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ACDF surgery recommended for C3-C7 - is it worth it?
I am 54 years old. In 1991 I had a motorcycle accident and broke my jaw. For the majority of my adult life I've had lower back issues but still maintained a pretty active life and have even run a few half marathons and many shorter races, etc.
About 5 years ago I started experiencing numbness in my hand.. throughout the years it has moved up into my shoulder. Last year (Sept) i had really bad neck pain, which forced me to go back to the orthopedic and had an MRI. I then started physical therapy. The pain went away after about a week but the numbness has never gone away and continues to become more intense. Since then I've had 3 other bad neck experiences where the pain was at a level 10. So a total of 4 bad neck pain episodes and 24/7 numbness. After 7 months of PT I went back to an orthopedic who said I could try shots, etc. but that my discs are not growing back. Two of them are "gone" and I'm bone on bone.
Yesterday I finally got in to see the Neurosurgeon who was very good and thorough. He explained my MRI and recommended ACDF surgery for C4-C7. The more I read about it, the more freaked out I get.
Would love to hear from others about your experiences - is the surgery worth it? How tough is the recovery?
Here is the written portion of my MRI:Impression
1. Multilevel multifactorial central canal stenosis, moderate to severe at C4-5 and moderate at C3-4, C5-6 and C6-7. No cord signal abnormality. 2. Multilevel foraminal stenosis, severe bilaterally from C3-4 through C5-6 and severe on the left at C6-7. 3. Multilevel facet hypertrophy, severe on the right at C4-5 and C5-6. 4. Mild reversal of the expected cervical lordosis with mild anterolisthesis of C3 on C4. Dictated on: 11/2/2022 11:22 AM Signed by: James Y Wu, M.D. 11/2/2022 11:34 AM
Narrative
EXAMINATION: MRI CERVICAL SPINE W/O IV CONTRAST CLINICAL INFORMATION: Cervical pain, degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy. TECHNIQUE: MRI cervical spine without contrast utilizing multiplanar multiecho technique. COMPARISON: Radiographs dated 10/11/2022. FINDINGS: GENERAL: Mild reversal of the expected cervical lordosis with mild anterolisthesis of C3 on C4. Multilevel disc degeneration with severe height loss from C4 through C7. No fracture or aggressive osseous lesion. Unremarkable cord signal. INDIVIDUAL LEVELS: C2-C3: No disc herniation or stenosis. Ankylosis of the right facet joint. C3-C4: Mild anterolisthesis, disc osteophyte complex, severe right much greater than left facet hypertrophy, moderate central canal stenosis and severe right greater than left foraminal stenosis. C4-C5: Disc osteophyte complex, severe right much greater than left facet hypertrophy, moderate to severe central canal stenosis and severe right greater than left foraminal stenosis. C5-C6: Disc osteophyte complex, mild facet hypertrophy, moderate central canal stenosis and severe bilateral foraminal stenosis. C6-C7: Disc osteophyte complex, mild facet hypertrophy, moderate central canal stenosis and severe left foraminal stenosis. C7-T1: No disc herniation or stenosis. Mild facet hypertrophy.
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Did you have hand and finger numbness before your ACDF surgery? If so, how long did it take to start going away? Thank you and God Bless!
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1 ReactionWill you let me know how it went. I'm in the same boat having a quad ACDF surgery from C3 to C7 On May 6th, 2025. I have all different kinds of spinal stenosis, bone spurs, faucet joint issues and bulding disc's in my lower back and neck. I've did everything between PT and injections to try and avoid surgery but it has only gotten worse. I have to have surgery on my lower back after I heal feom this 1st surgery. They are using cadaver bones to replace and fuse my disc's together. I'm only 51 yrs old and have had sysmtoms since 40. It's only this past year that I realized I let it go on for so long
I too am worried.
