Anterior Cervical Discectomy, Decompression and Fusion for the Treatment of Pain, Weakness, Numbness and Tingling in the Neck and Arm caused by Radiculopathy or Myelopathy.
Last updated Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Recovering from surgeryHow much pain do patients usually have after anterior cervical decompression and fusion (acdf) for cervical stenosis and what medications are used to manage it? Shortly
after the patient awakens from surgery, the patient is given a PCA
(patient-controlled analgesia) machine. This is a button that allows the
patient to self-administer pain medicine through the IV. The pain medicine most
commonly used is akin to morphine. This is usually discontinued the next day,
and the patient is given oral pain medications.How are medications after anterior cervical decompression and fusion (acdf) for cervical stenosis administered? How long will they be needed? Initially
pain medication usually is administered intravenously or intramuscularly. Sometimes
patient controlled analgesia (PCA) is used to allow the patient to administer
the medication as needed. Hydrocodone or Tylenol with codeine are taken by
mouth. Intravenous pain medications are usually needed only for the first day.
Oral pain medications are usually needed only for the first two weeks after the
procedure.How does pain medication usually affect pain and comfort following anterior cervical decompression and fusion (acdf) for cervical stenosis? Pain
medications can be very powerful and effective. Their proper use lies in the
balancing of their pain relieving effect and their other, less desirable
effects. Good pain control is an important part of the postoperative
management.What are the most frequent and most serious side effects of taking pain medication after anterior cervical decompression and fusion (acdf) for cervical stenosis? Pain
medications can cause drowsiness, slowness of breathing, and difficulties in
emptying the bladder and bowel, nausea, vomiting and allergic reactions.
Patients who have taken substantial narcotic medications in the recent past may
find that usual doses of pain medication are less effective. For some patients,
balancing the benefit and the side effects of pain medication is challenging.
Patients should notify their surgeon if they have had previous difficulties
with pain medication or pain control.After anterior cervical decompression and fusion (acdf) for cervical stenosis, what happens in the hospital and when is the patient usually discharged? After
surgery, the patient usually spends an hour or two in the recovery room. The
patient then goes to the hospital floor overnight. The next day, the drain is
removed and the patient is switched to oral pain medication. Patients are
commonly discharged the day after surgery, but occasionally remain in the
hospital for an additional day.After anterior cervical decompression and fusion (acdf) for cervical stenosis, what happens at hospital discharge and what are the patient's limitations at that time? The
patient will be wearing a soft cervical collar after the procedure for a few
weeks until the next follow-up visit. In the early postoperative period, the
patient should limit activity. Walking is encouraged, but there should be no
heavy lifting or sports. Once the collar is removed, the patient may resume
day-to-day activities, but is still restricted from strenuous activity such as
sports. The fusion can take as long as six months to fully heal and the patient
will be under some restriction for that time period; however after the first
three months, the average patient is able to perform most daily activities
comfortably.What type of help do patients need after anterior cervical decompression and fusion (acdf) for cervical stenosis and for how long? Can they go home or do they require a convalescent facility?
Driving
is usually discouraged in the early postoperative period. Turning the head may
be more difficult in this time period. This limitation in motion does not allow
for safe driving.
Early on,
patients will require assistance. Patients should not lift heavy objects for
six weeks, nor should the patient be subjected to repetitive bending. Patients
should ease themselves back into the activities of daily living.
Surgery for Cervical Stenosis at the University of Washington If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call 206-598-4288 (outside the Seattle area: 800-440-3280) to make an appointment.
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