Neck Surgery & Recovery

[TwoSpirits]

Anyone with experience having ACDF or disk replacement surgery (specifically C4, C5, C6, C7)?

What was the nature of your injury, experience with conservative treatments such as PT or steroid injections, deciding factors for having the surgery, and any issues related to recovery?

[TwoSpirits]

I guess I should add the reason I'm asking is -- Is There Backpacking/Hiking Life After ACDF Surgery?

[dmperkins74]

Following only because I worry something like this is in my future. I wish you well on whatever journey lies ahead.

[JNI64]

FWIW- My ex wife had to have surgery to replace a disc in her neck because of a car accident. Recovery was fine and she was able to hike with a light pack later after full recovery.

[JNI64]

To elaborate a bit this was to repair one disc and I remember her biggest complaint was the plate and screws they use so the new disc can fuse . I don't know what they do to replace all disc like you're describing. I know you can use a cadaver bone, a piece of your own hip bone or I think now they have life safer size titanium disc .
Best of luck with everything.

[TwoSpirits]

Thank you. I'm trying to learn what I can and prepare myself for what I expect will be a challenging experience -- just like planning for a hike: the more I know ahead of time, the better I can prepare and ultimately get the best possible experience.

I will be starting some PT for it and hope that can help, but my doctor expects the surgery in my future. My family wants me to get "a new hobby", but I am hoping that won't be necessary. I'm turning 60 and just getting my hiking groove on!

I'll be happy to share anything about my experience in the upcoming months if anyone else will find that helpful for them.

[Mudsock]

How well you will recover is a good question. It depends on the injury, the doctor, you and probably other things.

My current age is 73. A few years ago, I did a 90 mile section of the AT and then a shorter section a couple of years ago. Last July, I had pain in my back and left leg. After a few weeks, a few muscles were paralyzed. I could walk only if I kept my leg absolutely straight - think Chester on Gunsmoke. If the knee bent slightly, I went down. If I laid on my back, I couldn't lift my leg off the bed. I tried a cane. That wasn't safe; a physical therapist took one look, put me on a walker and insisted on an MRI. That showed that a disk was extruded and that a nerve was compressed. I have four screws and two rods now. Following surgery, I was initially on a walker. I could lift my upper leg, but could not hold my lower leg straight when I did so. When on my back with my knees bent, I could not lift my lower leg all the way straight, even once. But, I could raise it part way so nothing was paralyzed. Shortly, I began physical therapy. After a few weeks, I could walk with a cane. My knee gave way and I fell, only a few times. Then I was able to walk without the cane and no longer am a fall risk.

Surgery was at the beginning of August. Eight months later, I am still trying to regain strength in some of my muscles. I am climbing 24 stories of stairs every day and going to the gym daily. The muscle(s) that control raising my lower left leg are still only 30 percent as strong as in my right leg. My wife and I walked 7.89 miles on a paved trail a couple of weeks ago. I was tired afterward, but it was not a problem.

Physical therapy is a huge part of healing in my case. If there is nerve damage, recovery is uncertain. Nerve function can continue to improve for up to 18 months. Most of what the physical therapist did was to instruct me on which exercises to do, how many reps and how many times a day. Periodically, he assessed progress. Insurance pays as long as there is sufficient continuing progress. The patient has to do all of the work and is really in control more than anyone else. I may never fully recover. But, praise God, I have no pain and can walk as far as I want to. People watching me walk cannot tell I have issues. But, I can feel that the leg is gimpy. Getting up off of the floor is now possible without using my arms to pull myself up. So, I am no longer falling and I can get up. I understand that problem now.

If there are nerve issues, getting pressure off of the nerve as soon as possible is critical. That often means surgery sooner, rather than later.

I wish you well. You may be able to get back on the trail. I may later, but now stairs and the gym have a higher payoff at this point.

[Seatbelt]

My wife had C4 and C5 fusion surgery a few years ago with no long lasting effects, she is very active and has done well. She was 57 at the time.

[dmperkins74]

I haven't had surgery, but I recently had some MRIs revealing arthritis in my neck causing stenosis. This is leading to neck pain, head pain, shoulder pain, oddball weakness in my legs. These combined have been enough to keep me off the trail since December. Two Neurosurgeons have confirmed it's not "surgery worthy" so I'm engaged in Physical Therapy for my neck. I'm glad no surgery is needed, and am putting my hope in the hands of the PT exercises, fingers crossed! Will be eagerly watching the various stories like those above.

