pain 6 months after acdf surgery

I could move my arm and shoulder without pain (once going through therapy and strengthening). I see my neurosurgeon on Monday, but I'm really nervous about what could be wrong. After the procedure, the surgical area will remain inflamed as the body heals itself. After Acdf Surgery In this case, the patient returned home the following day and was able to return to the golf course within a month. My fusion is at C5/C6 and it doesn't do much at all for head range of motion. pain What Can You Do to Relieve Pain after Disc Fusion? pain Cervical Radiculopathy Nerve Damage After Surgery 2. Welcome to the board. Is It Just Shoulder Pain Or A Heart Attack? 3 Months Post ACDF You could have thoracic outlet syndrome in addition to the other issues you mentioned and it causes arm and hand pain, and TOS is more common with spine injury patients. Back on feb 28 i have 2 disc fusions in my c5/7. Cervical Radiculopathy How are you getting along now. The radiology report was very similar. I have to also say that the physical therapy and myofascial release I did before spine surgery prepared me well for a great recovery, and I had an excellent surgeon. I hear all of you.I had my surgery on 4/9/08.C5/6=6/7.I have been going to physical therapy for 4 months.I am in pain.Left side of neck left shoulder,going down back,pins and needles.I hardly sleep.I find when they stretch me at P.T its horrible and I'm going to tell them to stop.I thought this was the answer.I was on morphine before the surgery. Rothman Orthopaedic Institute offers several options for patients with spine disorders. Results: Wow, that was a big surgery too. after In some cases, however, patients go home the same day. However, nearly all cases resolve spontaneously within 2 years, thus identifying patients who require more detailed or invasive work-up is a challenging task for clinicians. It did help get rid of the pain in my left arm and neck for a little while. Along with the neck pain, I am also having shoulder pain. Craniocervical junction is intact. Strengthening the spine can reduce pain and inflammation and help improve functionality and mobility. Thoracic / Shoulder Blade pain after ACDF Much thanks. My spine has been corrected, and I'm still working on the TOS and making progress. I didn't get all the muscle back in my arms and shoulders yet, but there should be some more tomorrow since I just scrubbed my horse's winter blankets outside. I've gone through 6 lower back surgeries culminating in L4-S1 fusion and more recently two cervical procedures which have combined to fusion from C2 - T2. The most common symptoms of nerve damage after surgery are usually numbness, tingling, burning, muscle weakness or atrophy. pain Both herniations were central (pushing into the cord, right up the middle) and I never had numbness or tingling, just pain/tightness. I took a photo of it and have attached it here. I don't know what ACDF means. I have had some shoulder issues too, a SLAP tear in the capsule in one, and a frozen shoulder in the other caused by the contrast that they injected during an MRI for shoulder instability. A CT scan however would eliminate that lack of fusion diagnosis for pain generation as the CT test is the gold standard for determining if fusion is solid or not. Typically this is nothing to be concerned about. It's been almost a year since my surgery. Copyright 2004-2023 Duke University Health System, Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring May Be Feasible During Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy, Man Walks Again Weeks After Severing Spinal Column. I seemed to bounce back fairly quickly with the first one. Ice, electrical stimulation, massage, and other treatments may be used to make the patient more comfortable. As I told you before I have a bad neck too, but PT seems to help, but my back is a mess. ACDF surgery 6 months after What to Expect from ACDF Surgery The MRI notes degenerative changes of the disc and no evidence of nerve of cord compression. It also is normal to have some swallowing difficulty. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). Of course I will be discussing this with the surgeon on Monday but wondered if anyone had thoughts on this image. Surgeon said no but agreed to a CT scan, which I had done on Tuesday. If you have pain early on, that can actually just be part of the operation. In an attempt to resolve the pain and return to his daily activities, he tried physical therapy, over-the-counter medications, muscle relaxants, steroids, and epidural injections, but his pain persisted. Neck Pain Persists Following ACDF WebAlthough relatively rare, post-operative nerve injuries may occur after cervical spine procedures. There may be a pseudoarthrosis (lack of fusion) of one of the two levels. Now, 6 months later, Im told my by my surgeon my fusion is healing perfectly and xray confirms this. It's going to be tough at home, but at least I will have pain pills. The patient's pain did not improve with 6 months of conservative treatment that included physical therapy and epidural injections. See Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulators (TENS) This is the most common question after three-level cervical fusion surgery. I did the bouncing back and forth between these two specialists prior to surgery and don't want to do it again. That is roughly where my pain/stiffness is located (between shoulder blades/thoracic), but Im wondering if the pain is stemming from directly below the fusion site and if that maps to my shoulder blades/rhomboid area. Late infection after an interval of time after ACDF may present with various symptoms and signs including neck pain, dysphagia, and fever accompanied with laboratory abnormalities such as elevated white blood cell count, ESR, and CRP [ 7, 17 ]. I really haven't had many problems since the surgery, other than my neck being stiff. An ACDF is a type of spine surgery used to treat neck issues by removing. Patients may continue to feel some degree of pain three to six months after spinal fusion. You could have thoracic outlet syndrome in addition to the other issues you mentioned and it causes arm and hand pain, and TOS is more common with spine injury patients. My original symptoms were bilateral, symmetrical muscle aches/burning in my arms (wrists, forearms, deltoids). Physiotherapy after anterior cervical spine surgery for cervical disc disease: study protocol of a prospective randomised study to compare internet-based neck-specific exercise with prescribed physical activity. Bend After Spinal Fusion Surgery Under these circumstances, you may need an Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion . Has anyone experience consistent sore throat and sleep apnea? Recesses and foramina are patent. after Patients may continue to feel some degree of pain three to six months after spinal fusion. The screws", "@lilypaws yep, I had an ACDF. After Acdf Surgery Take any medications that your doctor prescribes for pain and constipation. On Sunday, I rode about 20 miles on hilly terrain and was really exhausted after that because of not riding for months during winter, but now, I feel much stronger. ACDF Recovery Tips. Nerve Damage After Surgery Then I only have 2 days left in the hospital. ACDF Recovery Tips. If you have trouble breathing, call 911 or go to an emergency room immediately. Operative outcomes for cervical myelopathy and radiculopathy. https://trainingandrehabilitation.com/how-truly-treat-thoracic-outlet-syndrome/. @lindyflock Thank you for asking. Cervical Radiculopathy It also is normal to have some swallowing difficulty. Patients may continue to feel some degree of pain three to six months after spinal fusion. I HAVE STABBING PAIN BETWEEN MY SHOULDER BLADES AND SEVERE MUSCLE SPASMS AND PAIN FROM THE BASE OF MY SKULL THROUGH MY SHOULDER AND DOWN INTO MY RIGHT ARM TO MY ELBOW. They had to remove the first plate. Is this normal 6 months after a fusion to have these spasms in my upper back? No lumbar pain). Rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine. THE LORD IS GIVING ME THE ONLY STRENGHTH I HAVE. 2009 Apr;9(4):275-86. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2008.05.006. Bend After Spinal Fusion Surgery PT, and myofascial release can help a lot, and when there is a structural problem to correct, look for the best surgeon you can find because that helps you have a successful procedure and recovery. I had acdf at C5-C6. It is not a sharp pain but a steady dull ache like you would get from over exercising. Answer: C4-C5 bilateral facet joint injection temporarily alleviated the patients pain, confirming the source of the pain as the hypermobility at C4-C5, rather than pseudoarthrosis. Method: Late infection after an interval of time after ACDF may present with various symptoms and signs including neck pain, dysphagia, and fever accompanied with laboratory abnormalities such as elevated white blood cell count, ESR, and CRP [ 7, 17 ]. After surgical intervention (ACDF), 48 patients (68.6%) noted the cessation of shoulder symptoms (pain, weakness, and numbness) during their last visit. @lilypaws yep, I had an ACDF. The cervical spinal canal is diminutive in caliberon a congenital basis. The primary goal of surgery is to relieve your symptoms by decompressing, or relieving pressure on, the compressed nerves in your neck. It feel like I have done 500 pushups or really strenuous exercise every single day. Youre trying to get rid of neck pain, and what are you doing? Bookshelf It might. 