ACDF Spinal Surgery with ROI-C Implant

tdj2591 · 07-10-2012, 07:26 PM

Status update two weeks after cervical disk replacement and spinal fusion with ROI-C device.

Background - saw 3 doctors in 2 states for excruciating pain in right arm and shoulder I had for over 2 years. First Neurologist found nothing. The other two (2 yrs later) both had same diagnosis, bone spur in vertebrae and C5-C6 disk needed replacing. Tests showed that I had permanent nerve damage to right arm. Both said it would only get worse without surgery and could have more serious damage. One doctor said I could return to work as soon as I wanted but he recommended at least 2 weeks. Said he had one patient return to work the day after surgery.

Surgery day - Operating room nurse told me I would have a LOT of pain, far worse than my recent knee surgery. Surgery was 1 hour. Recovery about 4-1/2 hrs. Wife drove me home immediately afterwards (2 hr drive). Threw up twice. No cervical collar or brace, only a gauze bandage.

1 day post surgery - right arm was dead weight. Could not control it, brush teeth, shave or even lift a coffee cup. Worked fine prior to surgery, had just been having pain from shoulder to finger tips but full use and full strength. Kinda scary. Called Dr. and was put me on Prednisone steroid.

4 days post surgery - Showered and removed bandage. Scared me because he used a black bandage on the skin and it looked like a big black hole in my neck as I peeled off the white gauze. Visited MD (2hr drive each way). He said arm problem was not a result of surgery (Hmmmm) but to give it time it would slowly get better. I was starting to regain some use of arm but still could not brush my hair. But, ZERO PAIN since surgery. I thought the nurse must have been teasing me about the amount of pain. I never took any prescription pain meds, only Aleve and prescription muscle relaxer. Nurse put 3 small tape strips over incision.

5-7 days post surgery - The pain meds given during surgery must have worn off! Pain in back of neck, across back and right arm and shoulder. By day 7, pain was much more intense. Iced upper back and shoulders several times a day. Still taking no pain meds other than Aleve. Tried some rehab exercises with light weight (2-3#) MD recommended, but had too much pain later so gave up on them. Removed tape strips from incision. Didn't look bad at all. Difficult to find a comfortable (least painful) sleeping position. Not possible to sleep on my stomach.

2 weeks post surgery - Returned to work (desk job) but not working the entire day. Regained use of right arm but only about 1/2 strength so far. Continuous pain in upper back, base of neck in back and especially right arm
and shoulder. Icing it down 3-4x/day. Take Aleve 2x/day and Methycarbonal muscle relaxer 4x/day. Occasional real sharp pain in neck from certain movements. No pain ever at incision or front of neck. Have to be careful about turning head or sudden neck movements. Driving again but being real careful. Returning to MD for checkup this week. Am concerned about driving 4 hrs that day, mostly about holding my head in the same position for so long and any problems that might cause and navigating in heavy traffic.

If anyone's interested, I can give an update following the doctor visit. I hope my experience can help someone contemplating this surgery. It really has not been bad.

tdj2591 · 07-14-2012, 09:29 PM

Excellent visit with MD this week. Am right where I should be pain wise and recovery wise. Feel like there's a lump in my lower throat but able to eat anything. I drove over 4 hrs round trip to MD 2 days ago and also worked that day prior to visit. Pain is getting better and strength returning to arm. I drove 6-1/2 hrs today almost non-stop mostly over bumpy 2-lane back-country roads. Not easy looking to right for traffic as can't yet look over my shoulder so wife was my traffic spotter. She later drove another 2 hours while I iced my back and shoulders. Failed to mention that I had a sore throat and some difficulty swallowing the first couple of weeks, especially week 1, which is quite normal for this surgery.

I wonder if the ROI-C disk implant is the difference between my experience and other posts. Surgery was out-patient, no screws or plates used as the ROI-C was inserted between the C5 and C6 and is held in place with 2 small flat drive-in anchors, locking the C5, C6 and ROI-C together (as I understand it). No graft either as the MD filled the center of the ROI-C with synthetic bone(?). I'm very pleased so far.

tdj2591 · 08-27-2012, 08:58 PM

9 weeks post surgery - Started PT and am doing prescribed exercises between 3x/week PT visits. Pain and discomfort in upper back and both shoulders, especially the left side (pre-surgical pain was all on the right side). Turning head to either side is limited and sometimes painful. Learned to sleep on side and back. Sometimes painful in bed and always stiff and sore upon waking. Road 4 wheeler 2 hrs last week on rocky mountain trails in CO then was stuck on plane (thanks Delta Airlines!) for almost 11 hours the next day. Was stiff and sore but PT the next day helped tremendously. Traveled by car total of 16 hrs over this past weekend. Quite sore today after long PT session. I believe it's getting better, but it definitely is more uncomfortable than it was the first couple of weeks post surgery.

brmr19 · 08-30-2012, 02:02 PM

wow, Hang in there. I don't think I would have done the 4wheeler. It is way to soon for all the jarring around. Please take it easy, your body needs time to heal.

Cocoa14 · 02-22-2013, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdj2591

9 weeks post surgery - Started PT and am doing prescribed exercises between 3x/week PT visits. Pain and discomfort in upper back and both shoulders, especially the left side (pre-surgical pain was all on the right side). Turning head to either side is limited and sometimes painful. Learned to sleep on side and back. Sometimes painful in bed and always stiff and sore upon waking. Road 4 wheeler 2 hrs last week on rocky mountain trails in CO then was stuck on plane (thanks Delta Airlines!) for almost 11 hours the next day. Was stiff and sore but PT the next day helped tremendously. Traveled by car total of 16 hrs over this past weekend. Quite sore today after long PT session. I believe it's getting better, but it definitely is more uncomfortable than it was the first couple of weeks post surgery.

I had the same surgery with the same device, ROI-C on nov 15, 2012, so I am 14 weeks post op. my recovery has been horrible! Please update on how you are now.........