What's next?

[Guest guest]

Hi Hank,

In PT they teach us how to do chicken fights. Grab a partner up on

your shoulders and go against another couple. OUCH! Just kidding,

those days are long gone. I'd say it varies for each persons

individual condition. Right now I am still in pain with the spasms

so I imagine I will get heat and ultrasound followed by light

stretching working up to light muscle building. Please let me know

what they decide to do with you. I'll be finding out in a few more

weeks myself.

-Nick

> Can anyone tell me the kinds of things they would teach you in

> physical therapy following cervical fusion?

>

> I am in the process of weaning from the neck brace. Now it's off

> only three hours a day, but in a week it will off for three

periods

> of two hours a day. I'm doing some gentle range of motion

exercises

> (as recommended) and have a pretty good idea how much my neck will

> or will not move. It's certainly adequate to drive, but I figure

I

> lost about 10 to 15 degrees per side and my chin will now only go

> down to about one to one and a half inch above my chest, whereas

> before it would touch.

>

> All was done gently as per the instruction sheet. The operation

now

> comes to over 70K and my other medical bills would make it over

> 100K, which was the auto insurance limit under Colorado's old

system

> which ended July 1st (it now goes on your medical insurance or you

> put a claim in to the other driver's insurance if they are at

> fault). I think over that my medical insurance would come in as

> secondary.

>

> I'm concerned about adding any other medical bills as I'm sure

I'll

> be working on getting all these claims paid for quite a while.

> However, I recognize the importance of at least a couple of

sessions

> of PT to " teach " me how to use my neck. I'll ask them at the next

> appointment at the surgeon's office about things I can do or not

> do.

>

> Anyone have any experience rehabing their cervical fusion? Mine

was

> pretty intense, 4 level with corpectamy at C-6. All is healing

> beautifully. I've got a lot of energy, but also getting bored

with

> being home all day.

>

> Hank

[Guest guest]

Dianne..

What a surprise that you posted today...I was just going through the

forum from the last year to kinda see how everyone was doing...and I

realized that by far we have more Dr. Rand patients " in progress "

than anyone else. Since I think your situation closely matched mine

I was wondering how you were doing.

I know you were a little dissapointed with your progress recently

and hope you are feeing better these days.

I am also scheduled to see Dr. Rand on Dec 9th...9a.m...to talk over

the options...what time are you seeing him...maybe we can get a cup

of coffee.

Sorry I can't help with the future view, but now that I have a

current list of who had Dr Rand, hopefully Corina, , Cheryl, Ann

or Carole can help! Cam

[Guest guest]

Hi Dianne!

Sorry I wasn't able to wish you all the best for you're surgery five

mths ago. My computer was down for a few mths.

Reading you're surgical procedure sounded not only complicated but

intracet, extensive (12hr's?) Did you see youre x-ray's after surgery?

My H.R. starts at T5 to L3. He will shorten mine too, but not sure

at what level he will attach to. I was wondering why with you he did

an ant/post/ant, and why with others he does a post/ant/post

aproach? Well it sounds like you're doing good.

Best of luck to you Dianne.

P.S. Doesn't this Dr talk sound like a foreign language to us

laymen!?

-- In , " Dianne "

<Diannnes@a...> wrote:

>

>

> Hi All,

>

> It will be five months post-op when I go in to see Rand on Dec.

> 9. What's next, generally speaking? I'd be interested in knowing

how

> people were doing at this point post-op. Did you start physcial

> therapy of some kind? Were you still on pain meds? What kind of

> activity were you allowed? Anything you'd like to share about this

> stage of your post-op recovery would be greatly apprecialted.

>

> I had anterior/posterior/anterior revision, fused through the

> sacrum into the pelvis, cages where the disks had worn out, bottom

> of orig. rod removed, two new rods attached on either side.

> As I wrote my layman's description of my procedure, I stopped to

> review the operating report on my surgery and think that I will

just

> type the procedures as written on the reports, just for potential

> interest and comparison for anyone else having the same procedure.

