C3-C4 Disk Removal and Fusion Recovery

Doctors,

My wife is about to undergo C3-C4 disk removal and fusion (ACDF). We had a few questions about nutrition during recovery and training post surgery.

Some background information:
F 28
5’5" 140#
S/B/D/P - 240/150/295/110
Training History - Crossfit for 5+ years. Added supplemental lifting ~2 years ago
Goals - Recover from surgery as quickly as possible. Regain strength and cardio to allow for return to crossfit
Injury - Believed to be from snowboarding injury ~6 years ago. Handstand pushups probably didn’t help either
Symptoms - Upper body weakness, consistent trap pain, some numbness in hands
MRI - Shows herniated disk compressing the spinal cord with edema

Questions:

  1. Do you recommend any specific nutritional protocol that might accelerate the rate of bone fusion? If it isn’t possible to accelerate bone growth, then do you have any generic nutritional recommendations for surgery recovery? Should creatine use be continued while inactive? Other supplements?
  2. Once cleared for full activity, how do you recommend to proceed with training? I was thinking a 3-4 week LP and then adding in cardio and skill work for another few weeks before returning to CF.
  3. Are there any lifts/movements (other than handstand pushups) that you think could aggravate the cervical spine?

Thanks for all you do. It’s much appreciated.

  1. I don’t think there’s anything unique you need to do from a nutritional standpoint after surgery outside of our usual recommendations for anyone else.

  2. Assuming she is “cleared for full activity” by the surgeon and/or post-op physical therapy, sure, doing an LP would be fine.

  3. I think slamming your head on the ground doing kipping handstand pushups is a bad idea for just about anyone. As for the rest of the movements, it’ll end up being guided by her symptoms (which she hopefully has none, of course).