Thursday, February 25, 2010

Time to mark the calendar

Well the surgery has been set; and it looks like I will be on the operating table on Friday March 12th.

I have to arrive at 6am and will be operated on at 7:30.  One night in the hospital followed by 2 weeks out of work and 3 weeks without driving.  Still hoping for 6 weeks (May 1st) until  I hit the roads/trails again.

And on a side note:  I got a hit from ALASKA to the blog.  Only 14 states to go!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Resolution?

No not a New Year's Resolution, cause God knows that by February 23rd that would have been long broken for most of us.  But hopefully a resolution about my neck.

Went to the NeuroSurgeon today (Dr Simcha Weller) and it looks like we (we - yeah like someone else is going with me) under the knife in a few weeks.  Woke up early this morning to get into Boston for a 7:30am MRI at New England Medical Center.  Then across the street to Dr Weller's office for him to look at it and to discuss the options.  It's been well over 8 years of the varying levels of discomfort and 4 years of seeing Dr. Weller. 

Today's MRI showed the same two disc issues (C5-C6 & C6-C7) coupled with bone spurs around them.
~ Option 2 - the fusion surgery.(not posting the surgery link again)

Now I am in no way excited about going under the knife for any reason, but I can't deal with this crap anymore.  The migraines, the vertigo, the numbness in the left arm, left ring and pinky fingers, the lack of movement in my neck and shoulder..... should I continue?
I am supposed to hear from the doctor's office anytime between now and Thursday with some dates, but it is looking like 2 or 3 weeks out.  He then said post-surgery that I can resume "normal" activities in 6 or 7 weeks.  That means I could potentially be on the trails sometime around May 10th.  That would be sweet!

As usual: Be Well - and please DONT take things for granted.
Sank

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Pain in the neck....literally

Well not a lot has happened on the roads or trails lately that's for sure.  Yeah the weather has hindered it a bit, daylight savings, blah blah blah, excuse, excuse, excuse.  But the one thing that isn't going away is the pain and hinderance being caused by my neck.  The two herniations (C5-C6 and C6-C7) are really hindering most things.  The arms go numb or tingle or fall asleep, the migraines, the lack of movement, the pain sitting, the pain in driving, etc...  I have been dealing with this for about 7 years or so.  And for the most part it comes and goes in severity but never completely.
I was living with it for the most part, but I fell (click for blog entry) back on December 7th, and it has been killing me ever since.
Tried a bunch of stuff and just last week, Dr Higgins threw me on my second steriod treatment (I guess I wont be going into the Baseball Hall of Fame along with Mark McGuire anytime soon).  But with the exception of a slight amount of extended movement for a day or so, they really dont do anything.
So back to the NeuroSurgeon I go on February 23rd to discuss the fusion surgury. 
I watched a video, an actual video of the surgery, on YouTube.   Now with all the stuff I have had done, including the 3 heart procedures and having to give myself blood thinner shots in my stomach, I just cant watch medical stuff.  God bless Nancy, who works in the dental field, she tries to tell me what she does some days and I am such a wimp and cant deal with it.  Anyway, I tried to watch this surgery video - not the best idea.  Click here if YOU want to watch it cause I aint  :)  LOL
But I have to do something.
Be well - dont take what you have for granted.
Sank