3 Months After ACDF Surgery I can get sciatic pain because of my pelvis alignment shifting and do stretches for that, but after this last ride, it feels fine. ACDF Three years after ACDF about two-thirds of the patients had remaining deficit with regard to pain intensity, Neck Disability Index, Distress and Risk Assessment Method and general health. When I contacted Mayo 4 years ago, I wrote to a specific surgeon and asked that he review my imaging because I read papers he co-authored and thought his area on interest would be a good match for what I needed. cervical disectomy fusion c4-5, c 5-6, severe cervical arthr, post anterior cervical disectomy recovery concerns, Numbness post-op c-5 c-6 cervical spine surgery, still in pain after anterior cervical disectomy, Pain in between shoulder blades following Anterior Cervical Discectomy Fushion Surgery-2 weeks Post, post ACDF 4-5,5-6 - still haveTerrible Pain, Anterior cervical fusion c3-4, c4-5, c5-6, Advise of post op symptoms Anterior Cervical Decompression, Cervical spine disectomy, fusion and titanium plate at C6-C7, 7 weeks post-op posterior cervical spine surgery, acdf 2 yrs-chronic shoulder and neck pain, Pain after anterior cervical diskectomy with fusion (ACDF), Neck, shoulder elbow pain. ligamentum buckling or hypertrophy in cervical spine. Infection. There may be numbness in the arms. WebHeadaches after ACDF surgery. I have continued with MFR since spine surgery which helped me recover from that, and make more progress on TOS. over a year ago, ctmom83445 After ACDF Surgery Some patients may need to start physical therapy about a month after ACDF and continue it for a couple more months. My upper traps and entire upper back is constantly in spasm. Web3 Months Post ACDF JohnyH. According to the parameters studied 50 - 78% of those who at the 6-month follow-up were without deficit were still healthy at the 3-year follow-up. I didn't even take any pain medication at home after my surgery because it was tolerable and I just rested and took my time in healing. I would highly recommend Mayo and my neurosurgeon, Dr. Jeremy Fogelson. Computed tomography at Duke confirmed solid fusion at all 3 levels but incomplete fusion at C6-C7. It generally presents with deltoid and/or I hope we can all figure it out soon and get on with our lives. Pain WebBackground:Dysphagia is a common complication immediately following anterior cervical spine surgery.However, its onset more than 1-year postoperatively is rare. In reply to @jenniferhunter. It may take weeks or months to fully recover. You can probably do all of this now. Spinal fusion is a common form of back surgery used to treat several kinds of back problems, including scoliosis, vertebral weakness, and herniated discs. Cervical Fusion Surgery Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Recovery WebThe orthopedist sent Tom for an MRI and, the same day, referred him "right away" to Michael Kachmann, MD, a neurosurgeon with Mayfield Brain & Spine. My arm pain cleared up shortly thereafter. I don't know if it's technically MFR though. See the section on the website regarding failed neck surgery syndrome. Your symptoms and intensity of pain are concerning. Issues With Cervical Fusion Years After Surgery Keep in mind your body has to heal on the inside & calm down from the trauma of https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2019/01/09/using-the-art-of-medicine-to-overcome-fear-of-surgery/. The expected length of a hospital stay after an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion usually overnight for one or two level procedures. I had acdf at C5-C6. I'm in physical therapy and even the stretches the therapist is having me do causes arm pain. Recovery time after ACDF surgery generally lasts about four to six weeks. I had run into that myself before I had surgery when the various surgeons who evaluated me didn't understand my symptoms. The patient's pain did not improve with 6 months of conservative treatment that included physical therapy and epidural injections. It was important that the patient undergo diagnostic testing and facet joint injection prior to surgery, Haglund notes. Almost 5 months post op acdf surgery Thoracic / Shoulder Blade pain after ACDF WebWhen symptoms of cervical radiculopathy persist or worsen despite nonsurgical treatment, your doctor may recommend surgery. These usually get better over the next few weeks. After surgical intervention (ACDF), 48 patients (68.6%) noted the cessation of shoulder symptoms (pain, weakness, and numbness) during their last visit. 2007 Apr 1;32(7):772-4; discussion 775. doi: 10.1097/01.brs.0000258846.86537.ad. MY POST OP XRAYS AND MRI LOOK FINE ACCORDING TO MY NEURO AND PAIN DR. Cord terminates at T12. The artificial disc was removed and an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with iliac crest bone graft was performed to reconstruct the C6-C7 level. The primary goal of surgery is to relieve your symptoms by decompressing, or relieving pressure on, the compressed nerves in your neck. Maintaining stability of the spine. Predictive factors for arm pain, neck pain, neck specific disability and health after anterior cervical decompression and fusion. The recovery time following ACDF varies. months @amywood20 When Mayo is open again for appointments, I think that would be a good decision to go there. Rejection of a graft or other structures. Posts: 9,238. After surgery, patients should eat soft foods and liquids until their first follow-up appointment. Sign up to read more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox! My surgeon constantly reiterates your neck is fused, its not your neck, frustrating. Take any medications that your doctor prescribes for pain and constipation. an ACDF Surgery Scar: Advice From a Spine Surgeon After surgery, patients should eat soft foods and liquids until their first follow-up appointment. I understand