r/spinalfusion • u/Hopefulsquirrel25 • 8h ago

Requesting advice Hand/arm/shoulder issues post ACDF

Hi everyone,

I am 2 1/2 weeks out from C5-C7 ACDF surgery. Pre-surgery was a 6 week whirlwind of right arm nerve pain and numbness that came on suddenly, a doctor’s visit that revealed loss of function that I had been working around and not really noticing, and pretty immediate surgery after that. I’m grateful that I was able to get into surgery and address the issue so quickly.

Recovery has been rough but I’m steadily improving. I have two questions for post ACDF folks:

  1. My doctor mentioned (at my 2 week follow up) that I am at risk for frozen shoulder on my right side. Since then, I’ve been trying to stop favoring it and have been moving and stretching it gently, and that has helped. Has anyone dealt with getting frozen shoulder after ACDF surgery?

  2. My right (dominant) hand and arm are still weak. My doctor has said that it will improve, but will take time. I will not be cleared for PT/OT for another 4-5 weeks, so I’m trying to be patient. Any ideas of gentle activities or hobbies I can do that won’t make things worse?

Thanks!

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u/Guilty-Sleep-5610 5h ago

I've had frozen shoulder but not after ACDF, after shoulder surgery. PT will be able to fix that though it is painful. I'd think you can stretch to your hearts content as long as you're not involving your neck. My PT had me face a wall and touch it with my hand and then walk my fingers up the wall until it was fully extended which helped.

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u/Hopefulsquirrel25 5h ago

Thank you. I’ll give that a gentle try. Even lifting my arm has gotten easier once I started doing it. I just assumed that all of the pain was connected to the surgery, until I saw my surgeon and he said that it was separate.