1. I Need Cervical Spine Surgery
You may choose cervical spine surgery to help with your back pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, to restore nerve function or prevent abnormal movement in your cervical spine. People with degenerative disorders are good candidates for cervical spine surgery. These diseases shrink the padding between the vertebrae, which may put pressure on your spinal cord and on nerves coming out of your spine.
2. Ready the House Before Surgery
A couple of days before your cervical spine surgery, get your house prepared for when you come home. Put the phone in a convenient place and have books or magazines ready to read. Move any objects that might become obstacles, such as throw rugs. Have a week of easy-to-prepare meals and utensils ready to go. Line up some help for a couple of days after the surgery. You will definitely have back pain and trouble moving.
3. Fix my Spine
During cervical spine surgery, your doctor removes a disc or a bone and fuses the vertebras together with a bone graft either in front or back of your spine. Bone grafts consist of bone taken from your body (called an autograft), or of bone from a bone bank (called an allograft). Your own bone will heal around the graft and fuse the vertebrae together. Sometimes metal plates, screws or wires are used to help assist your spine.
4. Healing Process After Surgery
Expect to stay in the hospital for about five days for recovery. The nurses will encourage you to get up and walk the first day after surgery to prevent blood clots in your legs. It will take up to five weeks to fully heal from the surgery and feel the effects of the cervical spine surgery.
5. Risks With Surgery
Of course, there are risks associated with cervical spine surgery. Some risks may include injury to your spinal cord, the nerves, your esophagus, failure to improve on the problem before surgery, infection and pain with the bone graft. It may require more surgery to fix these problems should they occur. Other problems include blood clots or bruises in your legs. Rare side effects include paralysis or ever death. Your doctor will discuss your risk level with you before the surgery.