your concern with that image. Here are a few of the findings: CLINICAL INDICATION: Radiculopathy, cervical region ACDF spanning C3-C6. The thoracic surgeon had to decide if he thought my biggest symptoms where coming from my cervical spine or the compression of nerves because of TOS which he discussed with me, and he consulted with the neurosurgeon about this, actually in a phone call while I was at the appointment with the neurosurgeon. Typically this is nothing to be concerned about. I do know that I have a bulging lumbar disc that cracks on rotation, and I have less issues with that because of core strength. No new disc protrusion or mass effect upon the canal. A cervical epidural should have yielded at least short term relief if the symptoms originated from the nerves of the spinal canal. WebWhen symptoms of cervical radiculopathy persist or worsen despite nonsurgical treatment, your doctor may recommend surgery. THE PAIN RETURNED ABOUT 6 WKS AFTER SURGERY. 6 months after anterior cervical decompression So very frustrated that I still have issuesand they are worse. FOIA There is some imbibition of the intra-articular contrast into the superior labrum suggesting degeneration. Bend After Spinal Fusion Surgery Any surgery will come with a set of risks and potential complications to look out for. -Mild degenerative changes of the left AC joint. Case Description:A 45-year-old male initially underwent a C3-4 and C5-6 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).At age 49, 4 years later, he presented with worsening dysphagia accompanied by neck and right upper extremity pain. WebIt is not uncommon to have pain in the neck following fusion surgery which slowly gets better over 12 to 18 months. But you cant know this for sure until almost a year has passed. This inflammation can impact the nerves and cause some numbness. However, more central to the success of the case, he says, was the DTRAX device, which enables surgeons to perform minimally invasive cervical fusions on patients whose pain persists or returns following ACDF. operative nerve injuries after cervical spine surgery But you cant know this for sure until almost a year has passed. I had acdf at C5-C6. It causes pain after ACDF surgery because the bone graft and attached muscles change their biomechanics. There may be a separate shoulder problem (less likely but possible) and a well done physical examination would sort this out. 6 months after Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a moderate disc herniation at the C4-C5 level, and flexion-extension cervical spine plain films showed hypermobility at the same level. If you have pain early on, that can actually just be part of the operation. Complications with anesthesia. Drs fail to tell patients this, instead they go by what they read in textbooks in school. Do not use nicotine for at least three months. I've asked my surgeon if that same procedure can be performed along my shoulder blades, sides of my neck and other shoulder as I have the same symptoms as you describe in these areas. These usually get better over the next few weeks. There was terminology in that paper that I looked up and in doing that, I found medical literature with cases like mine that were described as a rare presentation. Join Date: Sep 2004. after Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion (ACDF) Recovery Some patients may need to start physical therapy about a month after ACDF and continue it for a couple more months. Its a slow healing process, but in the end, the operation may end up being successful. Rotator cuff tear (supraspinatus mainly) was the predominant finding in MRI in those who didnt improve after ACDF (n=18, 25.7%, p-value: 0.001). infection after X ray of T-spine is negative for any issues there. Without the tests, it might have been assumed that the patients pain was due to C6-C7 possible pseudarthrosis. over a year ago, Pain in the Neck68921 Other goals of surgery include: Improving neck pain. Confusing MRI, cervical disectomy and fusion surgery complications, C4/5 & C5/6 Fusion with TM100 Plate and Screws - Still pain, numbness much improved, Winged scapula (RH side) following C5 C6 Anterior disectomy, longterm pain after anterior cervical fusion, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion C5/6. Careers. Complications with anesthesia. It is very common to have some pain after the surgery, but when pain persists for months there are several possibilities. Pain Reading your post was like deja vu. Take any medications that your doctor prescribes for pain and constipation. This study investigates if 6-month outcome with a broad assessment after ACDF with a cervical intervertebral fusion cage can be a guide for the 3-years outcome. Any ideas? ALL IN ALL, I GUESS I NEEDED THE SURGERY BECAUSE OF THE HERNIATION, BUT I HAVE WORSE NECK & SHOULDER MUSCLE PAIN THAN BEFORE. Neck Pain 3 Months After Acdf Surgery During the surgery, the spine surgeon accesses the cervical vertebrae from the front of the neck. In an attempt to bring these individuals back into their full-speed lives again, doctors and other spine treatment providers focus on mitigating