C2-3 Fusion Surgery

[Bio]

I'm posting about this in case it can help anyone else in the same/similar situation or one day finds themselves in the same or similar situation.

Last week, on Wednesday the 19th, I had a C2-3 fusion surgery. It's not a common level to have fused. My spine surgeon is very accomplished and this was only his third ACDF at this level. Like many of us here, we go into surgery in much better shape than the average person. I spent some time in the ICU post-op but within a few hours, I was moved to a regular floor. When that happened, I grabbed my IV rig and walked around the floor. Nurses were amazed that I was up and walking around on my own. Today I went to the gym to do cardio. No weights yet, and I would never do anything to sabotage my surgery and/or recovery. For those that know a little about me, this is my 7th spine surgery. Most of my neck is fused, as well as L4-5 and L5-s1. I'll be 56 next month, and I have Ankylosing Spondylitis. People that find out about my surgical and disease history all say that they would never know by looking at me. That's the best compliment!!

Facing spine surgery can be daunting. Like always, if anyone has any questions, feel free to ask!

 

[Reno911]

Good luck with the recovery. I know you've been through a lot. As brother with a fusion as well (although nothing compared your multiple levels), I appreciate your input on this topic over the years in different threads.

Get well soon!

 

[Sectør]

I'm posting about this in case it can help anyone else in the same/similar situation or one day finds themselves in the same or similar situation.

Last week, on Wednesday the 19th, I had a C2-3 fusion surgery. It's not a common level to have fused. My spine surgeon is very accomplished and this was only his third ACDF at this level. Like many of us here, we go into surgery in much better shape than the average person. I spent some time in the ICU post-op but within a few hours, I was moved to a regular floor. When that happened, I grabbed my IV rig and walked around the floor. Nurses were amazed that I was up and walking around on my own. Today I went to the gym to do cardio. No weights yet, and I would never do anything to sabotage my surgery and/or recovery. For those that know a little about me, this is my 7th spine surgery. Most of my neck is fused, as well as L4-5 and L5-s1. I'll be 56 next month, and I have Ankylosing Spondylitis. People that find out about my surgical and disease history all say that they would never know by looking at me. That's the best compliment!!

Facing spine surgery can be daunting. Like always, if anyone has any questions, feel free to ask!

Sorry to hear you’re going through this man. I have my L4+ L5 fused as well from a benign tumor a few years back (originally they went in and cut it out, it grew back, so they went back in and did a more aggressive fusion). Have two rods and like 8 screws in my back and between the two surgeries i was out of commission for like a year and a half. It was bad. Spinal fusions are a bitch….

The fact you were able to walk that same day and in the gym the following day just means you’re pretty much Superman. Glad to hear the surgery went well man. Wishing you a speedy recovery

 

[bbxtreme]

Wishing you a speedy recovery. Thanks for sharing with us.

 

[Hyperemia]

Glad to hear things well! It seems like you have a positive attitude and as I’m sure you know, since this isn’t your first rodeo, that goes a long way. Hope it’s an easy and speedy recovery.

 

[Bio]

Sorry to hear you’re going through this man. I have my L4+ L5 fused as well from a benign tumor a few years back (originally they went in and cut it out, it grew back, so they went back in and did a more aggressive fusion). Have two rods and like 8 screws in my back and between the two surgeries i was out of commission for like a year and a half. It was bad. Spinal fusions are a bitch….

The fact you were able to walk that same day and in the gym the following day just means you’re pretty much Superman. Glad to hear the surgery went well man. Wishing you a speedy recovery

I'm fused from L4-s1. In my neck I'm fused from C2-C4 and C5-T1. I've also fractured my T6 vertebrae. I've had a few other spine surgeries that weren't fusions.

BTW, I wasn't in the gym the following day. Surgery was Wednesday and I went to the gym today, Monday, to do cardio.

 

[UnholyAlliance]

Speedy recovery and you got this one, brother! Neck surgery isn't fun but I may finally have to get a fusion myself because of an old hairline fracture in my neck that still gives me stingers when I put a bar on my neck for goodmornings especially.

I know you are dying to bust out a few sets of heavy deads lol.

 

[lookslikesausage]

Speedy recovery! Had a discectomy on l5-s1 in '22 and Mobi-C disc replacement on c5-c6 level in late '24. You know it better than me but some of the work these neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons can do today is amazing.

 

[comedycentral]

Speedy recovery. Can I ask what was the reason (if you wish to share) for your first surgery and was that lower or upper back. How does that level of fusion restrict you? Do you suffer lack of mobility and rotation. Thanks

 

[TrippplePPP]

Best wishes with recovery Bio!

 

[romo]

Take care @Bio

 

[cage99]

@Bio, have there been any spine procedures that you’ve regretted? I’ve been putting off a fusion for years now due to many horror stories. Eventually I’ll have to do it.

This current surgery, what’s the timeline to be 100% healed?

Cage

 

[Heath82]

Broke my c2 and had c2/c3 fusion. Lost a lot of mobility. How far can you turn your head?

 

[thethinker48]

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

That's a lot of back surgeries, I have a herniated disc in my neck and it's been a pain rehabbing back from it. You are one tough man to go through so much

 

[buck]

I am sure you will do well. You have the right attitude for a quick and successful recovery. Take care.

