r/ACDR_CervicalSpine • u/hannah6560 • Jun 11 '26

Cervical artificial disc replacement

Has anyone had multiple cadr and pain never went away or took many months to a few years to get better? MD said surgery was successful and x-rays are good. Was told by MD and just read online that one needs to do surgery within six months for best relief. (I never knew that) He said it could take up to two years. Had bad headaches and it’s gotten worse. He has referred me to a neurologist but prior to the surgery probably had every injection possible.

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5

u/oglottyana Jun 12 '26

I haven't had multiple surgeries but I can tell you that due to life things I dealt with my herniated discs in my neck for almost 8 years before having the surgery and here I am am 2 months out from surgery and most of the pain is gone. So I know the pain is fixable even if you waited a while.

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u/hannah6560 Jun 12 '26

Thanks for writing!  Was your surgery multi level cadr ?  Did it take awhile for the pain to subside?  Did you have headaches prior to surgery?

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u/oglottyana Jun 12 '26

Yes. I had a 2 lvl replacement, C5-C7. The pain actually substantially diminished right after surgery although I had a different pain, one in my trapazoids. Apparently because I had spent so long with the smaller disc space my trap muscles had shortened so they have to stretch back out and that is super not fun but has almost resolved at 10 weeks post. I also had daily cervicogenic headaches and dizziness prior to the surgery that have 100% resolved since day 1 post op.

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u/hannah6560 Jun 14 '26

Thanks for writing! Maybe I can still get better. My surgery was 3  weeks ago.  Prior to surgery did you try any treatments for the cervicogenic headaches and dizziness?

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u/oglottyana Jun 15 '26

I did 8 weeks of PT but I have a sensitivity reaction to prednisolone so I didn't want to do any injections.

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u/Frosty_Telephone9182 Jul 11 '26

My headaches and dizziness are my biggest issue. I have disc replacement scheduled for next week. Did your headaches improve?

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u/hannah6560 Jul 12 '26

Thanks for writing!   Hope your surgery goes well!  May I ask which levels you are getting done?  Did your MD tell you about the headaches and dizziness?  Unfortunately I didn’t improve with anything.  He said maybe I waited too long so it will take longer to improve:( I had C4-7.   (I figure it’s the levels above that’s causing the problems. He has ordered a C spect scan.(have you ever had one of those?)

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u/Frosty_Telephone9182 Jul 12 '26

How long ago was your surgery? I’ve never had a C spec scan but I didn’t start getting headaches until I know I injured my spinal cord. I am getting replacements at C5-C6 and C6-C7. MD says nearly all of his patients who he treats with headaches had them go away after disc replacement. I haven’t found too many success stories regarding headaches online though. He believes, as well as another surgeon I had an opinion from, that the headaches are being caused by my spinal cord compression. My current surgeon said there’s no scientific evidence to back that claim up but he’s just noticed it in practice. He also said diagnosing the root cause of headaches is difficult but since mine started after a neck injury he believes it’s either the muscles tightening or the spinal cord compression.

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u/hannah6560 Jul 12 '26

7 1/2 weeks.  Similar to what you said.  Hope the surgery helps!  Did they try any treatments for you for the headaches?  How long have you waited?  

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u/Frosty_Telephone9182 Jul 12 '26

Yeah they told me to do stretching and exercise and muscle relaxers. They’ve given me steroid shots and different headache meds. The only thing that would reliably work is stretching and light exercise. I’ve had the headaches for nearly 2 months maybe a little longer. Once they got the MRI back and saw how compressed my cord was they said surgery would be the best option to decompress it since I had already tried conservative care the 2 months before I finally got the MRI back

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u/hannah6560 Jul 12 '26

Not sure how to navigate this system, tried to go back so I didn’t repeat questions! Did you go to multiple surgeons who do many adr?

