[Risby]

I had a cervical disc fusion on St Patricks Day and I now sit here with my hard cervical collar on trying to type.
The surgery has relieved the pins & needles in my left hand and the hand is already stronger.
The pain from the incision is minimal but the c-collar is a pain in the **** and I have to wear it for 2 more weeks!! YIKES!

Of course being a nurse, I had minor complications post op. I had a raging asthma attack[never had asthma before] and bronchospasm in recovery room, which necessitated a stay in the ICU....... which gave my DH a few more grey hairs.
My wonderful sister in law is here helping her big brother stay sane and waiting on me hand & foot. I don't want her to ever leave!!

So I guess I will be spending more time on the computer cause I can't do much of anything else.

[Kitty]

Aw, Risby, I'm sorry you've got to wear that contraption for two more weeks. Hopefully it'll go by quickly. It's so sweet of your SIL to come and help. Maybe she'll stay for a while till you get back on your feet.

Gentle hugs..........

[AfterMyNap]

So, the surgery was successful, Ris? Good deal, let's hope your recovery is fast and successful as well.

Hey, you could decorate your collar, maybe some major bling? A fake tattoo? A portrait of DM?

[DM]

Hey Risby! Glad your surgery is over and that your'e mending. Those collars always look so uncomfortable, so you've just confirmed it. Hey, your'e lucky you like your SIL and want her to stay. I never want my SIL to come.

Hope you continue to heal and glad we'll be seeing more of you around here.

[ewizabeth]

Thank God for modern medicine! I hope you'll be better than new in no time.

My nephew in law had cervical surgery a few years ago. His arm was going numb from a pinched nerve. Now it's like he's good as new, playing basketball, riding his bike, etc... And he's in his 40's.

He's 6'7" tall and had been driving a small car that had him slouched over too much.

I hope the next two weeks will go quickly for you!

[SallyC]

((((((((((((Risby)))))))))))))

[NurseNancy]

i'm glad your surgery was successful.
isn't that always the case? that if you're a nurse something "happens".

i'm a NICU RN but had to retire with my MS. well, i wish i could retire my MS but you know what i mean.

get well soon.

[Risby]

Originally Posted by NurseNancy

i'm glad your surgery was successful.
isn't that always the case? that if you're a nurse something "happens".

i'm a NICU RN but had to retire with my MS. well, i wish i could retire my MS but you know what i mean.

get well soon.

Nurse Nancy
I was a telemetry nurse and also had to retire due to my MS. I was pretty sure I would have some problem as DH is a CRNA and with me being an RN I was tempting the fates!! Luckily it was a relatively minor complication.

[JustJim]

Hi from a new member (who's glad to have found this virtual community).

I hope you're continuing to heal and feeling better with every passing day.

I'm scheduled for an ACDF (C6-C7) on 4/22 and, given my MS-related challenges, I'm a little anxious about the post-op recovery period. No -- make that *really* anxious.

I first saw a neurosurgeon who suggested doing C5-C6 as well as C6-C7 and said I'd need a hard collar for at least a couple of weeks. A doc friend suggested a second opinion from an orthopaedic surgeon. He thought I'd only need to do C6-C7 since the bone spur there was really pressing on the spinal cord and C5-C6 was arthritic enough that "adjacent disc disorder" might not be a problem down the road. Doing just the one, he thought I might be able to get away with a soft collar. He also said that this approach would make things a bit easier given my mobility-related challenges.

I wear an AFO on my weak right leg just about all the time. (I wasn't wearing it very much but then discovered that I've been stressing the knee by hyperextending it. So my PT strongly suggested I wear it whenever I'm on my feet.) I can put it on by myself now but my wife's going to have to help so I need to find some easier-to-don shoes.

I understand it's important to walk around a lot while in recovery. Do you have difficulties walking and, if so, how did you cope?

Did you sleep in a chair or in bed?

Sorry to ramble on with so many questions but any/all tips you'd like to pass along would be *most* appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Jim

[SallyC]

Welcome, Jim...