Prolapsed disc surgery - in neck

[Smokin]

Well done, I hope you have a speedy and trouble free recovery.

[Scouse]

Heya

I have a prolapsed disc in my neck.. C5-6

Tomorrow I am flying to ChCh for a couple of days to have the disc removed, a bone graft put in & the vertebrae stabilised with a titanium plate.. or in technical terms: "Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Instrumented fusion with graft"

Am wondering.. has anyone had this done? if so, how was it? & how are you doing post op? Are you back to full movement? Any ongoing issues? etcetc

I've been waiting weeks to get this done, but now that it's actually happening tomorrow.. I am feeling very anxious today!!

Just be happy that you haven't prolapsed your rectum

[Bytor]

Heya

I have a prolapsed disc in my neck.. C5-6

Tomorrow I am flying to ChCh for a couple of days to have the disc removed, a bone graft put in & the vertebrae stabilised with a titanium plate.. or in technical terms: "Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Instrumented fusion with graft"

Am wondering.. has anyone had this done? if so, how was it? & how are you doing post op? Are you back to full movement? Any ongoing issues? etcetc

I've been waiting weeks to get this done, but now that it's actually happening tomorrow.. I am feeling very anxious today!!

Spooky, I'm having the exact same op in a few weeks time just when i will have recovered from my torn hand ligaments - which means even more time off the bike Hope that your recovery goes well!

[MyGSXF:Me]

Hiya

Thanks for your messages!

bit of an update..

Have been home for 3 days now, & am happy to report that the pins n needles that have been plaguing my left arm for weeks are now gone!!


My neck is still very stiff & I can't turn my head to the sides far at all yet, & certainly not able to tilt my head backwards to look up. Am wearing a soft collar most of the time. Mornings are better after lying down all night.. by the time the evening comes round I'm feeling more uncomfortable again after holding my head upright through the day. So sitting in the lounge chair in the sun with my book is good!

It's feels a bit odd to me though, because the "feeling" that I have in the top of my spine now.. doesn't really feel much different, to how it felt before the op was done.. I know there's a new disc & plate in there, rather than the damaged disc.. But it just feels odd. I dunno. I've never broken any bones or anything before, to know what that feels like.. to compare it to.

The entry wound at the front of my neck seems to be healing nicely, xlnt! But because they went in past my oesophagus & had to move things aside to get to the spine, it feels like I constantly have a lump of food stuck in my throat now & can't wash it down, lols.. but all in all, things are pretty much what I was expecting after doing research on google & u-tube before surgery

The surgeon & the staff at Southern Cross were wonderful. as was all the ice cream

Went for a walk in the sun for a while today which was so nice.. have been feeling very house bound the past few weeks whilst waiting waiting waiting..

Am looking forward to seeing all the x-rays when I go back for the checkup in a few weeks time.

Until then.. one day at a time & hanging out to get back out on Phoenix!!!!!!

Spooky, I'm having the exact same op in a few weeks time just when i will have recovered from my torn hand ligaments

Hey Bytor.. All the best for your op. If you''re not too squeemish, do some googling & check out some videos & pics before you go in.. I found it really helped to "see"" what was going to happen during the surgery, & also to see/hear other peoples recovery stories.

[Edbear]

Hiya

Thanks for your messages!

bit of an update..SNIP...Until then.. one day at a time & hanging out to get back out on Phoenix!!!!!! .

Don't rush it eh? Did you ask how long it will be before you can put a helmet on again?

[Gone Burger]

My neck is still very stiff & I can't turn my head to the sides far at all yet, & certainly not able to tilt my head backwards to look up. Am wearing a soft collar most of the time. Mornings are better after lying down all night.. by the time the evening comes round I'm feeling more uncomfortable again after holding my head upright through the day. So sitting in the lounge chair in the sun with my book is good!

This will be frustrating for a while, and it will exhaust and wear you out. But over time you will regain strength in your neck, and will return to full movement as you once had. Good to hear you are sitting in the evenings after a long day of holding your head up. I am still struggling to hold my head up after breaking my neck 6 months ago. But it gets better as time goes on. I can now turn my head about 75 degrees to the right, and about 60 degrees to the left. Tilting it up causes crippling pain as this is an extreme extention of the vertibrae. Once your body and neck adjust to have a new plate in there, along with the screws, it will begin to feel normal again in time. And holding a helmet up on your head is 100% possible and shouldn't be too far away for you. The soft collar will assist with the fatige of holding the weight of our own head up. One thing I have learnt from all this is that my head is sull of concrete - can't believe how heavy it is!

Awesome to hear your progess. All the best with your operation wound healing, and that feeling in your neck easing. Treasure your neck girl, mine in now my favourite part of me. Very feable and weak and painful, but the very reason I am still alive.

[Bytor]

Hey Bytor.. All the best for your op. If you''re not too squeemish, do some googling & check out some videos & pics before you go in.. I found it really helped to "see"" what was going to happen during the surgery, & also to see/hear other peoples recovery stories.

Thanks Jen!
Prefer not to look - I know what's involved, but being a man, I'll just walk in on the day and think about it afterwards Any idea how long before you can ride again?

[Nasty]

You seem to be doing great Jen ... Keep up the healing and let it take all the time it needs to get right!!'