Originally Posted by thinkitdoit7

Daryl,

I had C2-T1 last year in Sept 2013. I had to have the surgery due to the severity of the impingement on the spinal cord - flattened spinal cord at C4-5 and C5-6 , severe congenital spinal stenosis (not enough room for the spinal cord in the first place), bone spurs, severe kyphosis in the neck and rest of the spine is munched also (9 major spinal surgeries not including the neck) etc, etc.

I was in the hospital 4 days. It would have been two days but my doctor died unexpectedly one week before surgery. My surgery was considered an emergency due to degree of cord compression and my symptoms so I was appointed (sort of) another doctor who did not know me or know about all my other problems below the neck so I ran into some complications after surgery.

I am still recovering from this surgery. The post surgical pain was not bad at all - very tolerable with the correct pain meds and make sure you walk as much as possible as soon as they allow it. I was in a hard collar when I woke up from surgery and that took a bit of adjusting but was not bad.

In the hospital I made sure that I asked for Miralax every evening (stool softner) and made sure to drink Boost or Ensure ASAP so I could start building up my body even when I didn't feel like eating. I had to ask for this stuff so be sure to be proactive especially with the Miralax because the pain meds are constipating and that can become a problem in and of itself.

I also did a lot of meditating when the pain was bad right after surgery - I concentrating on slowing down my breathing and taking deep breaths and trying to be calm - especially through severe pain or when waiting for the next dose of pain meds. I had one of those pain pumps they give you after surgery. Make sure to use it and don't be a hero.

I kept trying not to use the pain pump and the nurses kept telling me to use it as much as possible (they set it up so you can't overdose) - but use it even if you don't feel like you need it - it helps to keep the pain at bay.

When I got home I slept a lot. Allow yourself the time to heal. Also, so many very weird symptoms came and went that were alarming to me - and I would call my doctor and they would say it was "part of the healing process" - give it time. Most of the issues resolved themselves but they scared me - so be prepared to have lots of weird pains like in your shoulders or arms or hands or legs - stuff you didn't have prior to surgery - it goes away.

I sometimes wish they would have given me a list of things that might happen following surgery - like a symptom list of what to expect following the posterior cervical fusion with laminectomies - so I wouldn't have been so paranoid - I always thought the worst - like the surgery didn't take etc and every time something would happen within a week or two it would subside and I would feel foolish for being so frightened.

Exercise, exercise, exercise. Learn to mediate or do deep breathing exercises daily and take the physical therapy seriously. If you want to recover as fully as possible - exercise, control of stress, good nutrition and a positive attitude go a long, long way.

I have started to drink a protein smoothie every morning - one of those includes the anti-inflammatory stuff like Kale and spinach and avocado (yuck), then I mix in a scoop of protein powder and a banana, pineapple or whatever is in the fridge add juice or water or almond milk (yuck) and once you mix it up you can't taste the Kale or spinach or any of the yuckie stuff.

This helps a lot in recovery.

I am back to exercising one hour a day or so (I love to exercise), work part time (have my own business) and lots of volunteer stuff through church. If you are into prayer, that helps a lot. There is nothing that God cannot do so that is a good mind set to be in before surgery, during and after.

Ask for prayers from your family and friends - all of us here on the forum will keep you in our prayers, especially me. I will go to church tomorrow morning and ask my parishioners to pray for you also.

Keep us posted on your recovery.

Kelli from Wisconsin