Question 1

just had a 3 level acdf.  doctor prescribed hydrocodone 10/325 1-2 tablets q6-8 hrs as needed for for pain.  is that a safe dose no more background needed.

Accepted Answer

Norco (hydrocodone and acetaminophen) : Norco (hydrocodone and acetaminophen) 10/325 1-2 tabs q6-8h

this prescription provides a maximum 2 pills x 4 times per day (every 6 hours equals 4 doses per day) = 8 tablets per day.

One concern is the Acetaminophen dosage (the 325 part of norco).  Recent maximum daily doses of Acetaminophen has decreased to 3000 mg.

9 Norco (hydrocodone and acetaminophen) pils x 325 Acetaminophen = 2925 mg acetaminophen

therefore 9 Norco (hydrocodone and acetaminophen) has less Acetaminophen then the new maximum dose.

I usually recommend Norco (hydrocodone and acetaminophen) 10/325 1 tab every 4 hours, maximum daily dose of 6.  This better covers the pain and maximum daily dose of 6 is recommended by rxlist.Com.

Dosage limits vary depending on your health and possible medical conditions you have.  I recommend discussing your medication with your doctor.

Question 2

had c4,5,6 laminectomy 2011 for severe central stenosis. 8 weeks constant pain, numb in shoulder/arm-3 level acdf proposed. alternative? complications

Accepted Answer

Need more info: Where is your pain? If it is neck pain, ACDF is a viable option. If it is pain in the arms, then there may be foraminal narrowing  compressing your nerves that can be addressed by ACDF or posterior foraminotomies. If it is both, ACDF is best. As for the shoulder/arm numbness, this is a common complaint after cervical laminectomies and can get better over long time. Make sure you go over everything

Question 3

which dr to contact, spine or hand surgeon? having sporadic spasms at the base of thumb, seized & couldn't move my thumb, it was drawn into my hand. have foraminal stenosis c5 and had cmc arthroplasty and 3 level acdf. what causes it?

Accepted Answer

: If you're not experiencing hand or thumb symptoms in between episodes of spasms, you could  start with an evaluation by a neurologist or neurosurgeon in view of your neck surgery.  However since you had a thumb arthroplasty the hand surgeon can also be consulted to  reassure you that the surgical site is not a problem.

Question 4

what are the pros and cons of 2 level acdf vs 2 level artificial discs?

Accepted Answer

Motion: There are pros/cons of both procedures, but they both should alleviate cervical disc related radiculopathy and have basically the same surgical risks.
Fusion Pro: standard, well understood, routine.
Disc Pro: Preserve motion (less stiff), possibly less adjacent segment degeneration, short recovery
Fusion Con: stiffness, incr. adjacent segment breakdown,
Disc Con: facet arthritis, revise to fusion

Question 5

a recent mri showed problems with my c-spine.  i had a 2 level acdf. there was much more damage than apparent on the mri. how accurate are mri's?

Accepted Answer

Comments: MRI's can visualize spinal canal problems very well, even at the standard 1.5 T machines, but does not always pick up disc fragments or all bone spurs due to angular positioning.  Not unusual, at surgery to find a few areas not clearly delineated, but that is why the surgeon checks out the entire area.  Hope you recover fully.

Question 6

what is average weight limit, restrictions for a period of time after a 2 levels acdf surgery? could this have been brought on from avoiding a fall?

Accepted Answer

6 weeks: Most patients will be asked to restrict activities for about 6 weeks after ACDF surgery, with a typical recommendation being no lifting more than a gallon of milk (about 7 pounds).  However, each surgeon will have their own specific instructions.  Avoiding a fall could be a cause, depending on exactly what happened and the severity of the stress upon the neck.

Question 7

acdf at c5-t1 vs. plan:c5-c7. doc went down vs. up. severe pain/loss mobility. c7-t1 not fused. c3-5 rare/rapid adj level fail.can c7-t1 be reversed?

Accepted Answer

Not comfortably: I can't concieve of a set of symptoms or circumstances that would result in a 5 level cervical fusion we all need to review the indications for acdf.  I obviously dont have all the information and this is a complex case  in general . Fusion reversals for fuse short rod long days in trauma lead  to cont pain.

Question 8

i'm 4 weeks post 2 level acdf.  the incision is closed with no signs of infection. i am spitting 2 sutures. what causes this and do i just ignore them?

Accepted Answer

ACDF : This is really nothing to be concerned about this is just sometimes people get a reaction to the suture material which is many times superficial and very close to the skin edge usually these will just come out and you can pull them out with a tweezer and they will go away. If there is a concern you should see and let your surgeon know so he can evaluate this further

Question 9

is it possiable to have neck pain and back pain after a acdf 7 months after? i have cervical sponilosis as well? levels c 5-c7

Accepted Answer

All things are : Possible and the fact that you have ongoing neck pain needs to be evaluated to see if your fusion healed and if there are no adjacent level issues in the neck.  The same process that caused your neck pain cold also be at work in your lower back.  See your spine surgeon to have these issues evaluated.

Question 10

how long after an acdf does pain
go away?

Accepted Answer

Post surgical pain: Post op pain usually take upto  4- 6 wks to heal. Having sais that it is all based on the severity of the problem to start with prior to surgery and how successful the surgery was.

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Doctor answers about:

3 level acdf

A member asked:

Just had a 3 level acdf. doctor prescribed hydrocodone 10/325 1-2 tablets q6-8 hrs as needed for for pain. is that a safe dose no more background needed.

A member asked:

Had c4,5,6 laminectomy 2011 for severe central stenosis. 8 weeks constant pain, numb in shoulder/arm-3 level acdf proposed. alternative? complications

A member asked:

Which dr to contact, spine or hand surgeon? having sporadic spasms at the base of thumb, seized & couldn't move my thumb, it was drawn into my hand. have foraminal stenosis c5 and had cmc arthroplasty and 3 level acdf. what causes it?

A member asked:

What are the pros and cons of 2 level acdf vs 2 level artificial discs?

A member asked:

A recent mri showed problems with my c-spine. i had a 2 level acdf. there was much more damage than apparent on the mri. how accurate are mri's?

A member asked:

What is average weight limit, restrictions for a period of time after a 2 levels acdf surgery? could this have been brought on from avoiding a fall?

A member asked:

Acdf at c5-t1 vs. plan:c5-c7. doc went down vs. up. severe pain/loss mobility. c7-t1 not fused. c3-5 rare/rapid adj level fail.can c7-t1 be reversed?

A member asked:

I'm 4 weeks post 2 level acdf. the incision is closed with no signs of infection. i am spitting 2 sutures. what causes this and do i just ignore them?

A member asked:

Is it possiable to have neck pain and back pain after a acdf 7 months after? i have cervical sponilosis as well? levels c 5-c7

A member asked:

How long after an acdf does pain go away?

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