>

> Stage One, Name of Procedure

> " Anterior retroperitoneal approach to the L4-L5 and L5-S1 disc

space

> with discectomy "

>

> Stage Two, Name of Procedure:

> " Exploration of fusion mass; removal of non-segmentally fixed

> Harrington rod and lower hook, partial; laminectomy of L4, L5, and

> S1 with complete facetectomy at L4-L5 and L5-S1 constituting a

> posterior spinal release; placement of intrapelvic fixation

> bilaterally; reinsertion of an M10 lower hook into the previous

> Harrington rod; posterior spinal instrumentation T11-S1 with

> intrapelvic fixation,; posterior fusion L4-L5 and L5-S1 with iliac

> crest and local bone graft. " (This was the posterior portion of the

> surgery. It was during this stage that Rand was able to get back

> some of my lost lordosis: " " With the resection of posterior bone

> and facets, clearly the spine moved into with postural correction

> into more lordosis. " ) Don't blame me for the confusing sound of

that

> sentence, that's taken verbatim from the operating report!

>

> Stage Three, Name of Procedure;

> " Anterior repeat open retroperitoneal approach to the L4-L5 and L5-

> S1 disc space with anterior spinal instrumentation with Harm cage

> narrow at L4-L5, oval at L5-S1., arthrodesis L4-L5 and L5-S1 with

> iliac crest and local bone graft. "

>

> To clear up any possible confusion on one of the procedures

> above, only the bottom portion of my orig. harrington rod was

> removed, I guess around the level of T-11. The original rod still

> extends up to shoulder blade level... around T-8 or so.

>

> All my best, Dianne in RI

[Guest guest]

Cam,

I'd really like to meet up for coffee. My appointments at NEBH

are 10:30 for x-rays, 11:30 appt. with Rand. If the x-ray lab is

running on time, we could probably meet for coffee before I go to

see Rand, or if you're out of your appointment early enough, we

could meet before my x-rays. I'll email you my phone number.

Looking forward to meeting you!

Dianne

>

>

> Dianne..

>

> What a surprise that you posted today...I was just going through

the

> forum from the last year to kinda see how everyone was doing...and

I

> realized that by far we have more Dr. Rand patients " in progress "

> than anyone else. Since I think your situation closely matched

mine

> I was wondering how you were doing.

>

> I know you were a little dissapointed with your progress recently

> and hope you are feeing better these days.

>

> I am also scheduled to see Dr. Rand on Dec 9th...9a.m...to talk

over

> the options...what time are you seeing him...maybe we can get a

cup

> of coffee.

>

> Sorry I can't help with the future view, but now that I have a

> current list of who had Dr Rand, hopefully Corina, , Cheryl,

Ann

> or Carole can help! Cam

[Guest guest]

Hi Dancer,

So glad you've got your computer troubles straightened out.

Regarding your question about the ant/pos/ant approach, I think

he

did it that way because he was unable to place the cages in the

first procedure as the spaces between the vertebrae were so tightly

compressed. Going back after the posterior approach allowed time for

them to loosen up and he was then able to insert the cages. I'm

surmising that this is similar to the two stage surgeries others

have had where the procedures are a week apart, but he was able to

accomplish this in one day in my case. I suppose if they hadn't

loosened up enough, he would have sewed me up and gone back in

another day. That would have been unpleasant news to wake up to!

As for your other question about my x-rays... I didn't see them

after the surgery, but did at my 8 week check.

Excuse my poor memory if you've already posted this, but do you

have your surgery date?

So good to hear from you, hope all is well. Dianne

P.S. And yes, the medical terminology is a real challenge !

>

>

> Hi Dianne!

> Sorry I wasn't able to wish you all the best for you're surgery

five

> mths ago. My computer was down for a few mths.

> Reading you're surgical procedure sounded not only complicated

but

> intracet, extensive (12hr's?) Did you see youre x-ray's after

surgery?

> My H.R. starts at T5 to L3. He will shorten mine too, but not

sure

> at what level he will attach to. I was wondering why with you he

did

> an ant/post/ant, and why with others he does a post/ant/post

> aproach? Well it sounds like you're doing good.

> Best of luck to you Dianne.

> P.S. Doesn't this Dr talk sound like a foreign language to us

> laymen!?

