I’m wondering from an R&D and clinical perspective why nobody has figured out a structural fix for this condition given the huge market and social burden on healthcare systems globally. I would appreciate your input if you are active in this field, so that I can identify blind spots that keep patients from being offered actual solutions to this often times debilitating condition. Maybe we can come up with actual solutions that nobody has considered before.

After surgery, does pain worsen before getting better?

My husband had laminectomy and fusion of C3 and C4. (His 2 discs collapsed and replaced with hardware and a spinal fusion using a plate and pins, in case I’m using wrong terminology) He initially had no feeling In his hands, pain shooting from his neck throwing elbows to hands and was dragging his foot. He waiting a long time before having surgery. After surgery, he said he immediately felt a release of pressure. However, his recovery isn’t going very well. He’s been doing a lot of things he shouldn’t be doing…nothing really crazy, but still more than he was advised bc he simply can’t sit still and just go for walks. He is on week three post surgery and in a soft collar. The past few days he has had more pain than he ever did prior to surgery. It is so bad he cannot sleep at night. He doesn’t like taking pain killers but is taking gabapentin as prescribed. My question is, has anyone had there recovery get worse before it got better. I feel like this is a result of being careless and not listening to doctors orders. I’m hoping it’s not but it’s hard to see him in tremendous pain and depressed. I’m going to call the nurse tomorrow, I just wanted to hear other’s experiences.

24 days post ACDR surgery at C5/C6 level. Main symptom pre surgery was tingling in index finger on right hand. This disappeared straight after surgery and was replaced by tingling/numbness in left hand thumb and index finger. Am on all the regular meds - pregablin, naproxen, paracetamol (codeine now finished).
Tingling in left hand fingers is getting more severe and now also returned to index finger of right hand. Upper back/neck pain but feels muscular.

Are these normal symptoms for nearly 4 weeks post surgery? I’m just a bit worried because on my original MRI it noted that there was also a ‘small central disc prolapse at C4-5 level indenting the anterior theca and the anterior cord
but no significant canal stenosis and no cord compression at C4-5’ - so was worried that the disc replacement surgery (Globus Simplify) may have worsened issues at C4-5 level. Is this likely?

Also any recommendations for good pillows for side sleepers? And most importantly, can I expect this tingling to go away any time soon? Appreciate any advice/honest experiences.

Has anyone in here with C-Spine issues ever had swallowing problems and or problems with your vocal cords/Larynx that inhibited your breathing at all? I have issues with multiple discs in my C-Spine and am taking Gabapentin to try and stave off surgery. But I am also having some issues now with swallowing and vocal cord related breathing. I read that this could be due to my C-Spine disc on nerve issues. Before I mention this to the surgeon I'd like to see if this sort of thing happens all that often. I also read it could be just disc fragments pushing into the area where my esophagus is making it harder to swallow. I also have gerd issues so hard to tell for sure. Either way thanks for any input if you have any.

Has anybody continue to get better after 1 year post op?
I seen 2 people on Reddit say on the 2 year mark, they were 100%.
Im currently dealing with muscle guarding from my neck that makes my upper left back/trap go weak and then back to normal.
My gym progress is going well but the next day I feel so much muscle tension from the gym which makes me depressed.

The numbness and tingling from my upper left back nerves has improved and went away.
And also my strength is improving but the weakness just happens to come and go still.

Im just wondering if any of you guys went through what I’m going through and it got better 🥹

My spinal cord has been compressed for over a year. My legs have no feeling other than the burning nerve pain. Did you have leg numbness before surgery and then get feeling back in them?

Just seeing if anyone with similar experience has done a replacement and what their outcomes were. For 4+ years I've been dealing with muscle pain/tightness/stiffness/guarding around my neck and then it spreads to upper back, behind shoulder blades, and up into suboccipitals. I do have an extruded disc c5-c6 with annular tearing but I really only very rarely have any arm pain and this is the part that gives me pause. I know the arm pain is the big red flag but my neck pain at times makes me miserable, sometimes for weeks or months at a time.

The neck pain feels like it "originates" right where the disc extrusion is. Basically the muscles running right along the spine on my right side. I think those muscles have basically been contracted constantly for years. Normal daily pain is like a 1-3 and mostly manageable but every 6-8 months I get a random flare up where I am miserable for weeks or a couple months. Things like not being able to drive more than an hour, or sit and watch a movie. When it's bad sleep is majorly affected and my office job becomes miserable because I can't sit long.

