Guest guest Posted July 4, 2009 Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 Hi, I am about to have cervical surgery, am still trying to figure out which surgeon will do it and which procedure I will go with . So far have seen to neurosurgeons, and had 2 different suggestions...Thurs I have apt with orthopedic spine surgeon 2 see what he says. What I know is that I am having a fusion of C3-C6 (at the least), possibly adding C6-C7 to the mix. What did you have ( I am new to this group)? What kind of collar did you wear? Was the collar horrible? Believe it or not, what scares me the most is wearing the collar...stupid right? But to me the collar is frightening, how you take showers, how it looks as though it hurts..I know it doesn't, but the fear that the muscles aren't used for the whole time it is on also scares me. Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated. I am from NY and most likely doing the surgery in Manhattan (I live on Long Island), so if you life near me and can also tell me who did your surgery that too will be appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me, ilene In a message dated 7/4/2009 10:31:07 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, fanoboli1@... writes: Well, It's 6 months since my surgery on 1-5-9 and my recovery is complete. Goodbye to the neckbrace and to the Orthofix collar. I listened to the doctors and the therapists, followed thier advice and will now start to excersise even more. I've learned to accept my cervical brace and why these things occour. next april I'm to have another MRI to see how the upper and lower areas of the spine are doing. To all who have what happened to me you have my support and prayers, I wish you all a decent recovery and life. **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221323013x1201367230/aol?redir=http://\ www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072 & hmpgID=62 & bcd= JulystepsfooterNO62) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2009 Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 Well, It's 6 months since my surgery on 1-5-9 and my recovery is complete. Goodbye to the neckbrace and to the Orthofix collar. I listened to the doctors and the therapists, followed thier advice and will now start to excersise even more. I've learned to accept my cervical brace and why these things occour. next april I'm to have another MRI to see how the upper and lower areas of the spine are doing. To all who have what happened to me you have my support and prayers, I wish you all a decent recovery and life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2009 Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 - Hi, hope all is well with you. Things were going well with me receiving less email, but so far today I have received 12. I have to ask that I be completely removed from the support group's email list. When I am feeling better and up to responding to people's emails I will rejoin the group. Thanks so much for all your help. You truly are a gem. Sincerely, Gayle Wocoski Modemom007@... ________________________________ From: Lambert <glambert28@...> spinal problems Sent: Sunday, July 5, 2009 8:24:22 AM Subject: Re: 6 Months Ilene, Don't live in NY, but saw that you have a problem with the collars.. When I had the cervical fusion done I too had a phobia about those soft collars. I will say they are a pain to wear, but you must do this to make sure there is no interruption with the fusion process. You could easily set yourself back. I really hate collars, and will not ever wear a tie again lol. A very personal dislike on my part. I had to force myself to wear one, I don't have much neck length anymore with all the surgery's, so basically it seemed I was looking up, but I did get use to it, and you can too. Just try not to think about it, don't count the days either. Before you know it you won't have to wear it anymore. Believe it or not you will become more secure with it on. I hope this helps, and I hope you surgery goes well. Bama, george " He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. " -unknown- ____________ _________ _________ __ From: " Ileney54aol (DOT) com " <Ileney54aol (DOT) com> spinedisorderssuppo rtgroup@gro ups.com Sent: Saturday, July 4, 2009 9:59:51 AM Subject: Re: 6 Months Hi, I am about to have cervical surgery, am still trying to figure out which surgeon will do it and which procedure I will go with . So far have seen to neurosurgeons, and had 2 different suggestions. ..Thurs I have apt with orthopedic spine surgeon 2 see what he says. What I know is that I am having a fusion of C3-C6 (at the least), possibly adding C6-C7 to the mix. What did you have ( I am new to this group)? What kind of collar did you wear? Was the collar horrible? Believe it or not, what scares me the most is wearing the collar...stupid right? But to me the collar is frightening, how you take showers, how it looks as though it hurts..I know it doesn't, but the fear that the muscles aren't used for the whole time it is on also scares me. Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated. I am from NY and most likely doing the surgery in Manhattan (I live on Long Island), so if you life near me and can also tell me who did your surgery that too will be appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me, ilene In a message dated 7/4/2009 10:31:07 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, fanoboli1@sbcglobal .net writes: Well, It's 6 months since my surgery on 1-5-9 and my recovery is complete. Goodbye to the neckbrace and to the Orthofix collar. I listened to the doctors and the therapists, followed thier advice and will now start to excersise even more. I've learned to accept my cervical brace and why these things occour. next april I'm to have another MRI to see how the upper and lower areas of the spine are doing. To all who have what happened to me you have my support and prayers, I wish you all a decent recovery and life. ************ **A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola. com/promoclk/ 100126575x122132 3013x1201367230/ aol?redir= http://www. freecreditreport .com/pm/default. aspx?sc=668072 & hmpgID=62 & bcd= JulystepsfooterNO62 ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 8, 2009 Report Share Posted July 8, 2009 Hey Ilene, Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, the weather down here has really reeked havoc on my arthritis. I had c4-5 and 5-6 done together, w/cadaver donation and plates and screws. I also had a laminectomy at c6 back in 94. I had a short neck before all this, and never regained what I lost from the surgery's. I lost at least 2 inches if not more. I had done fairly good just after the second surgery, with moderate pain, but have since gotten worst from degeneration, falls, and other contributing factors. The last ortho I saw just had a frustrated look on his face when it came to the subject of my necks condition. I don't think I will be having anything else done right now, because quite frankly, I'm afraid of it getting worse than it is, and yes it can always get worse. Anyways, I hope your surgery goes well, should you choose to go through with it. I know it's scary, but at least you have support in this group. I wished I had known of this group during mine, I had to wean it on my own. You are doing the right thing though asking questions, and researching is good. Maybe you can get by with just the soft collar, I just don't know for sure with all the levels you are having done. Good luck!! Bama, george " He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. " -unknown- ________________________________ From: " Ileney54@... " <Ileney54@...> spinal problems Sent: Sunday, July 5, 2009 9:18:00 AM Subject: Re: 6 Months Thanks for the info on collars, I am more scared about having to wear a hard one then wearing a soft one...just the thought of it brings tears to my eyes, those hard plastic collars that go down your chest and back, or worse yet the ones with halo's...the whole thing has me a bit nuts, will ask the surgeon about it all tomorrow, hopefully he will only say a soft collar...anything else they will have to give me xanax for on a regular basis I am afraid.....lol Is your neck shorter since the surgery? This is something that no one has mentioned to me yet? I will definitely ask about it tomorrow. Anatomically I don't understand why the neck should get shorter, they are actually creating more space between the discs then I have already. On my lumbar spine after surgery I didn't loose any height, but since my spine has collapsed, or as they say bone is now sitting on bone...I have actually lost 2 inches, I was surprised, but only wonder if I let them fuse my entire lumbar spine (have not made that decision yet), will I grow 2 inches...lol. ..I don't think so,but wouldn't mind getting my height back. Thanks again for telling me, If you don't mind can you also tell me how your doing since your surgery, which discs you had done, and what they fused it with. ilene In a message dated 7/5/2009 8:27:51 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, glambert28 (DOT) com writes: Ilene, Don't live in NY, but saw that you have a problem with the collars.. When I had the cervical fusion done I too had a phobia about those soft collars. I will say they are a pain to wear, but you must do this to make sure there is no interruption with the fusion process. You could easily set yourself back. I really hate collars, and will not ever wear a tie again lol. A very personal dislike on my part. I had to force myself to wear one, I don't have much neck length anymore with all the surgery's, so basically it seemed I was looking up, but I did get use to it, and you can too. Just try not to think about