pain 6 months after acdf surgery pain 6 months after acdf surgery

This surgery involves the removal of a protruding disc from the spine for relief of pressure on the spinal nerves, followed by reconstruction. It causes pain after ACDF surgery because the bone graft and attached muscles change their biomechanics. See the section on the website regarding failed neck surgery syndrome. But you cant know this for sure until almost a year has passed. It is usually missed and misunderstood by doctors, so look for a neurologist at a facility that treats TOS as a condition. THE PAIN RETURNED ABOUT 6 WKS AFTER SURGERY. In an attempt to bring these individuals back into their full-speed lives again, doctors and other spine treatment providers focus on mitigating pain. Thoracic pain (not generated from the cervical spine) could be from disc, facet or nerve origin. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion without instrumentation. over a year ago, missbrat The primary goal of surgery is to relieve your symptoms by decompressing, or relieving pressure on, the compressed nerves in your neck. See Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulators (TENS) The differential is now down to facets in the lower cervical spine, thoracic degenerative disc disease, neuropathic pain syndrome, Scheuermanns disorder or a rib/vertebral articulation (as long as the ACDF is a solid fusion). Neck pain again a year after acdf surgery. WHEN I STRETCH, IT FEELS LIKE I AM SEPERATING MY SPINE AND I HAVE INTENSE PAIN WHEN RETRACTING FROM THE STRETCH. WebMuscle pain after Cervical Fusion Surgery may be due to a new shoulder injury. Take any medications that your doctor prescribes for pain and constipation. Impression: Youre trying to get rid of neck pain, and what are you doing? But you cant know this for sure until almost a year has passed. I called me surgen and they told me to stop the exercises they had me doing. Some common risks of surgery include: Stroke. The MRI might note solid fusion but the MRI is generally not a reliable test to determine if fusion is present. Medications. I did all the conservative treatment (shots, PT, traction) and finally after 2 years gave in and had the ACDF. "@amywood20 I'm sorry you are having issues. Peolsson A, Peterson G, Hermansen A, Ludvigsson ML, Dedering , Lfgren H. BMJ Open. Blood Clots. You must be logged in to reply to this topic. It feel like I have done 500 pushups or really strenuous exercise every single day. The Scap Wrap: How To Fix Your Shoulder Posture. Do not use nicotine for at least three months. Reading your post was like deja vu. I think it keeps it aligned instead of allowing it to rotate and shift at that point. Much thanks. I do know that I have a bulging lumbar disc that cracks on rotation, and I have less issues with that because of core strength. The more I do that, the less fatigued I get after some miles of riding, and then everything is easier, even walking and climbing stairs because I built the hip, leg and back strength by using all those muscles. There may be numbness in the arms. During the surgery, the spine surgeon accesses the cervical vertebrae from the front of the neck. I received excellent compassionate care and have great results. Take any medications that your doctor prescribes for pain and constipation. Some patients can to return to their daily activities within a week after the ACDF surgery. I WORK 40+ HRS A WEEK, AM VERY ACTIVE IN CHURCH ACTIVITIES, KEEP UP WITH 2 TEENAGE BOYS AND BASEBALL SCHEDULES, HAVE HORSES AND ENJOY DOING OUTDOOR THINGS, BUT I AM IN SEVERE PAIN 24/7 AND SEE NO END IN SIGHT. They had to remove the first plate. From my first cervical procecure, I lost complete use of my left arm, which eventually led to shoulder surgery to remove significant inflamation. Its a slow healing process, but in the end, the operation may end up being successful. I see my neurosurgeon on Monday, but I'm really nervous about what could be wrong. So when i called them again they told me to go see an orhropedic guy. Because of that, I requested a MRI on the cervical spine via my doc's patient portal. -No discrete labral tear. You could have thoracic outlet syndrome in addition to the other issues you mentioned and it causes arm and hand pain, and TOS is more common with spine injury patients. Rejection of a graft or other structures. This procedure (along with all other spine surgery procedures) requires the surgeon to navigate delicately around, and between nerves and muscles. Rotator cuff muscle volume is maintained. You have to think about safety with everything you do with a horse and make sure that the horse trusts and respects you. Recovery time after ACDF surgery generally lasts about four to six weeks. A week later, Tom arrived at Dr. Kachmann's office. Complications with anesthesia. Method: WebAlthough relatively rare, post-operative nerve injuries may occur after cervical spine procedures. No discrete cuff tear. The new device, by contrast, is much less invasive, requiring only a small incisionless than an inchon either side of the neck and takes less than 30 minutes. I don't know if anything (other that waiting until COVID-19 urgency has passed) has changed. Iron Neck for chronic pain caused by foraminal stenosis? When I contacted Mayo 4 years ago, I wrote to a specific surgeon and asked that he review my imaging because I read papers he co-authored and thought his area on interest would be a good match for what I needed. I didn't get all the muscle back in my arms and shoulders yet, but there should be some more tomorrow since I just scrubbed my horse's winter blankets outside. What I am not sure about is what kind of artifacts could be caused by the hardware itself on the imaging, so I don't know if the screw is pushing into the spinal canal or right up to it. On Jan 11th 2007 I had ACDF without plate or screws C6/C7 with only a soft collar perscibed. I HAVE STABBING PAIN BETWEEN MY SHOULDER BLADES AND SEVERE MUSCLE SPASMS AND PAIN FROM THE BASE OF MY SKULL THROUGH MY SHOULDER AND DOWN INTO MY RIGHT ARM TO MY ELBOW. Doing two or more movements together puts the back at high risk for injury so be careful! I understand your concern with that image. There is nonacute endplate Schmorls node T7-T8 with small central disc protrusion without mass effect. We'll see how Monday goes. Cervical fusion is generally considered safe, however, it is major surgery. One additional questionif the pain was facet originated, wouldnt the facets directly below the fusion site (in my case C4-C6 ACDF) bear the brunt of the new load? MeSH Keep in mind your body has to heal on the inside & calm down from the trauma of WebBackground:Dysphagia is a common complication immediately following anterior cervical spine surgery.However, its onset more than 1-year postoperatively is rare. Cervical fusion is generally considered safe, however, it is major surgery. The screw can be inserted incorrectly and advanced into a nerve or facet joint causing pain and weakness. In an attempt to bring these individuals back into their full-speed lives again, doctors and other spine treatment providers focus on mitigating pain. After 7 months, I have not been able to return to work. I had an anterior cervical fusion (C5, C6) about 3 months ago. Hi, Gilmore - I also had cervical surgery about 6 months ago C4-7, corp C4-5. Also, discograms are a pre-surgical test which is again not generally recommended in the thoracic spine. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Conditions of Use linked below. The thoracic surgeon had to decide if he thought my biggest symptoms where coming from my cervical spine or the compression of nerves because of TOS which he discussed with me, and he consulted with the neurosurgeon about this, actually in a phone call while I was at the appointment with the neurosurgeon. Back on feb 28 i have 2 disc fusions in my c5/7. So far a teny tiny bit of releife. Compared with the results before surgery patients had improved in pain intensity (p = 0.001), neck pain (0.001), numbness (p = 0.02) and were more 'satisfied' with having their neck problems (p = 0.01). @amywood20 When Mayo is open again for appointments, I think that would be a good decision to go there. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a type of spine surgery used for the treatment of neck or arm pain caused by cervical radiculopathy. TOS affects my breathing by making the muscles on one side of my chest too tight, so it doesn't expand well enough, and it pulls up on the first ribs, so they don't relax downward during an exhalation. The last couple of weeks, by neck has started hurting pretty bad. over a year ago, ivyfern77759 March 26, 2018 Three months after undergoing C5-T1 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), an active 60-year-old man from Florida began to experience recurrent neck and left shoulder pain. MY POST OP XRAYS AND MRI LOOK FINE ACCORDING TO MY NEURO AND PAIN DR. I could move my arm and shoulder without pain (once going through therapy and strengthening). Office Exercises: Computer Related Neck And Shoulder Pain Solutions, Cervical spine fusion for herniated disk in neck, Neck And Shoulder Pain While Working At A Computer, Cure Shoulder Pain- 6 Top Secrets to End Shoulder Problems Revealed, Recovery After Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery, Recovering From Anterior Cervical Discectomy And Fusion Surgery. My original symptoms were bilateral, symmetrical muscle aches/burning in my arms (wrists, forearms, deltoids). The PubMed wordmark and PubMed logo are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). WebACDF surgery may be an option if physical therapy or medications fail to relieve your neck or arm pain caused by pinched nerves. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books. WebThe orthopedist sent Tom for an MRI and, the same day, referred him "right away" to Michael Kachmann, MD, a neurosurgeon with Mayfield Brain & Spine. Epub 2011 Oct 20. Here are a few of the findings: CLINICAL INDICATION: Radiculopathy, cervical region ACDF spanning C3-C6. This inflammation can impact the nerves and cause some numbness. Disclaimer. December 19th I had an ACDF C4-C6. I also work and stretch pec minor because that is a compression point for TOS, and have found some tools I can use to press and stretch it as I roll onto it with my body weight. Complete your request online or contact us by phone. THE ONLY THING MRI SHOWS IS A BOOMERANG SHAPE IN MY NECK WHERE THE TITANIUM PLATE IS. My pain was immediately gone, and my arm feels great. Posts: 9,238. If you have pain early on, that can actually just be part of the operation. Surgeon said no but agreed to a CT scan, which I had done on Tuesday. Web3 Months Post ACDF JohnyH. After the procedure, the surgical area will remain inflamed as the body heals itself. Investigation of clinically important benefit of anterior cervical decompression and fusion. This is also how I rehabbed after my spine surgery beginning at 7 months post op with my doctor's permission, but also with the understanding that there is risk with horses. According to the parameters studied 50 - 78% of those who at the 6-month follow-up were without deficit were still healthy at the 3-year follow-up. I to had a Cervical Discectomy on the C5,C6,C7. You can probably do all of this now. But I am having excruciating muscle spasms/tightness in my thoracic spine and trapezius muscles and in between my shoulder blades. What Can, Besides A Physical Injury, Cause Collarbone And Shoulder Pain? Typically it takes at least 12 months or longer to completely heal from this surgery. The second was c4-7. Rotator cuff tear (supraspinatus mainly) was the predominant finding in MRI in those who didnt improve after ACDF (n=18, 25.7%, p-value: 0.001). i was so confused and lost about which procedure i should treat my back pain with.Dr.Corenman is just so kind to make time from his schedule to help me :')! Neck pain again a year after acdf surgery. A cervical epidural should have yielded at least short term relief if the symptoms originated from the nerves of the spinal canal. I don't have pain. Other goals of surgery include: Improving neck pain. No large paralabral cyst is seen. It's incredibly weird, as so many movements hurt. Do not use nicotine for at least three months. I had acdf at C5-C6. I take Klonapin at night.What are we supposed to do?Become drug addicts.I just suffer in pain.My husband thinks I sound like I'm 90 when I'm 53.he also thinks I should be thankful I don't have cancer.I'm out of work on disability and praying for an answer. Late infection after an interval of time after ACDF may present with various symptoms and signs including neck pain, dysphagia, and fever accompanied with laboratory abnormalities such as elevated white blood cell count, ESR, and CRP [ 7, 17 ]. This procedure (along with all other spine surgery procedures) requires the surgeon to navigate delicately around, and between nerves and muscles. Thoracic spinal cord is normal. It's going to be tough at home, but at least I will have pain pills. I did a lot of myofascial release before my surgery because I was doing this to treat the TOS, and that helped the neurosurgeon during spine surgery because my muscle was easier to retract. Maintaining stability of the spine. The most common post-operative neural disorder is C5 nerve palsy. During the surgery, the spine surgeon accesses the cervical vertebrae from the front of the neck. After surgical intervention (ACDF), 48 patients (68.6%) noted the cessation of shoulder symptoms (pain, weakness, and numbness) during their last visit. Most of head turning is done by C1 & C2, with a little bit of movement from C3 & C4. Wow, that was a big surgery too. Coronado RA, Devin CJ, Pennings JS, Aaronson OS, Haug CM, Van Hoy EE, Vanston SW, Archer KR. My neck is bad too, but so far PT had helped. Bethesda, MD 20894, Web Policies Epub 2019 Oct 30. I am not an expert in reading CTs, not by any means. I don't feel like I had spine surgery, and I feel much younger than when I was living with the pain from the spine problem. After surgical intervention (ACDF), 48 patients (68.6%) noted the cessation of shoulder symptoms (pain, weakness, and numbness) during their last visit. People with their back and neck issues deserve to get better, get their life back, and get back to work. If you do have TOS, it causes compression of nerves in the brachial plexus and blood vessels