[sandi_k]

OK, I'm scheduled for surgery on Tuesday. Removal of disc fragments at C5/C6, fusion with screws and cadaver bone, and removal of bone spurs compressing the spinal cord. Surgery done by a board-certified neurosurgeon...

At least one night in the hospital, and certified off work for 8.5 weeks post-surgery.

Wish me luck!

Sandi

[Jomar]

Best of luck Sandi

[Gianna206]

Best wishes to you! You will be in my thoughts!

[tamiloo]

Wow, Sandi, thats a lot to bite off. My problems are in the lumbar area. almost two month post surgery. Thank goodness I'm doing really well. This is my 5th surgery. Its pretty scary to be having a surgery...the unknown always is.

I hope all goes well with you. I guess my best advise is to take it easy and don't try doing things before you should. Rest as much as you can....all of this my family would laugh at because I'm not great at doing all the things I just advised to you to. Hope you have some good folks there to support you. You take care.

[tamiloo]

So how did everything go for you? Would really like to hear an update? My prayers are with you...

[sandi_k]

I can't type much - I'm wearing a cervical collar that restricts movement, so DH set up a computer station that allows me to read, but is the wrong height for typing.

Things went well. Already a REAL improvement in the numbness and tingling in the hands, and circulation too.

Some pain, not bad. I'm on percoset, which I'm having a reaction to - itching like MAD.

Mom is here, and DH is here on weekends too. So far, so good.

Sandi

[tamiloo]

Oh, Sandi so glad to hear how things are going. I itched with Darvocet too....mmmm.

My doc has me on a med now that doesn't really have any sides except my DH says that I need to take it with candy so I don't have a tummy ache...silly guy!

Well, I hope things continue to improve. Saturday was my two month anniversary. At times I feel better than I did before surgery or even better than I have for years. But them I get stupid...do something I shouldn't do like vacume...

Your in my prayers...take care!!

[treeves]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery! Just remember to do exactly what the doctor says to do.

[carol1211k]

I am a newbie here, but very familiar with back pain. After herniating L5/S1, I had two microdiscectomies and finally a fusion. The fusion did not completely relieve my pain, but it helped considerably, as did physical therapy. At least I got a lot stronger again.

I'm scheduled for my second fusion, though, at L4/L5 (herniated that disc now). Surgery is Jan. 7th. Wish me luck, too.

And do what the docs tell you to do. After a while, I stopped being careful, and went ahead and did things I wasn't supposed to do. After a fusion, the next disc is put in a position to herniate more easily (which I knew . . .)

So be careful!

[sandi_k]

OK, it's now 4 months post-surgery. I'm very glad I had the surgery.

I'm now back at work close to regular schedule; still have lifting restrictions until 6 mos post-surgery.

Range of motion is good; I have occasional "shifts" where things re-align, but all in all, better than I feared.

The numbness and tingling is lessened; the pain and tightness in the neck and shoulders is better. Circulation is VASTLY improved.

I still have pain, I still have bad days with too much keyboarding, but it's BETTER. I actually opened a jar of spaghetti sauce on my own this week!!!

The surgeon removed the bone spur; plate, screws (4); cadaver bone, and "an aggressive opening of the foraminal spacing."

I'm very glad I got a neurosurgeon.

Sandi