Anterior Cervical Discectomy

[Guest guest]

Hi

Thanks to all who responded. I have had some right shoulder pain and some

tingling in my right arm/hand when I wake up in the AM. I didn't think much

of it as I use my keyboard and mouse all day so i figured that was it.

When I had investigated further, I had an MRI and additional xrays. My neck

is completely straight there is no curve at all (not sure what hwo that

happened.) I also have bone spurs and some arthritis.

The doctor said:

It would be an Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion at C 4-5 and C5-6

with bone graft and plating. He goes in through the frontof your neck since

it is more a direct closer path, so they make an incision 1/2 inch long and

use instruments to gently pull your trachea out of the way to reach the

spot.

He said 1-1.5 hours of srugery - 1 week to 10 days downtime as far as

working - hard cast for 1 week and soft cast for a few weeks.

I am very very concerned about having this surgery. I have gotten relief

from chiropractic work and massage therapy. I am not too excited about

going under the knife or being out of commisson(I am sure no one is!!) but I

am the main bread winner in my house and I am really afraid of danger but

also recovery.

I also feel like - what if this stuff comes back and I have to have more?

This is a little scary to me.

[Guest guest]

Sally,

I had the same exact work done in 01 (double anterior fusion) but I never heard

of a hard cast on the neck, and that was my second cervical surgery. I had to

wear a soft collar for 6 weeks after the fusion. Is that a common practice of

you Dr's? Also I know that it is a very scary ordeal, but it's not that bad when

it comes to recovery, some snap back really quick. I won't lie to you, there

will be pain post-op, but just take the pain control the Dr gives and do what he

says.

Have you done everything else that can be done before you decided to go this

route?, because it can not be reversed. Have to talked to the doc about, or

researched disk replacement?

 

Bama,

 

The dog has seldom been successful in pulling man up to its level of sagacity,

but man has frequently dragged the dog down to his. Thurber

 

  " It's simple really, animals love you in a way that people can't. " From: When

Night is Falling

________________________________

From: Sally Hackett <srhackett@...>

spinal problems

Sent: Monday, May 4, 2009 10:22:00 AM

Subject: Anterior Cervical Discectomy

Hi

Thanks to all who responded. I have had some right shoulder pain and some

tingling in my right arm/hand when I wake up in the AM. I didn't think much

of it as I use my keyboard and mouse all day so i figured that was it.

When I had investigated further, I had an MRI and additional xrays. My neck

is completely straight there is no curve at all (not sure what hwo that

happened.) I also have bone spurs and some arthritis.

The doctor said:

It would be an Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion at C 4-5 and C5-6

with bone graft and plating. He goes in through the frontof your neck since

it is more a direct closer path, so they make an incision 1/2 inch long and

use instruments to gently pull your trachea out of the way to reach the

spot.

He said 1-1.5 hours of srugery - 1 week to 10 days downtime as far as

working - hard cast for 1 week and soft cast for a few weeks.

I am very very concerned about having this surgery. I have gotten relief

from chiropractic work and massage therapy. I am not too excited about

going under the knife or being out of commisson(I am sure no one is!!) but I

am the main bread winner in my house and I am really afraid of danger but

also recovery.

I also feel like - what if this stuff comes back and I have to have more?

This is a little scary to me.

[Guest guest]

Charlene:

I still have swallowing issues as well... I had a few different tests because I

thought something was wrong. At the end of the day, the doctors said that the

plates take up more space... So chew well, eat slowly, and always drink a lot!

Wasn't the answer I wanted to hear when I felt like I was constantly chocking

but it has gotten better as more time has passed....

Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T

Re: Anterior Cervical Discectomy One difference I

have seen is age. I was 28 for my first surgery and 31 for my second. I have

noticed that the older u are, the harder it may be for you.... Good luck!!!

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..

[Guest guest]

Same with me.

 Charlene

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass! It's about learning to dance in

the rain!

________________________________

From: " carrie.heflin@... " <carrie.heflin@...>

neck pain

Sent: Mon, August 16, 2010 5:40:42 PM

Subject: Re: Anterior Cervical Discectomy

 

Charlene:

I still have swallowing issues as well... I had a few different tests because I

thought something was wrong. At the end of the day, the doctors said that the

plates take up more space... So chew well, eat slowly, and always drink a lot!

Wasn't the answer I wanted to hear when I felt like I was constantly chocking

but it has gotten better as more time has passed....

Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T

Re: Anterior Cervical Discectomy One difference I

have seen is age. I was 28 for my first surgery and 31 for my second. I have

noticed that the older u are, the harder it may be for you.... Good luck!!!

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

..

