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2-level ACDF surgery
Posted on 10/2/26 at 5:11 pm
Posted on 10/2/26 at 5:11 pm
Unfortunately this is my fate so I'll be having a 2-level ACDF neck surgery later this year. I have multiple bulging discs and didn't realize it until a few months ago. Epidural helped and I feel good now, but I know it doesn't fix the issue. Surgeon recommends the 2 level surgery to fuse my c5/6 and 6/7 and clean out all the bone at the base of my neck. I'm in my early 40s and very active, so this will, I'm sure, knock me down for a while. Anyone have this surgery and have some guidance on what to expect? I've gone through all of this with AI but want some real world experiences if anyone has em.
Posted on 10/2/26 at 5:24 pm to RedBeardBaw
In my late 40s I was told they would not recommend fusion for C6/C7, and would suggest disc replacement.
Posted on 10/2/26 at 10:46 pm to LemmyLives
I asked about this as well. Unfortunately there were other issues that they didn’t recommend a disc replacement, not to mention that it would be even harder to do a 2 level replacement and that’s the most they can do.
Posted on 10/3/26 at 4:57 am to RedBeardBaw
I’m going through the exact same thing right now. Hopefully, Monday I’m cleared for weight training.
I’m 47 and had the fusion rather than replacement because of severe arthritis. What to expect? For me, the pain/tingling was better immediately. It really sucks post surgery, it hurts, can’t lie to you. Several months later, I have no pain but my neck feels stiff. I still can’t get a pillow that works for me. It’s just constantly stiff. My ROM is improving. At first I thought I wouldn’t be able to look up again but I’m probably 75% of what I was.
As far as training goes, you should just walk when you are in the 10lb restriction stage. When you get to 35lb restriction be careful. You feel pretty normal but you are not healed. I really wish I have done more this last month. I basically do nothing and I feel like shite. Apparently if I can’t train the way I want, I don’t want to do it.
At least the dr feels like I will be back to near normal when completely healed. Squatting, benching, deadlifting at past strength levels.
I’m 47 and had the fusion rather than replacement because of severe arthritis. What to expect? For me, the pain/tingling was better immediately. It really sucks post surgery, it hurts, can’t lie to you. Several months later, I have no pain but my neck feels stiff. I still can’t get a pillow that works for me. It’s just constantly stiff. My ROM is improving. At first I thought I wouldn’t be able to look up again but I’m probably 75% of what I was.
As far as training goes, you should just walk when you are in the 10lb restriction stage. When you get to 35lb restriction be careful. You feel pretty normal but you are not healed. I really wish I have done more this last month. I basically do nothing and I feel like shite. Apparently if I can’t train the way I want, I don’t want to do it.
At least the dr feels like I will be back to near normal when completely healed. Squatting, benching, deadlifting at past strength levels.
This post was edited on 10/3/26 at 5:24 am
Posted on 10/4/26 at 6:01 am to bamaguy17
Thanks. This is exactly the kind of response I was looking for, real world experiences. I know its going to suck, but hopefully this is the right decision for the long term. Honestly right now I have no pain at all, tingling is minimal but does flare up at times. I know its probably all due to the epidural i had a month ago which actually doesn't fix anything, so I know the pain and everything can all come back in an instant. Hope I'm making the right decision and not screwing myself.
Posted on 10/4/26 at 7:23 am to RedBeardBaw
I should’ve added that I had 3 blocks before the surgery. The first worked for 18 months. Started getting numbness again and got the second block which did nothing. The pain wasn’t bad so I said to hell with it, I’ll live with it. Then one day I was bench pressing and my left arm kept getting progressively weaker and weaker every session. Then I started dropping things, losing fine motor control of my left hand.
Got another MRI and it showed bulging discs in the c6-c7 rather than the c5-c6 as before. The block for that did nothing.
Finally got the surgery. I don’t know where you are on your fitness journey, but I lost so much muscle mass in the nearly year long process that it depresses me. But, I could not continue like I was doing before the surgery. It had to be done.
Got another MRI and it showed bulging discs in the c6-c7 rather than the c5-c6 as before. The block for that did nothing.
Finally got the surgery. I don’t know where you are on your fitness journey, but I lost so much muscle mass in the nearly year long process that it depresses me. But, I could not continue like I was doing before the surgery. It had to be done.
Posted on 10/5/26 at 11:37 am to RedBeardBaw
Wife had this done back in February at age 32. Recovery process was as smooth as you could hope. It took us months to get a diagnosis and she unfortunately lost some function in her leg which she's been working to get back with PT. Still gets some zings in her arm/hand from time to time. Surgeon said 10% of patients get full function back. Goal of surgery is to stop it from progressing to the point of paralysis. Good luck!
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