Voice problems 3 weeks after prestige ADR C6-C7

[Abarco]

Hi,
I had a prestige ADR placed Sept 16, 2010 .. I think I am doing well still on pain killers and muscle relaxers but alot less!! I am still very sore in my neck and shoulder area but vast improvement with ROM..and no lighting bolts!! But I am concerned because my voice is so soft it's hard to hear me and it's exhausting just to talk.. But it does not seem to be improving at all?? Any one out there experience this? My doc says the only treatment is time..

[annapurna]

It sounds like they pranged the recurrent laryngeal nerve or nerves that feed the vocal cords. Laura had the same thing happen on the second Prodisc surgery. If that's it, then time is really the best bet. Add things known to encourage nerve healing like B12 and hope. To make sure, though, I'd suggest a visit to a ear, nose, and throat doc or a voice specialist if you can find one. Laura found a specialist who was actually able to use high speed video to confirm that one side of her vocal cords were paralyzed. She'd pretty much back to form on voice but still has problems with heavy breathing during sports, especially like swimming.

[jss]

Arbaco,

After my double ADR at C3/4 and C6/7 it took about a month for my voice to change back to normal. But my real problem was swallowing. The only thing I could easily get down for the next couple of months was non-carbonated liquids. Here I am 11 months later, much better, but still unable to swallow with impunity. If your voice issue is anything like my swallowing issue, time is the only remedy. BTW: three weeks is a very sort time relative to anything having to do with cervical ADR.

Good luck, Jeff

[Harrison]

Sorry about your discomfort. What NSAIDs or anti-inflammatories are you taking? Prescribed? Right now, inflammation in the surgical area is very high...

[jmichaeldail]

Voice fold paralysis is the term for what you probably have. My voice was in the same condition after 2 level ADR. It took 7 weeks for it to totally come back. I wrote about the research I did on this condition here: Bangalore Bionic Boy: Twitchy Twitchington (Day 5 - Post-op)

It will come back. It is extremely rare for it to take much more than a month or two. Basically one (probably only one) of your two langeal nerves has been damaged in the operation, which means that the voice folds do not come together to make noise. Since the hole that is your voice box doesn't close, you actually lose air when you talk, and that is a big part of why it is exhausting to talk. I am an attorney, so working was pretty difficult during this period, BUT I did get a lot of sympathy so I think it actually helped my negotiating position!

I think the biggest thing is to stay positive and KNOW that your voice will return. Believe me after a few (or 4 or 5) weeks, you can start to feel like it never will, but it WILL.

[annapurna]

Actually it isn't a certain thing that the nerve will heal and your voice will return. It typically does but can take up to two years to do so. It might not but there are ways to address that problem depending upon where the vocal cord is now sitting, open, closed or partially closed.

[jmichaeldail]

Here is a helpful article about a study regarding VFP: http://neuro.surgery.duke.edu/wysiwy...ds/Georgia.pdf.

That study suggests that about 5% of people who get fusion surgery have this problem. It is probably more like 10-15% since most people recover from it in just a few weeks and the people in the 5% had voice issues that persisted beyond just a few weeks. At any rate, of the 5%, 80% had full recovery of their voice within 12 months (more than a couple of months would be unusual since what will usually happen is that even if one langeal nerve is still paralyzed, the other one will compensate. Of the 20% in the study whose voices did not recover, they got some treatment (an injection or something) that fixed the problem.

While it is not certain that you will get your voice back naturally within a few months (at the latest), it is statistically pretty likely. It would be wise to go to an ENT where they can very easily and quickly confirm via a trip up ur nose and down your throat with a camera whether you have a paralyzed langeal nerve (or two or none).

The therapy for me was to keep talking, but not whispering and not yelling.

[Abarco]

Hi,

The doc has me on Percocet, Skelaxin, Nexium, and says I need to take Motrin 800mg at least for 6 months because it helps with calcium deposits around the implant (or something like that), although it is not medically proved he says it works.... My surgeon was Dr. Rosner at Walter Reed Medical Center

[Abarco]

Originally Posted by jmichaeldail

Here is a helpful article about a study regarding VFP: http://neuro.surgery.duke.edu/wysiwy...ds/Georgia.pdf.

That study suggests that about 5% of people who get fusion surgery have this problem. It is probably more like 10-15% since most people recover from it in just a few weeks and the people in the 5% had voice issues that persisted beyond just a few weeks. At any rate, of the 5%, 80% had full recovery of their voice within 12 months (more than a couple of months would be unusual since what will usually happen is that even if one langeal nerve is still paralyzed, the other one will compensate. Of the 20% in the study whose voices did not recover, they got some treatment (an injection or something) that fixed the problem.

While it is not certain that you will get your voice back naturally within a few months (at the latest), it is statistically pretty likely. It would be wise to go to an ENT where they can very easily and quickly confirm via a trip up ur nose and down your throat with a camera whether you have a paralyzed langeal nerve (or two or none).

The therapy for me was to keep talking, but not whispering and not yelling.

Thank for the study....Psychologically, I feel better knowing it is "normal" for this to happen... It hit close to home, because it is my right side and I have severe reflux if I eat too much or simply from bending over...I think I eat more tums now than when I was pregnant.... Thanks so much for the information, I appreciate it...

[Abarco]

Originally Posted by jss

Arbaco,

After my double ADR at C3/4 and C6/7 it took about a month for my voice to change back to normal. But my real problem was swallowing. The only thing I could easily get down for the next couple of months was non-carbonated liquids. Here I am 11 months later, much better, but still unable to swallow with impunity. If your voice issue is anything like my swallowing issue, time is the only remedy. BTW: three weeks is a very sort time relative to anything having to do with cervical ADR.

Good luck, Jeff

Thanks for the reply, I know 3 weeks is not long but sadly I am a very inpatient person and of course I want everything better TODAY ....Actually after reading alot of the other threads, I am considering myself lucky and healing on the faster track... Funny that you mention carbonated beverages because I am one of those who is (was) totally addicted to Diet Mountain Dew but I had to put then in the back of the fridge because I choked and coughed every time I try to drink it!! I still try testing the waters) but have had to switch to tea for now!!! I still have choking moments but its because I am not paying attention to my swallowing or I drink too fast!!!