Thanks for sharing your experience. It’s almost 3 wks since my ACDF surgery. I use the same collar but after 1st week I stopped it at night since I wasn’t sleeping.
Michael...I see that you play guitar. My band took a hiatus for my surgery. I an at week four now and finding it diifilt to play with the brace. Staining to drop my chin to look down. I was always a physical player with lots of movement. I nod when I play, move my feet, etc. and How long after the collar was removed did you feel good playing for more than a few minutes?
Hello there. Hope you are doing well.just had ACDF c6 c7 2 weeks post op. Have an identical collar. Tried to wear it all first week. Second week.. ditching it at night. I still feel the neck strain between my shoulder blades, still have pain my left upper arm area. Hopefully they resolve in the future. Take care
Keep patient! It does take a while for things to settle. Follow your doctors instructions most importantly and try not to be paranoid about things like I was! Lol. I’m still going through PT to get rid of arm pain and I’m over 6mo post op so just keep in mind there may be more work you’ll have ahead of you..
thanks for checking in :) 8 months post op, shoulder pain and arm pain is definitely better, however never completely gone. I have now been working full time as a dentist about 3 months. initially very encouraged considering huge improvement in quality of life alas, the burning pain in upper back and shoulders is starting to come back. Unfortunately, I only got a few or couple of months of relief, either I quit now, change careers or head in the same direction of chronic pain given my positioning as a dentist.
So many more new techniques. Artificial disk replacement is the best
I see you're a guitarist, me too. Did your spine issue affect your playing and did the surgery help that?
Thanks for sharing your experience. It’s almost 3 wks since my ACDF surgery. I use the same collar but after 1st week I stopped it at night since I wasn’t sleeping.
How about showering? It seems like one bends when showering and drying
Michael...I see that you play guitar. My band took a hiatus for my surgery. I an at week four now and finding it diifilt to play with the brace. Staining to drop my chin to look down. I was always a physical player with lots of movement. I nod when I play, move my feet, etc. and How long after the collar was removed did you feel good playing for more than a few minutes?
I think i was able to play after 6 weeks. But still for limited time
Hello there. Hope you are doing well.just had ACDF c6 c7 2 weeks post op. Have an identical collar. Tried to wear it all first week. Second week.. ditching it at night. I still feel the neck strain between my shoulder blades, still have pain my left upper arm area. Hopefully they resolve in the future. Take care
Keep patient! It does take a while for things to settle. Follow your doctors instructions most importantly and try not to be paranoid about things like I was! Lol.
I’m still going through PT to get rid of arm pain and I’m over 6mo post op so just keep in mind there may be more work you’ll have ahead of you..
How are you now with the shoulder pain and strain?
thanks for checking in :) 8 months post op, shoulder pain and arm pain is definitely better, however never completely gone. I have now been working full time as a dentist about 3 months. initially very encouraged considering huge improvement in quality of life alas, the burning pain in upper back and shoulders is starting to come back. Unfortunately, I only got a few or couple of months of relief, either I quit now, change careers or head in the same direction of chronic pain given my positioning as a dentist.
Do not get fusion. Get artificial disk replacement and you are released to full duty in 3 weeks amazing