Hi, I'm new to this board, but I've read quite a few of the postings. Unlike most of the posts here, I'm not the one going through surgery, my husband is. 4 1/2 weeks ago he had c5-c6 corpectomy with fusion c4-c7 (with cage and cervical plate). Other than typical discomfort from surgery, the first week, he felt pretty good - pain in arms and neck gone. But then pain started coming back in arms and neck. We both thought it was just part of the healing process, so when he went in for 4-week x-rays, we were stunned to find that the fusion had failed and the hardware had "pistoned". He is now at very high risk. The surgeon scheduled emergency surgery this Tuesday (5 weeks to the day) for anterior refusion c4-c7 plus posterior fusion of c3-t1 with rods - approximately 8 hours surgery with 2 NS working on him. He hemorrhaged the first time and required transfusion. An additional complication is that he has gout which flared up immediately after surgery in his left hand, so he had to take steroids and very strong anti-inflammatory meds, both of which are hazardous to surgery and fusions.
My husband is a big guy - 6'4" 250 lbs, 51 years old. (I'm not very big!) Between his gout and surgery pain, he's really needed lots of help eating, showering, dressing. I already know this next procedure is going to be horrible for him. He is still weak from the last surgery. We have a lot of confidence in the surgeon, we chose him after getting two other confirming diagnoses.
He relies on my being "his angel" and "his rock" and I try to keep a good front up for him, but I'm terrified inside. It kills me to see him suffer. I'm taking a couple of weeks off work for this, but I know that will only be the tip of the iceberg for what lies ahead of him. I guess what I'd like to hear, is what to expect after this surgery and anything that you've found helpful in fighting depression (something he is experiencing).
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND MAY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST BE WITH YOU AT YOUR TIME OF NEED NOW AND FOR AFTERWARDS....MAY HE SEND DOWN HIS HEALING ANGELS FOR YOUR HUSBAND.
i had both the front and back of my neck done. i posted alot on this the last two or three pages at least, look under the name of mistyone
this is going to be tough for your husband and even tougher on you as you will have to support him in his time of need. you must be strong for him and keep your courage up. i had the front done with a corpectomey at c-5-6-7 and two plates and4 screws in the front of my neck, and then a week later i did the back of the neck at c -56-7 two level fusion with 7 more screws and 3 more plates. i was in an aspen neck brace for two month afterwards, i could not take PT as i couldnt stand to have anyone touch me. i wanted no part of pt it didnt help me anyway, i am just telling you my experience. the back of the neck is the most horrendus operation i have ever had in my life, i have had my gall bladder out, toncils, appendix, had a baby, but thoses were all a walk in th e park compared to what i did in feb 03. the doctor was trained from boston school of med and was N/S for 15 years experience under the belt. but i was in the OR for the back of the neck for 8 hours, ( they did a foramentomy, corpectomy, laminectomy, diskectomy and fusion) i had neck drains, they took bone from my right hip from the cheek, and put it into the neck, i had to have 3 blood transfusions, two pint s were my own and one was from a donor. i still suffer from trama from this operation. not to scare you, many people come out ok and fine but i did not, this doesnt mean that your man will have a hard time. my hair in the back of my head was shaved and didnt grow back all the way yet, i am 47 yrs old and i had to have it done but it was horrible. i am still on pain meds and getting on SSI as i feel permanetly disabled. but i have other back problems now also, when they do the fusion it puts stress on the other areas of the spine that are ailing, i found this out very soon after i started healing. they wanna carve me up some more in my T section and lower back also, i have alot of DDD in my back and i may also have to get the hardware removed in my neck after 1 year. this was all from a car crash last sept. even though i have a lawsuit pending from the woman who hit i will tell you something here, there is no amount od money someone could pay me to do another operation like the one in th e back of the neck again, if someone offered 5 million dollars it wouldnt be enoug, no amount of money could ever compensate me for what that woman did to me with her car and ruined my life as a teacher, i can not go back to that profession now full time as i can not pick up anything too heavy and can not stand the rigors of stress as i suffer from depression also. she took something away from me that i will never regain. i am still alive yes, but it is not the best quality of life..................everyone says life is what you amke it, there is some truth to that but when you are in pain all the time it takes on new meaning good luck
[This message has been edited by mistyone (edited 10-25-2003).]