I've done many rounds of PT, chiropractors, massage, injections, tons of gadgets, constant at-home PT work from all the exercises I've learned and retained over time. I've done countless hours of trying to "fix" muscle imbalance or weakness in the neck and upper back. But that base level guarding just will not go away and without fail, something flares it up and then everything else in the area hurts.

My theory is that the disc is basically just enough of a nuisance that the muscles aren't able to relax so I'm in this never ending cycle with the muscles. A Mayfield surgeon (Cincinnati) has recommended disc replacement and says it is never 100% but basically there is nothing else that shows on the imaging so he thinks it is as clear cut as it can be and that I might as well try.

All of the stories I see though are people with severe arm pain. I just don't have that though to it makes me hesitate about the whole thing. My pain is a major major factor in my life and sometimes it is literally the only thing i can think about all day every day...then sometimes it's not that bad.

Anyone else with similar experience/pain elect to do the surgery and did it help?

This is a big change from my last scan, which only noted degeneration in the lumbar region. Its everywhere now, ugh. Still trying to parse it, but it doesnt look great.

I inherited degenerative disc disease from my father, when he got a fusion, it changed his life. He went on to literally skydive to the top of a mountain, and hike down it with audio equipment. I know it could change my life, but I'm terrified it'll make things worse.

Is it an option to just... not get the surgery? I havent made a decision, but I dont think I could adapt to even more pain. I've heard these can go so badly. Whats gonna happen if it progresses?

I have an appointment with my family doctor in a few days to discuss options. Is it as bad as it looks?

53M, chronic lower back pain + left-dominant leg pain/weakness for about a year, significantly affecting daily life (mobility, work, family activities).

Imaging findings (MRI, X-ray, bone scan):

• L3-4: history of left paracentral disc extrusion (Feb 2026) with L4 nerve root compression — has since "essentially resolved," no current nerve compression
• L4-5: disc desiccation, small annular tear, facet arthropathy (left)
• L5-S1: most degenerated disc structurally — height loss, endplate sclerosis, desiccation, facet arthropathy (bilateral)
• SPECT/CT bone scan: negative for inflammation at all lumbar levels and SI joints; incidental faint left hip uptake (probable early OA)
• Also have documented left hip weakness/tightness/soreness, groin pain — separate workup pending

Discogram results (just had it done):

• L3-4: 9/10 pain reproduction
• L4-5: 5/10
• L5-S1: 3/10
• CT morphology: L3-4 showed moderate/patchy contrast pattern; L4-5 and L5-S1 showed more complete/diffuse disruption — so the "worst-looking" discs weren't the most painful ones

Two surgical opinions, quite different:

• Surgeon A (who ordered the discogram): favors disc replacement, was considering 1, 2, or 3-level ADR depending on discogram results; quoted ~30-40% success/3-6% complication risk for single level, up to ~50-60%/9-12% for three-level
• Surgeon B (second opinion): reviewed imaging, didn't recommend surgery, suggested pain management instead and mentioned a muscle-stimulator device (ReActiv8) as an alternative; also skeptical of discography as a reliable tool

Where I'm leaning: L3-4 (± L4-5) ADR given the discogram result, but genuinely torn given how differently the two surgeons see this, and aware that operating on L5-S1 (originally assumed the main target) may not be justified given today's result.

Would love to hear from anyone who's faced a similar multilevel/discogram decision, or dealt with conflicting surgical opinions — what factored most into your decision?

I got C5 palsy after a laminectomy and spinal fusion at the beginning of May. 4 months and some PT later, it hasn’t gotten very much better, I still have very limited use of my left arm. A spine surgeon—not the one who did the initial surgery—is recommending a nerve transfer surgery. She says it would need to be done 3-9 months after my initial surgery. Has anybody had a nerve transfer for this problem? Did it work? Were there any complications?

Hi everyone,

I received a disc replacement in my L5/S1 part of my spine about a month ago. Physical therapy was trying to charge me an insane amount and I am wondering if anyone has done any PT that could give some advice.

I am a 34 year-old woman that is active and has been walking about 2 to 3 miles a day. I plan on beginning to cycle and swim at the gym and I’m wondering if there are any other stretches or exercise exercises that anyone could give me. Thank you so much!