 

[bananas007]

I'm posting about this in case it can help anyone else in the same/similar situation or one day finds themselves in the same or similar situation.

Last week, on Wednesday the 19th, I had a C2-3 fusion surgery. It's not a common level to have fused. My spine surgeon is very accomplished and this was only his third ACDF at this level. Like many of us here, we go into surgery in much better shape than the average person. I spent some time in the ICU post-op but within a few hours, I was moved to a regular floor. When that happened, I grabbed my IV rig and walked around the floor. Nurses were amazed that I was up and walking around on my own. Today I went to the gym to do cardio. No weights yet, and I would never do anything to sabotage my surgery and/or recovery. For those that know a little about me, this is my 7th spine surgery. Most of my neck is fused, as well as L4-5 and L5-s1. I'll be 56 next month, and I have Ankylosing Spondylitis. People that find out about my surgical and disease history all say that they would never know by looking at me. That's the best compliment!!

Facing spine surgery can be daunting. Like always, if anyone has any questions, feel free to ask!

You are a warrior. Best of luck on your rehab.

 

[Bio]

Speedy recovery. Can I ask what was the reason (if you wish to share) for your first surgery and was that lower or upper back. How does that level of fusion restrict you? Do you suffer lack of mobility and rotation. Thanks

Outside of fusion surgery, my first spine surgery was when I was 29. It was a laminectomy on L4-L5s1 (two level). I thought the surgery was a failure, BUT I hadn't been diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis yet, and that is what was still causing me pain in my sacrum area. My first fusion surgery was in December 2014, I was 45 years old, and it was the same levels. The vertebrae and the discs were deformed by this point. As far as mobility goes, I could still touch my toes if I wanted to. You just have to remember after fusion that any load placed on the spine in a bending motion places more stress on the areas above and/or below the fused segments. This can result in Adjacent Segment Disease. My surgeon told me that the average time a person might need another fusion due to ASD is 10 to 12 years. He told me it all depends how you live your life. He told me lifting weights could result in needing it sooner. I don't have any pain in the levels above L4-L5s1, but on an MRI it's not looking so good. He told me no surgery if it's not causing any side effects. So, I'm probably on the standard timeline.

 

[Bio]

@Bio, have there been any spine procedures that you’ve regretted? I’ve been putting off a fusion for years now due to many horror stories. Eventually I’ll have to do it.

This current surgery, what’s the timeline to be 100% healed?
Cage

No....well, at the time of my first surgery (See post above) I thought the first surgery was a failure, but as it turned out later, it was the disease that was causing me pain and other issues. The surgery actually helped cut down the time I was in pain when my back would go out.

Before I had the two level lumbar fusion in Dec '14, I was doing research and I told my surgeon about some of my concerns. Number one being the people who were on line claiming that they would never do it again, and should never have done it in the first place. He assured me that the people who have successful fusion surgery are out enjoying life. He also explained to me that a lot has to do with the patient. He said some are overweight and not in good shape going in. Some of it could have to do with the surgeon doing the procedure. Some patients don't do PT or exercise afterward. The latter didn't exercise before, so that's an issue. Some are a bit of everything. He told not to expect 100%. He said that's not realistic, but a significant improvement that brings a better quality of life is what's important. Cage what level(s) do you need fused?

Timeline depends on the how many levels and what part of the spine the surgery is performed on. It's easy to walk around after a single level cervical fusion, but after my two level lumbar fusion, it was not. I moved slow for a while and that recovery took some time. It also depends on what type of work someone is going back to. For me, the current fusion surgery is a 3 month recovery. That means the fusion will begin fusing in 3 months. It takes 1 to 2 years for a fusion to fully grow and connect, but you would be living a normal life long before that. My post-op appointment is next Friday. I'll update this thread and let everyone know when I can start lifting again!

 

[cage99]

@Bio, I’ve been putting off the fusion of my L4-L5-S1. I originally screwed it up when I was in my early twenties. Did a backflip off a 7’ deck and royally screwed up the landing. Yes, drinking was involved.

Then, I was rear ended while I was at a dead stop by an elderly lady doing 70mph. That was the final nail in the coffin for my spine!

Spent a lot of time working on my core that has helped somewhat. There’s definitely a lot of things I just can’t do anymore because of the pain.

Cage

 

[comedycentral]

@Bio, I’ve been putting off the fusion of my L4-L5-S1. I originally screwed it up when I was in my early twenties. Did a backflip off a 7’ deck and royally screwed up the landing. Yes, drinking was involved.

Then, I was rear ended while I was at a dead stop by an elderly lady doing 70mph. That was the final nail in the coffin for my spine!

Spent a lot of time working on my core that has helped somewhat. There’s definitely a lot of things I just can’t do anymore because of the pain.

Cage

Dont want to derail bio’s thread but how do you and @Bio train now and what can and can’t you do training wise. I have herniations in l5 s1 and no longer back squat or dead. I have good day and weeks then annoying ones. As we speak I have pain at the top of my right butt cheek that is so annoying. Very restrictive and causes constant pulls in lower back when bending and doing daily stuff