What is an ACDF?

Anterior cervical discectomy with fusion is an operative procedure to relieve compression or pressure on nerve roots and/or the spinal cord due to a herniated disc or bone spur in the neck. The vertebra is approached from the from (anterior) of your neck.
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Some patients leave the hospital that day! Most go home the next morning.

[nflfan]

I just endured 4 level last week for C3 thru C7. I'm getting around better in the house but nerves are still pissed off. I understand that probably the longer they were compressed it could take a bit for them to heal. Hoping for them to settle in the coming weeks and months. Hang in there people who are considering this. Don't rush and just know the recovery can be psychologically challenging if you have anxiety. Take valium or whatever they can give to calm down racing thoughts. Happy healing.

[MrPianMann]

I had a c6-t1 ACDF with c7 corpectomy. Lucky to still be walking. No pain, 2 years later, feels back to normal. My neuro was one of the best in the industry for this procedure and im super thankful for him.

[spacedogband]

3 weeks out from my C5-C7 ACDF. Went back to work a week later. Thank god my surgeon said I could ditch my collar it was driving me nuts. I’m in very little pain and only used oxycodone and muscle relaxers for a few days. Now I’m ready to get back in the gym and get some strength back. Unrelated but damn this surgeon is cute 😅

[brt-jnkg]

If you're thinking about having this done do it I went way too long worried about how bad it was going to hurt because I had a different type of spinal cord surgery done that was absolutely horrible. Afterwards I feel great

[francesbrewer]

ACDF PROCEDURE IS INDEED A FANTASTIC PROCEDURE !

[girlry]

I had a 1 level ACDF at C6 and C7when I was 35, best day of my life. My scar is on the right though.

[jonettestewart]

How will this procedure affect obstructive sleep apnea? Recovery and longer?

[VoteBluePeace-LoveInUSAagain]

I have a friend who had this done and it kept choking her. They eventually had to remove the plate to resolve the issue. Luckily the cadaver bone had adhered enough that she was able to go back to a relatively normal life.

[pkchop]

Just had C6C7 fusion done. Hard collar is the worst thing ever. Muscle spasms in left shoulder for 2 days but that’s the only pain.

[SmEdesigns]

I have C4-C5: Large left paramedian protrusion focally deforming the anterior surface of the cord. C5-C6: Broad-based protrusion and adjacent osteophytic ridging along with degenerative spondylitic changes flattening the anterior surface of the cord and reduce the AP diameter of the canal to less than 8 mm. Hypertrophic uncovertebral joint changes narrow the lateral recesses and neural foramina. Don’t have a clue what it means that’s what mri showed. I had mri due to stroke. I keep having numbness down both arms, thumb and index finger wrist stays cold and forearm tingle and cold but my fingertips are warm and rest of my arm is warm. Both arms are weak. I have been on a mission since Nov to find neuro help me. My doc never even addressed this finding 😔

[MelKali]

I might need this done. I’m 38 and I’m so scared.

[fourwheelcamper]

I had this done 20 years ago and now have Cervical stenosis. I have numbness in both legs with difficulty walking.

[dizzie]

I’m having a revision cervical c4 5 6 & 7 decompression w/fusion next week..I’m petrified bc I’ve heard it’s more dangerous, is this true?

[jlutie]

I had ACDF c3-c7 hard brace 8 weeks a year and a half later still in pain lost 80% of movement

[raymonddonahue]

Doc, I pray that you won't need this done to you.

[DannyPacheco-tofi]

Im a 39 year old male and havent had any evident injury or trauma to my spine, yet started experiencing weird symptoms in the last 2 months from super high inflammatory response in my body (very high c protein) and then cns symptoms from pain to numbness, sciatica, back pain, chest pain, circulation issues, leg pain, and most recently diffulty urinating and passing stool and prostate pain (urologist ruled out other causes for that) anyway, had a neurosurgeon consult today after an mri (done post xray showing mod to severe degeneration) and was told I need this procedure. What could have possibly caused this? Does it just happen? Or could something else have damaged the tissue of spine- autoimmune condition? Just want to get down to the root cause if possible.

[mdrezanuzzaman]

Acdf or disc replacement, which is better??

[Kkr_]

Doctor, Which one to choose artificial or acdf? I'm 36 and having c4-c5 herniated disc

[melissamccoy]

What if you never received a surgery fusion in the neck but it fused itself? Will this still work cause Im just getting run around answers