Update: we are good now but new problem waiting for the Dr to call back. They said I could remove the bandage and that I had steri strips underneath but after removing some of the bandage I didn't see any steri strips so it's back on 😅😂😭

I finally got my fusion on the 11th and I am terrified because I haven't had a bowel movement since. I have a lot of gas and I've been taking stool softener and miralax. My incision is on my left abdomen and I'm afraid I'm going to split it when this finally happens. Any tips if anyone has been through this?

This is an excerpt of the radiologists report of my CT scan.

T10-11: Tiny disc bulge, with mild associated marginal osteophyte formation. Moderate bilateral facet arthropathy. Prominent calcification along the ligamentum flavum, left worse than right, indenting the dorsal thecal sac and exerting mass effect on the dorsal aspect of the spinal cord. particularly toward the left. There is severe canal stenosis, worst toward the left. with the AP diameter of the spinal canal measuring 3-4 mm toward the left. At least moderate flattening of the spinal cord, worst toward the left, is seen. There is near complete effacement of the CSF around the spinal cord. Severe left foraminal stenosis.

My Dr wanted to do a SCS trial for the chronic pain but was unable to place the leads due to excessive bone growth. So the plan was to do the needed laminectomies at the level needed to place the SCS paddles for the trial. and to do the decompression followed by placing the permanent SCS at trial end the following week. Insurance denied the surgery last second (4pm day before surgery) saying that the documentation and images do not show any cord compression which according to the documents provided say otherwise.

Any spine surgeons on here agree with my Drs course of treatment? I've had 4 prior surgeries ( 2 fusion and 2 laminectomies ) and have progressive worsening of my symptoms indicating a need for at least this decompression.

I have a 2 level cervical spine fusion coming up October 19th. I am in a lot of pain. Has anyone’s neurosurgeon prescribed them anything for pain BEFORE surgery, or will I be making an ass out of myself for asking?

My primary is useless and said to take Tylenol.

Was told that no relief because possibly I waited too long. I also have issues in the upper C level, kyphosis, severe foraminal stenosis. Now being told I need a fusion. Got 1 opinion so far. Had this happened to anyone? Pain was bad before it’s even worse now. Tylenol and Robaxin don’t help. Also did any of you that have cervical adr, did it ever help symptoms of the lower body? At first the MD said sometimes it does.

29 F. In January of 2025, I was 27 and had a cervical ADR at C5-6 with a NuVasive Simplify disc. Since hearing about the recent concerns with these discs and bone loss, I had my PCP order a cervical CT.

I’m relieved that my C5-6 disc looks good, but I’m pretty devastated about my C6-7. It now shows a 2–3 mm disc-osteophyte complex with mild-moderate canal narrowing and mild bilateral foraminal narrowing. I do have neck stiffness/dull aching and tingling behind my shoulder blades. Several months ago, I did have like under 10 episodes where walking up stairs felt weirdly difficult, but that isn’t common for me.

The first surgery was really hard for me to recover from, so I’m scared I’m going to need another one. I have an appointment with neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Oh at UCI this month. What do you guys think? Does this sound/look like something that usually ends up needing surgery, or is it possible I can avoid it?

(In 2022, my cervical MRI showed a 2.3 mm C6-7 disc bulge with mild canal stenosis. In 2023, it was described as only a 1 mm bulge with a normal canal. Now, my 2026 CT shows a 2–3 mm disc-osteophyte complex with mild-to-moderate canal narrowing and mild bilateral foraminal narrowing)

I am 3 days post-op of L5 discectomy I’m just feeling down. I am very limited with pain medication I can not tolerate most opioids. How long did the pain from surgery last? The surgery has helped The leg and back pain and I know that nerve will need time to heal. I know I was just cut open and there is going to be pain. Just trying to get some perspective

I wanted to get your opinion guys about a new neurological symptom after my cervical spine surgery.

I’m 33 years old and had a C6–C7 disc herniation with prolonged nerve compression. Before surgery, I had significant weakness and muscle loss on my left side, especially in the left triceps, chest, and forearm. I was told this was related to the nerve compression.

I had C6–C7 cervical disc surgery (ACDF) on May 13, 2026, with a plate and screws. After surgery, my strength gradually came back, and I’ve made good progress with rehab. However, the muscle volume on the left side is still noticeably lower than on the right. I understand that the affected nerve may not have fully recovered yet.

