What to Expect After ACDF Surgery - Spine-health
The challenges of an ACDF recovery can add up over time and lead to struggles with depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. In some cases, pain medication side effects can also affect mood and the ability to think clearly. See After ACDF: Managing Mental Health. Bowel movements. Constipation can occur in patients recovering from ...
1 to 2 Weeks After ACDF Surgery - Spine-health
4. 5. Dr. David DeWitt is an orthopedic surgeon practicing at the NeuroSpine Center of Wisconsin, where he specializes in spine surgery. He has more than 15 years of experience evaluating and treating spine diseases and trauma. 1-2 Weeks After ACDF Surgery: Focus on rest, light activity, and follow post-op care to support your recovery.
3 Weeks to 3 Months After ACDF Surgery - Spine-health
3 Weeks to 3 Months After ACDF Surgery. By: David DeWitt, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon. Peer-Reviewed. By 3 weeks, patients usually are cleared to do some light work around the home. Lifting items that weigh up to 10 pounds is now allowed. It’s still important to take breaks and rest if fatigue develops, however.
Pain Management at Home after ACDF - Spine-health
Pain Management at Home after ACDF. Some pain is likely after discharge from the hospital. Narcotic pain medication is usually prescribed to help reduce the pain in the first 1 to 4 weeks after surgery. Because narcotic medications can be addictive and cause side effects such as nausea and constipation, it’s best to avoid using them for an ...
Pain Management and Activity Restrictions after Cervical Spine …
Peer-Reviewed. It is normal to experience acute inflammation, muscle soreness, and incisional pain after surgery. Overall, average pain levels peak in the first 1-3 days following the surgery and then gradually improve over 2 to 6 weeks as swelling resolves and muscles heal. Some degree of aching, tightness, and soreness persists up to 6 months ...
ACDF: Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion - Spine-health
Peer-Reviewed. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a type of neck surgery that involves removing a damaged disc to relieve spinal cord or nerve root pressure and alleviate corresponding pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling. A discectomy is a form of surgical decompression, so the procedure may also be called an anterior cervical ...
ACDF Surgery Postoperative Care - Spine-health
ACDF Surgery Postoperative Care. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, or ACDF, is a common type of neck surgery to address pain and other symptoms caused by cervical disc problems. After an ACDF, most patients are able to go home the day of the surgery or the next day, so most of the recovery time is spent at home.
After ACDF: Trouble with Swallowing - Spine-health
Most ACDF patients fully recover their ability to swallow within a few days after surgery. Sometimes, however, dysphagia lingers for weeks, months, or even longer. Studies that have followed ACDF patients post-surgery for at least 2 years have found differing results regarding dysphagia. For example, one study estimated that about 10% of ACDF ...
Hospital Care After ACDF Surgery - Spine-health
5. Dr. David DeWitt is an orthopedic surgeon practicing at the NeuroSpine Center of Wisconsin, where he specializes in spine surgery. He has more than 15 years of experience evaluating and treating spine diseases and trauma. After ACDF surgery, hospital care involves managing pain and ensuring the patient's comfort and safety.
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Complications
For an ACDF surgery, the main potential risks and complications that tend to occur include: Inadequate symptom relief after the surgery. Failure of bone graft healing to create a fusion (a non-union, or pseudarthrosis) Temporary or persistent swallowing (medically known as dysphasia) Potential speech disturbance from injury to recurrent ...