[This message has been edited by mistyone (edited 10-25-2003).]
YOU ARE A GOOD PERSON TO GET INFORMATION FOR YOUR OWN SUSTENANCE AND THAT TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR HUBBY.
I HAVE MINIMAL NEXT TO YOU HUBBY - L5 S1 HERNIATION TO BE OPERATED ON AFTER MY C5 6 7 ARE FUSED BY SURGERY NOV 10/03
DEPRESSION WAS AVOIDED BY ME BY TREADMILLING FIVE TIMES A WEEK; TAKING CONTROL OF WHAT I INGESTED, HIGH PROTEIN LOW FAT LOW CARBS, SHARING AND READING AS ON THIS SITE AND USING MEDS AS A INTERIM MEASURE KNOWING THAT THEY WERE NOT MY LIFESTYLE AND THE GOAL WAS TO FIND OTHER RESOURCES.
I TAKE SHARK'S POWDER MSM DRINKS ETC., THAT ARE GOOD FOR BONE REGROWTH (PROVEN) AND USE THESE AVENUES AS AN ATTEMPT TO REMIND MYSELF THAT I AM ABLE TO CONTROL SOME THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO ME.
I TOO HAVE A LAWSUIT BUT FRANKLY I AM FINANCIALLY ABLE TO BE HOME AND RECOVER AND I REALLY DON'T WANT THE MONEY I WANT ME BACK.. WHEN THAT FEELING GETS OPPRESSIVE I RELAX AND HAVE A BAILEY'S ON ICE BEFORE BED.
NO I'M NOT A DRINKER, A SMOKER BUT A LOVING 20 YR WIFE AND MOTHER OF 10 AND 17 YEAR OLD AND ALL I KNOW IS THAT BELIEVING THERE IS A GOD AND THAT NOTHING IS INSURMOUNTABLE IF YOU LEAN ON HIM AND REMEMBER HIS PROMISES OF A BETTER LIFE THAN YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND CAN DO IT.
I'LL PRAY FOR YOU AND HOLD YOU CLOSE IN MY HEART AS YOU FIND THE RECEPIE THAT WILL HEAL THE BOTH OF YOU.
I would suggest that you look into asking his doctor if he can get into an in-patient rehab facility after his surgery so that they can help him.
Basically, he would be put into a double room, and he would have nursing supervision, occupational and physical therapy while he is recovering. They provide your meds, serve meals, and the biggest thing of all, teach you how to move and live.
I was lucky, my GP back doc saw me a couple of days before I went for my 3 level ACDF and told me that he had called my insurance company and made them agree to put me into an inpatient rehab facility. I only had to stay four days, because once I started walking a bit, my legs remembered how to work, though I needed a cane for a couple of months afterwards.
Give my good wishes to your husband. You are a treasure for your caring and devotion, but make sure that you take care of yourself, too.
Tried to respond last night, but I guess the board was having technical problems.
Thanks for the encouraging words. I really appreciate people taking the time to help those of us who are new to this, get through it all. My husband's condition is the result of years of deterioration in his spine from a car wreck he was in over 25 years ago. He broke his neck (c5-c6) but recovered after many months. So, there is no law suit on our horizon. He's had a good job and is now on disability. We'll just have to take it a day at a time for now. The future is looking a little gray right now.
But I've read through some of the posts from people who have come out the other end of all this and are actually getting back to something resembling normal life again. I'm going to hold on to that thought and look for the light at the end of the tunnel. It's pretty scary hearing what so many of you have gone through. Even his doctor said this one would be rough. His surgery is tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes. Thank you again. Please keep us in your prayers and I'll keep you in mine too.
Double Trouble 
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