Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF): Anyone had this?

Posted by mikaylar @mikaylar, Apr 12 8:49am

Having this done at C5-6. Has anyone had this?

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@mikaylar

What do you mean by proper body mechanics?

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Glad you asked👍 Whether it’s getting into or out of a bed, chair etc. PT before surgery will teach you how to elevate & recline involves forward flexion head/neck & mid waistline. Example : elevating from bed roll like a log onto your side then sit & stand.

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Thanks for the tips. Interesting.

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@trebien

Although it’s been 23 years since C5-6, C6-7 disec & C7 spurs were tapered & a 4 cms allograft was used vs harvesting from my iliac(hip). Post op period was easy. All instructions were followed & important using proper body mechanics ie when elevating from bed & forward flexion. Best wishes.

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@trebien I wanted to welcome you to Connect. I'm glad to hear you are doing so well years later after spine surgery. These are my plans too. I had a C5/C6 fusion 8 years ago, and doing well so far. Mine was done with cadaver bone and no hardware. My surgeon told me keeping good core strength to support the spine will help me avoid future problems. The best way I can do that (and most fun) is trail riding on my horse at a walk.

Jennifer

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I had open heart surgery 3 years ago so I'm thinking I will need to use the same body mechanics when I get this neck surgery on the 8th. I'm hoping there won't be too much pain. The only reason I am going forward with this surgery is I have had a daily persistent headache for almost 5 years and we're hoping this will take away the headache.

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Best wishes! I had one done in 9/2011. I redeveloped pain - was told to have second neck surgery but declined it. They wanted to go in from behind my neck this time/multiple levels. Didn’t like what I heard/read and the possibilities of complications.
No thanks!

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@celtic

I had ACDF done on C-4 thru C-7.C-4 5 fused completely C-5 6 and C-6 7 didn’t since then I had 2 more surgeries to fix my neck.If you have a choice use your bone if possible.Rather then allograft.

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Why not use Allograft ?

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I don't know what that is. I'm just letting my doc in charge. She uses a guided computer.

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@jenniferhunter

@trebien I wanted to welcome you to Connect. I'm glad to hear you are doing so well years later after spine surgery. These are my plans too. I had a C5/C6 fusion 8 years ago, and doing well so far. Mine was done with cadaver bone and no hardware. My surgeon told me keeping good core strength to support the spine will help me avoid future problems. The best way I can do that (and most fun) is trail riding on my horse at a walk.

Jennifer

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Thank you for welcoming me. Visions of you riding through the trails is a wonderful form of therapy for mind, body & soul. Free as a bird🤗
Actually my C/spine has been compromised since 2000 surgery. Allograph wedged anterior lateral C5-6 & C6-7.

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@trebien

Thank you for welcoming me. Visions of you riding through the trails is a wonderful form of therapy for mind, body & soul. Free as a bird🤗
Actually my C/spine has been compromised since 2000 surgery. Allograph wedged anterior lateral C5-6 & C6-7.

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@trebien I thought you might enjoy a few pictures. These were taken by friends when we go out together. The corn maze was at the end of the season before they harvested for the year, so they would let riders come in with their horses. My allergies were really bad there because the corn crops have mold that grows on the plants and you're right in it. I won't do that again, but it was fun.

It is wonderful to be able to go out on a relaxed ride with friends. The lady who usually rides with me just had a hip replacement a few months ago, so I don't know when she'll be ready to go again. When you're in the woods, there can be a lot of deer flies, so I usually use a fly mask of my horse as well as repellent. It is great exercise for me, and I have to groom him and lift the saddle which weighs close to 30 pounds.

I'm going to work at hiking this year. I broke my ankle badly 4 years ago and I haven't had the strength or endurance for walking long distances on uneven ground. That was a lot more painful than my spine surgery.

What do you do for exercise?

Jennifer

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@jenniferhunter

@trebien I thought you might enjoy a few pictures. These were taken by friends when we go out together. The corn maze was at the end of the season before they harvested for the year, so they would let riders come in with their horses. My allergies were really bad there because the corn crops have mold that grows on the plants and you're right in it. I won't do that again, but it was fun.

It is wonderful to be able to go out on a relaxed ride with friends. The lady who usually rides with me just had a hip replacement a few months ago, so I don't know when she'll be ready to go again. When you're in the woods, there can be a lot of deer flies, so I usually use a fly mask of my horse as well as repellent. It is great exercise for me, and I have to groom him and lift the saddle which weighs close to 30 pounds.

I'm going to work at hiking this year. I broke my ankle badly 4 years ago and I haven't had the strength or endurance for walking long distances on uneven ground. That was a lot more painful than my spine surgery.

What do you do for exercise?

Jennifer

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Thank you for sharing photo. Your horse is beautiful! Yes, there are a variety of ways to incorporate & enjoy PT. Having the freedom to roam on a sunny day riding sure beats going to PT🤗

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