where they pass between the ribs and collar bone. Patients may continue to feel some degree of pain three to six months after spinal fusion. Some patients may need to start physical therapy about a month after ACDF and continue it for a couple more months. I'm in physical therapy and even the stretches the therapist is having me do causes arm pain. On Sunday, I rode about 20 miles on hilly terrain and was really exhausted after that because of not riding for months during winter, but now, I feel much stronger. On Jan 11th 2007 I had ACDF without plate or screws C6/C7 with only a soft collar perscibed. It causes pain after ACDF surgery because the bone graft and attached muscles change their biomechanics. After that, a decision is made based on if they can offer medical help, and if that is yes, they will contact you about an appointment. It may take weeks or months to fully recover. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027387. To me, it looks like one of the screws is pushing into an area that maybe it shouldn't. Im being told by my surgeon this is a postural issue. You could have thoracic outlet syndrome in addition to the other issues you mentioned and it causes arm and hand pain, and TOS is more common with spine injury patients. Paraspinal tissues are intact. Acta Neurochir (Wien). If your PT is not trained in MFR, there is a provider finder on the MFR website. Blood Clots. If I do something that stresses my neck, like lifting something heavy, I tend to cheat and use my neck muscles to help, then I will get a neck spasm. WebTypical Physical Therapy after ACDF This is what the patient can typically expect at physical therapy: Pain relief and inflammation are the key concerns at first. The stenosis in Tom's cervical spine was serious, causing spinal compression at four levels. My original symptoms were bilateral, symmetrical muscle aches/burning in my arms (wrists, forearms, deltoids). One of the biggest issues we see after surgery is scarring around the nerves (1). 2007 Apr 1;32(7):772-4; discussion 775. doi: 10.1097/01.brs.0000258846.86537.ad. Dont forget that other structures can refer pain to that area (heart and thoracic aorta among others). Recesses and foramina are patent. Does Frozen Shoulder Sound Familiar To You? Any ideas? Three or four level fusion may require additional days. The average recovery time is 4 to 6 weeks. I did. WebPain in the back of the neck and between the shoulder blades is common after ACDF surgery. You can contact Mayo with that and they will review the imaging. Measurements have earlier been obtained before and 6 and 12 months after ACDF. Since the patients in this study clearly demonstrate broad problems array of development of more structured multi-professional rehabilitation models including exercises which improve neck muscle strength, endurance and proprioception need to be introduced. Posts: 9,238. I have to also say that the physical therapy and myofascial release I did before spine surgery prepared me well for a great recovery, and I had an excellent surgeon. WebIn the end, after recovering from anterior cervical fusion surgery, most patients report significant improvements and a decrease in pain. Both herniations were central (pushing into the cord, right up the middle) and I never had numbness or tingling, just pain/tightness. Cervical spinal cord demonstrates normal caliber and signal with syrinx or abnormal enhancement. It is not a sharp pain but a steady dull ache like you would get from over exercising. Welcome to the board. My physical therapist started doing manual work on Thursday instead of", "@lilypaws ACDF is anterior (frontal approach) cervical discectomy (disc removal) and fusion", "In reply to @jenniferhunter. A coordinator will follow up to see if Mayo Clinic is right for you. ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THE SAME AND GOTTEN BETTER? WebAlthough relatively rare, post-operative nerve injuries may occur after cervical spine procedures. The therapist I am working with has done ASTYM on the shoulder and arm. Pre-op most symptoms were in the left arm/shoulder/hand. Neck pain again a year after acdf surgery. WHEN I STRETCH, IT FEELS LIKE I AM SEPERATING MY SPINE AND I HAVE INTENSE PAIN WHEN RETRACTING FROM THE STRETCH. We are working on stabling the bone and so on. You may even have a thoracic disc herniation (rare but possible). I do a lot of trail riding just at a walk, and I have to compensate for every step the horse takes with my back, and I do that with good posture and balance. Guest C2-C3: No abnormality. Measurements have earlier been obtained before and 6 and 12 months after ACDF. If you see a neurologist who specializes in spine issues or thoracic outlet syndrome, that would be best. March 26, 2018 Three months after undergoing C5-T1 