Cervical Surgery Completed

Boy does the time fly by when you're having fun.

My Neurosurgery - Cervical Fusion was done on 6/6/2011

• C2, C7, T1 bilateral partial laminectomy.
• C3, C4, C5, C6 bilateral complete hemilaminectomy.
• C3-C4, C4-C5, C5-C6, C6-C7, C7-T1 bilateral foraminotomy.
• C3-C4, C4-C5, C5-C6, C6-C7, C7-T1 bilateral arthrodesis with local autograft and OrthoBlast bone matrix.
• C3, C4, C5, C6, C7-T1 cervical instrumentation with Aesculap S4 cervical fixation system.
• Decompression of spinal cord.
• Electrophysiological monitoring.
• Ultrasound.
• Harvest local autograft
  

And to think my original Neurosurgeon said there was nothing wrong with my neck, just live with the pain.

I stayed in the hospital for only 5 days then I was transferred upstairs to the inpatient Rehab. On June 17th they sent me home telling me I was able to do all things by myself.

No joke I was sent home only 12 days after major surgery knowing I live alone - Marilyn made supper for me and shortly after that I went to bed. I awoke the 18th, got somewhat dressed, brushed my teeth and took my morning meds. I was in so much pain I had to lay down couldn't even make oatmeal for breakfast. My tolerance for sitting/standing at that point was only 15 to 20 mins. Yet the Rehab said I was ready to go home and fend for myself. Yeah right.

I am thankful that I had a nurse come to my apt. to give my shot of heparin, because she said there was no way she was going to leave me there alone. My nurse called her boss and told her what was going on and I was told to get a friend over immediately that I wasn't to be left unattended. So I called Marilyn to help me out. Before the nurse left she had me scheduled to go to a long term Rehab Center. She also read my discharge papers from the Rehab to me - stating all the things I could do, make a meal in the microwave, empty the dishwasher, pull things out of cabinets, take a shower independently and could sit up for more than an hour at a time, do my laundry. None of which I could do at all nor ever attempt to do at the Rehab Center. Take a shower by myself - What were they thinking I still had a neck brace on and it could not get wet or be removed until July 15th.

I got to another Rehab Center for long term care in the afternoon of June 18th at 3pm. That is where I found out they mixed up my paper work with another person that had the same name. Also this person was a different race and younger in age. I tell you things we go through now a days.

Within 24 hrs the real records were sent to the long term Rehab Center and my therapy began. I was so bad off I stayed at this Center for 5-1/2weeks. My cell phone didn't work there nor did I have computer access so communication was minimal.

I have been home little over a week and I still have a long way to go before I am to a fully recovered state. I am still in Outpatient Rehab which can take several more months and up to a year to heal.

I am so glad that I have God to look over me and take care of me, so many things could have gone wrong and did but God took care of every little detail. I am still here and on the mend. He always takes care of His own.