Facing 2 Level Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement vs Fusion

[Maria]

re helpfulness to someone else out there! There seems to be little action on this forum however I do see that people have written and I feel sad that I cannot give any response that would be helpful so hopefully if you are able to do so I imagine that would help "someone" out there asking the questions we have asked as we go along this journey!

take care and please keep us posted. Feel free to contact me via my regular email if you still have it (and if you don't if you'd like it I will gladly give it to you).

best with all!

Maria

[Poncho]

Hi Maria,

Well I finally sucked it up and had the 2 level cervical artificial disc replacement at C 5-6 and C 6-7.

Of course like the lumbar surgery I had was similar to the post -op pain that surgical night with the posterior neck hurting and arm pain.

My surgeon came in to see my husband while I was in the PACU and told him everything went well and that (of course you know this), to keep moving my neck. No collar needed at all.

Took approx. one week to see the changes for the better. Driving definitely sets off the left arm

This coming Monday marks 2 weeks and I don't want to jinx anything. The pain in the fingers is mostly gone and mostly gone in the upper arm until you come to the upper area of where the shoulder joint is where it is a bit achey. Still have some upper back issues on the left, but seem to be minor in comparison and the shoulder blade doesn't give me as much issues as I had before.

So I'm still early in recovery and this so far seems to be a good decision. If anyone is wondering, the ADRs placed were Mobi-C

I'm on minimal medication for pain now.

Had some insomnia last night awake till approx. 430 am then got up around 11:00am.

Time to run a few errands today.

Hope you and all out there looking at this either finds you pain free or with less pain today.

Also, anyone on this forum is welcome to PM me if they want more information. Though, keep in mind that I'm not on here that often.

Take care,
Poncho

[Maria]

Wow sounds like you're doing very well!! How wonderful!
Very nice of you to come back and post 2 week post op recovery so that hopefully anyone in a similar situation might gain some insight and possibly ask some questions!

As for me I have been doing quite well with the exception of a recent "tripping over a step stool" and doing something to the top of my left foot that I think may have strained a tendon or ligament type of thing. I stayed off the foot as much as possible for a few days and then was feeling better so of course blew that this weekend being on my feet (foot) more than I should have. Back to near square one it seems.

I have a $3K deductible on my health insurance plan so not motivated to go to a doctor until I've given the "wait and see" plan a few weeks. Might switch from my spousal PPO plan (that switches from Cigna to Aetna in Jan and goes up to $4K deductible) to Kaiser Senior Advantage plan. Not sure.

Anyway other than my feet which seem to be my most bothersome part of my body these days re posterior tibial tendonitis and then goofball injuries like this I'm doing very good otherwise! Thanks for asking!

Meanwhile keep up the good recovery & pls update us in the future re your continued recovery!

Happy Holidays!!!!

Maria

[Poncho]

Hey Maria,

Just wow in regards to insurance and deductibles. I *think* my deductible is somewhere around 5K. However, currently going back and forth with insurance for coverage on this procedure.

As for symptoms, still have the shoulder joint pain / upper deltoid area, sometimes goes into forearm on the radial side. Then, sometimes to the left shoulder blade. I guess each area needs to take it turn. I do remember that with the lumbar radiculopathy, it took 2 1/2 almost 3 months post op to go away. I hope that is the case with this.

[Maria]

Hi Sue,
Just checking back. Still with my foot pain.. flared foot up badly by initially staying off it only 2 days and then walking on it (limping) thinking it was Ok. Not! Ended up wearing crutches for a week re tendonitis in the ankle acted up from the limping I believe or maybe swelling around that area too.. anyway still hurts on top of foot where injured initially but not so much thru out foot when wt bearing. Have not seen a doctor. Am at hub's in SD county anyway so not near any of my doctor and not willing to put out $$ til I give the "wait and see" trial a bit more time. Meanwhile I called a Kaiser sales rep & left message re enrolling. No call back yet so will check back today. Next year have $4K deductible and of course coverage 80% in Network with new ins. co Aetna so am motivated to get off spousal plan.

Sounds like your recovery is going along Ok and working out the kinks hopefully! Thanks for the update and hope you'll continue to progress with time. When do you see your surgeon next? Have spoken with Mark by any chance? Ok be well and Happy upcoming New Year!

[Poncho]

Hi Maria, sorry for such a long delay. Well I had my post op visit and x-rays taken. So far I guess everything looks good. Still have the upper arm deltoid and shoulder blade issues. Hopefully, it will just go away. I'm trying to upload pics of it, but having difficulty using my phone. I hope your foot is doing better and didn't have to pay out a ton of money to get it fixed. Now to work on attaching pics of these ADRs....

[Maria]

Hey Sue,
My foot healed well finally.. took a long time! I did have an aggravation or flare up of my posterior tibial tendonitis once I started walking without the air cam brace .. in fact once the doctor pronounced the fracture healed in my left foot and said I was Ok to go about my usual business brace free I sort of went full force back into walking a lot and that brought about my bilateral ankle flare up again. I have had to hire a dog walker to walk Lola several times a day these last few weeks. I walk her every morning but she is a handful with her walks and she wants to go and go in the morning sometimes for an hour. I try to give her that because she will soon be not walking much once the weather heats up even in the high 60's or the sun is warm... she gets out of breath with her CHF and/or just tuckered out and tries to avoid the sun.

I do hope eventually that feeling in your upper back and shoulder blades will resolve and leave you feeling better! Glad to hear your visit went well. take good care now!