[Guest guest]

I have neck issues-2 collapsed disc, endplate deterioration,1 disc bulge. Did

anyone with neck problems have difficulty swallowing prior to surgery? I haven't

had surgery yet. I cannot swallow anything but small pills. The large ones lay

in my throat and I can actually taste the medicine as it dissolves. I often feel

like I am choking when I eat. It seems sometimes like whatever I swallow gets

stuck and it is always in the same place. If others have had this problem I will

point this out next month to my doctor.

Jane H.

From: Charlene Reeves <charlenereeves2004@...>

Subject: Re: Anterior Cervical Discectomy

neck pain

Date: Monday, August 16, 2010, 5:50 PM

 

Same with me.

 Charlene

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass! It's about learning to dance in

the rain!

________________________________

From: " carrie.heflin@... " <carrie.heflin@...>

neck pain

Sent: Mon, August 16, 2010 5:40:42 PM

Subject: Re: Anterior Cervical Discectomy

 

Charlene:

I still have swallowing issues as well... I had a few different tests because I

thought something was wrong. At the end of the day, the doctors said that the

plates take up more space... So chew well, eat slowly, and always drink a lot!

Wasn't the answer I wanted to hear when I felt like I was constantly chocking

but it has gotten better as more time has passed....

Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T

Re: Anterior Cervical Discectomy One difference I

have seen is age. I was 28 for my first surgery and 31 for my second. I have

noticed that the older u are, the harder it may be for you.... Good luck!!!

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

..

[Guest guest]

I'm hoping the very best outcome for you. Make sure to talk to the doctor and

have any questions answered that you may have. Write them down, maybe you can

contact the office today if you want to feel more confident tomorrow. If you

feel your doctor is not experienced enough to do this surgery, by all means

cancel and find one that has done many and has a high percentage of success.

I understand the pain at night and the horrible dreams.

The reason I take pain medication is for my neck, shoulder and mid back pain.

Without the medication, I could not function nor sleep.

Jennette

________________________________

From: I <iverson1@...>

neck pain

Sent: Tue, August 17, 2010 12:01:23 PM

Subject: Anterior Cervical Discectomy

Thank you for all that replied to my message. I guess I am still going to get

the surgery because it is set for tomorrow morning. I am praying for the best. I

had a fall down the basement steps about 14 years ago and hit the back of my

neck in the fall. Tha last 4-5 years the pain has been getting worse. Arms go

numb, neck and shoulder pain, but the thing that is the worst is the sleeping

and dreaming my arms are on fire or broken and I'm in terrible pain only to wake

up and my arms are in such pain it makes me cry.I have not slept well in about 3

years and I'm also tired when I get up. The things I used to enjoy are no fun

anymore when you have to try to move yourself in a certain way to get relif from

the pain and numbness.

Thank you again for all the messages and concern. I will let you know later how

things are going... Take care.

Pat in Minnesota

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane,

Sometimes the endplate deterioration of the disc is worse on the esophagus side

than the spinal cord side, and that would cause the problem with swallowing and

actually when the surgeon removes those bone spurs your swallowing would be

better. (Actually maybe a surgery could be done just to remove those bone spurs.

It wouldn't be a fusion or anything like that.)

Now if the MRI or CT scan does not show bad bone spurs on the esophagus side

then you should see a GI doctor to find out what is causing your swallowing

problems. If you have chronic heartburn, you might have scar tissue that is

contracting or dysmotility in the esophagus or something worse.

Rochelle

>

> From: Charlene Reeves <charlenereeves2004@...>

> Subject: Re: Anterior Cervical Discectomy

> neck pain

> Date: Monday, August 16, 2010, 5:50 PM

>

>

>

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>  

>

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>

> Same with me.

>

>  Charlene

>

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>

> Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass! It's about learning to dance

in

>

> the rain!

>

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> From: " carrie.heflin@... " <carrie.heflin@...>

>

> neck pain

>

> Sent: Mon, August 16, 2010 5:40:42 PM

>

> Subject: Re: Anterior Cervical Discectomy

>

>

>

>  

>

> Charlene:

>

> I still have swallowing issues as well... I had a few different tests because

I

>

> thought something was wrong. At the end of the day, the doctors said that the

>

> plates take up more space... So chew well, eat slowly, and always drink a lot!

>

> Wasn't the answer I wanted to hear when I felt like I was constantly chocking

>

> but it has gotten better as more time has passed....

>

>

>

> Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T

>

>

>

> Re: Anterior Cervical Discectomy One difference

I

>

> have seen is age. I was 28 for my first surgery and 31 for my second. I have

>

> noticed that the older u are, the harder it may be for you.... Good luck!!!

>

>

>

> Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

>

> .

>

>

>

>