…I’m having an operation right now. I had to be at the hospital at 5:30 AM, which is ridiculous. Everything will go fine, I’m sure. But being under anesthesia bothers me. Isn’t it always when someone’s unconscious that the bad things happen?
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Here’s what’s being done, which also bothers me:
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Did you know Peyton Manning had this surgery last year?
This is the second time I’m having this surgery — the first time was three years ago. Looks horrifying, doesn’t it? Maybe it just horrifies me : ) There are video clips of ‘actual’ surgeries online, but I’d much rather watch this animated one. For one thing the disc being removed looks like a game token — no biggie. Also the bone graft (in my situation, at least), is also referred to as “cadaver bone.” Yep. From a deceased donor. The first time I had this surgery and received a bone graft, I was a little disappointed that I developed no specials powers. Maybe this time.
Why do I have to have this surgery? The first time two discs ruptured / wore down / something weird happened, and my cervical bones started rubbing against each other and the spinal nerves, causing pain in my neck and shoulders primarily. There was no car accident or past injury (that I could think of) that caused the damage. But I lived with that pain in my neck / shoulders for about 8 years, until it got to a point where I decided it needed to stop. Also it began to worry me that letting the nerves be endlessly compressed could cause permanent nerve damage.
For anyone who’s ever had to contemplate this type of surgery, I can report that I felt great for about a year afterwards. Then little by little, pain started creeping back into my neck and shoulders and right hand. We think the first surgery caused damage to the disc above the fusion site — which does happen, unfortunately.
If you’re so inclined, cross your fingers with me / for me and hope that everything goes well and this will be the last time. I’ve set up some auto-posting for today and tomorrow, until I can rejoin you Tue or Wed.
Have a good Monday — and see you on the other side!
good thoughts of successful surgery & speedy recovery flooding to you from all your grateful & appreciative followers!!!! thanks for all you do & healing wishes!!!💐🍀
eeek! so when the zombie apocalypse starts, we’ll have you to thank?
hope all goes well and you recover completely and swiftly!
I had an anterior cervical fusion in 1991, and all has been well since. My damage was the result of an accident, and it was more or less emergency surgery.
I hope that yours goes well, and you are back soon!
I love your site with kittens and bunnies and concise economic charts and anti-right wing stuff all mixed together. I wish you all the best with your surgery.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Look forward to hearing the procedure was a great success.
Get well soon.
hope all is well and best wishes for your recovery. Good thoughts all the way from Brazil.
Best of luck on your operation. I look forward to your full recovery and return to blogging.
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My spine was at critical mass. Had this surgery 7/19/12 on C 4-5,5-6,6-7 all fused with one big plate and cadaver bone. Better out than in. My surgeon scared me to death before hand I’d slip on a crack and be paralyzed without surgery. Drove home 7/20 and driving since but don’t tell. Yes I still have neck pain, tingly hands, and today I nearly chocked on a piece of toast but I can stumble again without fear. My kids think I’m a bad chick. I think so to. Good luck to you.
You ARE a bad chick! I don’t know what it is with anesthesia and me, but I’m kind of out of it for a couple days after surgery. There’s no way I could have driven home. The thing that bothered me the most this time was my throat from the breathing tube (and all the action that happened near there, I’m sure). I had my stitches out this week and once again you can hardly see the scar — and my arms and hand are better already. I still have pain in neck / shoulders, but the doctor said there’s still a lot of swelling to heal, etc. Good luck to you too!