BDW2

undefined Boy this new board is different. Sorry for not checking in sooner. I will try to catch you up. I am just begining to feel like my surgery was succesful. My voice and throat are 100%, my scar is even almost gone. My neck feels very solid, with no radiating arm-finger pain, or numbness. Sleeping without a collar. Range of motion is very good with no pain. Overall I feel very good and strong. I am still having some shoulder blade muscle pain on that bad side which I am treating with massage and a couple of ultram a day (both seem to be very effective). This was what my Pain Management Doc recommended and it is working good. I did have a little set back about a month ago. I was feeling so good I lifted a very heavy object, a very long way. I didn't feel anything for a couple of days and then BAM. My whole left side of my neck locked up, couldn't turn or bend my head left at all, major pain. Just like my NS said I could do it, but I would pay for it. Scared me to death, thought I had pulled the screws out. It has got better since with time and only minimal pain and loss of ROM. Wasn' that stupid. Anyway, I do feel as though I am getting a better every day. The thing that scares me most is what I just described, doing something I shoudn't. I read some of your back post and am sorry you are still having throat issues. I know your condition sounded much worse than mine, but I hope surgery has given you some relief. Please write back and tell me all. I feel if we can just keep getting a "little" better each day we are winning the war. God Bless, talk to you soon.

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ACDF C6-7 with plating and donor bone (3/28/03)