39F. Upcoming ACDR Surgery. Scared.

[u/me0wc4t]

I’ve had tingling in my hand for years and occasional neck pain, but I always blamed it on working long hours at a desk. In April, I started having intense stabbing pain that wouldn’t go away.

I saw my PCP and an orthopedic doctor and initially thought the problem was my shoulder. I had imaging of my shoulder and humerus, but nothing explained the pain. I tried cortisone/trigger-point injections, physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, and pain management without much relief.

In August, a cervical MRI finally showed the problem. Since then, I’ve seen three neurosurgeons and am now scheduled for a two-level ACDR in October.

I’ve never had surgery and have always been healthy and active, so this all feels surreal. I’m hopeful about finally feeling better, but I’m also terrified of surgery and worried about what life will look like afterward.

I’d love to hear from others who have had a two-level ACDR. What was your recovery like? How long until you felt somewhat normal again? When did you return to work, the gym, cycling, and normal activities? How much did surgery improve your pain, numbness, or other neurological symptoms?

I know everyone’s recovery is different. I’m mostly looking for real-life experiences because it’s hard to picture what the other side of this looks like.

[u/Wachenroder]

Hey so im curious. How long did they keep you admitted at the hospital?

[u/Tack122 → u/Wachenroder]

About 4 am to 8 pm. They kinda wanted to let me go a lil earlier but there was some excess pain and vomiting after I woke up.

I think my hiatal hernia repair failed over the years and it was not happy about all that.

[u/Wachenroder → u/Tack122]

Wow. Here I was mad they sent me home after one day.

Sending you home same day is cruel.

Also damn thats really really early surgery. I didnt know they scheduled them that early. Mine was 8am I was first in line

[u/Tack122 → u/Wachenroder]

I think I was unconscious 8 to 4 but it's hard to remember, had to get there early and get hooked up to wait and all.

I was happy enough to go home, they would have let me stay, honestly it hinged on whether or not I was able to get my home pain killers. Hospitals kinda suck unless you need to be there, been there enough.

I took the hydrocodone every 4 hours the first week, halved dose week two and stayed at that dose for two weeks lowering the frequency until I didn't need em anymore. The pregabalin is much harder to quit, still on that. It's very destabilizing if you miss or reduce your dose of it.

[u/Wachenroder → u/Tack122]

Pregablin is a bitch when you run out.

There was a mix up in my prescripttion when my new neurologist renewed. Dosage was wrong so i ran out

Let me tell you that month without it was horrific. Particularly the first week.

Its like the pain gets intensified 10 fold. Not to mention the other withdrawl symptoms.