Iam having ACDF 4 fusion surgery May 6th 2025. I'm 51 years old and unfortunately I did not go to the doctor 9 years ago when I first had numbing symptoms in my leg. It wasn't until last year when the pain was so bad and it was affecting my whole left side to which I could not perform my daily tasks. I did 13 weeks of therapy and have had epidural injections in my neck before I I finally agreed to the surgery. My MRI has everything between multiple stenosis faucet joint problems sever arthritis, degenerative disc disease multiple bone spurs and on and on. They say I also have nerve root damage. I've done research about this surgery and the differences between cadaver bones they will put in between my disc's and the recovery. I was hoping is there anyone that has advice for me during the long recovery who has also had alot of these problems at once? Anything the doctors don't tell u that u think they should? I will also be having lumbar surgery after recovery from this one
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1 Reaction@sherri2025
I had ACDF of c5-c6 in 2022 and will have ACDF on c6-c7 May 19th. I was misdiagnosed over 5 years and have some permanent spinal cord injury. The cervical spine surgery is not as difficult as lumbar. I had lumbar spine decompression and fusion of l3-l5 in 2024 and very painful/long recovery in comparison.
I had the surgeon use my own bone spurs that were removed rather than cadaver bone. This way, your body is more likely to accept/not reject the fusion “cement” made out of your own bone.
Cervical spine issues can definitely affect many things below the level of injury. It is important not to fall and injury your spinal cord further (I fell 2 times before I was properly diagnosed and knew what was wrong with my spinal cord). I am lucky I am not fully paralyzed.
@sheri2025
I wish you the best for your surgery. I can empathize (I am 55). The surgery will help stop the progression/worsening of your symptoms. If nerve roots and nerves are damaged, they may or may not be able to fully heal over a long time. Any spinal cord injury can be permanent so you want to stop it from worsening.
Thank you for your reply. I hope you are doing better. This is the only surgery I'm really weary of, but it's just so hard to do simple things we take for granted
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1 ReactionHi Sherri
I had ACDF c5-c7
The surgery was necessary due to spinal chord compression and slippage due to my neck reversing its curve and slippage of Verteba
( anterolisthesis/ Cervical Kyphosis). Normally fusion is not necessary unless the spinal chord is compromised or slippage. Cadaver bone is the best. Will you have a plate or a cage? Your will have allot of pain at the incision so do not be surprised and your neck will feel very weak at first. I was able to have a great recovery and do most of the activities / sports I use to do. I had a great surgeon. You will have reduced mobility in your neck w that's many levels done. With c5-c7 it did not impact me much until the new problems started. I managed my pain up until this point w very successful Radio Frequency Ablation from a very skilled pain management doctor. Unfortunately my condition now warrents surgery.
Because everyone in my life has died at young age, I over did it with moving and packing and carrying stuff and more active than should have been, so I now need to be fused posterior for same major problems as my last fusion (since anterior could have more adverse consequences with vocal chords and other already having anterior fusion done a) from c2-c5 on April 28th. That is also a consequence of amy ACDF, but I had no problem. Did they tell you how limited your neck mobility would be with that many levels fused? I am terrified ( was not for the 1st surgery) , it is more painful from the back, and dangerous since they must cut the muscles, longer more painful recovery, and horrible scar.
I have no clue how much mobility I will have since I will now be fused from c2-c7. I have asked on this site if anyone has had similar and never got a response. I also have no clue if I will be able to manage for myself at home with no help. Did your surgeon show you the MRI with exactly where your problems exist? Sometimes they fuse more levels than required, since they get paid more based on the number of the levels.
I hope this helps/makes sense. If you can respond to any of my questions - would greatly appreciate. I am in tears and pain everyday.
I have an upcoming ACDF C4-C7 and wonder if anyone has had a multilevel ACDF and what the recovery is like? Thank you for any help.
@janetb1027 - In this discussion to which I moved your post, members are talking about a very similar ACDF, so I thought they might have some input for you on what your upcoming surgery might be like:
- ACDF surgery recommended for C3-C7 - is it worth it? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/acdf-surgery-recommended-for-c3-c7-is-it-worth-it/?
Hoping members such as @sherri2025 @lee123abc @mimidpistilli @jerrybeach @dlydailyhope @kensie123 and others will share some of their experiences with you with ACDF surgery. @jenniferhunter also may have input to share.
Do you have any plans lined up for your recovery so far, janetb1027 (e.g., a relative coming to stay, an arm chair you intend to spend time on)?
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2 ReactionsThank you so much for this. My husband is going to be able to be home with me for as long as I need 🩷
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