[superstar]

Hi Everhyone,

Sorry not to have been in touch before but had surgery on Wed and just got home last night. They said they pretty sure it is not cancerous and was removed and was not attached to spinal cord but will be biopsied. The feeling/numbness has improved about 50% I would say in just the first couple of days so I am very pleased with that.

Gait and walking is a bit harder to tell because obviously I am still weak from laying down, anesthetic/pain meds etc. but I am certainly no worse so I will take that as a success too.

I feel very lucky and relieved it is all over and just need to gains strength back. The only pain is in the wound and its limitations between shoulder blades etc and it was a bit higher up the neck than I thought it would be.
Surgeon said they had to remove bone etc which was expected but didn't put in any plates or screws for which I am pleased and hopefully that wont be an issue in the future but will cross that bridge when we come to it.

I feel my speech is not as good as it could be but that is maybe because of the general surgery/trauma etc. I was on the phone to family and knew I was getting my words a bit muddled but it was late, maybe I was tired and at least `i did know they were wrong words. not wrong but couldn't think of the right one type of thing. Probably worse if I didn't even realise I was doing it. I know that I sounded drunk, that type of thing, but only for a minute or so.

Family told me surgeon said I lost a lot of spinal fluid but I don't remember that part so need to look into how the body builds that up. Not really into long internet searches at the moment but hopefully it wont be a problem, he said that can affect balance.

Thank you all for your help over this long journey over the last few months and I hope to be able to repay the compliment somehow. I have been feeling a few flicks and twitches like someone is poking me whilst dozing which is probably nerves waking up (I hope) LOL. I can deal with that!