Just got home from my first trip out in two weeks... back to Dr. Harron's office here in town for my follow-up appointment.
First thing, I got the stitches out, and the incision doesn't look too bad. Doesn't look too good either. Looks... well, like somebody cut my throat. (because they did - DUH...) But it was done strategically in a crease so that with a little luck and a little help, in a couple years it'll be barely noticeable. It's not like I was bucking for any beauty contests before. And I'm a bass player. Who cares if the bass player wears turtlenecks?
The best news of all - my left hand is back, at so close to 100% that it's not worth measuring. Here's what's scary... during my surgery they had monitors all over me watching neurological function during the operation. They could literally see the neural activity increasing as they worked to cut and drill (yes, DRILL!) bone away from my spinal cord and foraminal nerves. Then they noticed that my right side activity was increasing too, which means I was losing it all along as well, and wasn't even aware of it. The operation took about twice and change longer than they had planned because of the sheer amount of osteophytic spurring (bone spurs) and the difficulty getting to it from the anterior incision. (anterior = front, means they went in through my neck) At one point they sent a messenger to the waiting room to tell my folks and friends why it was taking so long.
So it's a done deal... C5 through C7 are all one piece now, or rather they are slowly starting the process of growing together. I have the detailed report of the whole operation, but the high points are basically this; after they opened me up, they removed the discs from between the bones, then cleared the deformed bones that were impinging on the nerves, then installed some artificial spacer discs between the repaired bones, and reinforced with a 36 mm titanium plate and secured the plate to my spine with three 16 mm self-drilling, self-tapping titanium screws. (let that sink in for a second...) Then some kind of a cement over that. Clean up, stitch up, and wake him up. All through a two-inch cut in my throat. Freakin' amazing.
The experience was somewhat different from my perspective, but I'm quite amazed by what they were able to do. I have to say too... I wasn't very happy initially about having to go clear over to the next county for this thing, but in retrospect, I am so incredibly blown away with how awesome the staff was at this hospital that I am relieved it was there. They were great. Every single person I interacted with for two of the worst days of my life, tried their best to make it better. I made it a point to try and remember their names to thank them later. I was out of my mind and mercifully unconscious for a lot of it, but when I had a lucid moment, I made it a point to thank them by name. Katrina (pre-op), Margaret, Tara, Sarah, Kym, Elise. What a great crew.
My instructions are simple - continue as directed at discharge, do absolutely nothing strenuous, 5 lbs. max, cut back on the pain-killers asap, limit exercise to walking on level ground. No driving, no unnecessary car trips, wear cervical brace anytime outside the home, especially in a car.
I'll have another X-ray taken one day the last week of November, to confirm the bones are completely fused, and Dr. Harron will see me again on December 4th to review the findings and talk about a long-term plan for rehab and tell me what's next.
*Perhaps the greatest thing to come from today's visit... I was finally given permission to cease and desist wearing these ridiculous pantyhose the pre-op nurse Katrina tricked me into that fateful morning. Pulmonary embolism my foot...
