ACDF surgery and truck driveing

[Yankee]

It has been recommended to me to have ACDF surgery on my C-5 C-6 area in my neck. I was wondering if there are other drivers out there that have had this type of surgery and if so how did it affect their returning to work driving?. Truck driving is hard on spines as I bet many drivers are aware of. My surgeon as well as my doctor sees no problem driving. Both doctors are willing to sign a full release for UN restricted truck driving work. My question is this.... Are their and drivers on this forum that have had ACDF surgery and returned to driving? Thanks for your response!

[TimberWolf]

Yankee,
I can't speak for the upper back area, however back in Dec 07 I had a laminectomy on my L4, L5 & S1 lower back region and I have to say it was the best move of my life.
Working the docks at UPS Freight and old age kind of herniated those disc and created extreme pain in my lower back all the way down my leg, to the point I was unable to walk upright and required lots of hydrocodone to get through the day, after 3 sets of cordisone injections and failed therapy the Dr said surgery is the only other option. My pain started in October ,had my surgery in Dec 07 and was back to work by mid Feb 08 and totaly pain free by May of 08. As it stands now I have a slight lower back pain on occasion but nothing campared to what it was, I just take a muscle relaxer and float in the pool for a while and it does the trick.
With all the advances in surgery today you should be ok, I went on line and researched my Dr and his back ground, I also made sure he was a board appointed Dr, as in my mind I think they seem to care more if they are willing to go through the appointment process.

Good luck.

Timberwolf