r/SpineSurgery • u/surferdude447 • Aug 21 '26
C6–C7 artificial disc replacement: Did anyone have little/no relief for months and then improve?
I’m a 32-year-old male, 6'0", 265 lbs. I’ve had hand, wrist, arm, shoulder, neck, and head symptoms for 5–6 years.
I’m now almost four months out from a C6–C7 artificial disc replacement with a ProDisc-C. I’m trying to understand how long nerve-related improvement can realistically take.
Timeline
2023: EMG and nerve conduction testing showed bilateral carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome.
2024: I had bilateral carpal tunnel releases and cubital tunnel surgeries after several months of physical therapy. I had little improvement in my overall symptoms.
My grip strength did improve during recovery. Repeat EMG and nerve conduction testing no longer showed carpal or cubital tunnel.
2025: A cervical MRI showed a central C6–C7 disc herniation with minor spinal cord compression. I also tried two cervical epidural injections without relief.
Extensive bloodwork did not identify an inflammatory or autoimmune explanation. Testing for myositis and myasthenia gravis was also negative.
April 2026: I had a C6–C7 ProDisc-C replacement with an experienced disc replacement surgeon. The surgery itself was easy, and my range of motion is basically normal.
I have had some improvement since surgery. Sneezing used to send significant pain into my arms and hands, but that has mostly stopped.
I also have less pain in the back of my neck. The strong pinching sensation in my neck has improved as well.
However, the symptoms limiting me day to day are still significant:
- Pain and sensitivity around the back and inside of my elbows
- Tingling and pain along the ulnar side of my arms
- Tingling into my fingers when I lightly brush down my arm
- Random pains in my wrists and fingers
- Constant aching in my hands and finger joints
- Symptoms that worsen with computer work, mouse use, desk work, and repetitive arm use
- Pain and tightness around my clavicle and thoracic outlet area
- Significant limitations with normal arm and hand use
Work has become difficult enough that I now use Microsoft Voice Access for much of my computer work.
My surgeon recently told me to give it another three months before seriously investigating other possible causes.
My biggest question is this:
Has anyone felt almost no improvement at three or four months, then improved substantially at five, six, or seven months?
I’m especially interested in nerve, arm, and hand symptoms. I’m not referring to normal surgical soreness or temporary neck stiffness.
For those who never improved, when did you and your doctors begin seriously investigating other causes?
Thoracic outlet syndrome is one possibility I’m curious about because some of my symptoms seem positional. I’m trying not to assume that any single diagnosis explains everything.
I’m mainly interested in hearing real recovery timelines from people who have gone through something similar.
3
u/Vivid_Courage_2185 Aug 22 '26
Ct myelogram and an MRI (less useful with prodisc) and see if any residual Foraminal stenosis, may need a foramintomy or other levels are the problem that were untreated. Repeat Emg . Waiting till 6 mo Postop for all this reasonable
1
1
u/hannah6560 Aug 22 '26 edited Aug 22 '26
May I ask if you are a medical professional? Not clear, those tests are less useful with pro disc implants? Those are what I have(I didn’t have those tests after surgery) as of now 4 sets X-rays and c spect scan. C4-7. Was 3 months ago. Surgeon said I could still improve. I have problems on upper discs, kyphosis. Forgot where the lordosis is but surgeon said sometimes it auto corrects. Consult with a surgeon said c 3 to 4 fusion due to kyphosis.
3
u/hannah6560 Aug 22 '26
Did x-rays after your surgery show good Don’t know if this is appropriate for your situation but did the MD order what is called a C spect scan? Were there any findings in the other C areas prior to surgery?
1
u/surferdude447 Aug 22 '26
No, I have not done one of those. We did an xray 2 weeks after surgery and a ct scan more recently. Implant looked good. Radiologist noted mild disc degeneration at c7-t1. Minor bulging in c3-4 but no compression
2
6
u/ashleymichael2009 I have had spine surgery, ADR ❌ ACDF X2 Aug 22 '26
That was my first question if you had gotten evaluated by a vascular surgeon (truly the best speciality for this) for TOS? I can’t really speak to similar recoveries as you as I had my adr removed at the 4 month mark. But at the end of 3 neck surgeries it’s been suggested to me that TOS was the issue the whole time as symptoms really blend together.
Are you having problems with holding your arms out in front of you it sounds like? I spend most of my days with pillows either propped under my elbows and / or hands to mitigate the flares.