- Joined
- May 18, 1999
- Messages
- 15,395
Im home once again from the hospital and the second surgery on the same place in my neck. My Dr. seemed well pleased with the results of the CT Scan I had yesterday. He brought it to my room shortly after noon today and showed us what was going on.
Everything is back in place and hopefully this time it will take and heal correctly. My Dr. put in a new piece of hardware and said it tightened up really well so he didnt have to go through the back of my neck right now although we may have to later on if my fingers dont get all of their feeling back.
I can already tell they are better than they were before surgery as I can feel the keyboard keys better and when I went to buckle up my seat belt for the ride home I didnt have to fumble with trying to find the slot the key end goes into.
Also my Dr. said to be very careful with my neck and how far I let my head droop forward, turn side to side, no more than 45* and how far I let it lean back if I was sleeping or trying to look upwards.
And even though Im allowed too sleep without my brace it might do and heal better if I sleep with it on.
I have managed the last two nights at the hospital because I am somewhat paranoid right now and want to do all I can to get it too heal correctly because of several reasons, not withstanding having to undergo another surgery.
My neurosurgeon also said if I had to have another surgery there because it doesnt heal right that the next time I will have to be in one of those HALO devices and I sure dont want that!!!! He also says that it is more dangerous to go in the back side because the neck vertebrate being as small as they are compared to the thoracic and lumbar parts of the spine there is a danger of the screws running out the sides and compressing nerves and the only thing to do in that case was to go back in and reset the screws again. I dont see how it would be with the nerve monitoring equipment that is now used by most neurosurgeons to help keep from damaging any nerves in the spine but he knows best.
Im doing really well and Im ready to go for a walk at the zoo tomorrow and we may just do that if its cool enough so that I dont get so hot while walking. I walked the full length of the hall in the hospital twice both ways both yesterday and today.
I surprised all of the nurses being able to do so as quickly as I did. Im just a tough old bird.
Thank you all each and everyone for all the Smoke, Prayers, Ringing Bells, and Positive Thoughts!!!!!!!:thumbup:
Everything is back in place and hopefully this time it will take and heal correctly. My Dr. put in a new piece of hardware and said it tightened up really well so he didnt have to go through the back of my neck right now although we may have to later on if my fingers dont get all of their feeling back.
I can already tell they are better than they were before surgery as I can feel the keyboard keys better and when I went to buckle up my seat belt for the ride home I didnt have to fumble with trying to find the slot the key end goes into.
Also my Dr. said to be very careful with my neck and how far I let my head droop forward, turn side to side, no more than 45* and how far I let it lean back if I was sleeping or trying to look upwards.
And even though Im allowed too sleep without my brace it might do and heal better if I sleep with it on.
I have managed the last two nights at the hospital because I am somewhat paranoid right now and want to do all I can to get it too heal correctly because of several reasons, not withstanding having to undergo another surgery.
My neurosurgeon also said if I had to have another surgery there because it doesnt heal right that the next time I will have to be in one of those HALO devices and I sure dont want that!!!! He also says that it is more dangerous to go in the back side because the neck vertebrate being as small as they are compared to the thoracic and lumbar parts of the spine there is a danger of the screws running out the sides and compressing nerves and the only thing to do in that case was to go back in and reset the screws again. I dont see how it would be with the nerve monitoring equipment that is now used by most neurosurgeons to help keep from damaging any nerves in the spine but he knows best.
Im doing really well and Im ready to go for a walk at the zoo tomorrow and we may just do that if its cool enough so that I dont get so hot while walking. I walked the full length of the hall in the hospital twice both ways both yesterday and today.
I surprised all of the nurses being able to do so as quickly as I did. Im just a tough old bird.
Thank you all each and everyone for all the Smoke, Prayers, Ringing Bells, and Positive Thoughts!!!!!!!:thumbup:
