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My husband had ACDF on C456 last November. He has experienced no post opt pain but has severe lower arm weakness and loss of dexterity in both hands.
He had this weakness, but
no pain, before the surgery which is what led us to have the operation done.
His surgeon does not seem concerned at all. He said he will do nothing until it has been at least a year-year and a half post opt. That it could just take that long for the nerves to refire.
My husband is getting quite frustrated with the lack of ANY improvement in his arm weakness and hand dexterity going on 7 months now.
Anyone else experienced this?
Replies to "My husband had ACDF on C456 last November. He has experienced no post opt pain but..."
@23otters ... My surgeon told me "what it's like in one year is going to be what it is". My pain and numbness is a little worse and more bi-lateral, and it has now been almost 16 months. I just had an MRI done, which took a year because of my pacemaker, and it did not show anything that was wrong or could be fixed.
Bottom line: we believe that I had spinal nerve damage from before, and that my problems are due to that, which will not heal.
Sorry and I hope your husband's situation does improve, but that is my story.
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@23otters Hello and welcome to Connect. I am a cervical spine surgery patient and my surgery was a C5/C6 fusion.
Another member here @birdman518 has talked about symptoms similar to yours and having some post surgical issuer with C5 Palsy which can be a risk associated with surgery. You may want to look at these 2 discussions, the first where he is talking before his ACDF spine surgery, and the discussion afterward about going through physical therapy that improved his condition. Physical therapy of course needs to be authorized by the surgeon. I know it's frustrating because healing from spine surgery and nerve problems does take a very long time. I went through it too and had to rehab neck weakness because of being in a neck brace for 3 months, and I couldn't start doing physical therapy until I was about where you are right now. Hang in there. Your surgeon is right about nerves taking a long time to heal.
- Spine Health - "ACDF scheduled for Wed: How did you manage sleeping post-op?"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/acdf-scheduled-for-wednesday/
- Spine Health - "Updates after C3-C6 ACDF surgery"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/update-2-months-post-c3-c6-acdf-surgery/
I hope you find these conversations helpful, and know that you're not alone. Has your surgeon discussed rehab or physical therapy?