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Started By
Message
re: Cervical ACDF 2 Level
Posted on 11/6/20 at 8:30 pm to Stevo
Posted on 11/6/20 at 8:30 pm to Stevo
Then you shouldn’t be complaining if you didn’t get a second opinion from an expert on the type of surgery you had. A Neuro would have been your best bet. For the before, during and after procedure. Good luck with your recovery
Eta: I’m just saying, if an orthopedic tells me I need back or neck surgery I’m going see a neurosurgeon before I let an orthopedic do surgery on me.
Eta: I’m just saying, if an orthopedic tells me I need back or neck surgery I’m going see a neurosurgeon before I let an orthopedic do surgery on me.
This post was edited on 11/6/20 at 8:36 pm
1
Posted on 11/6/20 at 8:55 pm to Stevo
quote:
Any experiences with this?
I had 5 levels done. You won't find many with more than 4 levels done. It was done and Neuromedical Center's Spine Hospital 5 years ago.
Posted on 11/6/20 at 9:06 pm to Stevo
Would recommend exhausting every possible option before even considering it. I see far too many people with spinal surgeries every week who end up no better than they were before surgery and sometimes end up worse. If you really do end up going through with it at that point, pick the very best surgeon available.
Posted on 11/6/20 at 9:12 pm to tgrbaitn08
quote:
you shouldn’t be complaining
Who's complaining? Simply asking for those who have it done, how long did it take for nerve to recover? Mine has not yet recovered.
Posted on 11/6/20 at 9:19 pm to Stevo
quote:
Who's complaining?
On the verge of complaining.....ask your orthopedic surgeon.
quote:
Mine has not yet recovered.
quote:
19 days from onset to surgery, which is why im concerned.
quote:
I would not predict this type of post op limitations
quote:
I'm 4 weeks past sugery. Left arm still weak, and left index finger still numb.
This post was edited on 11/6/20 at 9:20 pm
Posted on 11/6/20 at 9:27 pm to tgrbaitn08
Appreciate it, you've been great.
Posted on 11/6/20 at 9:44 pm to TigerstuckinMS
They do it from the side. Less muscle tissue to cut through. Less painful and aides in a swifter recovery.
Posted on 11/7/20 at 9:42 am to Stevo
Well, you have gotten a few good responses and lots of inaccurate info in this thread. First of all, ACDF is a very successful surgery for treating radicular pain from nerve impingement. There are multiple ways to do it (using cadaver bone, using synthetic bone products, using your own bone, etc) - your surgeon can discuss pros and cons of each method. The biggest keys to success are following post op instructions and avoiding smoking or using nicotine. Nicotine use is a major factor in pseudarthrosis (non healing of the fusion).
As to using a neurosurgeon vs orthopedic surgeon - essentially they are equal. Typically, orthopedic surgeons who perform spinal surgery do additional fellowship training after residency in this field and are highly qualified. Essentially, all neurosurgeons perform spinal surgery and a small portion of orthopedic surgeons (those with additional specialty training) perform spinal surgery. The quality of your surgeon is not related to his background in ortho vs neuro - there are good and bad from each side.
The downside to a 2 level ACDF include a small loss of motion and the possibility of accelerated wear at the adjacent levels which are now having to do more work. However, if you're in pain from a pinched nerve and conservative treatment has not been effective (therapy, traction, steroid nerve block injections, etc), then surgery can be a very good option. In general, spine surgery (particularly fusions) has a bad public perception but this procedure has shown consistently good results (better than other treatment options) for those with radicular pain.
In short, if you are in pain from a pinched nerve, it is very likely that you will have a successful outcome with this surgery.
As to using a neurosurgeon vs orthopedic surgeon - essentially they are equal. Typically, orthopedic surgeons who perform spinal surgery do additional fellowship training after residency in this field and are highly qualified. Essentially, all neurosurgeons perform spinal surgery and a small portion of orthopedic surgeons (those with additional specialty training) perform spinal surgery. The quality of your surgeon is not related to his background in ortho vs neuro - there are good and bad from each side.
The downside to a 2 level ACDF include a small loss of motion and the possibility of accelerated wear at the adjacent levels which are now having to do more work. However, if you're in pain from a pinched nerve and conservative treatment has not been effective (therapy, traction, steroid nerve block injections, etc), then surgery can be a very good option. In general, spine surgery (particularly fusions) has a bad public perception but this procedure has shown consistently good results (better than other treatment options) for those with radicular pain.
