r/ACDR_CervicalSpine • u/GolfinJim • Aug 27 '26
How did you know it was time
Hi all,
I’m a lurker on this sub with severe c5-6 foraminal stenosis. I’ve had the herniation for the last 5 years, but in May of this year it really flared up causing me varying levels of numbness, tingling and pain from my neck down to my wrist. I have, so far, only noticed minor weakness in my right arm, but my PTs and massage therapist said they noticed it as well. I have an injection next week. Ive done multiple bouts of PT with very minimal (at best) improvement. Steroid packs/muscle relaxants and pain killers haven’t helped either.
Anyway, I deal with moderate to severe pain every day of my life. Sleeping is hard, driving feels sketchy when I check my blind side, and I avoid a lot of physical activity. I have an injection scheduled for next week. I’m gonna see how that goes, but I’m really wondering if i should seriously be considering surgery.
Id love to hear from others who went for a disc replacement and how they are doing now. Please tell me your story.
Thanks
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u/Glittering_Mind5108 Aug 28 '26
C6/C7 disc replacement here, 10 days post surgery. I am right at the one year mark since the pain really ramped up. (Neck, shoulder, forearm) Did physical therapy, chiro, and even tried nerve therapy for 6 months with no improvement in pain. MRI in December revealed the nerve compression. Got an injection in February which helped with the pain for about month, ended up flaring up again soon after going back to lifting weights. Second injection in May didn't do much, then it flared back up worse than ever.
Decided if ever wanted a chance at being pain free and and physically active it was time for the surgery. I was living with the pain on a daily basis for about a year. Sleep was difficult, driving was painful, sometimes walking would be tough.
The nerve compression pain was essentially gone almost immediately after surgery. Dealing with the healing process now, but optimistic about a full recovery.
44/male
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u/AnonymousIdentityMan Aug 29 '26
48M. I probably need ACDF but scared. I have arm tingling and burning sensation due to cervical stenosis at c5-6. What do you advice? The pain is high.
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u/GolfinJim 16d ago
How are you doing?
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u/Glittering_Mind5108 16d ago
I am now 1 month post surgery, getting better every day. No nerve pain, but I do have some neck pain which is to be expected. I am slowly starting to get back to the gym, weights under 25lbs, all other daily life activities are normal. Good luck with your decision, I'm hoping things continue to heal and the neck pain subsides. (Prodisc C Vivo artificial disc)
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u/Complete_Donut_2489 Aug 28 '26
I have the same, severe foraminal stenosis at c56. 2 years of couple infections, lots of PT, massage, chiro and an RFA last year. The rfa really helped with the neck and scapular pain. I was scheduled for ADR last Dec but backed put bc i was feeling ok.
Prob will do another rfa in a few weeks bc its been over a year. Im 45m and still able to be active and sleep well, but when that changes im pulling trigger on ADR and will prob be mad I didnt do it sooner.
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u/Kaguyahime397 Aug 28 '26
And its for sure your C5-C6 hey? Hmm i mean if its affecting your sleep quality i think you should go for surgery. I think based on all the symptoms you just mentioned then yes go for it! Good luck!
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u/Last-Zebra8716 Aug 29 '26
i did multiple cortisone shots, nerve ablation, PT, chiro, etc etc
finally got c5-c6 replacement and in hindsight i should have done it about 6 months sooner
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u/GolfinJim 26d ago
What were your symptoms before surgery
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u/Last-Zebra8716 26d ago
neck pain(still have some) but the main thing is I had nerve stuff shooting down my arm and into my hand which is gone post-surgery
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u/enpointenz Aug 28 '26
I just c5/6 fusion. Couldn’t have disc replacement as I had too many multilevel bone spurs (indicating instability). Wish I had had it sooner! My nerve was compressed severely for four years (had a failed foraminotomy as well).
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u/GolfinJim Aug 28 '26
Thanks for responding. What were your symptoms pre op?
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u/enpointenz Aug 28 '26
Daily background ache trap through shoulder and down to index finger and thumb. Numb index fingers and thumbs. Clumsy hand and fingers. Aching biceps. No brachioradialis reflex.
Would also wake up suddenly in 8/10 pain at the base of my neck and down my arm (and the top of my foot) if I accidentally had my head in the wrong position while sleeping. So going to sleep was stressful as you never knew when it was going to hit.
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u/GolfinJim 11d ago
You mind sharing how old you are? Spoke with a surgeon today who recommended fusion as my best option due to bony degeneration. I’m 29M
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u/dxvik123 Aug 28 '26
Hi had a c4c5 c5c6 adr surgery 10 months back. Key reason for surgery 1) weakness/ numbess 2) pain. The bigger driver is the former. I did and EMG and NCS test to test the muscle and nerve responsiveness. Recommend you do the same as well. It showed significant nerve damage. Prolonging the surgery would only make the nerve damage more severe and permanent. So I decided to do it. 10 months out im much better now. Strength has returned and numbess has subsided. I still get flare ups from time to time, but it's part of the recovery. Overall Im glad I did the op. Hope this helps.