Hi all. Here is my story.

In 2000 I went thru surgery for cervical kyphosis. Originally I was supposed to be in for 4 days or so and the surgere was to be about 7 houers or so. It would include instrumentation from the posterior approach and grafting at 3 levels I think from the anterior.

Well the surgery was a lot longer then anticipated. Rather then it being a 1 day surgery, it was done in 2 days.

The posteior portion of the surgery took 8 hours and Harrington Rods implanted from C3 to about the T4 lever.

Then the anterior position was the bone graft and that took another 4 hours. And rather then being in the ospital for 4 days I was in for 2 1/2 weeks because I deveolped pneumonia and had to be intubated.

Well here is what happened. After I finally was released I noticed that i had trouble with my right hand. The area between my thumb and index finger started to wither away. I had trouble picking things up. My hand was not functioning the way it used. Between holding things and the right hand i usually used a knife to cut foot. I had trouble holding the knife the way I used to. I was told that the trouble was at the C7 level.

Now I am not making accusations against the surgeon. But I don't know what happened and why after all these years I still have difficulty with this hand.

But strangly for a brief period of time I was seeing a pain doctor in New York and also having accupuncuture. Surprising I started to see a change in the hand. The affected area did not appear to be as withered. But once treatment stopped it went back to the way it was.

Then when I saw my neurosugreon about 3 weeks ago, he suggested that I get a "hand grip" to help build up the hand;arm and part of it would be doing core exercises. I am noticing that the area doesn't appear to be as withered as it was. In the 2 weeks that I have been using this hand grip I see a physical difference. As to the function of the hand I cant say that things have improved. I plan on continuing using the hand grip to see what the results may be over the next few months. Maybe it is working and is just going to take some time.

Anyone have any input on "core exercises?" Or know anything about the issues that I have with my hand. I assume its some type of neuropathy.

Allan