Anterior Cervical Fusion?

Question

Can anyone tell me about this surgery? I have to have 3 discs removed. c5, c6, c7 and replace it with a metal plate. I am very scared and need reassurance on this surgery or is it not worth the pain although I am in alot of pain now with major migraines for the last 4 months on a daily basis.
Thank you

Answer 1

Do you want the good, safe answer, or the straight skinny? OK.

Safe answer--You'll be fine; there will be a lot of pain and a sore throat for a few days, but they can handle that with medication, and you'll feel SO much better that it will be worth it.

Straight skinny--You'll be fine; there will be a lot of pain and a sore throat for a few days, but they can handle that with medication, and you'll feel SO much better that it will be worth it.

Seriously, you don't want to hear the details of the surgery. In essence, at each of the C5, C6, and C7 intervertebral disc spaces (those are the dark looking places on the x-rays that he showed you, between the white, square, block appearing structures, which are the bones of your neck), they drill some holes (remember, you're asleep and won't know this) and pull the vertebra (the white blocks) apart, and take out the old, ruptured disc material (which looks kind of like really thick banana pudding) and clean these spaces out really well. They then get some bone material, usually from you in a place you won't miss it--like the bones of the pelvis---(No, No, don' t freak out on me--there are plenty of spare bone in the pelvis; you won't even know it''s gone. Besides, it'll grow back.) and put it (the bone that they just removed) in between those vertebra, to hold it apart from the one above and below. This opens up the holes (the vertebral foramina) that your nerves go through, and thus relieves the pressure, and makes more room for the nerves. This relieves your pain, numbness, tingling, etc, because the nerves aren't getting "trapped" any more. That's all (big grin and lol) there is to it!!! Then they sew up your neck (in the front--hence, "anterior"), wait for you to heal, and you are better than new. The healing takes longer than most surgeries, because, remember, there is now bone where there used to be gelatinous discs, and bone takes a long time to heal, or fuse (hence, "fusion"). The fusion will limit your moving (turning your head, and, to a lesser degree, up and down). They sometimes put a steel (actually titanium) plate over the front part of the spine where they have inserted the bone "plugs"; this is partly to help hold the bone plugs in place (you can imagine the pain if one of them popped out the front, as from you accidentally looking up, which would open the disc space. People learn to turn their whole body when they want to look left or right. It does take a long time to heal, as was said above, and the pain is significant, but think of living the rest of your life without the pain you have now, which will only get worse. Of course, there are no guarantees. Be sure to get a second, and possibly third, opinion; don't be shy about asking dumb questions; have the surgery in a large metropolitan hospital, check the doctors' out on line (there are plenty of places that tell you if your doc's good. The state medical board has a website, too, and it's good to check as to how the doctor's license is; whether he's had any disciplinary actions against him; how many malpractice suits he's had against him (the number alone doesn't mean anything; they might have been frivolous just to get money, but I think you can find the results of such suits on line, as well. Also, check the other doctors that you won't see; the radiologist, the anesthesiologist (DO NOT settle for a nurse anesthetist for this complex of a surgery). Ask how many of this kind of operation the orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon has done; if it's number one, run. If it's 500, that's good. Excellent surgeons have done in the low thousands. Ask what his complication rate is. if he hems and haws, and doesn't want to give you a straight answer, you know how fast to run to the door.

If, after all this, you want even more details, feel free to e-mail me directly, and I'll try to help out.

The surgery is a *****. The pain you're suffering now is a son-of-a-*****, and it's only going to get worse. Let it get as worse as you can stand it; then you will be ready, and get the best results from the operation.

Of course, if it all fails, you won't know anything about it.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Anterior cervical discectomy is an operation performed on the upper spine to relieve pressure on one or more nerve roots, or on the spinal cord. The procedure is explained by the words anterior (front), cervical (neck), and discectomy (cutting out the disc. At any surgery involving the back is going to be painful. The first time you wake - in the first day, the recovery will hurt. It will feel like someone is pulling your spine bones out. My advice is to just sleep. The more you sleep, the less you can feel the pain.
Ask your doctor or nurse to give you medication if you feel a lot of pain. It is normal to have pain after the operation, especially in the incision area. This does not mean that the procedure was unsuccessful or that your recovery will be slow. Pain in the neck or arms is also not unusual, caused by inflammation of the previously compressed nerve. It will slowly lessen as the nerve heals. Medication will be given to control pain. Moist heat and frequent repositioning may also help

Answer 3

if this is where they go through your chest or throat to reach your backbone, then be sure you have gotten a second and third opinion first and exhausted all non surgical options. My orthopedist, a very talented orthopedic professor, told me that this type surgery is very difficult and often the results are not what you expected. If you do decide to have this type surgery, make sure and have it done at a major medical center by a Dr who specializes in this complex surgery. 4 months of pain is not long enough before considering this type surgery in my opinion, although I do understand on how pain can grind you down and make you want it to end now. Seek out all other options before having the surgery.

http://www.espine.com/anterior-cervical-fusion.htm

Answer 4

Cervical spinal fusion surgery is often done to decrease motion at a painful segment which should decrease the pain you are experiencing. The fusion helps to maintain adequate space for your decompressed spinal cord and/or nerve roots.

The surgery will result in surgical pain until healing is complete but there should be a massive difference in the pain you are having now. It should also put an end to your migraines if they have been determined to be caused by your neck problems.

Good luck!