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), an active 60-year-old man from Florida began to experience recurrent neck and left shoulder pain. The site is secure. Thank you, I am pursuing the CT scan. If I see another drs shake their head and tell me to just give it time, I'm going to scream. I am back on the hamster wheel of not knowing if my issues are from a shoulder dysfunction or the cervical spine. I had found the answer myself in medical literature and asked for help in bringing that to the attention of the surgeon, and none of the doctors would help with that even though I had been their patients for several years before I saw the spine surgeon. There was terminology in that paper that I looked up and in doing that, I found medical literature with cases like mine that were described as a rare presentation. WebA physical therapist will help you regain muscle and joint strength and restore full range of motion in the cervical spine. 2002 Jun;22(2):179-86. doi: 10.1055/s-2002-36541. The expected length of a hospital stay after an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion usually overnight for one or two level procedures. If you had a bone graft taken from your pelvis, you may experience pain, soreness, and stiffness at the incision site. 1. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. I AM AT WHITS END. Permanent Restrictions After Spinal Fusion Three to six months after surgery: You can advance your level of activity but avoid lifting, twisting and bending in combination. My low back is fine, no problems there! Connect with thousands of patients and caregivers for support and answers. However, nearly all cases resolve spontaneously within 2 years, thus identifying patients who require more detailed or invasive work-up is a challenging task for clinicians. Following surgery the body begins its natural healing process and new bone cells grow around the graft. An ACDF is a type of spine surgery used to treat neck issues by removing. Its a slow healing process, but in the end, the operation may end up being successful. Doctors generally say that nerve pain can take up to a year to resolve, sometimes as long as 18 months depending on how long the nerve was compressed. My spine has been corrected, and I'm still working on the TOS and making progress. Any surgery will come with a set of risks and potential complications to look out for. Hello, I am currently 6 months out from a two level ACDF (c4-c6). In this case, the patient returned home the following day and was able to return to the golf course within a month. Shoulder Replacement Surgery: What to Expect. FOIA I know how to take my hands and work the knots out. In an attempt to bring these individuals back into their full-speed lives again, doctors and other spine treatment providers focus on mitigating pain. I really haven't had many problems since the surgery, other than my neck being stiff. Both herniations were central (pushing into the cord, right up the middle) and I never had numbness or tingling, just pain/tightness. MOVING MY HEAD IN ANY WAY SENDS SHARP PAINS THROUGH MY NECK, SHOULDERS AND IN THE CENTER OF MY SHOULDER BLADES. Hope you are", "@jenniferhunter thanks for your insight. You may have a problem with a rib head where it inserts into the spine. Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. In fact, ACDF surgeries have an average success rate of between 73% to 100%. The most common symptoms of nerve damage after surgery are usually numbness, tingling, burning, muscle weakness or atrophy. Any insight regarding the CT scan image I attached and/or the summary of the shoulder MRI is greatly appreciated! The most common symptoms of nerve damage after surgery are usually numbness, tingling, burning, muscle weakness or atrophy. I still have to maintain posture and spine alignment or my TOS will get worse, and I work on my PT exercises at home because I can't go to appointments because of social distancing. There may be a separate shoulder problem (less likely but possible) and a well done physical examination would sort this out. Conclusions: My range of motion is normal except that I cannot touch my chin to my chest when I tuck my head, but it is darn close. It is FREE! This is the most common question after three-level cervical fusion surgery. Ice, electrical stimulation, massage, and other treatments may be used to make the patient more comfortable. I do have TOS in addition to my spine issue which was at C5/C6, and after my ACDF, my TOS got worse and everything tightened up, and doing myofascial release helped me loosen that up. 1. 2014 Feb 6;15:34. