My husband will be wearing his all of the time, except for showering, dressing etc. This will be for FOUR months!! I actually put it on to see how it will be for him. I think he needs a hand held fan---it seemed hot to me, and we had the air on!

From what I've read here, so many Dr's have different ideas. I think we would have to research studies to see who is right and who is overly conservative.

My husband is having one more level than you did---c4,5.

Linda MI

When I had my ACDF C5-6 6-7 I switched to a soft collar to sleep and eventually when I graduated to soft collar during the day I got to sleep in no collar at night. Make sense? My first week I slept in a recliner with my collar on as I was too scared to do anything else.

I guess I should check with the doctor and see about a soft collar at night too. I'm afraid to move much at night without mine on.

Jeff,
After my first surgery they told me that I did not need my collar on at night for sleeping, mine was a 2 level at c5,c6 and c6,c7 and only needed the hard collar while I was in a car or out in public where someone could bang into me. My OS's nurse called me three days after surgery and asked' are you wearing your soft collar?' I said yes and she told me to wean myself off of it so I did not depend one it. Looks like all doc's have different ways of doing things, so it would probably be best to just call and ask. Good luck.
mark

24/7 for 6 weeks was my experience. I had a waterproof one for the shower, but afterwards I had to put the aspen back on. It was very hot and I sweated like crazy in it. I was glad that I had two so that i could wash one while wearing the other one. I don't know if your doctor told you, but you can trim the foam around the plastic if it is too high and bothering you. I was thrilled when the doc said I could start weaning off of it at 6 weeks. I have a soft collar from my prior surgery that I wear sometimes now when I need the support, but the aspen is a thing of the past!!!!

Good luck Jeff. It is good to see you are posting post op. How is your recovery coming along?

Cindy

How the heck did you sleep in the Aspen? I have a hard enough time sleeping on my back without it.

I still have this weird feeling that if I move my neck the wrong way, it will snap or something will happen. Am I just being paranoid?

Recovery is going well. Today is kind of weird though. I feel some of the numbness on and off today in my arm and fingers. Is that common post op? I'm not doing any lifting or bending. My daily walk is getting to be easier now too. This morning I walked a mile without feeling winded.

Oh and boredom has set in. LOL. I love word search puzzles.

I have a chair that fits my neck perfectly in somewhat of a reclined position, so I often slept in that chair with an ottoman in front for leg support. but I'll be honest, I don't sleep well even now. I also have a recliner that I sleep in sometimes. When I would try sleeping in my bed, I would lie in somewhat of a side position, using a very soft feather pillow to bunch up to give support where needed.

It takes a bit to get used to it, but before you know it you will get permission to throw it away.

Your neck won't snap--especially if you keep your collar on like you are told to. You'll have a wide array of symptoms, which can change minute by minute. If there is something that worries you, call your doctor's nurse and she'll tell you if it is normal or not.

Oh, to beat the boredom, log in to chat. The gang in chat always leaves me laughing, and we are all there to support one another. If no one is there right away, hang around and someone will join you soon.

I just read where you get to take your collar off for sleeping. So you won't have to get used to it! Yay!

I as well have the collar but the miami J version. I think they named it miami cause of the heat that it generates. Anyway my instructions are 24-7 and i have replaceable pads to change out for showering. Doctors prescribe the collars depending on what and why they did the surgery. If they find instability they will want the collar for longer periods. I'm hoping next week to be released from the collar and it become a distance memory as it has been a long 6 weeks. How long till you return to the surgeon for your first set of films they may release you from it at that time.