Monday, June 2, 2008

Anterior Cervical Fusion

On May 14, I had to have Anterior Cervical Disectomy and Spinal Fusion of C4 - C5 - C6. Basically, I had surgery on my neck to fuse 3 vertabrae together. They went in from the front of my neck and put a titanium plate and 6 screws in the three vertabrae to hold them together. My spinal cord was being crushed and I was at risk of becoming paralyzed. Anyway, I am three weeks out from the surgery and I am doing well. I have to wear a neck brace whenever I leave the house and I cannot drive. I probably have to wear the brace for up to three months and the doctor said for complete healing a total of 6-8 months for the bones to fuse, etc. But, like I said, every day is getting better.

I did find a you tube video, it is animated, but still a bit GRAPHIC. It depicts pretty well what I went thru, except, my plate is bigger with 6 screws to cover 3 vertebrae.

WARNING: THE VIDEO IS ANIMATED, BUT IT IS A BIT GRAPHIC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uQbhSQBJk4&feature

(I couldn't figure how to make this a link, so copy and paste if you want to watch the video)

2 comments:

Linda Lou said...

I couldn't bring myself to look at the video. Just the written stuff is hard enough to read.

I hope that you are doing well now. I know that this takes a little while to get through. Just don't do anything that endangers yourself.

I hope that you can be back on the wave runner by Aug. But might be asking a little too much

Keep Smilin'

I enjoyed your last blog. If you get organized let me know how you did it. You've always been ahead of me on that one. I guess it's all those moves.

Adrian said...

Umm....EWWWWWW!!! Sorry it took so long for me to commment but I FINALLY watched the video! So... that was really gross! Dustin really liked it though! I can't believe that's what they did to you! WOW!!!!!!!! So glad you are getting better and glad you got my card. Good luck with the recovery. I think we need to see pics of you in your neck brace.... ;)