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-15-34. In younger and/or more physically fit individuals, recovery time can range anywhere from 46 weeks. You also have surgical scar tissue in an adjacent The patient's pain did not improve with 6 months of conservative treatment that included physical therapy and epidural injections. C3-C4: Minimal right uncovertebral hypertrophy. The expected length of a hospital stay after an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion usually overnight for one or two level procedures. WHEN I STRETCH, IT FEELS LIKE I AM SEPERATING MY SPINE AND I HAVE INTENSE PAIN WHEN RETRACTING FROM THE STRETCH. Physiother Theory Pract. Confusing MRI, cervical disectomy and fusion surgery complications, C4/5 & C5/6 Fusion with TM100 Plate and Screws - Still pain, numbness much improved, Winged scapula (RH side) following C5 C6 Anterior disectomy, longterm pain after anterior cervical fusion, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion C5/6. After ACDF, youll want to return to your favorite activities as soon as possible, and while the recovery time might be lengthy, a recent study showed that the procedure reduced arm pain in 93-100% and neck pain in 73-87% of standard patients. This procedure (along with all other spine surgery procedures) requires the surgeon to navigate delicately around, and between nerves and muscles. Drs fail to tell patients this, instead they go by what they read in textbooks in school. To minimize discomfort, avoid sitting or lying down for long periods; change position or take a short walk every 20 minutes or so. According to the parameters studied 50 - 78% of those who at the 6-month follow-up were without deficit were still healthy at the 3-year follow-up. Randomized, prospective, and controlled clinical trial of pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation for cervical fusion. I didn't want possible hardware complications and I knew my body didn't like metals because of reactions I had with pierced earrings. I know without cervical spine surgery, my quality of life would have suffered a lot, but I got my life back and I can do most anything I want to do and have no pain except for normal muscle aches because I just rode 20 miles on a horse. After surgery, patients should eat soft foods and liquids until their first follow-up appointment. Strengthening the spine can reduce pain and inflammation and help improve functionality and mobility. The cervical spinal canal is diminutive in caliberon a congenital basis. WebTypical Physical Therapy after ACDF This is what the patient can typically expect at physical therapy: Pain relief and inflammation are the key concerns at first. The MRI notes degenerative changes of the disc and no evidence of nerve of cord compression. I didn't even take any pain medication at home after my surgery because it was tolerable and I just rested and took my time in healing. I keep working on this with myofascial release which I was also doing for several years before my spine surgery. I would highly recommend Mayo and my neurosurgeon, Dr. Jeremy Fogelson. It might. The screw can be inserted incorrectly and advanced into a nerve or facet joint causing pain and weakness. sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal There has been interval anterior cervical discectomy and fusion C4-C6 and C5-C6 with apparent osseous integration of the intervening bone graft material. She did note I do still have weakness and that because of that, I could be having the pain that I am (i.e. Welcome to the board. I prepared myself mentally for a great surgical recovery and worked a lot on deprogramming my fears and it all worked. If you don't get a satisfactory answer from your doctors, you may want to see a neurologist for another opinion who is not associated with the medical centers of your current doctors. An epidural injection may help relieve symptoms at the level of the degenerative disc. Spinal fusion is a common form of back surgery used to treat several kinds of back problems, including scoliosis, vertebral weakness, and herniated discs. Severe Leg Pain After Spinal Fusion Infection. In an attempt to resolve the pain and return to his daily activities, he tried physical therapy, over-the-counter medications, muscle relaxants, steroids, and epidural injections, but his pain persisted. Some patients may need to start physical therapy about a month after ACDF and continue it for a couple more months. Drs fail to tell patients this, instead they go by what they read in textbooks in school. I know i have arthritis and have had it since 16. Incorrect Screw Placement Screws and plates are utilized to stabilize the neck during Cervical Fusion Surgery. You could have thoracic outlet syndrome in addition to the other issues you mentioned and it causes arm and hand pain, and TOS is more common with spine injury patients. Cervical fusion is generally considered safe, however, it is major surgery. On Jan 11th 2007 I had ACDF without plate or screws C6/C7 with only a soft collar perscibed.