collar care - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

solardust · 09-15-2004, 06:49 PM

I was wondering if anyone was given helpfull advice regarding things we should or can do for our necks while in the hard collar, I will be in mine untill Nov 1st,or so......and already have 5 wks invested,this is constant ,meaning day and night,I have a differant or should say spare collar for showering,so I am a bit worried that my neck muscles are gonna get to tight or weak,but my NS has said nothing regarding helpfull things that can be done,Solar

DonnaKay · 09-15-2004, 09:09 PM

Hi Solar!

I believe you are in a Miami J now? I ordered additional pads for my collar ... that way you can change them out. Wash them by hand and let them air dry. My collar drove me nuts, but in the end I am so glad that I had it vs. no collar at all. This past surgery was my second ... I did not have the extra pads for the first surgery. This go-around my surgeon allowed me to take the collar off for a specified amount of time - I think it was an hour a day? - anyway, it had to be while I was sitting still and in no danger of having a cat or dog or child jump into my lap. No surprises. It really helped. The day I was freed from my collar I never had any stiffness, or pain or anything! I was SO happy!

For showers, both surgeries, I was allowed to wear the Phila******a, since it was waterproof. That thing was so uncomfortable! Do I remember that you returned to the Phila******a after a bad fit for the Miami J? If so, maybe you can get a second one of those. I have one in the trunk of my car that I carry with me ... just in case I need it. lol (I am terrified of a car accident.)

Good luck to you. I have been enjoying your posts, you have quite a good attitude. :-)

Donna

rgsmoose · 09-16-2004, 06:18 AM

There's really nothing you can do to or for your neck when you're wearing a hard collar, as it's supposed to be totally immobilized. I wore an Aspen collar for 12 weeks after a 2 level corpectomy and again for 6 weeks after a 3 level laminaplasty. When I was told I could remove it, it came off and never went back on. My neck was probably weaker, but I was so happy to be out of it I didn't care.

I know it's uncomfortable, but it's just something you've got to put up with. Good luck with everything.

solardust · 09-16-2004, 07:15 AM

Thanks Donna and moose,I was starting to think I was the only one in one of these so long,haha,which of course sets the mind into,the whatifs and whys,I tell ya,I am terrible that way, always second guessing something!!!!I swear I better write a book or something, it would prolly be alittle hard to follow but very Erma Bombeck!!!! I will carry myself with pride,and consider my collar a friend!Last night my son(24yrs) walked himself into the hospital,then called his dad and me,stateing"I have to have my appendix out in about 30 min"OMG ,I was beside myself, asking why he did not tell us sooner, gee's!!! Thankfully his girl friend went up there and kept me posted(real sweety),then he calls me at 11:30 pm and says, he is leaveing there , he is not a prisoner, he is hungry and they wont feed him,omg,well......needless to say when I got done with him, he stayed,lol I tell ya these kids!then my daughter calls, I swear you guys will not believe this,Ishould have my own reality tv show! she calls and says"Guess who I just got off the phone with"of course my reply, your brother, "Nope"Poison control!!!!! omg!~My grandson swallowed a couple of her Gas pills!!!!!!He was and is fine, but does it never stop?haha Anyway I got way off the subject , but thought everyone could use some comedy relief and spend an hour in my life<hahaThanks again for the help and lets stay in touch!p.s Donna you mentioned second surgery, was it differant levels, how long apart,and did you have differant Docs???Solarp.ss and I completely undersatnd the car wreak thing, I swear since my husband has been driving me , I left acouple finger nails in the dash!!!!!!

DonnaKay · 09-17-2004, 03:20 AM

Solar -

You had an exciting day/night, didn't you! I'm glad your son and grandson are okay. Wow.

I had my first ACDF in 1997, one level no plating, bone from the hip. Ouch. My second surgery was this past November 2003. The disk above and below the original fusion had herniated but doc (same one) only fixed the one below (with donor bone and plating this time) b/c the disk that had herniated above was not symptomatic. He believes if/when I need that surgery, there may be better options available (artificial disk). The second surgery was a BREEZE compared to the first one. The only thing new second time around was the swallowing problem.

As I was awaiting my second surgery, my younger son (20 y/o at the time) was hospitalized with a life-threatening blood infection (I believe the name is MRSA). It was hard not to be with him 24/7, but happily his girlfriend (a sweetie, too!) and my older son (23) were with him and kept me very informed. He was hospitalized for a week, then had IV antibiotics at home for 2 more weeks. Wow.

Love your Erma Bombeck way of explaining the collar. lol

Donna