Hard Wear Removal Surgery

[cherylstewart67]

when i had my c 3/4 done i asked the surgeon to remove the plate and screws at c4/5/6 and he would not do it; didn't want the liablity. i was very disapointed. now that it's fused it really serves no purpose.

[jsewell]

Cheryl I had plates and screw from C-4 thru L5. I really don't feel they bother me . Only after the surgery i had Aug 2nd and that was fusing L-4-5 and a revision of a few levels above that as i had 2 fractures, only after that did i wake up in extreme pain in my right leg. So much so that i could NOT walk at all. I was in bed for 5 weeks before this could get approved and scheduled. THat is the only reason he took out the hard wear.
but now i have a big lump where it ends. Not liking that!
judy

[cherylstewart67]

My problem is swallowing. I have scar tissue on top of the hardware, and it make swallowing hard at time thing feel like they are getting stuck. the surgeon said he was afraid that the scar tissue would adhear to my windpipe and removal would make it worse. 50/50 deal i guess. he said that unless a screw comes loose, they will not remove it.

[jsewell]

That sucks to effect your swallowing. I guess i qualified with all the loose screws i had. My spine just refuses to go in the direction it is supposed to. Right now when i try to stand up unaided i look like i am about 95. With a walker it is much better. Sure beats not walking at all though.

I had a surgery which caused damage around the phrenic nerve which controls the diaphragm muscle, thus breathing, with the scar tissue buildup too. I found one of a few surgeons who could operate and end the damage, but the bottom line ended up with the scar tissue and him causing more damage than good. So i live with a lower lung capacity.
Just hope you are better than when you started out.
judy

[Maria]

Judy,
how're you doing of late? Hopefully good!
I finally saw my PM in SD this past week (dh and his GF picked me up and brought me there and back/Laguna to SD) and I got a Toradol injection cocktail with some of the steroid used in my ESI. Got it bilat on either side tho not so far down in the hip muscle but more across where my old discectomy scar it (it's horizontal) and there's really very little musculature there so it hurt more than usual cuz it felt like the needle was hitting bone!

Results were great tho! So from now on I think I'll ask for this vs. just the Toradol injection.

My feet have been better tho that's always subject to how much I aggravate them~ so walking tho not walking as much as I'd really like. Want to keep flares to a minimum.

I was wondering if you're able to get out yet and walk around? take care, Maria

[jsewell]

Hi Maria,
I thought i sent you an email. Maybe in my dreams!
I am still using a walker to be able to stand up straight and walk. My right side and to the hip area is really bothering me the last few days. If it lasts i will call my doc next week. I sure hope in about 2 weeks to get down to a cane. But i am in so much better shape than last month.
My house closed yesterday. I am giving myself 2 weeks to get out of here. I asked my ex (the divorce went through last week) to please help my son who is the only one to pack. I have had no response so i guess that is a no. I hear of so many ex's that really help their former partner, but not mine. Maybe it is his new wife. To top it all off, my son was puking all day yesterday, he hasn't gotten up yet, but i suspect he will not be in any shape to help today. I will probably just go over there and measure stuff to see what i need to leave behind. I also have to get the appliances so i need to measure and make sure they are standard sizes.

I've been in stores twice with my daughter before she moved to Irvine. It is so much easier with a walker to walk through a smooth surface. On the sidewalks the darn thing gets stuck in every little tiny crack. If i am going too fast(still slow) it almost tips over. They sell these little things like tiny ski's , i saw a walker with one the other day. I think if i have time with someone taking me i will get some. The rubber tips seem silly to have on there. I do have home physical therapy and we just started on some leg exercises. Nothing to strengthen yet, just some really easy stuff.

Now for the terrifying move!!
I promise i will not pick up a thing that weighs more than a pound.
judy

[Maria]

Things sound good then such as with the closing on your house altho the packing/moving is such a big thing. I know that I couldn't have done it without Edgar or hiring someone. I think he felt guilty to some degree so I think that is he tried to help me out with things like my car and my move and such BEFORE the GF got here from Colombia. He had called me to ask me how to write his note to take vacation time off from work. He wanted 2 weeks off so he could take her to all the theme parks in CA and Vegas for 2 days and I think the Grand Canyon. As a nice gesture he did ask me if I wanted to go to the GC but he knew I'd say no. I didn't think he was going to do it as he said it was going to be $600 or something like that but then I guess he decided to pay for her and himself.

I was surprised he hadn't mentioned the nature of their relationship tho ultimately very relieved so I can move on with my own life and date if I want. Not that I want to because I can't imagine anyone putting up with all my complaints however at least things are out in the open now.

His GF isn't very cute tho she's Ok and she's nice. I think he was seeing her before we got married too. Long ago that is.

Oh well such is life. I don't know if he'll make me pay the $ I owe him since it's over $1000 tho I imagine that sooner or later he'll ask for it. Maybe not again out of guilt. That'd be cool too so I just won't say anything now about owing him the $ as I've brought it up numerous times but he didn't ever ask me to pay when I did.

Ok good luck with the packing and I do hope your EX will help you or at least help your son!!!! Be good now!