On April 25, 2014, I underwent surgery to decompress and fusion three levels of my cervical spine (Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion or ACDF). In earlier articles I discussed that I had been suffering from issues for ten years before finally having doctors who sent me for an MRI which revealed the seriousness of the issue. Not only were four levels showing problems, but one level showed myelomalacia (damage to the cord due to the compression from the herniated disc). It has now been a year since I underwent the surgery and the recovery process (detailed in other articles), so I thought it would be helpful to others who might be faced with a similar surgery for me to check-in with an update on where I have am today.
After undergoing the surgery, I wore a neck collar for a month. During that month, I could not remove the collar except for brief periods to wash the neck. For the first three months, I was restricted to no lifting above my head, no strenuous activity (including horse riding, a passion of mine) and no lifting any weight above five pounds. Other than that, I was in good enough overall shape to not require any special physical therapy regimen. I followed the instructions to the letter and began using walking as a form of exercise. After three months, my neck was showing good progress with fusion starting at all levels. I also noticed improvement in my stamina - I was no longer out of breath after short distances of walking. None of the tingling or extensive numbness down the arms had returned though I still had some loss of feeling in the right thumb. First the good news . . . Since that three month checkup to the year check up, I have continued to remain active. I have resumed riding horses regularly, am running again and am able to lift items over my head and to life heavier amounts. I have not had a return of the crippling pain or the pervasive numbness and tingling in the limbs. Lingering issues: right thumb. It's not completely numb, but when it has feeling it is often with a dull throbbing pain, but most of the time it's numb. At this point, this will not be expected to get any better. The return of headaches. For the first 6 months, I didn't have a single headache. Then I started to get a few. I don't get nearly as many, so it's really not a huge problem, but was really great to have none for the six months. Weakness. I am not as strong as I once was. That too will never come back no matter how much I work out to get into better shape. The bruising of the spine will leave a permanent impact on that and on balance. These were both things that crept up slowly, and as a result, went largely unnoticed by me. Now that I am not so focused on pain and the numbness/tingling, I notice it a lot more. Some loss of movement. I notice it most when looking down and some when I look up. At my year checkup, my neurosurgeon agreed that I was doing quite well and that I had seen the improvements in my situation that I was going to see. Only downsides were that the uppermost fused level has not completely fused. There is a small area that has not filled in while the other two levels are completely fused. I will have one more set of xrays and a check up later this year to see if it has fused, but the window for fusing is closing. I was also reminded of the danger to the adjacent levels down the road for the same problem, especially at level 2-3, which was the level we opted not to fuse that showed some herniation of the disc. All in all, a year later, I have absolutely no regrets and only am satisfied for having had my multi-level ACDF. My words to those faced with similar issues: 1) Don't wait. If you doctors are not addressing your neck issue, go elsewhere. I made a huge mistake waiting for ten years to really have the problem addressed. 2) Be realistic. The surgery may not give you everything back to the way it was, but it will stop the progression of the myelomalacia. 3) Research and question. It's been my experience with my current doctors to physical therapist to neurosurgeon that they are open to having you ask why they are doing something. 4) Quit (don't) smoke. I don't, but if you do, it can affect the success of your surgery. 5) Get in shape. BEFORE surgery. As painful as it was, I kept up the walking and hiking prior to the surgery, which helped me leave the hospital after one night and have an easier time in recovery. Don't stop after surgery either.
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My Science Fiction short story title Beginnings has been published in the May issue of Beyond Imagination. I would be honored if you would take the time (and spend a little money) to read my story and all of the other wonderful work featured in the e-zine.
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