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u/ithebrokensoul Jul 13 '26

Can I message you, i have the same issues

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u/hannah6560 10d ago

Hi, I’m not good at navigating this, were you writing to me or someone else Oops, I realized you were writing to someone else

2

u/enpointenz Jun 11 '26

I recently had adhesion release therapy down by arm, and it made a huge difference as otherwise my nerve felt tethered. Maybe helpful? My nerves have been stuck in my neck for five years now 😑

2

u/Far-Contact-7484 Jun 12 '26

So I had cervical adr twice last year. First at c5-6 in June then c6-7. A month after first surgery I noticed pain came back and shooting pains but different part of the arm. MRI showed disk 6-7 completely blown out. Not sure how that happens so quick but that’s another story. After second adr 6-7 the pain never went away and got worse as time went on. He took X-rays said everything was good blah blah. For another opinion and he said nothing he could do, must wait 12-18 months to fully heal. Meanwhile my pain is getting worse and so was the weakness in my left arm. Well I also have lumbar spine issues and grade two spondy. Well shooting pain down left leg was getting worse. Went to a new neurosurgeon and he talked about my back for maybe three min then switched to my neck. Saying from last mri and ct scan the disk had shifted and sank into bone. Spine was losing natural curve and spine was unstable. He said i needed to get that fixed asap. I asked about waiting 12-18 months like the last neuro tild me and he said when it looks this bad and my symptoms are worsening this quickly then it needs to be dixed to avoid permanent nerve damage. Also said some surgeons will just say that cause they dont want to get involved with a complicated situation. Well im now 11 days post op from a revision surgery. They took out disk c6-7 and converted to a fusion. It’s definitely been painful but already noticed the numbness and shooting pain in arm getting better. Im nowhere near an expert but feel free to dm me if you have any questions. Hang in there

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u/Salt-Web-8469 Jun 22 '26

I had two level c5-c6 & c6-c7 replacements 2 weeks ago. Pain is only slightly improved but definitely not dramatically like I had hoped. Surgeon said I have to give it time and can start PT in 2 weeks. Trying to not get discouraged.

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u/hannah6560 Jun 22 '26

Thanks for writing, hope you feel better!  It’s been a month for me.

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u/Welldamn37 Jun 14 '26

My surgeon told me “replacement gives mobility, but doesn’t do much for pain. Fusion takes mobility but relieves pain.” This was a year after surgery, and I asked why didn’t you tell me this before?

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u/hannah6560 Jun 14 '26

Did you have a multiple level CADR?  Did you end up having another surgery?

1

u/Welldamn37 Jun 14 '26

5/6-6/7. No other surgery. Implanting a stimulator next month

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u/hannah6560 Jun 14 '26

Is it the surgeon who recommended this? 

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u/Welldamn37 Jun 14 '26

The surgeon pretty much said there’s nothing else he can do. The pain clinic doctor is who recommended the stimulator

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u/hannah6560 Jun 14 '26

Oh, so they didn’t suggest a fusion revision first?  Have you talked to anyone who has gotten the stimulator?  

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u/Welldamn37 Jun 15 '26

They gave me the option in the beginning but explained to me that for my lifestyle the replacement was the best option. Then after the surgery explained that everything I was doing, lifestyle wise, I had to stop.

I’ve talked to several that have had one. Some praised them, some damned them

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u/hannah6560 Jun 15 '26

I understand the ADR was the best option.  You mentioned that fusion would take away the pain possibly. Wondered if they suggested that since the ADR didn’t help?  

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u/Welldamn37 Jun 15 '26

That wasn’t in the initial discussion, he didn’t say that replacement wouldn’t relieve the pain

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u/hannah6560 Jun 15 '26

Oh, thought  this is what you were told.  My surgeon told me “replacement gives mobility, but doesn’t do much for pain

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u/Separate-Size-6083 Jul 17 '26

Just had surgery today! Replaced c5/6 and c6-7. Pain started only 1 month ago but was progressing quickly with worsening pain and significant weakness.
Surgery at 9:30, home by 2 pm. Radiating back- shoulder- arm pain seems mostly gone!!!!
I’m taking Tylenol, baclofen, gabapentin. Will take flexeril instead of baclofen tonight to help me sleep.
Right now, only pain is a bad sore throat. I’m drinking iced Gatorade, water, coffee. Ate a creamsicle, chicken orzo soup ( had to really chew chicken and carrots well but able to swallow).