In short, if you are in pain from a pinched nerve, it is very likely that you will have a successful outcome with this surgery.
Posted on 11/7/20 at 10:11 am to Jack_Handy
Sincerely appreciate this response. The pre surgery pain was very rouvh. Also had arm weakness and numbness. Surgery immediately relieved the constant pain. Waiting to sse what happens woth other 2 symptoms. I dont smoke, and the 2 week f/u x-ray looked great.
Posted on 11/7/20 at 10:13 am to Stevo
quote:
Sincerely appreciate this response. The pre surgery pain was very rouvh. Also had arm weakness and numbness. Surgery immediately relieved the constant pain. Waiting to sse what happens woth other 2 symptoms. I dont smoke, and the 2 week f/u x-ray looked great.
Glad you are doing well. Pain relief is often immediate. Recovery of numbness and weakness definitely takes longer. Order of relief is usually pain, then numbness, then weakness. Max improvement can take up to a year, so don't be discouraged if not seeing rapid results - very good chance you will continue to see improvements.
Posted on 11/7/20 at 5:23 pm to Jack_Handy
quote:
There are multiple ways to do it (using cadaver bone, using synthetic bone products, using your own bone, etc)
You seem to know a lot about this, what would cause me to not heal to the cadaver bone? I went back for a follow up and X-rays have shown for 6 months that I have not healed to the cadaver bone. That’s why they are going back in. Plan is to use the “cages” with my bone graft.
Posted on 11/7/20 at 5:27 pm to Jack_Handy
quote:
to using a neurosurgeon vs orthopedic surgeon - essentially they are equal. Typically, orthopedic surgeons who perform spinal surgery do
Also, I was seeing Dr Kyle Girod (ortho) all they way up to time to schedule surgery. This was in April and the surgery was going to be at The Lake. COVID was New and Spreading so I went to Oberlander (neuro) and had surgery at The Spine Hospital of La. I was the only patient in the hospital that day. Otherwise Girod seemed more than capable.
Posted on 11/7/20 at 5:35 pm to Stevo
Don’t judge it for a year.
Still a lot of swelling and inflammation. Healing takes more time than you think.
Still a lot of swelling and inflammation. Healing takes more time than you think.
Posted on 11/7/20 at 5:43 pm to Stevo
I’ve had it done twice now.
Posted on 11/7/20 at 5:54 pm to Bosethus68
quote:Smoking/nicotine use, osteopenia/osteoporosis, chronic nsaid use during the initial healing phase, nutritional deficiencies etc.
You seem to know a lot about this, what would cause me to not heal to the cadaver bone?
And you were in good hands with either Girod or Oberlander. They are both experienced surgeons.
This post was edited on 11/7/20 at 5:56 pm
Posted on 11/7/20 at 6:05 pm to Stevo
Got pcdf done in July. Day after, lost use of both arms for two months. mri after showed I still had mild stenosis at c2 through c7. They didn't put me in a neck brace at all. Hurt like hell. Good luck.
Posted on 11/7/20 at 6:46 pm to thumperpait
Status now?
Posted on 11/7/20 at 7:02 pm to Stevo
Pull the spark plugs and look for fouling. If you see any, run a compression test.
Posted on 11/7/20 at 7:56 pm to saderade
quote:
Smoking/nicotine use, osteopenia/osteoporosis, chronic nsaid use during the initial healing phase, nutritional deficiencies etc.
No smoking and I was what’s would have been defined as a Strength Athlete so I would hope it’s nothing with my bone mass and I really hope I had my nutrition right, but that’s starting to worry me about this next round. I was given an Orthofix collar months after surgery. I will have it to be able to use it this time.
This post was edited on 11/7/20 at 7:57 pm
Posted on 11/7/20 at 10:25 pm to Stevo
Just got a mri. Go back to neurology in a couple of weeks. Arms are working now but still week. Hand strength is week. Still have a lot of pain in my neck. Dr said I was born with a narrow spinal canal. I did martial arts for a long time. Had a lot of pain for past 30 years. I thought is was normal. Just walk it off lol.
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