[TwoSpirits]

Well this has been an experience, that's for sure -- and one that came right out of the blue. In February I was hiking a section from Amicalola to Franklin, and everything was going really well and I was having the time of my life. I'm slow, but I was in my best shape and my starting pack weight was under 35lbs -- which, for winter gear and 4½ days of food, I was very pleased with. On day 5 or 6, I hiked from Mountain Crossings to Low Gap Shelter -- my longest day at 11.4 miles -- feeling footsore and tired, but I had a great day and no other complaints (except that climb out of Tesnatee Gap! Dang!!) Anyway, after setting up, eating, doing chores, etc, I crawled into the sack and started to drift off...and noticed my left hand was numb. I thought maybe I was sleeping on it wrong...but then it turned into a nightmare.

Numb hand turned into numb arm, turned into flaming pain by morning. I can't take NSAIDS, and Tylenol wasn't helpful, so I got off at Unicoi and suddenly that was the end of my hike.

Ended up going to a hospital, getting a CT, and was told there appears to be a lot of narrowing and arthritis and crap from C4 down through C6...but that I needed to go home and get an MRI for a better diagnosis. A friend who is a spinal specialist read the CT report and said he wouldn't be surprised if surgery was recommended sooner rather than later.

Getting the MRI has been delayed, which is aggravating, since the symptoms have abated only slightly and I do worry about long term nerve damage -- I mean, how long is too long, you know?

Wow. Sorry, this has been a ramble and I apologize for the soap opera (but appreciate your reading and your stories of encouragement.)

[dmperkins74]

@TwoSpirits, I wish you well. I'm dealing with "narrowing and arthritis and crap from C4 down through C6" too. Not fun and I hope you find answers that bring you solace and relief.

[TwoSpirits]

Thank you.
And I offer the same thoughts for you.

[Lynnette]

Yes. I had lower back surgery (the staples hurt worse). To prepare the dr said walk walk walk. At 2 wks post I could walk slowly but the staples pull and sting. That was in late September. In March I was at Springer. 2014. Used my exxternal frame pack and was initially in a panic at Alberts mtn bc I was suddenly alone on the trail and if if if something failed. But all was well. Then in VA I fell down the mtn pack half on running from ground bees. Neck arm bruises everywhere. Dr said surgery on neck in your area bc some nerve and disc material and discs were jammed and going to paralyze me. I asked for a reference on this from someone who he had done this on and asked for PT. He said PT could not help. Husband read the how they cut into your neck from the front and stick in this titanium thing and voila you are good as new. He said no way. So I prayed and got the PT from the google and friends and did it so much that I could carry firewood without a twinge. GOD and PT. It is possible. I have since hiked over 700 more miles of the AT including Mahoosics, Wild cats, and Whites. You should know that the lady I called for reference was very nice she was about 8 months post op. Still wearing and sleeping in the expensive big collar brace they told her she had to wear for at least a yr to heal bc she was over 50. She only recently could start any kind of therapy and go back to work. Every person is going to be different I think, but I do think the word surgery should not imply a quick fix. Start with prayer and PT. Good luck.

[Wolf - 23000]

I guess I should add the reason I'm asking is -- Is There Backpacking/Hiking Life After ACDF Surgery?

TwoSpirits,

Most of us are not doctors, and the hardest thing any of us can hear is our hiking days are over. I also know people dedicated to doing something are going to do it any way regardless of what others say. My suggestion is this, talk to your doctor, know the risk and if you still want to continue backpacking take it slow. Start off with camping out in the backyard or at a campground for a couple of weeks and move up from there. If you get into trouble, you are still in a position to get help if needed.

[TwoSpirits]

Understood and agreed. And appreciated.

[Patrickjd9]

If you look at online stories on NHL player Jack Eichel, you'll learn quite a lot on fusion vs. disk replacement for the cervical spine. He had a nearly year-long feud with his former team where they wanted him to have fusion, while he wanted disk replacement surgery. He was finally traded to Las Vegas, a team that would agree to the replacement surgery.

He was skating in practice three weeks after the surgery in November and returned to play in mid-February.

[TwoSpirits]

That's an interesting story on Eichel; thanks for pointing to that. In the homework and reading I have done, I have to admit that ADR seems preferable to ACDF...but I don't want to get too far in front of my skis on that topic -- I'm still waiting for insurance to authorize the MRI a doctor wanted me to have almost 2 months ago! However, when I do get a chance to talk to a surgeon and discuss treatment plan, I do want to discuss the relative merits of ADR.

(And I'm just now realizing how much miss hockey! Thanks )

[Patrickjd9]

You're welcome! Hope all goes well and you can get back on the trail.

[Fallesafe]

I thru-hiked the whole trail, last year, with a lower back fused in 2008 (L5-S1). It's not the neck. But its probably at least as bad: since it bore full pack-weight the entire way. I'd say that if you have a successful surgery, and then allow a full year and a half for a complete recovery, it shouldnt impact your hiking at all.