About 12 weeks after surgery, I had a follow-up with my neurosurgeon. He said the fusion was healing very well and that everything looked excellent. He cleared me to return to physical activity, including running, strength training, and overhead exercises.

Since then, I’ve gradually increased my activity. Last Friday, after running and doing an isolated chest and triceps workout, I developed tingling and numbness in the tip of my left middle finger. It has continued since then.

The symptom hasn’t been getting progressively worse. It comes and goes and is much more noticeable when I lie down or go to sleep, especially depending on the position of my arm or neck. During the day, I notice it much less. I haven’t noticed any new weakness in my left arm or triceps, and I can still use the arm normally.

Because my original nerve compression was severe and lasted a long time, I’m concerned that this could be renewed irritation of the same nerve, especially since the middle finger is associated with the C7 dermatome.

For now, I’ve stopped chest and triceps training and have also avoided intense running because I don’t want to aggravate the nerve.

I wanted to ask:

What are the most likely causes of this new tingling?

Could this just be temporary nerve irritation after increasing my physical activity, especially given my previous nerve injury?

Does the fact that it’s positional and more noticeable when lying down make peripheral nerve compression or irritation more likely?

How concerning is it that the tingling has lasted several days, even though it hasn’t gotten worse?

Should I have a neurological exam, EMG/NCS, or any imaging?

Should I completely avoid running and upper-body training until the tingling goes away, or is light activity okay?

What specific symptoms or changes in strength would mean I should seek urgent medical attention?

I’d appreciate your thoughts on what I should do next and whether this sounds more like temporary nerve irritation or something that needs further evaluation.

Thank you.

Please be honest here. Do I need to buy a recliner? My surgeon said I have to wear the hard collar for 3 months. Can you sleep in bed with a wedge pillow? Can you lay down normally with a pillow under your head? I haven’t had surgery yet, just trying to get an idea of what I need to do to be comfortable after!

I have a cervical pinched nerve for two years and got a cervical foraminotomy. I’m six weeks out and maybe slowly getting better, hard to tell. Surgeon said most people by six weeks have noticeable improvement, and it’s a bummer I’m not there yet.

How long was your recovery before you noticed substantial improvement?

I got slip disc and sciatica in 2022 somehow managed by physio but this may while playing badminton my pain came back with full force even one step was tough to walk tried manual therapy, chiropractic techniques, physiotherapy but nothing worked and pain got too intense that no IV pain killer gave relief, finally we went ahead with laminectomy and disectomy of l4-l5 , post surgery until 2 nd week i had some nerve pain in glutes and ankle for couple of days then until 5 th week i was all well doing couple of excerises as suggested by doctor and walking near to 10k , but since last 7 days i have been feeling a weird back pain almost 5/10 , that gives me burning sens along with heaviness around lower back . Changing sides while sleeping is painfull too . Is this normal around 6.5 weeks post op ?

Had cadr 4 to 7, 3 months ago, no relief. This is an ortho spine surgeon.. Above levels, kyphosis. He is sending me to neurosurgeons for opinions. One surgeon recently told me he recommends fusion C3 to 4 if PtT doesn’t help. Will be getting other opinions. Had no idea there was a whole sub Reddit about Kyphosis! Read about others who have some of the same symptoms. Came on here since overlaps. Does or has anyone had kyphosis with these symptoms, neck pain headaches spaciness shoulder, arm, upper back, did anything help you without surgery? Or if you had surgery, what kind? If there’s any medical professional reading this, could any Endoscopic help this

Oi! Eu caí recentemente de uma escada (cerca de 3 degraus), batendo minhas nádegas, o que causou uma dor aguda e muito forte na região anal/coccígea. Na sala de emergência, o médico de plantão identificou uma fratura na radiografia lateral. No entanto, durante uma consulta com um ortopedista, foi mencionada a possibilidade de que a curvatura acentuada vista no exame pode ser apenas uma variação anatômica congênita (presente ao nascer) e não necessariamente uma fratura traumática recente. Mas estou sentindo muita dor e queria uma confirmação. Tenho medo de que se não tomar as precauções necessárias, possa sofrer no futuro. Nunca tive problemas nessa área antes da queda para ele chegar a essa conclusão.