C3-4, C5-6, C6-7, T1-2 ProDisc-C Nova ADR blog

[treefrog]

Well, I am so happy to hear that every thing went so well Mark. And thanks to Justin and Diane for letting us know as soon as was possible, how it went.

Mark, I am so glad that you feel like you turned a corner, but I hope you don't end up paying for it later. Nerve pain is bound to take longer to heal, but I will be hoping for it to heal quickly.

Rest, and take it easy Mark. And I hope you enjoyed the pizza , I think I would go for ice cream instead .

[mmglobal]

Hospitals are different here. Diane and I remarked about it after our walk on the pre-op night. Patients wander all around. You can got to the cafeteria or gift shop and have some wine or a few beers. Being responsible for yourself, what a concept.

So, there was nobody there to tell me not to put the whole pizza away... I hope I don't get sick!

Mark



Man am I hopeful... I feel great!

[Kanutta]

Good to see that all went well so far, will be following your updates.

Wishing you all the best, take care.

[Maria]

Beer and wine and free to roam post op?! Wow.. I've got to have surgery there!

Bring on the stool softeners/laxatives re whole pizza downage if still on constipating paing meds. Don't want to strain that well surgerized area at any cost!

Great to hear your recovery is going as well as it is Mark tho watch the overdo tendency!

[Kathy]

Wow, I can't believe you are doing so well, so quick. I didn't get out of bed and walk until the second day. I refused to get up surgery night, because my pain was so out of control, I could barely breathe, much less move! And I only had 1 level done.... I'm a sissy, I know. Well, stay off the computer, enjoy your 'surgical vacation', TAKE IT EASY, and happy healing. Can't wait to hear the nitty gritty details and see the x-rays!
God Bless,
Kathy

[melodyl]

Hi Mark,

So glad to hear you are doing so well! In my experience cervical surgery is much easier to recovery from than lumbar. You'll be back to parachuting, skiing, tennis and whatever chores Diane has in store for you in no time at all.

From the look of picture of you and pizza....no major sore throat issues? That is good news!

Keep posting when Diane isn't around to stop you. All of us want to know as much as you want to share about how you are doing!

Gentle hugs.....
Melody

[rosedee]

Great to read your posts, Mark.

I hope you're not too much taller - I always got neck ache looking up to you anyway

Make sure you put your own recovery needs first for the next while.
All good and healing wishes to you,
rosedee

[mrbee]

Hi Mark and Diane,

How weird to email someone in a hospital who has just went through an amazing one of a kind surgery. Few people understand the world that we spineys exist in with having Mark to post us from his amazing adventures in spinal surgery. Let alone a going through personal experience like this one.

First, I am thankful to God for answering our prayers for you, Diane and your family for this apparently successful surgery. I am relieved for you.
I know the rigors of recovery, however is pizza the new litmus test for a success?

I hope you can make it back here to speak with me on the 22nd at Biola. You would be awe inspiring with that neck wrap, let alone some cool new incision scars. Maybe you could make some students faint! I am being dramatic of course. I am so relieved for you my friend.

You are in my prayers. I am thankful to our loving God for this wonderful news. I pray that from here you continue to recover to a painfree full recovery. Enjoy your stay in Germany now that the hard part is behind you.

God bless,

Willie
mrbee

2003 ruptured L4 L5
Imediate surgery, hemilaminectomy
Second surgery 5 days later ditto, disc removed due to instability
Third surgery 3 days later hematoma at L4 nerve root in foramen
ADR surgery (fourth surgery) at Stenum, 6 months later, 2 level L3-4, L4-5
Immediate subsidense at L3-4
Revision at Stenum (fifth surgery), ten months to day from first. To explant and impant new ADR at L3-4. Complication post surgery occulsion left iliac artery, 13 attempts made to open using angioplasty, all failed.
Invalided, awaiting aorta-femoral bypass surgery and subsequent surgery to remove L3-4 ADR that was improperly placed.
God performed an impossible miracle...April 26th 2005.
No surgeries, no more drugs, a complete total instantaneous miraculous healing that still boggles my mind.
4 years post miracle, husband, Dad, little league manager, softball player, author, living and loving life though His will.

[kc0iet]

Shewww, great to see you posting so soon. I let out such a sigh of relief that I almost blew out your candle LOL!

But seriously, I am so happy for you. Still a little jealous, but earnestly thrilled that you had the ability to get the care you needed.

Please keep us posted wen you can, and don't over do it.

[ans]

Wow Mark, you look great (if not a tad loaded on the second picture) after such an extensive surgery. I hope that this surgery permanently fixes your pains and I never knew they operated much on the thoracic level. I admire your taste in cuisine but secretly wondered if you went poo-poo but I'll keep that to myself.

Hard to believe you just had an extensive surgery!

Best - Allan

[fuzzy]

Its great to see you made it so well through this surgery that you arranged so quickly. I know it means a lot that you did this knowing everything you do and it very important to me to see you do so well and posing with Dr. Baumbach so shortly after this mayor surgery. I wish you the best and I am following very closely, trust me, I have a feeling I will be in that same room one of these days and I will remember your recovery and hope I can even get close to doing so well.

I hope we will learn in the future regarding your thoughts as to whether you waited too long for this or if the timing was appropriate all things considered. It seems you were prepared to go into action when time is right and I am sure yours was as good as it could have been.

And the pizza, I can make you a bet that I could not do that 1 day after a mayor neck surgery, yes you must have a iron stomach!


You got a great support crew here!

[jentop]

Mark,

Okay, now you've finally got me posting on iSpine!(Be careful what you wish for, you never know what you'll have to go thru to get it.)
BTW, Tyler is impressed that you are recovering with pizza and SOCCER! You're an inspiration! I look at those pictures and it's like total deja-vu, except I looked WAY better in those compression stockings. I'm so happy for you, you can't imagine. Now it's my turn to give advice, "go slow"-but enjoy yourself. My fast recovery at St. E's was due to the following: 1. Great surgery/surgeon/staff, 2. Great family, 3. Great attitude, 4. Great friend and advocate(that would be you in case the anesthesia is affecting your memory).
So, you're in good shape because you've got all that plus friendsxinfinity!
Jen
p.s.-Tyler says "come back soon so I can come and see you in CA and don't enjoy yourself too much".
p.s.s.-Tom says "get out of there and go to Rapunzel's!"

[sahuaro]

Mark:
Great to hear from you and get to see you, too!
The collar is very becoming! And you must have an iron stomach!

Wishing you all the best in your recovery and looking forward to all the details.

Barbara