it, don't count the days either. Before you know it you won't have to wear it anymore. Believe it or not you will become more secure with it on. I hope this helps, and I hope you surgery goes well. Bama, george " He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. " -unknown- ____________ _________ _________ __ From: " _Ileney54aol (DOT) Ile_ (mailto:Ileney54aol (DOT) com) " <_Ileney54aol (DOT) Ile_ (mailto:Ileney54aol (DOT) com) > _spinedisorderssupp ospinedisorderss uspinedi_ (mailto:spinedisorderssuppo rtgroup@gro ups.com) Sent: Saturday, July 4, 2009 9:59:51 AM Subject: Re: 6 Months Hi, I am about to have cervical surgery, am still trying to figure out which surgeon will do it and which procedure I will go with . So far have seen to neurosurgeons, and had 2 different suggestions. ..Thurs I have apt with orthopedic spine surgeon 2 see what he says. What I know is that I am having a fusion of C3-C6 (at the least), possibly adding C6-C7 to the mix. What did you have ( I am new to this group)? What kind of collar did you wear? Was the collar horrible? Believe it or not, what scares me the most is wearing the collar...stupid right? But to me the collar is frightening, how you take showers, how it looks as though it hurts..I know it doesn't, but the fear that the muscles aren't used for the whole time it is on also scares me. Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated. I am from NY and most likely doing the surgery in Manhattan (I live on Long Island), so if you life near me and can also tell me who did your surgery that too will be appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me, ilene In a message dated 7/4/2009 10:31:07 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, fanoboli1@sbcglobal .net writes: Well, It's 6 months since my surgery on 1-5-9 and my recovery is complete. Goodbye to the neckbrace and to the Orthofix collar. I listened to the doctors and the therapists, followed thier advice and will now start to excersise even more. I've learned to accept my cervical brace and why these things occour. next april I'm to have another MRI to see how the upper and lower areas of the spine are doing. To all who have what happened to me you have my support and prayers, I wish you all a decent recovery and life. ************ **A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (_http://pr.atwola._ (http://pr.atwola./) com/promoclk/ 100126575x122132 3013x1201367230/ aol?redir= _http://www._ (http://www./) freecreditreport ..com/pm/default. aspx?sc=668072 & hmpgID=62 & bcd= JulystepsfooterNO62 ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2009 Report Share Posted July 9, 2009 > > Hi, I am about to have cervical surgery, am still trying to figure out > which surgeon will do it and which procedure I will go with . So far have > seen to neurosurgeons, and had 2 different suggestions...Thurs I have apt with > orthopedic spine surgeon 2 see what he says. > > What I know is that I am having a fusion of C3-C6 (at the least), possibly > adding C6-C7 to the mix. What did you have ( I am new to this group)? > What kind of collar did you wear? Was the collar horrible? Believe it or > not, what scares me the most is wearing the collar...stupid right? But to me > the collar is frightening, how you take showers, how it looks as though it > hurts..I know it doesn't, but the fear that the muscles aren't used for > the whole time it is on also scares me. > > Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated. I am from NY > and most likely doing the surgery in Manhattan (I live on Long Island), so > if you life near me and can also tell me who did your surgery that too will > be appreciated. > > Thanks in advance for any help you can give me, > ilene > > > In a message dated 7/4/2009 10:31:07 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > fanoboli1@... writes: > > > > > > Well, > It's 6 months since my surgery on 1-5-9 and my recovery is complete. > Goodbye to the neckbrace and to the Orthofix collar. I listened to the doctors > and the therapists, followed thier advice and will now start to excersise > even more. I've learned to accept my cervical brace and why these things > occour. next april I'm to have another MRI to see how the upper and lower areas > of the spine are doing. To all who have what happened to me you have my > support and prayers, I wish you all a decent recovery and life. > > > > > > *Ilene, I fought the soft collar all the way, not being able to adjust to it for sleeping. I did wear it out and also around the home. I have seen in other posts that a recliner is the only way to go to sleep. I tried goose down feather pillows and it helped, along with 5 other pillows, but I always looseened it a little to sleep. good luck to you and prepare yourself. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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