i am 36 yrs old, been having issues over last 2 yrs with herniated discs worst in the c6 c7, after epidural injections and therapy over last 2 yrs.still not helping, muscle atrophy has caused noticable size difference in right tricep, and most recently noticing the same in right pec. strength is about 60% on right tri and pec. through all of this i have continued a regular work out routine ... with only my bench really being affected the most.. i am scheduled next monday for c6c7 acdf (discectomy and fusion w plating) my question is, has anyone experienced similar injury or surgery? and how long after surgery befor u had no limitations in gym?? any info would be greatly appreciated thanx
c6 c7 fusion
- Thread starter kevininny
- Start date
Phatbastard
Knowledge Equals Results
Damn Brother,
Sorry to here this! I'm no help as I have no experience on the issue! But I like the question. This will be intresting to watch.
Best of luck
Sorry to here this! I'm no help as I have no experience on the issue! But I like the question. This will be intresting to watch.
Best of luck
diggydev
New member
First, I wish you luck on your surgery bro. I have not had surgery or the same situation..but I did (do) have a herniated L5/S1. It was at it's worst about 8 years ago. I too notice muscle atrophy....especially in my left hamstring as well as my left ass cheek being about 1/2 the size as the right.
I was offered a microdiscectomy to correct this...I declined it. Is your surgery micro? Or do they have to make a large incision? I've heard really good things when it's micro, much faster recovery time.
I went with the epidurals, PT, accupuncture...everything I could to avoid surgery. I also left my desk job over 7 years ago and changed to a much more physical job which I love...this was HUGE.
Sitting on my ass everyday for 10 hours was causing the chronic pain, I'm sure of it. I'm feeling great now.
Good luck bro and wish a fast recovery!!
I was offered a microdiscectomy to correct this...I declined it. Is your surgery micro? Or do they have to make a large incision? I've heard really good things when it's micro, much faster recovery time.
I went with the epidurals, PT, accupuncture...everything I could to avoid surgery. I also left my desk job over 7 years ago and changed to a much more physical job which I love...this was HUGE.
Sitting on my ass everyday for 10 hours was causing the chronic pain, I'm sure of it. I'm feeling great now.
Good luck bro and wish a fast recovery!!
weights=life
TPP, NPP, PRIMO ACE
Chicks love scars...just make up a good story for it
well surgery was done a week ago today, am up and around off of pain meds already, still really stiff neck, ended up having c5 c6 removed and plated as well as the c6 c7... anyone out there have the similar surgery or know anyone who has? hoping to be back in gym in 12 weeks with no limitations.. any input would be great thanx again
Wow. Let me know how this turns out man. I have herniated disc at c6 going on 6-8 years. It sucks but for a couple reasons I don't want to get into I can't take the time for surgery, let's just say these injuries are frowned upon in my profession and makes me much less marketable.
Physical therapy helped a couple times but I'm to the point again where I will have to go thru again. I'm having a ton of pain, not near what I had at first, but I deal with it. As soon as I sit in a car, instant pain, numbness in fingers, pain in arm, back, shoulder and a little near disc. Feels like constant tight pressure.
I have at times lost strength in chest, shoulder, bench will get messed up to point where I can push weight with one side but not the other. I've had all kinds of shots, meds, therapy. I stopped all of them but need to figure out something soon. I'm worried that I'm causing more damage, which is why I stopped pain meds and benzos about a year or two after I started them because I felt great on them, would take them right before training and could train heavy as long as I wanted and never got sore. Until I woke out of sleep and couldn't stand the pain.
I dropped the meds so I could feel the pain and know when to stop.
Well I hope this works for you, I'm worried that surgery will cause issues in the discs above and below.
Good luck to you
Physical therapy helped a couple times but I'm to the point again where I will have to go thru again. I'm having a ton of pain, not near what I had at first, but I deal with it. As soon as I sit in a car, instant pain, numbness in fingers, pain in arm, back, shoulder and a little near disc. Feels like constant tight pressure.
