Quote from: edwardofhuncote on June 30, 2023, 08:08:17 AM... a battery of sensors that trace the electrical current traveling through your nerves ...

I want one of these (... searching Amazon)

Finally made it home.

It's been about like I thought, but with a couple surprises. Hiccups are excruciating. A sneeze will bring you to your knees. But surprisingly, a cough isn't so bad this time. Getting into, and out of bed is a two-handed struggle, and sleeping for more than a couple hours is still not happening. Once you get up though, it isn't so bad. Sitting up, or walking around is relatively easy. It's the transition between them that's really the tricky part. I've dialed the pain meds back to one, or half of one a night, and went back to two-fisting my favorite popsicles in between naps. I can't eat anything more solid than a cup of pudding. I did have an omelet last night, and that was hard, but do-able. It's applesauce smoothie today, after coffee. So far, 6 lbs gone. We're tracking this pretty close. At a buck-sixty, I start getting professional help.

The porch is nice in the morning. Really, anytime. And the no-see-ums can't bite through the pantyhose (compression stockings) I have to wear for another week. I'll go back for a follow-up appointment with the rockstar neurosurgeon, get the stitches out, and he will schedule xrays for sometime about 8-10 weeks after the surgery date to see if the bones are solid. If yes, move onto physical therapy, if not... well, I reckon it'll be more 'sit on porch' until they are.

So here I am, at home in Masons Cove, Virginia... on the longest coffee break you ever heard of. 


*those monitors Dave... that's actually an outsourced service my surgeon brings in specifically for this procedure. They are the last people you see before you go under, little wires and stickers going everywhere. They come in and tell you about it ahead of time so you won't be freaked out I guess.


It's crazy, some of the extraneous things. He also has to employ the services of a pathologist, to examine and confirm for the insurance company that the bone fragments removed from me were indeed diseased, and needed to be removed.

Greg, you're looking good. My daughter has had a couple of procedures and craved milkshakes post op. I have a friend who just  underwent her 3rd neck surgery, and she's doing very well--technology is great these days. Keep us posted. Great to see you up and around.

Thanks for the picture; good to see you!

Glad things are moving along, and the pain is manageable. Enjoy the time you get to spend on your porch. I'm sure it helps you heal.

I've been following along, even if not posting - wishing you a speedy recovery!

Smart to take care of this before you retire, so that you can enjoy your retirement instead of being in pain. Hope for a speedy recovery.

Looking good, Greg, hoping for you a speedy recovery!

Happy to see you at home.

Take care, my friend! Congrats, by the way!

Sending you healing vibes!

Keep on healin' Greg!

Glad to hear you are on the recovery road, Greg.    I have a video appointment with my spine doc tomorrow.  The last round of back shots did little for my stenosis.  I've been hoping to avoid surgery, but hearing positive outcomes  from others gives me a little more confidence if I wind up under the knife.

Bill, tgo

Ugh. I've had 15 cervical ESI's over the past couple-three years Bill, and they worked but in varying degrees. The longer we went with that treatment, the less effective it was. I got my last one (I sure hope it was the last time I see that room...) on March 30th. By Memorial Day weekend the benefit from it was all but gone and my left hand was mostly numb again. A month of relief ain't worth enduring another one of those things just to get me into Summer, so we made the call. A month later, I was in the OR.

If you've got a good relationship with your surgeon Bill, and he's giving you all the options, I will tell you it is amazing what these guys can do. I am not kidding about mine - that cat is the best. He suffers from the same condition as me, and has had all the same surgeries. Knows exactly how to advise you. I didn't like him a bit the first time I met him (read back about 5 years ago) but I wouldn't trade for anyone else now.

I had a pretty slow day around here. Did too much yesterday I guess, and didn't sleep much last night. Might go walk around the house a few times, just to say I did something.

*Nice to see you around here Toby... been a minute. 

Nice looking hardware you've got there.  A titanium bridge block for your vertebrae.  I've got a lumbar fusion with similar bits.

I'm always here reading, just haven't had much to add!