... Hi there! I'm new on this board and just wanted to say that we have extremely similar stories. I had my acdf on c5-c6 on May 13th. I also was not in extreme pain but was more of a worry regarding the compressed nerve and pressure on spine. I too am a scuba diver and weight lifter( in the past) which is how I think this all started! I would like to follow how your doing so I... (17 replies)

... If you had an ACDF then the posterior surgery would you say it was more difficult to mend from? ... (7 replies)

... I am 8 days post op and am not doing that great either. ... (17 replies)

... This is my first post and I need some advice! I am still having muscle spasms like crazy! They are even down to the bottom of my back. ... (0 replies)

... I am currently seeking for a Neurosurgeon in Arizona that would be willing to see me after a 3 level ACDF surgery performed 4 months ago. I am in much worse shape than I was the day after my snowboarding accident. ... (4 replies)

... Hi. I had ACDF done on 12/13/12. I too had swelling and redness right after the surgery. I came home Friday and was feeling lots of pain, obviously, but something felt wrong on my neck at the site of the incision. By Monday my neck was very swollen at the site and started oozing. I was in the ER that night. My neurosurgeon came in to the hospital at midnight to find my neck... (7 replies)

... Hello everyone. First, I'd like to thank all the people who have posted their experiences on these boards. I gathered more information here on how to prepare for my surgery than from anywhere or anyone else. I am looking for some of you good people to share their experience and opinions so I can get an idea of whether or not my pain is normal. Had my ACDF on C5-C6... (3 replies)

... I'm right now at 17 days post op my soft collar is the bane of my existence at this point in time and my wife is the jailer. ... (5 replies)

... I just had my 4 week post op and now that I am out of the soft collar the throat is getting better. I still get the feeling that something is caught in my throat but it is getting better. ... (5 replies)

... sammyo1.......Let me know what your surgeon says and I am also going to ask mine. I have my 4 week post op visit next Wed. ... (5 replies)

... Yes, I am over 2mths post op & at times I get the same. It really does feel like something is stuck there. It does not interfer with swallowing but it has gotten painful a couple times. Sometimes it does not matter whether I have the collar on of off it will just occur. I am asking my surgeon about it wed. so we will see what he has to say. Good luck, Sam (5 replies)

... els like I am under water. This happens after I have the collar off for about 30 minutes. These symptoms go away when I put the collar back on. I am 3.5 weeks post op............. I so much want to get back to normal!! Also seems like the rest of my back crunches and cracks when I wiggle around. ... (5 replies)

... I am due for x rays and a post op visit early next week. I am crossing my fingers! ... (3 replies)

... Day 22 - 1st Post op with the NS - I'm off the Aspen collar and can move my head as much as I can easily do. I'm wearing a soft collar that I had lying around. I can also drive. I feel very, very good and stable. Only take tylenol as needed for pain meds. I forgot to ask if I can lift more stuff and do more work around the house. I left a message to have NS call me back about... (18 replies)

... Hi captnanny!, Sorry I haven't been on the computer in awhile. I saw my dr. yesterday for my 4 week post-op appt. I asked him about PT -- he said if I felt I needed it they would of course schedule it for me - but for someone my age (he called me young! I am 42) they don't automatically send you to PT. It seems like every Dr. is so different in what they think is... (7 replies)

... I basically got the same instructions up here in Canada, post op app't in 6 weeks. Absolutely no driving with the collar on, can result in charges if in an accident. ... (7 replies)

... I was just wondering what you all were told by your NS as far as your limitations/directions post-op. I had an ACDF (C6-C7) two weeks ago (cadaver graft) and am in an Aspen collar for 4 to 6 weeks - fyi. I was basically told no housework; no lifting more than 10 lbs (when at first he told me no more than a milk jug and then on my written post-op instructions it said no... (7 replies)

... Kelly: I am very sorry to hear about your pain. I am 12 days post-op on a two-level cervical fusion, and have not had any change yet in the amount of pain meds I require. I have, however (I think) identified the portions of my pain that have been relieved by surgery. For me, I always had what I describe as a "base" level of pain in my left shoulder, which never responded... (9 replies)

... ntinue to improve for you. The first few days were the worst for me, but before the end of the first week I was feeling almost normal. I am comming up on a month post op, and I am doing great. ... (1 replies)

... op from ACDF 2 level fusion with corpectomy. ... (7 replies)