c3 to c7 fusion plates in front and rods in back

As soon as blue cross authorizes he said 1 to 3 weeks.

Hi Mark,

Wow, its been tough for you since your last surgery. I am glad to hear that you now have a new surgery date to get this repaired and move on with your recovery. Are you having thr surgery with the same doctor? By now i am sure you have read many of the good threads about people that have gone through this particular surgery or are now going through it. A wealth of information is there for you but like they said, you have to the time to recover properly.

I wish you the best of for an uneventful surgery and on the road to recovery!

Hugs from Texas,

Pam

What doctor in MN are you seeing? I ask because I am from MN, and had fusion in my thoracic spine done by Dr. Sinicropi at Midwest Spine Institute.

Mark, is your surgery still on for the 9th? I hope you have been taking it easy and slowly getting ready for this surgery. We will all be eager to hear how you are doing. Wishing you the very best results!!

Well surgery went good and I'm finding this one is not going to be a quick bounce back. I've had some frustrating days, I feel bad because I know I can be a challenge when I get this way. As he told me I'll have no movement after this one. Found that out when showering and tried to move without thinking about it, think I must of moved it slightly and the pain about brought me to my knees. Sad day was when they came to get my bike I litterly had tears in my eyes as it left the driveway. It was my clinging string I had left to my freedom and was so hard to let it go but I know it for the best for myself and others. Going to try and take up fishing again because it was a relaxing sport I used to enjoy we'll see how that goes. Thanks everyone for the best wishes.

Hello Mark! It's great to hear from you. Are you in a neck collar? I have to tell you that even getting in a shower this soon was not something I could do. It scared me too much! Just take it very easy. You don't mean your neck will always be stiff, do you? Without fusing the top I understood you would still have some movement? I know I had no movement at your stage but it did get better. Maybe not enough better for a bike. I'm sorry you had to give that up.

THINK FUSION and take very good care of yourself.

Mark I cannot remember if you had posterior or anterior work done. Either way, please do slow it down on this surgery, like you said, you don't want to go through this again. Take baby steps this time, its ok to do that too.

Take your medication on a schedule so that you stay on top of the pain & not underneath it trying to play catch up. I sure hope you have muscle relaxers too, those should be taken on a schedule too.

I hear you on the motorcycle thing. My husband still tries to ride some with his buddies, they are older guys like 70 & above. I finally convinced my husband to trade his 1800 GoldWing in for a trike. He found the trike in Alabama & went after it. He was struggling riding it & I knew it, I feared he would drop it. I ride some with him but nothing like I use to, just not able to & all of my conditions have to be right for me to ride. He did buy another big bike a few weeks back that he has been messing with, it worries me. Our son rides it sometimes with him when he can.

Hang in there & please remember what the members have posted to do during recovery that will help you hopefully a lot.

CONVERTIBLE...that's a good goal for somewhere down the road when you can manage that!

Just take it all very easy when you go back to work. Have you been staying upright all day without having to have rest periods? Or do you have a chair at work that will allow you to lean your head back and let your neck relax? I hope so. My office chair at home works well enough for that. You have had so much work done and I know you don't want to mess it up! Even office work, although much easier than your normal job, is still too much for some this soon after what you have had done. So maybe don't expect to stay all day, take long breaks.

I know the rods and screws from your previous surgery were removed, but I don't understand 'cabled all the joints together'. And donor bone was used this time, correct? I know you were told it's 50/50 this will resolve the pain, so just don't YOU do anything to keep this from being all the surgery you need. Let yourself heal and recover, even if it takes a long time-it has not been a long time yet, even though it probably feels like it to someone as determined as you!

What's your movement like now? Will physical therapy be in your future? It was not for me until 3 months post op. That helped me a lot. Thanks for keeping in touch. We do really like to know how everyone is doing. There are so many who don't do well after this surgery, so I pray you will be one who does do well this time.

Sounds as if your doing well and keep that convertible in sight and stay off the bike!! Remember to take frequent breaks and move around, make sure the chair your using has good high supportive back and if not ask them to accomadate you there, most employers will.

Good luck and continued healing.