There were so many health issues I had but the first and foremost of the majors was my neck! I constantly had a headache, there was a lot of tingling in my fingers, and to lift my arms much at all, it was excruciating. The back of my neck and upper shoulders seemed to spasm and I had had enough!
Remember, I had just started my weight loss plan and the pancreas was not happy. The first Dr. I went to walked into the room and I explained my symptoms and he literally said, “Don’t you think you need to lose some weight?” My heart dropped and I just wanted to cry. I did tear up and in that moment knew that he was not touching me! He had no idea who I was or my struggles!
He said he couldn’t help me anyhow and I walked out just heart struck and mad! They say good doctors have bad bedside manners, but they are human like all of us and if they had any love for God in them, they would treat their patients with a little respect.
Eventually, I asked around and was recommended to see another Dr. across the bridge. He walked into the room bubbly and with a smile! He was polite and asked me what was going on and didn’t judge me for nothing! I told him what the other Dr. said and that he couldn’t help me and being the specialist he was, he said he probably couldn’t! I laughed!
He assured me he could help and looked at the MRI. He shook his head and said it was screwed up. He showed me the pics and explained that the bottom #7 cervical was ruptured, sideways upwards, and hitting the one above, #6, that was ruptured and off to the side. The one even above, #5, was not as bad as those two but off to the side and ruptured as well.
He was going to have to shave the ruptured pieces and rebuild the #7, using the shavings from the other discs and a synthetic material since it was demolished and repair the other discs. He said he was going to have to plate the 3 together to repair my neck. I was really nervous but he had a way of reassurance and honesty.
He told me like it was and didn’t color-coat it. Told me it was going to be painful and what to expect. I like honesty and down-to-earth! He said, and I quote, “You and your insurance pay the Dr.s and you should tell the Dr.s what you expect not the other way around. Sure, the Dr. gives their advice and service, but we are paid for the best answers and help.”
I think of that often when talking to others and hear them say their Dr. wouldn’t do an MRI they wanted them to call in and it makes sense. We do pay these Dr.s for service and if your body is feeling that bad and you know down deep something is up, then you are the one paying. Insist on the tests you feel necessary because the Dr. can only go by what you are telling them and can’t feel your own symptoms.
I scheduled the surgery and came out with a titanium plate! He was correct in his diagnosis and how I would feel after! I don’t wish that upon anyone but that being said, I wished I had done the surgery sooner instead of waiting so long!
I was not allowed in a car for a month after surgery and being confined to go no where was a challenge to my sanity. I knew I had to behave and did just that. If I wanted to heal properly and not go through neck surgery again, it was following orders to the T.
God has a way of putting you where you need to be in His timing. I believe that whole heartedly! For anyone who has had neck surgery, they know how hard it is to bend over and pick things up after surgery. It feels like you are being choked!
Being the person to constantly pick the garden and plant flowers, my life did a turn. I couldn’t do the things I once had, but eventually learned to manage a different way! For example, if I want to pick something, I have a wheely seat that I can scoot down the row.
I went into this without too much advice for what to do when you have surgery and after so I would like to offer a little to anyone having neck surgery. First thing is to listen to your Dr.’s advice for before and after surgery. They are trained and should be very professional yet willing to listen to you and hear what you are saying! When they say to ice regularly or take your meds regularly, do so! The pain will get out of hand and will be hard to control if it does.
Second, if it is feasible to buy or rent a bed that does the head lifting for you, I would recommend it! Thirdly, it is going to be difficult to put shoes and pants on. Have slip on shoes and wear dresses if you are a female. Dudes, you can wear house coats or night robes.
Fourthly, buy one of those hand held long gripper tongs because picking things up from the floor or below will be difficult. You won’t be able to look downward by moving your head so before surgery, be sure to place needed things on your eyeball level or where you can see them easily,
If you feel anything is not right, be sure to contact your Dr. immediately! I was throwing up after and that was not good. The anesthesia made me literally sick. Then on top of that, I got thrush! I was one miserable patient, but God held me through it and He will you as well! Trust Him in all things!
