ACDF Surgery Diary-1 week post op-Honest discussion of outcome so far

After having ACDF surgery (Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion) at C6-C7and watching other YouTubers talk about their positive experience, I was struggling with my own surgical experience and decided to document how I felt after one week. Things seemed to be going a little sideways after the surgery. Was it only me? Hard to make your normal art videos when you feel like crap, can't bend over or lift anything, and you're in pain. Was this surgery a good idea? Only time will tell.

Let me know if you want to see the outcome over time.


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[jessicaarthur]

Thank you so much!!! Every other video makes ACDF sound like a walk in the park. I’m 8 days out and I’m in pain! I’ve had this surgery 2x before on the levels below this one and I know it does get better! God’s grace is sufficient!

[lynintx]

Thank you for sharing. I am 51 and 3 days post-op. Yesterday I developed an extremely painful headache across back of head and pain down both sides of neck. Pain meds won’t take it away. It’s horrible. I can’t sleep, can’t lie down. So incredibly uncomfortable. I hope you recovered. I’m going to keep pushing through.

[whiteshadowfare]

Thank you for this realistic view of what to expect

[missnadieya]

I had my acdf surgery c4-5 on 19/4/2024. my severe back pain gone now. only shoulder stiffness left. my doctor said it was normal having muscle pain. I went for shoulder massage, it did help relief the stiffness .

[topangl]

THANK YOU for your honest update. I am 5 days out from 2 level c5, c6, c7 acdf. Note: I am very healthy and have a high pain tolerance...but this...I did not have pain prior to the procedure. I had a severe spinal cord compression. Surgery on Wed, d/c from hospital on Thursday. Did ok, but Friday afternoon I walked my driveway 2 times and by the 2nd time, I had debilitating pain shoot down my right arm and then my palm and inner wrist went numb. Saturday was no better. Meds would not control it.ying flat with my arm on a lofty pillow helped. I had to stand and hold my arm up at 90 degrees to alleviate the pain. Also looks like my incision may be developing a seroma. This has not been an easy 5 days at all. Like you, I could not find info on complications or post op issues from this surgery. I did call the Dr today and they make it sound like it's normal. There is nothing normal about my right arm situation. Thank you for sharing

[raineish]

Wow you have described exactly what I’m experiencing. I’m on day 3 post op. I had C4-5 and C5-6 done. I was expecting the shoulder blade pain and difficulty swallowing that people talk about but I have serious pain on the right side of the back of my neck in addition to the “normal” pains that people talk about. I can’t find a comfortable position to sit or sleep in. I’m taking opioid pain killers but they just barely make it bearable. I usually have a high pain tolerance but I feel like a wimp because so many others seem to have breezed right through it. I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through this but thank you for making me feel better about it.

[Impressionsbymonea]

I just had the procedure two days ago and I am experiencing more pain now than before the procedure. I guess this is to be expected and I probably need to allow time to heal. The shoulder pain is what I was not expecting.

[bstephens]

I'm scheduled for a two level ACDF in November. I have no pain whatsoever but have lost the use of my right arm. Being right handed it's a big issue. I'm 67 and have health issues and am really dreading this and wondering if it's worth the pain since I experience no pain at all at this point. Glad I found your video. There are so many out there but most are from several years ago. I hope you continue to improve.

[LearnAtMyExpense]

I had four level ACDF (C3-C7) 8 weeks ago and my recovery has been smooth - no pain aside from shoulder ache/upper back ache the first two or three days. No pain meds (including muscle relaxers) aside from some OTC tylenol the first two days post surgery. I remember watching the first few minutes of this video prior to my surgery and clicking off of it due to it being so negative. I urge anyone who must get this surgery (i.e., those with severe cord compression) to research and find the best surgeon they can and stay positive. While some pain and especially swallowing issues due to the swollen throat are to be expected the first two weeks, unfortunately many surgeons don't tell their patients about it.

[fmcia]

Hi. I hope you are doing better by now with your ACDF surgery. I can totally relate to what you went thru. I have been dealing with my neck and post C5-C7 ACDF surgery issues for two years. After my first surgery in Dec 2020 my life was turned upside down with chronic pain. Right after surgery I felt so much pain on my neck, that no medications, or positions, stretching would take it away. After starting PT at 3 months it improved some but was never the same. Fast forward to this year, Jan 2023 and after many treatments, PT sessions, nerve ablations, epidural injections, I was told I needed a revision surgery since the fusion didn’t take at C6-C7. Today, 9 days post opt I feel so much better already. No pain in my neck, or issues with swallowing, I have pain in my shoulder blades from 2 years of not doing much exercises because of the chronic pain but I am more active than 2 weeks before. ACDF surgery is serious and you really need a good doctor. And yes, I agree with you, many of them do not turn out good, so you hav3 to weight the risks versus the benefits.
I sincerely hope you are feeling better by now. I am still in this journey towards recovery.

[jeffarmstead]

I had the surgery 1 week ago today. My post op appointment is in two days. I am having problems sleeping. I am having difficulty swallowing my regular medication. I am a very active 75 year old. I run, cycle and bowling. I can't wait to get back to doing those things.

[techsaz]

Thanks for sharing! I know exactly how you feel because I am post OP 5 days. First few days the throat pain and swallowing was no joke. I can say at day 5 my throat is better. Wishing you healing and improvement daily!

[co]

You are 💯correct! At about I week in my trapezoids, especially the problem side were excruciatingly painful. I don’t not have problems swallowing. It is NOT a little ache! I would’ve been fine with it had I been forewarned.

[neenee]

I am having this surgery in October. Will be 74 in November. I am so thankful for your information. You were right. All of the videos I have watched have been mostly positive. At least if I do have those problems I won’t panic. Thank you again!!

[aliceelbradey]

I feel the same way can’t swallow cramps headaches four days later

[nickamato]

Thank you for sharing I am 54 and have surgery in 1 month Feb 3, i was told i have Thoracic kyphosis, and i am afraid of how much pain i am going to be in.

[StepvanDan]

thank you for sharing, i am doing a 4 to 5 disk and 8 screws and to rods, to say the least i am freeking out a bit, thank you again, big hugs from MN

[Frederick-ed]

Thanks for your honesty with how you feel. I had surgery April 5th, had terrible pain in the back of my neck. Pain meds they gave me didn't help, they started with percocet and then fetanyl. Got home Saturday and pain continued in the back of the neck as well as the Trapezius muscle, mostly on the right side. Have swallowing problems and trying to get food to go down. Swallowing is worse as soon as I get up. Difficulty with swallowing meds. I had C4-C6.

[monaliceke]

I just had my 2-Level ACDF yesterday. It was a tough decision and I’ve documented my journey on my YouTube channel leading to this surgery. I totally agree that I have much more pain on my neck and shoulders now. I hope it will go away soon. I’m also sensitive to opoids, so I can only take some paracetamol to manage my pain. I really didn’t expect this as my brother-in-law was very positive about his experience. I guess everyone is different.

[stevewilliams]

I'm almost 6 weeks post op.I was in hospital for 5 days after 2 levels ACDF..(C4-5 & C5-6).I have had severe arm pain and major loss of hand skills since.Also problems swallowing(several choking episodes) and sleeping.I am having to lie propped up with pillows.
I have underlying hiatal hernia, which also messes with my swallowing at best of times.I still need discectomy/decompression surgery between L2 and L5.