Man, I have pushed that trip back 2 times already. I may have to delay it again if I am not at least 70% back.

This ticket will wind up costing 1000 bucks with all the change fees.......

 

They use a flat titanium plate in the neck. Rods are for lumbar area fixes. Bench was 500 and dropped to 200 for one rep, Couldnt put my hands in position for the squat. Deadlift required a grip I could do anymore. All of this deterioration was in about 6 weeks from the freak show I put on in Tennessee. When did I get old?

The disc wasnt bulging. It was destroyed. I saw pictures and there was no space between C6 and C7. The disc was runptured and looked like fiberglas pointing in every direction. It was very required. I cant warn you guys enough that these things dont fix themselves and once you are diagnosed with this problem, nerve cells can be permanantly damaged and they dont repair themselves. So many people were tellingme not to get the surgery but I just had a guiding voice in my head (not the same as the transmissin I now hear from the plate) telling me this wasnt a minor issue. If left untreated because of fear with surgery, you can permanantly lose the use of an arm, shoulder, and if it really gets bad, lose baldder and bowel control....forever. The higher on the spine the damage is, the more of your body it can effect....even legs and walking. I have to thank God again for the guidance. I dont know what it is about me but I keep having these close calls and I come out on top. What is he trying to tell me? As much as I complain, this isnt as bad as spending the summer in ICU with a gunshot wound to the chest. I'm getting superman tatoos on both shoulders.

When I saw that disc I was so happy I didnt wait to get it done. It seems I will come out of this with nearly all my strength back and the only thing I now feel is a slight numbness in my left index finger.

Please take care of yourselves.

 

A must for terminator man..

 

Spin,
Prayers are going out for a complete and speedy recovery. You are a warrior. That's a serious bench press and squat. Just turn it on the Speed channel and you'll be back before you know it.

 

Wow, Spin, glad you came out of it alright. I'm sure the good shape that you are in helped quire a bit, and will also help you rebound quickly. To only have numbness in one finger is awesome. My dad had L5/S1 removed 15 years ago, and to this day still gets "electric" in his feet every once in a while. He unfortunately waited way too long to get it repaired because of people telling him not to. He finally went in when he could no longer walk and now has permanent nerve damage because of it.

Best of luck in your recovery, Im sure you will be back to "human car lift" status soon enough..

 

Good to hear you are recovering quickly.

 

Hey Guy, Hope all went well, as someone who has had more their share of surgery, I will tell you that it is extremely important to follow the doctors instructions! Thanks for all your advise over the past few years.

Get well soon
Rod

 

Doesnt feel that way.

 

I know, but you're making progress every day. Sorry about the voice box and the throat pain, that must suck.

In your absence, I have fallen into great despair because I realize that 4.10s were not for me. I hate the scary acceleration and the wheelspin is more out of control than it ever was with my 3.42s + my runflats. I think I'll get rid of the Bilsteins too, maybe I'll get some of those chromed QA-1 shocks. I was also thinking of some 50lb Lorinser Monobloc wheels...maybe the inertia will stop some of the spinning...plus they're really pricey so they must be da shyte.

 

Great advice. Many of us have issues with neck vertebrae. It's good to know to NOT avoid the surgery. Back and neck surgery are such vodoo topics - one never knows if it's better to avoid the knife or get it fixed. Sounds like in this case it's best to get it fixed.

 

I agree with the advice to seek medical help if you have numbness or loose strength. From what I hear, neck disc surgery is worse. My brother-in-law had it and his was a long recovery.

I had a ruptured disc and had to have TWO surgeries on the same L5/S1 disc. First one in 1989 and the second in 1994. I have permanent nerve damage that affects my calf and foot. I did not have a plate or fusion like Spin. After my second back surgery, I felt wonderful since there was no more leg pain. I was discharged in less than 24 hours. But I was confined to the house for 6 weeks. My rehab consisted of walking around the block. At first, I had a real bad limp but it gradually got much better. But today you could drive a nail thru the bottom on my left foot and I would not feel it. I have no reflex on my left leg and its funny to watch the doctor's expression when he hits my knee with the little hammer and nothing happens.

I drive a manual trans car with a clutch, which I am sure help to get my left leg strength back.

 

Hope all goes well bro!
best wishes to a speedy recovery!

 

I've lost track of how many people spoke to me on the phone about that exact situation. Your story so closely mimics another guy that was telling me he had inversion therapy he came up with himself to try to aleviate the pain. The part of your story that I like best is that in the end, you have no pain and can move on with your life.

Guys, dont make a fuss thinking I'm sitting here miserable and not healing well. I have been famous for complaining about things that arent 100% while they are quite livable at 98.5%. This situation is no different. I can swallow 20x better today and the top end of a squeak for a voice is there and it will be back soon enough. I feel zero pain from the incision site and couldnt tell you I feel anything other than perfect inside my neck.

If it werent for the bone graft needing best chance at fusion with minimal movement, I would be driving to the gym now. I took a shower for the first day today and removed the beard...nasty. The neighbors were starting ot wonder about the dead smell from my house.

In all, aside from the fusion question, everything went well. Other members of my family say that they didnt have nearly the throat soreness or prolonged inability to speak but they like it for now in me. My strength levels (you can tell by how your arm feels if everything is working) returned post surgery and the doc checked both arms as said it was faster than he thought (strength recovery). I asked how he knew and he said it was that there arent any mushy spots on the arm from not having the nerve connection and also, that he slid back on the floor when he tested tricep strength. I can feel it worked in that sense. Now I'll be a good patient and be patient with the recovery workouts. I start with 3lber's on Monday. Before you know it he will remove leg restriction (4 weeks) and upper body in 6. My boxing career is over before it started. The only dig I did get was from mah bro who said, "Dayum dude, you need chemical enhancement. You look human.....small."

 

Guy!! I just got back from a weekend trip. Glad to see you're back on the forum! That was faster than I had anticipated!! You'll be back to your scary size in no time at this rate!

 

Now there's a vision....thanks for sharing....

 

Spin,

I just got off the phone with my neurologist, who unfortunately can't see me until early March. I have had previous nerve damage to my left leg, resulting in "drop foot". I recovered OK from that, but am now having calf pain, partial numbness, etc in the same leg. My regular MD refers to it as "sciatica", but I know better.

I'm hoping to escape the knife, but resigned to whatever comes next. I haven't been able to play tennis for the past 2 months, and just got back from an Aspen ski vacation where I got to ski exactly 1 hour before giving up from the pain.

Hope you're back to complete health ASAP.

 

I'm all for anti inflamatories if they work the first time around. Hope you feel better after that visit but if you dont look into the surgery option. It isnt nearly as bad fro the lower back. I have no issues other than throat stuff. The neck fix feels like stock. 7-10 days you willbe up and around with no neck brace.

Update: I have the begginings of a "Godfather" voice. You have come here, on the day of my daughter's wedding to ask me for a favor?

Don Spinia

 

How you doing spin?

 

maybe neuropathy

 

Okie