jameslcarey
Registered
Neck surgery and pain
Hi, I just received an email referring me to your post. I just had neck surgery (on Sept 6th) and played (and won) my match a week later. To tell you that there was no discomfort would be a lie, but I did well and felt much better than I thought I would.
The surgery involved a "roto rootering" of the spinal canal to provide room for the spinal cord, which had been impinged upon by a spinal stenosis, removal of bone on the outside of the vertebrae and damage repaired to the discs secondary to an injury incurred at work. The repairs involved C4,C5 and C6. There was a necrosed area of the spinal cord (a section that was dead) and my pain and symptoms were getting worse by the day.
I am limited as to what I can address here by the following:
1. Hippa
2. Since the surgery was so recent, I am still evolving in my recovery.
I WILL tell you this...my surgeon (Dr. Robert Jackson, M.D.) was magnificent, and the hospital staff at Mission Medical Center, in Mission Viejo were beyond anything I could have asked for.
As to the drugs, I believe that if you are truly in pain, then you need not worry about becoming addicted, no matter the drug your M.D. Chooses for you. I will talk to you at length about this on the phone as I don't see that discussion being appropriate for this forum.
As to the choice of physician, I will (for the same reason) say only that your homework should include an orthopedic surgeon as well as a neuro surgeon. Mine was the latter by referral by the former.
As I stand currently, I am able to play pool daily without too much discomfort. I have experienced difficulty in areas that I had not expected. My left deltoid muscle (shoulder muscle) is compromised and the result is similar to someone that has experienced a stroke. Lifting my arm to the table is awkward and requires help from the right arm as I become tired from a match. My M.D. Says that I can expect approx. 4 months to pass for recovery. Surprisingly, the areas of the most pain is NOT the neck. The most pain that I have encountered has been in the arms, legs and back.
The bottom line is, "Would I do this if I knew then what I know now". and the answer is an unqualified, "YES!!!!
Has it affected my game? Again, yes. Will I be able to play well in the future? Only time, and a great deal of practice will tell...but then, that was the situation I was in BEFORE the injury. I will not let the limitations I am experiencing keep me from playing the game that I love.
I hope this helps you and I apologize to anyone that was bored with my response.
Hi, I just received an email referring me to your post. I just had neck surgery (on Sept 6th) and played (and won) my match a week later. To tell you that there was no discomfort would be a lie, but I did well and felt much better than I thought I would.
The surgery involved a "roto rootering" of the spinal canal to provide room for the spinal cord, which had been impinged upon by a spinal stenosis, removal of bone on the outside of the vertebrae and damage repaired to the discs secondary to an injury incurred at work. The repairs involved C4,C5 and C6. There was a necrosed area of the spinal cord (a section that was dead) and my pain and symptoms were getting worse by the day.
I am limited as to what I can address here by the following:
1. Hippa
2. Since the surgery was so recent, I am still evolving in my recovery.
I WILL tell you this...my surgeon (Dr. Robert Jackson, M.D.) was magnificent, and the hospital staff at Mission Medical Center, in Mission Viejo were beyond anything I could have asked for.
As to the drugs, I believe that if you are truly in pain, then you need not worry about becoming addicted, no matter the drug your M.D. Chooses for you. I will talk to you at length about this on the phone as I don't see that discussion being appropriate for this forum.
As to the choice of physician, I will (for the same reason) say only that your homework should include an orthopedic surgeon as well as a neuro surgeon. Mine was the latter by referral by the former.
As I stand currently, I am able to play pool daily without too much discomfort. I have experienced difficulty in areas that I had not expected. My left deltoid muscle (shoulder muscle) is compromised and the result is similar to someone that has experienced a stroke. Lifting my arm to the table is awkward and requires help from the right arm as I become tired from a match. My M.D. Says that I can expect approx. 4 months to pass for recovery. Surprisingly, the areas of the most pain is NOT the neck. The most pain that I have encountered has been in the arms, legs and back.
The bottom line is, "Would I do this if I knew then what I know now". and the answer is an unqualified, "YES!!!!
Has it affected my game? Again, yes. Will I be able to play well in the future? Only time, and a great deal of practice will tell...but then, that was the situation I was in BEFORE the injury. I will not let the limitations I am experiencing keep me from playing the game that I love.
I hope this helps you and I apologize to anyone that was bored with my response.
