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combined anterior and posterior cervical spine surgery
Spine Health | Last Active: 2 days ago | Replies (29)Comment receiving replies
@lorihgk Welcome to Connect. C2 to T2 is a big surgery. You'll need to be walking so they know that you can walk, and to also exercise your lungs, and to know that you have control of bladder and bowel functions. They will consider you a fall risk until you demonstrate that you are not. Anesthesia causes phlegm build up in lungs that you need to clear so it doesn't turn into pneumonia. You will need help at home, and this is your excuse to be a couch potato and nap because you will need that. You will have lifting restrictions that start about 5 or 10 pounds max. I think the hospital stay is so they can be sure you will be able to function and walk safely after you get home. This surgery will probably be more painful because of cutting though the back and front. A lot of cervical fusions are done only through the front as mine was for C5/C6. I was able to handle that without pain medication, and I was really nauseated by pain meds. I may be the unusual patient that could manage like that. If you can control your anxiety and fear, it will help control pain and help in healing. If you take them, it may cause serious constipation, so you'll need to work on relieving that.
Replies to "@lorihgk Welcome to Connect. C2 to T2 is a big surgery. You'll need to be walking..."
Hello,
Wonder if anyone has had their entire Cspine fused c4-t1 or similar. My scenario, at pretty young age I had very successful ACDF c5-c7 (due to many problems including chord compression, a reverse curve to my neck (common if have long straight neck, that my NeuroSpine surgeon straightening w the fusion by carving out the cadaver bone in a metaculios way). Over the years other areas of my Cspine has become worse. Radio Frequency Ablation by a very skilled Pain Mgmt doctor, worked great to rid of any pain years after the fusion. I never needed Pain meds etc. Over
last 9 months bad pain started creeping up and RFA or other non invasive procedures did not help at all. Recently (15 years after original c5-c7 fusion), imaging shows I have bad stenosis, the worse at c4-c5 with anterior/ posterior chord compression, among many other issues thoughout my Cspine, including Anterolisthesis with flexion at c4-c5 and c7-t1. Total mess. I am on my own w no help. I wonder how you function on your own, after having your entire neck fused? I did great after my first fusion, but this is far more drastic. I would appreciate any candor from others who may have had a similar fusion/ experience. Ty
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I understand I will be up and walking right away - on day 1 they tell me, so I’m wondering why the long stay after that. Also, I want to know how long after surgery until I can brush teeth, style hair, do makeup, dress myself head to toe independently. This is my 18th orthopedic surgery so I’m very familiar w pain and pain meds. Not worried about that. Also not anxious - more just curious.