update

[derek1983]

just posting an update on my status since surgery on the 20th   june 20th i had my surgery at 7:00 am done 16 hours later im a little loose on the technical names but i had a decompression and spinal fusion c3 to skull and removal of cerebral tonsils one 18.5 mm one 17mm and wrapped around an artery surgery went well and i was in icu for 4 days due to a nurse who got a little rambunctious when removing my breathing tube and causing some lung issues o well though theses things happen i guess went to normal room for 3 more days came home doing fairly well have almost taken myself off the painkillers and switched to tylenol due to bad nausea with oxy rather deal with the pain i guess but sleeping has been an issue sleeping in a recliner because its the only place i can tried 5 or 6 new pillows and havent found one that lets me lay on my side or back so any thoughts on that would be appreciated starting to wear my neck brace next tuesday after my stitches are removed and should be wearing that most of the time untill december from what i hear as well as 4 hours a day with a fancy one that sends an electrical pulse to my fusion to generate bone growth then hopefully with all luck will prevail and ill be able to return to my career though this at this point is very iffy but all in all though frustrated i think this was the best thing i could have done and dont regret my surgery unless im in a bunch of pain at that moment:) hope everyone else is doing well and ill continue to stay active and update if different things start to happen o ya also my left ear im thinking may have gotten a nerve cut to it or something cause my earlobe is constantly numb since the surgery

[selmaS]

  I am sure u got several ideas for sleeping and the nurses took a blanket and made a roll the length of my body (similar to a body pillow) and tucked it behind me while I was on my side, then I roll part way on it so I amon the side of my head but not all my weight is on the one side of me, shoulder or hip so the roll helps with weight distribution....

I hope u start a journal copy and paste the info u posted here, this will not only be helpful to those that may want to read all ur current updates but for u to be able to see how u improve.

Keep in mind this can be a slow process and numb areas may come back as those nerves heal....so do not make  or assume things may be a perm issue until u get further along in ur recovery.

Best wishes for a smooth recovery <3

[derek1983]

o i def wanna get back to work no doubt its a matter of my employers doc letting me go back ill have to check out the couch pillow idea thanks

[frankie_rush]

I am glad you are doing good.  I know about the tube part.  Your surgery was a long one, I thought mine was long 81/2 long.  I also had rthe fusion of the C3 bout also the C5-7 so I got four rods.  I found a pillow thaty works is a pillow they use for teh back of a couch and one that has the curves on both ends.  I sleep on my arms mostly cause that is how I use to sleep.  But it took me a little while to find one also.  Far as the fusion it will take a little getting use to af the limited motion but you can do it.  Don' t let this control your life.  I know you have to do things a little different but that just means you show them you can.  I know you said it is iffy on going back to work.  Give a try and see.  Read my journal and you can see.

[derek1983]

thanks very much appreciate it :)

[Loriann6482]

Hi Derek ~
Glad to hear from you! Also glad you are home and healing :) Praying for continued healing and relief from symptoms for you!

[derek1983]

ya i did use the nausea meds while in the hospital and they seemed to work but i didnt get a prescription for them since but ive been doing pretty well had a few times where i had to just break down and take the pain meds but not too many i will have to check into a muscle relaxer as well

[czpdx]

Thanks for posting your update. Wow! A 16-hour surgery? That's really intense. I'm glad to hear that you're at home now. Tylenol isn't much as far as dealing with the pain. Did your doctor try any nausea medications? I also get really sick from pain meds, so my usual plan is to take nausea meds with food, wait 30 minutes, then take the pain pill. I also typically have a second "emergency" nausea med -- zofran sublingual tablets that disolve under the tongue and work really quickly for sudden-onset nausea. If you can't tolerate pain meds at all, maybe muscle relaxers could help with some of the neck spasms. Just a thought...

Take care!
cz