Thanks for the information about sleeping! I have trouble sleeping in any position right now! I used to be able to sleep anywhere, any time!

Five days!!! Woohoo!! :yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

Four days & counting
 

Four days until I lose the hard C-collar.:yahoo:

I got a real treat last evening. We had to take a replacement cell phone to DS who is away at school only about 45 minutes away.

He needed to take the phone to a verizon store to have all his contacts transferred over.

While the phone people were doing that he took his Dad & I out to dinner and I removed the collar and thoroughly and completely enjoyed by plate of Fettucine Alfredo with chicken!! I have been craving fettucine since before I had the surgery!!

I did pass on dessert, since I have had just a little bit of ice cream since surgery.

Congrats!

And I'll bet it was the best Fettucine Alfredo you've ever tasted!

The end is in sight.

Hang in there.

Jim

PS: I tried sending a private message the other day. Hope it worked,

Woohoo! Congrats on the "solid food!" I hope you continue to get better every day!

Happy Hard Collar Removal Eve!

Be thinking about you tomorrow.

J

I'm FREE!!!!!
 

Saw the orthopedic surgeon yesterday and I am FREE of the dreaded hard cervical collar!!!:Dancing-Chilli::partytime2:

I can drive again and my only restriction is no lifting over 10 lbs.
I do have a soft collar to use if my neck gets sore.

It has been a long month with the hard collar, but in hindsight I am so glad I had the surgery.
It is so nice to have the use of my left hand again!!:D

Loads of Good Luck and Get Well Wishes go out to JustJim who is having his surgery on the 22nd.

CONGRATS, RISBY!!!

Can't tell you how happy I am for you. As I'm getting ready for my pre-op meeting later today, it was great to read your news.

Enjoy yourself!

And thanks for the good wishes.

Jim

That is happy news Risby!!! Congrats!!

:hug:

Just read this thread...
 

You've been through a lot. So glad you are doing well. I had lower lumbar fusion 3 weeks ago. Still wearing brace for a few more weeks. But I think your collar would have been much more uncomfortable. Glad you are done with that!:hug:

Hi.

Went into surgery at Duke Hospital yesterday at 4:20. Was in the car coming home today at 11 AM.

Surgeon said I had good bone in the vertebrae so the plate is in strongly enough that he saw no need for hard collar - or even a soft collar! He's had much experience discharging single level ACDF patients without a collar so he - and I - aren't concerned.

Some throat soreness from being intubated but said I should be able to handle regular diet in a few days. Also a bit of manageable discomfort in the back of my neck. He explained this as being due to the fact that my spine was actually lengthened a bit when bone was inserted.

Thanks for all your good wishes and support.

More later. Now, to bed

That's great Jim! :D

No Fair!!!
 

Jim,
I am so jealous!!! but very happy that everything went so smoothly for you.
I hope your recovery continues to be quick & pain free.
Don't forget the:icecream:

Risby

Survivor's guilt
 

Thanks, Risby.

On this one, I simply lucked out. I feel a mix of gratitude and guilt.

And you're right -- it ain't fair.

But as I think we've all learned, there's really no justice. There's just us.

Jim

How are you doing Jim? And Risby? Still doing ok?

My doc hasn't given up yet. He's resubmitting the request with more documentation. I had another EMG. So much fun! NOT!

Life is Good Without a C-Collar!
 

I am enjoying life without the dreaded Cervical collar!!

I am driving short distances and enjoying using my left hand again.
The rainy weather for the past 11 days is awful and my neck seems to ache, not really pain but achy, on some of those days.
Thankfully Motrin seems to help.
I have not had to use the soft collar at all.

Thanks for asking and I hope you can get some satisfaction from Try-n-Get Care, as we call Tricare in our house. I was lucky as my Medicare kicked in and now Tricare is my secondary insurance.

Keep me posted.

In 30+ years, this is truly the first time I've had a problem.

I am so happy to hear you are doing good. I should know in a week or so what the plan is for me. In the meantime, I am still only able to use one arm. :(

Still suffering with a major case of Survivor's Guilt.

Never had to wear a C-collar -- hard or soft. Been sleeping in my own bed since the first night home after surgery -- albeit with a Percocet to get me comfortable (but, after a week, was able to switch to Naproxen). Been eating whatever I want -- although I really needed to chew everything thoroughly before attempting to swallow for the first week. I had almost full range of motion the day after the operation and now it is full.

Only discomfort is along the tops of my shoulder and upper back.

The swelling around the incision is going down every day and the scar should be minimal.

Since I was in no pain or discomfort before the operation -- I had it because the bone was pressing on my cord and two surgeons (and my neuro) advised I have surgery to prevent it from getting worse -- I can't report any relief. I do have weakness in my right hand and there's a chance that might be relieved as a result of surgery but I understand that could take a year before I feel any improvement.

I'm just a lucky, lucky guy.

Now, if I could only get my MS-damaged axons to repair themselves and my myelin to regrow. . .

Glad to hear you're doing better, Risby!

Jim
 

So glad you are recovering so well.

My youngest DS took me to a baseball game for Mother's Day and I could actually turn my neck without any discomfort.

Did you get our MAFO issue straightened out?

Now we just have to hope Cheryl can get her insurance issues straightened out so she can get her spine straightened out!!