After surgery, you can expect your neck to feel stiff and sore. This should improve in the weeks after surgery. You may have trouble sitting or standing in one position for very long. You may need to wear a neck brace for a while.
The recovery time for C5-C6-C7 neck treatments is about 4 to 6 weeks. Full recovery may take months. You can shorten your recovery by maintaining a proper lifestyle and cooperating with your doctor.
The best sleeping position to reduce your pain after surgery is either on your back with your knees bent and a pillow under your knees or on your side with your knees bent and a pillow between your legs.
---Do NOT lift anything weighing greater than 5-10lbs. ---Try to avoid lifting or reaching above your head. ---During the healing process in the first few weeks after surgery, you will likely tire more easily and will need to rest between activities. It can take a few weeks for your energy level to return to normal.
You may have trouble sitting or standing in one position for very long. You may need to wear a neck brace for a while. Most people can go back to work after 4 to 6 weeks. But it may take a few months to get back to your usual activities.
The length of the driving restrictions ranges from one to eight weeks for a single-level ACDF, and 4-12 weeks for multilevel ACDFs; two surgeons give restrictions until patients come off narcotics.
Patients are instructed to avoid bending and twisting of the neck in the early postoperative period (first 2-4 weeks). Patients can gradually begin to bend and twist their neck after 2-4 weeks as the pain subsides and the neck and back muscles get stronger.
The operation generally takes 1 to 3 hours. You will lie on your back on the operative table and be given anesthesia. Once asleep, your neck area is cleansed and prepped. If a fusion is planned and your own bone will be used, the hip area is also prepped to obtain a bone graft.
The most common symptom of C5-C6 disc herniation is a pain in the lower neck. This can either be a piercing periodic pinch or a constant vibrating ache at the back of the neck. Due to this pain, certain neck movements can become difficult and/or uncomfortable, thereby limiting the patient's range of motion.
C5 and C6 are the most common areas for disc herniation. Symptoms include weakness in the biceps and front of the upper arms, weakness in the wrist extensor muscles, and pain, numbness, and tingling that radiate to the thumb side of the hand.
Someone seeking traditional medical treatment for C5-C6 disc bulging is often looking to remedy the pain and discomfort disrupting their daily life. This treatment will likely involve being prescribed medication such as steroids for inflammation, injections, physical therapy, disc surgery, or spinal-fusion surgery.
Symptoms. Some amount of neck discomfort, soreness, tenderness, and swelling is normal after a spinal fusion procedure. Additionally, you may feel some discomfort in your upper back and shoulders as your body adjusts to the altered biomechanics created by the fusion.
Although cervical disc surgery is generally safe, it does have a few risks, including: Infection. Excessive bleeding. Reaction to anesthesia.
After the procedure and recovery time, you'll be able to return to your normal life without having to think about pain every day.
By: Joshua Shatsky, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon
Most people fully recover their voice within a few days of the surgery, but others may have trouble speaking for weeks or longer. Dysphonia can be a frustrating and unexpected part of the ACDF recovery process.
From C5 and C6, the upper and lower subscapular nerves supply the upper and lower portions of the subscapularis. The lower subscapular nerve also innervates the teres major.
If the C5 and C6 discs are bulging, they only cause pain about 50 percent of the time, but this condition can lead to a straightened neck; this leads to tension on the spine, known to cause numbness, pain, and tingling throughout the upper body.
The spinal fusion procedure permanently fuses the targeted vertebrae of the spine. This process also permanently eliminates all motion at the affected segment. So, patients do experience permanent restrictions on their mobility, such as an inability to twist, bend, and lift heavy objects.
Putting undue stress on a bone that needs healing often exacerbates an injury. Apply that same concept to recovery from spinal surgeries. Avoid bending at all after a lumbar fusion if possible, as bending or twisting can interfere with the way the fusion heals and even damage the work that was done.
Spinal fusion surgery is, usually, a highly effective procedure. Once the fusion sets, the effects are permanent, so the results can last for life.
Outcome of surgical management for cervical disc herniation has shown a success rate of 66 to 98% [8].
MEDICATIONS: You are typically given pain medications after surgery such as Vicodin or Percocet to be taken as necessary. These medications are narcotics and may cause some drowsiness and lethargy as well as constipation.
Your stomach is going to be sensitive after surgery, and you may not be able to process dried or dehydrated foods as much as you usually can. Avoid eating dried fruits, beef jerky, and some potato chip varieties.