Oh, joy........

[cozmik_cowboy]

Yesterday I saw my new neurosurgeon (no way I'd go back to the last one, he having half-crippled me & given me an infection that will require antibiotics every day for the rest of my life......), and here's the word:  The new CT & MRI show T12 has slud backwards on L1 enough to impinge on the spinal cord, and betwixt L5 & S1 there  is nada; not one iota of disk left.


And what does this add up to, you ask?


Well, I'll tell you.  It adds up to removing the hardware from the L2-L5 fusion, placing spacer cages in those 2 slots, and bolting me back together from - well, he said T11, the paperwork says T10 - through S1 - and then out onto the pelvis, as anchoring that kind of lever on S1 would shatter it.


I was scared before my 1st back surgery; not before 2nd & 3rd.  But (for obvious reasons) I will be terrified of any and all surgeries henceforth - particularly spinal work.


And it looks like, with his & the OR's schedules, I'm gonna have several months in which to sweat it.


That is not what I wanted to hear from him, I assure you!


Peter

[pauldo]

To the casual observer it does sound very intimidating.   
Considering that you, Peter, have survived a lifetime of roadie/ musician behaviors.  You should feel confident in the up coming event and your ability to get through any tough spots.  (Plus you got a room full of people in your corner that believe in you). 

When you start to feel anxious in the waiting period, grab an instrument and redirect yourself.

You got this!

[David Houck]

So sorry to hear this, but what Paul said: you can do this.  Let us know how things proceed from here.

[edwardofhuncote]

Yeah I hate to hear that for anyone. My poor Mom's spine is more Titanium than bones now, and waiting for more... at 81. She's 25 years in front of me, and I know what's coming.


Hopes for the best outcome. I know mine was a game-changer.

[garyhead]

Wow!  That’s a long road!….. my spine surgery is in the rear view mirror now and I’m still progressing with PT to raise my left arm again…..then I was hit with a brick Monday…..I have cancer.

[David Houck]

Wow!  That’s a long road!….. my spine surgery is in the rear view mirror now and I’m still progressing with PT to raise my left arm again…..then I was hit with a brick Monday…..I have cancer.

Wow; sorry to hear that one as well.  Hoping for the best.

[mica]

Oh goodness Peter and Gary. You're going to be keeping those doctors busy. I'm hoping for the best for you both.

[garyhead]

It's early stage prostate cancer.  It is currently at the lowest level you can detect.  We need to determine how fast it is growing.  Quarterly PSA (a blood test) and another MRI & biopsy next February.  It could be decades.....or years before action needs to be taken.....but still....even though I have suspected it for the past 18 months, its Real now.

[cozmik_cowboy]

I hate when that happens.
Thursday Senior Management goes in for her 2-years-after breast cancer mammogram.  I'm sure she'll be clean - or almost sure; one does worry.......
Glad yours is that kind; I mean, if ya gotta have cancer, go with that one.  I've been lucky; despite smoking enough cigarettes between 10 and 23 to last a normal person a lifetime, I've only had basal cell so far.

Peter

[peoplechipper]

good luck both of you...with my messed-up back (wedge compression fractures 38! years ago) I do wonder if down the road something will collapse but so far nothings gotten worse, so my Chiropractor is still working and I've been clear of Melanoma for 18 years; they got it early, much better outcomes...Tony.