ACDF surgery recommended for C3-C7 - is it worth it?

Hi. I see you asking for more information so I'll oblige...

Nearly five months post C4-7 ACDF - I'm quite happy I had the procedure done. Great surgeon, top-notch facilities, and - after 4-6 weeks of discomfort - a reasonable resolution and return to life normalcy. I'm an active 71 year old and fully expect to return to full activity w/significant pain relief.

Wishing you the best. I still have some tingles in my fingers but neck range of motion is MUCH better and neck pain is gone.

I feel like I'm looking at my MRI here, lol. I was told I have severe degenerative disc disease, have you been told that also? I also have finger arthritis that started in my 40's. I'm 64 and have had two spinal fusions that helped relief pain in my shoulders and collarbone area. In your case, it appears that you might have had symptoms for quite some time based on so many disc and foramen pathology. This will be a complicated, time consuming surgery but will instantly cease the pain and neuropathy you're feeling. The surgery is not that bad. Hopefully you'll stay at the hospital for one or two days. I also commented on another post with cervical stenosis and reviewed what to expect and how to prepare. I hope you'll find that.

I had acdf on C3-C6 8 months ago. I have spondylosis with myelopathy that had few symptoms until last summer when symptoms developed very quickly: bilateral pins & needles in hands balls of feet; muscle tightness in arms,shoulders,hips,knees and below rib cage; drop foot and strong pull to the left;bowel problems. By the time I had surgery, 4 months after nerve compression symptoms began, my hands were useless and I could barely walk. Post surgery most of the tightness disappeared(except left arm) and I’m able to walk again. I can use my hands again,fine motor basically restored. Surgery definitely worth it as I was quickly towards ending up a paraplegic. Unfortunately I developed a hypersensitivity to metals after surgery which is related to the nerve compression. My neurosurgeon(he’s also a spinal orthopedic surgeon) doesn’t know why I developed it nor whether I’ll have it for life.

It's been so interesting reading various posts regarding ACDF procedures. My main conclusion (I am a recent ACDF patient) is there is no "one answer" to whether the procedure is worth it nor can general conclusions be drawn regarding ultimate post-surgical outcomes. For me - it was a risk/reward analysis that lead me to the ACDF. As web28 just stated - when staring at a wheel-chair-bound future...the risks of an ACDF seem quite reasonable. Hedge your own risks by developing a comprehensive strategy producing an unambiguous diagnosis made by the best spinal/neurological people in the world. Set your tactics then trust the process.

I would absolutely 100% recommend it! I had an injury on June 5th 2017 that tore my right rotator cuff, was having severe chronic debilitating pain lower back. From that day on continued going from doctor to doctor, neurosurgeon in two different states. In 2021 read an article about that neurosurgeon Dr. Kingsley Abode at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL . I called made an appointment, they did a complete workup. You have a care team and meet with each doctor that specializes in what diagnoses you have. When Doctor Abode showed me the image of my neck we were all shocked, because my back pain was over riding neck pain. I had an anterior cervical discectomy & fusion of the C3-C7. They are amazing, Recovery was not bad at all, it affected me more neurology once the bone had fused I had no more brain fog. Just had my lower back surgery by same neurosurgeon May 23rd 2023, healing well.I hope this helps you.

Hey Parker - our surgical journeys sound eerily similar! ACDF followed by lumbar work - all at Mayo JAX though with different docs. I hope you're well on the mend. My lumbar work was May 16/18 and I'm getting along pretty well.

WoW Phil !! You are correct about our journey being almost the same! I am curious though, I hope you don’t mind me asking, did you have your injections,PT,etc… at Mayo Clinic? Or somewhere else?

Hi. I live seven hours from Mayo-JAX. I have had all ACDF post-surgical activities completed here in Greenville, SC. I've had no injections and am not sure what even those might be??? As for the lumbar work - that was also in JAX (May) but we elected to VRBO a house for four weeks in JAX in the event I needed any extra Mayo care. Turns out I did need that extra so I'm glad we hung around those four weeks. Lumbar PT will be in the Greenville area (starts tomorrow!).

Otherwise - I hope you continue on the mend. Sometimes I think I over-focus open the difference between where I am now and where I want to be...when it's useful to consider where I am now vs where I was a month ago.

I noticed that you had significant height loss from your degenerative disk disease, as have I. Wondering if after your ACDF, you regained height and if so, how much height. Also, if so, how did it affect the skin under your neck? Thank you!

I had a huge bone spur pressing on my nerve). I was living in h*ll for 4 months, but as soon as I woke up, my pain was gone. I felt 15 years younger the first time I stood up on my own in the hospital Recovery was a vacation! 4 weeks of going to the beach every day and walking. I might have to do it again 1 year later; I'm hoping for good weather! 🙂