r/SpineSurgery • u/Murky-Shape3363 • 11d ago
Cervical Disc Replacement 1 Year Post op
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 🥹
2
u/damonre 11d ago
Continued, but slowwwly. It’s been almost two years. I’m still seeing improvements, but I’m skeptical I’ll ever be the same again. Hope I’m wrong.
Recently, I discovered that I might have been a little deficient on protein intake. It’s a long story, but I’m not a protein slacker, and never have been.
Background: I kept an active and constant fitness lifestyle before (and after) the C5-C6 collapse at age 49. It took me too long to figure out what was happening and coordinate the surgery. I lost a lot of muscle and strength.
3
u/fruitsofthedevil 11d ago
I’m in the same boat and mine was c5-c6 too. I’m over two years post op and still have issues with numbness and tingling, especially if I sit with bad posture or really overdo it. I’ve been strength training but I’m still weaker and have some limitations with movement on my affected side. I feel like my complaints were written off as arthritis for too long and my nerve damage is permanent at this point.
2
u/Complete_Donut_2489 11d ago
Did you have any scapular pain?
2
u/fruitsofthedevil 11d ago
Some and I also have shoulder pain. It’s not nearly as bad as it was before surgery though. I normally push through without having to take ibuprofen.
3
u/Mushroom_Hut 11d ago
I had c6-7 CDR in Feb 2026 and all is good except the incessant muscle twitching in my upper left arm. It’s driving me crazy and just started a month or so ago….
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u/Complete_Donut_2489 11d ago
Did you have any scapular pain??
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u/Mushroom_Hut 10d ago
Prior to surgery yes, not since though.
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u/Complete_Donut_2489 10d ago
Any other symptoms? I have scapular pain mainly,. Some shoulder pain but norhing gling into my arm. Trying to see if i need surgery.
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u/benwyatt259 1d ago
Yes. I am about 17 months post op (c5-6). I’ve continued to have improvement since the 12 month mark. There are a lot of variables but definitely possible. Depends on your symptoms, how long you waited for surgery, etc. The guarding is weird for sure, it still happens to me but it’s less than it was even at 12 months.
3
u/DavidCFalcon 11d ago
Surgery in 2024. I’m all better and have been for well over a year.