A little sitrep

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Sincere wishes that both your wife's and your health improves greatly! Having grown up in the Binghamton area, I know how bitter the winters up there in the southern tier of New York can be.
 
Well. I got the consult with neurology done.
Not sure whether to be happy they found something or bummed because of what it is.....
Apparently the base of my neck is shot all to hell.
Disc degeneration, arthritis and two bone spurs impinging on my spine enough so that if I have a bad accident or fall I could end up paralyzed from the neck down.
The doctor feels that this is a major contributor to the pain/numbness I've been having, says they aren't finding anything other than disc degen and arthritis in my middle back where much of the pain is. All I know is that one vertebrae chucks around like it isn't attached anymore and will pop out if I bend wrong.
He's recommending surgery to remove the bone spurs and also taking bone from my hip to rebuild two disks that are basically collapsing.
Also said we could try injections to the base of my neck, but that it might not be long term effective.

We haven't even gotten to my lower back issues yet.......
Either way, aint nothin' happening until the wife is thru and recovered from her own surgery. Which means it will be at least February/March or so before I can even think about my own surgery.

Been stuck trying not to worry about all these surgeries and how the heck I'm going to get thru em'
At present I guess I am a little thankful for the extra time to think about my surgery. Frankly, after knowing what Edutsi went thru and what others have told me both good and bad, the whole idea of this just scares the heck out of me. I'd rather have to deal with things as they are now, rather than they be made worse or I end up paralyzed and not be able to care for or defend myself. I don't think I have it in me anymore to deal with much worse than now.
On top of it all I've also been diagnosed with some PTSD and depression from a few happenings in my life that my working thru and recovery has stalled out on because of these other issues.

I'm probably gonna be running relatively silent for the next few months. I've got a lot on my plate and much thinking to accomplish before having any surgery of my own. I'll be around and checking HI as I can. If anyone needs me, i'll still do my best....but it may be a little longer than I usually try to accomplish things.
 
My wife just had her neck surgery going on 3 weeks ago, she was out of the hospital in less than 24 hours, I'm not gonna bs you she was in a lot of discomfort/pain post surgery and she has to be careful while the fusion takes hold but the benefits do far outweighed the pain.

She had 2, 3 and 4, I believe, (the top 3) fused, she had/has a site throat still at its worse it was like strep, now it's more like she's been lecturing all day, by the end of the day she gets croaky. Benefits? She's not doing things anymore, the numbness in her hands is gone and she's gotten some pain relief, mostly in her neck and hands but her lower lumbar is a mess.

You two sound like twins. Her orthopedic surgeon is out of Easton PA and Phillipsburg NJ, his bedside sucks but he's really good at what he does. If I can answer any questions I'd gladly try.
 
Karda, we're pulling for you, and you'll be in our thoughts as you do what you need to do. Smoke and prayers for improvements to your situation.
 
Karda, Here's hoping that things get better for you and the wife. Constant pain is a bummer of the Nth degree, if you ask me and I feel for you. Be happy to assist any way I can. Smoke and prayers.
 
Smoke and good thoughts from CA.

If you are talking about steroid shots, and if you have diabetes, forget them. They don't last, and they'll drive your sugars up too.

Sometimes surgery can be stalled, but if things are collapsing, maybe immediate attention to correct, should be given serious consideration.
 
We got ya Captain, you work on getting better and we can hold down the ship for ya, tons of smoke from the south, OH and dont worry about that rabblerouser Bawanna we will try to corral him in you absence, you know how he gets without adult supervision and all. Feel better my friend.
 
Hope you wife's recovery goes fast and successful. I wish you the best as well, take care of yourself and take it easy!
 
More smoke up than Cheech and Chong can generate at a grateful dead concert. Get well Karda. Best wishes to your wife and her recovery.
 
Continue prayers from, Pala, HI and Kamis for fast recovery
 
Karda, Smoke and Prayers up for you and your wife. Hope both of you are able to gain relief from the procedures. It sounds daunting with so much if you consider the entire mess at once. But maybe just focus on each step, one at a time and I pray each step provides somw benefit.

T. Erdelyi, smoke and prayers up for your wife as well.
 
Smoke up, bro.
Do what you need to take care of yourself. We'll be just fine here. We've got a fantastic group of ladies and gentlemen here that makes moderating this little chunk of bfc an absolute pleasure.

Hang in there! We're with you.
 
Thank You My friends. Your well wishes help more than you know.

So far, I'm leaning more towards the surgery. I'd like the best shot at getting relief from this. I can't live like this. It's a vicious circle with the pain driving the depression. Between the two things, they color everything negatively. I'm not enjoying much anymore. Add the PTSD and things are almost unbearable. I just want away from these things as far as I can get. I'd like to be positive again, to have hope, to enjoy. To enjoy the simple act of waking up again, instead of wishing I could sleep forever where these things don't reach so fully. Thankfully, thru therapy, I've been able to reduce the stress nightmares I was having to only occasionally or so. I now know that we can't always bear these things ourselves without it costing something. Scared as I am of going under the knife, I've got to hope in a positive outcome, hard as it is to do so.
 
Surgery isn't all that bad, in fact, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Dwell on all of the positive aspects that you'll be receiving after the successful surgery, and it will become much easier to bear.

Smoke and prayers for your quick recovery, and alleviation from your pain and suffering.
 
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