pain. Recovery time after ACDF surgery generally lasts about four to six weeks. After surgery, patients should eat soft foods and liquids until their first follow-up appointment. What you should do is get together copies of all of your imaging before and after your spine surgery. Persistent Shoulder Pain After Anterior Cervical Discectomy Cervical fusion is generally considered safe, however, it is major surgery. The risk factors for C5 nerve palsy are male gender, OPLL, and posterior cervical approaches. According to the parameters studied 50 - 78% of those who at the 6-month follow-up were without deficit were still healthy at the 3-year follow-up. It is not a sharp pain but a steady dull ache like you would get from over exercising. One image did stand out. Strengthening the spine can reduce pain and inflammation and help improve functionality and mobility. That is bad for spine and shoulder alignment and I want to prevent any future problems that could be caused by wear and tear with poor ergonomics. 3 Months Post ACDF https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20353988 If your PT is not trained in MFR, there is a provider finder on the MFR website. Should You Push That Shoulder As Far As It Will Go? On Jan 11th 2007 I had ACDF without plate or screws C6/C7 with only a soft collar perscibed. The screws do seem kind of long like they could be breaking through to the spinal canal. Medications. Hello, I am currently 6 months out from a two level ACDF (c4-c6). No evidence of hardware complication. You could have thoracic outlet syndrome in addition to the other issues you mentioned and it causes arm and hand pain, and TOS is more common with spine injury patients. @jenniferhunter do you have any thoughts on what I posted? In an attempt to bring these individuals back into their full-speed lives again, doctors and other spine treatment providers focus on mitigating pain. Choosing a fusion let me avoid hardware and I agreed to stay in a neck brace until fused which was at 3 to 4 months. A prospective study. March 26, 2018 Three months after undergoing C5-T1 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), an active 60-year-old man from Florida began to experience recurrent neck and left shoulder pain. That was the 3rd ride in a week and both other rides were about 6 miles each. The most common symptoms of nerve damage after surgery are usually numbness, tingling, burning, muscle weakness or atrophy. I had no hardware and had to be really careful not to do anything until I fused, but it was at the 4 month mark that I was beginning to fuse and was cleared to begin PT and myofascial release again. after ACDF Surgery Doctors generally say that nerve pain can take up to a year to resolve, sometimes as long as 18 months depending on how long the nerve was compressed. My testing and consults were completed in a few days, and I had an answer and an offer of help. I had found the answer myself in medical literature and asked for help in bringing that to the attention of the surgeon, and none of the doctors would help with that even though I had been their patients for several years before I saw the spine surgeon. Spinal fusion is a common form of back surgery used to treat several kinds of back problems, including scoliosis, vertebral weakness, and herniated discs. One of the biggest issues we see after surgery is scarring around the nerves (1). WebHeadaches after ACDF surgery. What I am not sure about is what kind of artifacts could be caused by the hardware itself on the imaging, so I don't know if the screw is pushing into the spinal canal or right up to it. This is the most common question after three-level cervical fusion surgery. The site is secure. Nerve Damage After Surgery Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. I don't know if this is a big deal or not and if it could be the source of my continued arm/shoulder issues. It's incredibly weird, as so many movements hurt. It's amazing how our symptoms are so similar, I think that drs should check out this site. To the layman (me), it seems like my neck fusion was successful, and now my thoracic has some issues. In younger and/or more physically fit individuals, recovery time can range anywhere from 46 weeks. Doing two or more movements together puts the back at high risk for injury so be careful! Number one, you should always be concerned about non-union of the bone graft. If you had a bone graft taken from your pelvis, you may experience pain, soreness, and stiffness at the incision site. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a type of spine surgery used for the treatment of neck or arm pain caused by cervical radiculopathy. The primary goal of surgery is to relieve your symptoms by decompressing, or relieving pressure on, the compressed nerves in your neck. However, an ACDF is still considered major surgery, and complete recovery from an ACDF procedure can take between three to six months. I will say that the arm/shoulder issues I have been having over the past month and a half or so are different than the ones I had pre-op. pain

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