January In Straubing - For C56 & C67 ADR

[HappyHusbandDC]

Mark here, 9:30am in Straubing... Jennifer is having a wonderful recovery.

Here is a video I shot yesterday morning... she was just about 24 hours post-op and you'll see how comfortable she is already. The things that she knows about with some of the neuro deficits were not known to her prior to meeting with Baumbach. I can't say enough about how is complete baseline neuro status gives so much more useful info going into the surgery.

Well, I have to run.... take a look:

YouTube - Multi-level Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement, ProDisc ADR

PS... sorry for the poor quality... that was with pocket digital camera. Also, since my original post, Jennifer is describing the vertigo symptoms that are missing.

[mmglobal]

We are not surpised... we already pay both ways... we pay through the nose for medical insurance, then must still self pay for surgeries that have been FDA approved for years because our insurers elect to call it 'experimental'.

I'm hopefull about Obama, but agree that he has a huge mountain to climb. The task is so huge. Hopefully, he'll have the right tools and it won't be like he's trying to chop down a giant tree with a spoon.

[sahuaro]

Great news, Jennifer! I had the same weakness but only in my left hand and arm and I can tell you that one year out, I have regained my strength and can pass all those resistance tests! I didn't have the vertigo--but it is wonderful that that is now gone, too! Wishing you all the best.

[mmglobal]

I just spoke to Jennifer. She'll have to be punished if she doesn't come here for a first-person update. She's had some ups and downs, but generally is very positive. Hopefully the downs are activity related.

At 13 days post-op, I can't believe that she can say things like, "I've been taking it easier lately. I'm doing things like scrubbing water troughs, but not shoveling out the barn."

Here is a shot from our farewell dinner at Rapunzel.... 3 days
post-op (you can see how Tom chose his username. Jen's
great recovery is quite a relief. He looks pretty darned happy!)


all the best,

Mark

[jentop]

Hi all, it's me Jennifer. I posted somewhere earlier last week but don't really know where that post showed up, oh well. It was a bit of a long ramble anyways. First, thanks for all the supportive posts! Very encouraging to hear that hand strength continues to improve a year out. I'm doing great. Some days better than others, but I really can't complain at all. The biggest deal is NO DIZZINESS OR VERTIGO so far. That was supremely tested last week when I had a massage, which would always make me at least dizzy when rolling over and sitting up at the end. I was always convinced that the dynamic positioning of my c-spine( along with those monster posterior osteophytes!) affected my cord compression and caused the issues-couldn't have been good for CSF flow. So far, I'm feeling pretty vindicated. Neck pain is pretty minimal,just a dull ache-no more nerve-like throbbing. I'm able to get by with the occasional Tylenol 650mg. I'm going to the gym,3 times so far at not quite 3 wks post-op. No major weights, just light free weights and some machines,plus treadmill. Feeling tired the next day, but still better than pre-op in terms of pain and balance issues seem mostly gone.
The hardest thing for me is going slow. There's so much I want to do, but need to be patient for a few more weeks. I can't wait to get on my (safe and lazy) horse this spring! I'll keep updating-bye!

[Terry Allen Blackburn]

Sounds like an awesome recovery so far.

Terry Newton

[jentop]

Cervical ADR in Straubing/Vertigo followup
(I'm re-posting this here as I'm not sure where I posted it and wanted to be sure Mark knows I'm not in some witness-protection program as I haven't posted much.)
Hello all,
I just read the posts my husband(HappyhubbyDC) made while we were in Germany and those Mark made also. Wow, has it really been two weeks? First, I want to thank everyone who has already posted words of encouragement, even before I've posted a letter. That is just so remarkable to me.
I'm still doing well for the most part. As much as I hate to admit it, going slow seems to be the wisest advice. About two days after getting back home I hit a bit of a bump in the road. Apparently, I must have really done too much around the old homestead, like getting out to the barn at 7am, husband in tow, to brush my horse . The result was a pretty painful neck and day along with ridiculously high blood pressure 151/101! I decided to take it easy and switch off the NSAIDs(which apparently I'm sensitive to regarding their tendency to increase BP) and go with something else. When I checked my BP a day later it was 120/80 or less. So, I'm trying to not overdo.
Now back to the beginning- I am so amazed that my surgery has happened and I am "on the other side" of it as I visualized and talked to Mark about before. I'm one of these people who works at being in the NOW. That can be great if you're not in pain, but when you are it really sucks. So, before deciding to have this surgery I had my options which were all pretty crappy. Keep on living with the nausea, vertigo, pain and uncertainty and hope it doesn't get worse, or do fusion surgery and be pretty certain I'd end up with adjacent levels degenerating and need a subsequent surgery. Then I came across Mark Mintzer, that soft-spoken guy, who gave me all the detailed information I asked for and more. It seems like he and I are a similar breed in that respect. I tend to surprise most doctors I see because I'm generally much better informed than they expect. So, I decided to be proactive and take a chance on ADR and keep the best chance I had for as active a life as I could hope for. Pretty much a no-brainer for me, but still very scary and was I really brave enough?
Apparently I was and the positive visualization, hypnosis beforehand and all the prayers and support I received didn't hurt either. Today, my neck is stiff with a little pain. Enough to make me think, "gee, should I take something for it" but not get up and take anything. I even went to the gym this morning for a little treadmill walking and lower body workout. (Really, I am taking it easy!) I'm hoping things continue to improve as time goes by. Considering all the neuro deficits that were uncovered during my amazing 4 hour exam by Dr. Baumbach in Munich (also facilitated by Mark of GPN), I feel now, as I did even then before surgery, like the luckiest woman alive. Time will tell how much is fixed by this surgery, but the immediate results are good so far.
I'll continue to post updates as I know there are many people out there trying to decide what to do next. I know this has been a bit scattered, but I'm still processing this whole adventure. Hopefully, my next post will be a bit more organized. -Jennifer