Hi all hope your feeling well. I just had surgery for acdf on Wednesday. My question is how long of a recovery did everyone have ? What kind of restrictions?how long did u have to wear this stupid neck brace? I am no t feeling too awful nothing like the decompression surgery I just don't want to mess this up. Oh also did anyone have to wear a bone stimulator for the fusion.advice please and thank u
Lesley, I hope you heal up well. 
Thank you me too I just woke up with hives all over my neck and shoulders ugh
Do you know what the hives are from? New med? How are you doing today?
Well the fusion is nowhere as dad as I thought I am still on pain meds but seem to be recovering well. Although I keep hearing a pop In my neck a few times a day .anyone else have this
I’m so glad you are doing well!!!
I did wear a bone stimulator and a special collar for 6 weeks with no driving of course. I had mine before my decompression so it was hard to tell if it really made a difference cause I still had all symptoms from Chiari.
I had mine C3-4 thinking that would take my pain away. I got worse and eventually realized it was Chiari causing my pain. Then I had decompression. So i have no idea about the healing time but I remember he told me each week I shouldve felt better and within a year the bone would have grown back. I hope the best for you!
I just had the c same v surgery 2 weeks ago. I am doing well but still very weak and tired. Headaches and pressure have returned, bummer. Shoulder still hurt pretty bad. I think each person is different. Just take it easy. I've already made the mistake of doing to much even though it didn't seam like it at the time. Let your body heal, no need to rush back to normal activity. I can already see it is probably going to be months before I can go like I did pre surgery.
I had the surgery last month and my doctor said to wear the collar mostly if I was going out or if I was going to do any activity. About the stimulator I was not given one. I could tell you I've started to get back to my regular activities since last week. But of course you'll still feel some tenderness. My only complaint as of this moment is that the tingleness in my hands is still present. Just try to take one day at a time.
I still have the numbness in my arm as well. I was told it can take months to see any changes concerning nerve damage. Did you experience a period of relief from headaches post surgery? Just wondering because mine were almost non exsistant for about 10 days and are now back full boar. Seems that every time I take the collar off they get worse. My ears are constantly buzzing again too. Kind of thinking that inactivity helps the Chiari symptoms, which is the opposite of what I was hoping for surgical outcome. I guess I was really hoping that the mass of my symptoms were caused by cervical issues. But I am beggining to see they are not.
Hives are typically an allergic reaction. My daughter took 10 days before she reacted to an antibiotic. Call your Dr if they get worse or you have any swelling as antifalaxic (spelling?) schock can be a concern and can happen fast.
Unfortunately that is true the fusion as my neurologist explained was needed to prevent for me at least to keep loosing my function and strength in my arm. But the headache in the back like someone hit me with a bat was not influenced at all by the surgery. And with my allergies acting up there more severe. I guess all we can do is hope someday they come up with something that can fight this condition.
Same boat for me. My spinal cord was compressed along with a root nerve and I guess there was tendon involvement as well. Its amazing just how the body tells us something is wrong. Have you ever had the arteries leading to the brain looked at for flow? I have not but I keep seeing info suggesting that the tonsils can impede that blood flow and create symptoms. I guess a 90 degree lateral cine MRI can diagnose this type of issue.
Dr Henderson back east has had huge success with improving symptoms post decompression. At least that’s what I have read in some patient comments on other sites…
Not sure of the hives but I got them after my decompression surgery too. I'm thinking maybe the tape.
jcdemar said:
Do you know what the hives are from? New med? How are you doing today?