My Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion

I had to have spine surgery due to a herniated disc. This is a blog about my ACDF surgery. My name is Chris. I hope this is helpful.

[mynecksurgery]

Had my 7 week doctor visit today. It has been 2 weeks since I've been off all medication other than Tylenol. Doctor says my neck looks good in the x-rays, and that I don't need to come back! I still have a few physical therapy sessions left before I return to work in full form! Other than the "crick" in my neck that I've been waking up with lately, the pain is virtually all gone. He says my neck is fused, and will continue to fuse over the next year, getting stronger and stronger. He said yoga would be a good thing to start soon and to keep doing my neck, back and shoulder stretches and exercises that I learned at physical therapy. That's it! I'll try to do a new video soon, I have 1 more week off before returning to work!

[chrisknitter]

It’s been 6 weeks since my surgery, removing a herniated disc from my neck, and replacing it with cadaver bone and a titanium plate. #ACDF 2 more weeks and I’ll be returning to work, after missing 3 months, (minus 3 weeks in Dec. while on meds.) the scar looks like a scratch at this point. Headed to Physical Therapy now. (at Kansas City, MO)

[dogparkmovie]

Dog Park is a feature motion picture film produced by Overlooked Productions.

For CASTING & CREW submissions, please visit http://overlooked-productions.com/dogpark

[mynecksurgery]

overlookedproductions is producing an action thriller feature film this Spring called Dog Park! Follow dogparkmovie and throw us your info if you're interested in being a part of the cast or crew!

[mynecksurgery]

Day 21 - Three Weeks Post-Op

I’m on the final days of my weening off the gambit of narcotics I was prescribed starting months before surgery, and increased after surgery. I had my c6-c7 ACDF on Jan. 5. I was in excruciating pain, and was only given Morphine pills once my doctor saw an MRI. I saw my regular doctor 10 days ago, who didn’t give me a “schedule” like I had thought and expected on weening off these drugs, (Morphine, Oxycodone [Percocet], Valium, Gabapentin, and Methocarbamol.) Also, I have regular lower back pain (probably from another issue all together), just from being out of shape and on my feet most days. Mostly from the weird ways I sleep too, all contorted. Anyway, where my excruciating pain was is now the best feeling area of my body, but ALL of my other regular aches and pains are amplified from getting off these drugs. I’ve been icing and heating. I see my neurosurgeon on Wednesday, which I plan to be off everything. Hope everyone else is doing great! Just thought I’d give you an update!

[mynecksurgery]

Tonight I peeled off my scar tape, and Whitney got sick!

[mynecksurgery]

I debated posting this video for a long while today. For one, I'm awfully emotional for no reason other than the obvious drug withdrawal pain brought on by pharmeceutical opioid withdrawal. In the video I arogantly compare my issues with a heroin addict's. Though the drug class is similar, (opioids and opiates) and the pain might be similar for a "casual" user of heroin, someone with a real heroin problem is in much greater pain than I am today, and without proper treatment, will probably die from either withdrawal or overdose. My drug use is prescribed by a doctor and is in a controlled environment. In fact, I feel 100x better than I did yesterday, considering I could barely walk yesterday. I know most of you out there getting ready for ACDF surgery or have had it already probably didn't get on such a hard drug regiment as I have, and I now sort of envy those of you who didn't get on these hard drugs. I'm thankful because they took away the pain I've felt for so many years and gave me a glimpse of that light at the end of this long painful struggle I've had for so many years. I know in a few weeks I'll be mended and pain free. I guess my decision to go ahead and post this video is to give some of you hope? Maybe to show some of you that you're not alone? There are people out there who feel the same pain as me, and I learned that when I found hundreds of videos like mine out there, and honestly, that's what gave me hope above all when I decided to go ahead with the ACDF surgery even though I also said for years, "no effin' way! You're gonna cut me where!?! NO!" Anyway. Thank you to everyone in my life who has supported me and helped me through this long LONG painful ordeal. I definitely couldn't have done it without you. Thank you.

[mynecksurgery]

Today I'm discussing medications and post-op procedures given to me by my neurosurgeon, which can be very different for you and your doctor. Your situation and mine will differ, this video is only to illustrate my personal experience with an ACDF surgery recovery. You can see more videos on my blog http://MyNeckSurgery.ChrisKnitter.com

[mynecksurgery]

Follow my ACDF surgery recovery progress at http://MyNeckSurgery.ChrisKnitter.com Today was my first full day at home post-op. Tonight I peeled off the tape to reveal as much of the scar as I can. After doing so, I felt some nerve pain in a different part of my right arm. Hopefully this is just from swelling still happening and hopefully will go away soon.

[mynecksurgery]

Follow my ACDF surgery progress at http://mynecksurgery.chrisknitter.com Today's the day! I'm being discharged from the hospital! Thank you everyone who has kept up with me and helped me through this! I love you all!

[mynecksurgery]

I'm out of surgery, but not out of the woods yet. I'm still in a lot of pain.

[mynecksurgery]

I should be waking up soon. Hopefully I won't feel sick or panicked. I'll let you all know how things went just as soon as I can! Thanks for tuning in!

[mynecksurgery]

I can't wait till I can get back to shooting. Getting the chance to shoot with some of the production people I've met in the last year is going to be excellent. Hopefully we end up on a reality show or something! I can't wait till this surgery is all over.

[mynecksurgery]

One day we'll spend some time in NYC. Someday.https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A3J0DiRHGZ9Zzq

[mynecksurgery]

Here's some footage from this last year. Completely random. I love Whitney more than anything. The kitty cats too! Whitney has had to take care of me during this time, as if she doesn't have enough to deal with! I love you babes!

[mynecksurgery]

We decorated a Christmas tree and hung lights on the house together for the first time this year! We’ve already taken everything down at the same time we packed a bag for the hospital a couple days before now. This was my favorite Christmas with everyone in Whitney’s family and mine and next year we’re hosting everyone! I should be waking up soon. Hopefully the surgery went well! I have seen so many recovery posts from people saying it was the best thing they ever did. I’ll have a pretty sweet scar when this is all over! My knife fight scar!

[mynecksurgery]

In this video I talk about how scared I am to be having this surgery. The part that scares me the most is waking up and experiencing something very different that has happened to my body. I fear that I will panic and cause more problems. I cannot let this happen and I need your help.

[mynecksurgery]

My Mom and Aunt Bonnie planned a surprise 60th birthday party this year for my dad during lunch at his office in Raymore. I put together this video of his life and our life as a family. I don’t spend enough time with my family and wish I didn’t constantly feel run down after work. I think I spent more time with my family when I lived halfway across the country. I came home and stayed at their house at least 6 times a year! Not that I couldn’t do that now, it just occurred to me, here while I’m unconscious that I love my family and Whitney’s family and can’t wait to see them again together in Mexico!