c5-c6 anterior discectomy

[WendyC]

I have recently been advised by my Neurosurgeon that I need to have a c5-c6 anterior discectomy due to a fall I had just over a year ago. I have spent the last 15 months trying to find out what was wrong with me. I have intense burning in my right leg up to my ribs, but only on the right hand side and after numerouss Cat scans, MRI's and xrays I have been advised I need to have this surgery in the next couple of weeks at POW Private.

I have been searching online for information, and am finding most people are still suffering some sort of pain after the surgery. How long are you in pain for following the procedure? Is your throat sore? And how long can I expect before my life returns to normal. I am a working mother of 3 and am now on workers comp.

I have been told by the Dr I have spinal chord compression and should expect a 60% improvement in my pain.

Any advice would help.

Wendy

[yobbi]

hi,I had neck injury also in my c5-c6 disc's in 06.Within days of surgery pain had gone down in hands and even tho told 4-6 weeks to rest felt good within 2 weeks and was let out of hospital early as was doing so well.Now in 2009 some pain is back in hands and I cant return to work(was a cleaner) but at time of surgery I was only few weeks off being in wheelchair was informed if I didn't have surgery.To be honest depends on your injury how bad it is I think to how well u will heal,but mostly pain does go down quite a bit after surgery and think it went well considering I am walking now and not in a chair.Main thing is to make sure u follow doc's advice after surgery eg: no lifting over certain weights.I was told not to lift anything over 2 kilos for example.If I do too much housework I do get sore in body so again just matter of knowing what u can do safely.

[bennyboy_waltz]

Hi Wendy

I see a few of these types of surgery every week & have seen very good results with Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion. The majority of patients I have seen over time have had an immediate reduction in their symptoms, though not all have had complete absence of pain/numness/tingling/pins & needles/etc in the (usually) few days that they are in the hospital. The majority of patients achieve their miminal pain/numbness/etc in less than 2 weeks but some take longer.

Usually the most pain post-op is at the incision site with most discomfort being in the front of the neck as though someone is pushing their thumb into your throat - this resolves within a few days. You may have some minor throat irritation due to the anaesthetic tubing inserted during surgery.

The instructions I give to patients following surgery include:
- avoiding lifting anything heavier than 5kg
- avoiding rapid/sudden or excessive neck movements
- log rolling to get in & out of bed
- minimise unsupported sitting
- performing gentle isometric, postural & AROM exercises 3 times per day

The patients I see never wear a soft or hard collar post-surgery as this is the Neurosurgeons instructions & they have very good long term results. The patients have a follow-up appointment 6 weeks after surgery where they are usualy given permission to return to more physical activities - golf, swimming etc.

Good luck with it all.

[LeahBrahms]

See this thread. It might give you some help.
http://injuryupdate.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=5303

[annies]

Hi, I am waiting to have anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery in Newcastle Australia, and am wanting to know how successful this operation is? and if anyone has had any complications from this operation. I am 44 years old.
Thankyou.

[LeahBrahms]

Hi, I am waiting to have anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery in Newcastle Australia, and am wanting to know how successful this operation is? and if anyone has had any complications from this operation. I am 44 years old.
Thankyou.

I have just had an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, but mine was the removal of an old bone graft.

Try and avoid bone grafts if possible. If you have osteoporosis like I do then you'll have to go through it all again if the bone deteriorates.

[StuMac]

Hi Wendi - have you had surgery yet - interested to know how you are travelling.

StuMac