, I am happy about my decision to > seldom use the collar as I feel it forced the muscles to start > working much quicker, and I doubt I will be doing any P.T. at all > after fusion. > > Just my .02 cents! > > Have a good one! > Gordon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 I'm just wondering what the you found solution for sleeping is. I have been wearing a soft collar since my single level fusion at C5-6 last Monday. It is driving me nuts at night because I cannot get my head adjusted right on my pillows to be comfortable. I did find a solution to the sleeping with this collar on and works really well.. > > W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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