I have at times lost strength in chest, shoulder, bench will get messed up to point where I can push weight with one side but not the other. I've had all kinds of shots, meds, therapy. I stopped all of them but need to figure out something soon. I'm worried that I'm causing more damage, which is why I stopped pain meds and benzos about a year or two after I started them because I felt great on them, would take them right before training and could train heavy as long as I wanted and never got sore. Until I woke out of sleep and couldn't stand the pain.
I dropped the meds so I could feel the pain and know when to stop.
Well I hope this works for you, I'm worried that surgery will cause issues in the discs above and below.
Good luck to you
b_saan
New member
Wow man, both sets, hope your rehab goes well. Wish I'd seen this when you posted it.
I had the same injury in my c6/c7 in July when I arched my neck a little too much benching 405 and pulped part of my disc. I ended up with the same brachial plexus nerve impingement along with wasting of the right tricep/upper pec/lat and trap, it was almost comical looking at the size differences. I saw a neuro that told me to do rehab but that I'd be back for fusion. 4x a week chiro + rehab got me back in the gym without pain and as of now on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) with (maybe) good GH therapy Im getting my bench back over 225 consistently but thats still frustrating considering. My chest is mostly full again though but the strength/size from my outer right tri is still terrible. In the mean time Im squating and deading 500s so as with you only that part of my body was affected. Nerves are a crazy injury and take so damn long to heal.
Hope everything turns out well for you, keep us updated or keep a log it'll help you and anyone else that ends up with similar issues.
dfeaton, are u speaking from experience? or know someone who has experienced a similiars situation?
tman55
New member
Hey bro. I had c6 and c7 fused back in 1999. Since then i have fully recovered and have been able to lift heavy for years with no issues. Took a while for the nerve to regenerate, took a while to get range of motion back and my neck bothered me for 6 months or so and then i started doing deads and that eliminated the neck issues altogether.
I have been able to PL without issues and reach pr's post surgery.
I am glad I had the surgery and 12 years later I don't feel like I ever had surgery.
strongwillled
New member
hope your recovery is going good
Hey Brother,
I just had my c6 and c7 fused done on the 25th of feb. This saturday I get to take this neck brace off after two straight weeks of having to wear it. I was told I could go into gym do light cardio and I will do extremely light legs trainging. I will do light leg extensions, abductions adductions and seated leg curl along with seated upright calf pressess.
Please let me know where you are at with your recovery and if you are back to the gym?
I went into this in good shape training 5 to 6 days a week even with the injury. Doctor told me that my recovery will be alot different then most who have this done because they are not as fit or active as I was.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks
Hey Brother,
I just had my c6 and c7 fused done on the 25th of feb. This saturday I get to take this neck brace off after two straight weeks of having to wear it. I was told I could go into gym do light cardio and I will do extremely light legs trainging. I will do light leg extensions, abductions adductions and seated leg curl along with seated upright calf pressess.
Please let me know where you are at with your recovery and if you are back to the gym?
I went into this in good shape training 5 to 6 days a week even with the injury. Doctor told me that my recovery will be alot different then most who have this done because they are not as fit or active as I was.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks
yesterday was 8 weeks since day of my surgery. i had a visit with my doctor at 7 weeks. he cleared me to go back to work as well as the gym, with some restrictions, no overhead lifting and he said just take it easy for a while .. i chose to have titanium plates installed to hold the donor bones in placeuntil the bones fuse. by doing this i was never required to wear a neck brace at all.. I went to the gym the day he released me and over did it a bit i think, because my neck was very sore up until today, i returned to the gym and lifted light today, neck feels good just a little limited in movement..
strongwillled
New member
Hey Brother,
Thanks for the response. They did put the Titanium plate and screws in but my doctor said it was required that I atleast wear the neck brace for two weeks. Lucky me lol.
Glad to hear that you are back to the gym and things going well.
I am going to call my doctor today and ask what his thoughts are on what I can do. Because otherwise I feel great and feel like I can start today.
Thanks
Thanks for the response. They did put the Titanium plate and screws in but my doctor said it was required that I atleast wear the neck brace for two weeks. Lucky me lol.
Glad to hear that you are back to the gym and things going well.
I am going to call my doctor today and ask what his thoughts are on what I can do. Because otherwise I feel great and feel like I can start today.
Thanks
