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đź©ş Why I Needed Surgery
Before surgery, I was dealing with a mix of neck pain, nerve issues, and spine problems that had been building over time. Here's what the doctors found:
Degeneration in the discs between my neck bones – basically, the cushioning was wearing down
Spinal stenosis – the space around my spinal cord was narrowing, causing pressure
Cervical radiculopathy – I had pain and tingling down my arm from pinched nerves
Cervical spondylosis – fancy word for age-related wear-and-tear in the neck spine (I'm 49)
I also tried physical therapy before deciding on surgery. A few sessions in, I actually started feeling worse—the tingling and numbness in my hands increased, and the pain spiked. That’s when I knew I needed more than just exercises or temporary relief. My spine was telling me it was time to take the next step.
Put simply, my neck was not okay, and things weren’t going to improve on their own. The pressure on my nerves was affecting my daily life—and my quality of life—and it was time to fix it.
🏥 Day of the Surgery
I knew this day was coming.
Even after going through lumbar fusion, I was still scared, and honestly, the idea of neck surgery felt even more intimidating. Your neck holds everything, your head, your breath, your voice. It’s vulnerable.
I was scheduled for ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion) at C5–C7, and I had to be at the hospital at 5:30 AM, with surgery planned for 7:30 AM. I thought I knew what to expect after all, I’d been through fusion before. But the truth is, each surgery and each body is different.
Waking Up & the C-Collar
The first thing I noticed when I woke up: the C-collar stiff, and impossible to ignore.
The second thing? Pain and difficulty swallowing. My throat was swollen and sore, and the C-collar made everything harder to adjust to.
The only part that felt slightly easier than lumbar fusion was walking, I was able to move around a bit sooner, which felt like a small win.
Pain, Headaches & the Gardner-Wells Surprise
That first day in the hospital is a blur. The pain meds left me in a fog, and my thoughts felt scattered. On top of it all, I had a weird headache, pain just above both ears.
Turns out they had used Gardner-Wells tongs during surgery, used for controlled traction in cervical procedures. That explained the sore spots and why putting on my glasses hurt so badly.
Swallowing Struggles & First Night
Most of my meds were given orally, which was not pleasent considering how painful swallowing was. I also started having muscle spasms, which just amplified everything.
I had no appetite, was completely drained, and couldn’t get comfortable thanks to the C-collar and incision pain. That first night was long, rough, and full of tossing and turning.
Going Home & the Rough Days After
I went home the next day, hoping things would ease up. They didn’t.
The second night was just as painful—zero sleep, constant discomfort, and swallowing still felt like dragging glass down my throat.
By day three, I started experiencing a strange squeezing sensation in the front of my neck—probably from swelling or irritation around the incision. Super annoying and hard to ignore.
🌤️ Day 4: Turning a Corner
Today is day four, and I’m finally starting to feel small improvements—a little less pain, a little more strength, and slightly clearer thoughts.
Recovery is never a straight line. But I'm starting to see those first glimmers of healing—and it gives me hope.
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