[Guest guest]

Dianne, I hope we can arrange a " cuppa " , it will be nice to get a

face and a name together here! I go up to Boston on the 8th for a

meeting and will be in the city 'til Friday the 10th so if another

time is more conventient..let me know. I am guessing if Rand is on

time I will be outta there before 10am. I am probably the first

patient so hopefully he will be on time. Let me know how to contact

you and we can touch bases when it gets closer. I take it you plan

to drive up in the morning?

Regarding your procedure...are you saying you had the

whole " enchilada " in a one day/11 hour procedure? When I saw him in

April he was saying he usually does the two day/stage thing which is

kinda discouraging me ..Boachie will do it in one day and I really

am not sure how I feel about the more stretched out

version...although I realize there are some very good reasons for it.

Decisions, decisions....Cam

[Guest guest]

Cam,

Yep, he did the whole shebang in one day. I could be wrong, but I

got the impression that doing it all in one day was a fairly new

approach for him, so maybe that will be up for discussion at your

appt.

I will be driving to Boston the morning of my appt., it's only a

little over an hour for me.

Best, Dianne

>

>

>

> Dianne, I hope we can arrange a " cuppa " , it will be nice to get a

> face and a name together here! I go up to Boston on the 8th for a

> meeting and will be in the city 'til Friday the 10th so if another

> time is more conventient..let me know. I am guessing if Rand is on

> time I will be outta there before 10am. I am probably the first

> patient so hopefully he will be on time. Let me know how to

contact

> you and we can touch bases when it gets closer. I take it you plan

> to drive up in the morning?

>

> Regarding your procedure...are you saying you had the

> whole " enchilada " in a one day/11 hour procedure? When I saw him

in

> April he was saying he usually does the two day/stage thing which

is

> kinda discouraging me ..Boachie will do it in one day and I really

> am not sure how I feel about the more stretched out

> version...although I realize there are some very good reasons for

it.

>

> Decisions, decisions....Cam

[Guest guest]

Hi Dianne!

I talked with Rand and asked if Febuary would be good, he said " yes "

but no date has been set. mine is 2 stage 7-10 days apart. I don't

understand why he doesn't give a day for surgery. He definatly

doesn't push it.

Did you know you're procedure would be ant/pos/ant before you went

in?

Well take care.

Franca

> >

> >

> > Hi Dianne!

> > Sorry I wasn't able to wish you all the best for you're surgery

> five

> > mths ago. My computer was down for a few mths.

> > Reading you're surgical procedure sounded not only complicated

> but

> > intracet, extensive (12hr's?) Did you see youre x-ray's after

> surgery?

> > My H.R. starts at T5 to L3. He will shorten mine too, but not

> sure

> > at what level he will attach to. I was wondering why with you he

> did

> > an ant/post/ant, and why with others he does a post/ant/post

> > aproach? Well it sounds like you're doing good.

> > Best of luck to you Dianne.

> > P.S. Doesn't this Dr talk sound like a foreign language to us

> > laymen!?

[Guest guest]

Hi Franca,

I'm pretty sure I knew before my surgery that it would be

ant/pos/ant. I'm uncertain only because his course of action changed

from the first time I saw him when I scheduled my surgery date and

the next time I saw him, one week before the surgery. During the

first appt., he gave me an initial idea of how he'd proceed. Once

the surgery date came up he took a more indepth look at my films and

came up with the definate surgery. I remember being a bit confused.

In my last post I was only surmising about the two day/stage

surgeries, and probably incorrectly. I don't know the differences in

yours and my cases, but that has to be why. I'll ask Rand more about

this on my Dec. 9th appt. I'm a little embarrassed that I know so

little about my own surgery. It just goes to show how little one

knows until asked questions. Scary, huh?

All my best, Dianne

> > >

> > >

> > > Hi Dianne!

> > > Sorry I wasn't able to wish you all the best for you're

surgery

> > five

> > > mths ago. My computer was down for a few mths.

> > > Reading you're surgical procedure sounded not only

complicated

> > but

> > > intracet, extensive (12hr's?) Did you see youre x-ray's after

> > surgery?

> > > My H.R. starts at T5 to L3. He will shorten mine too, but

not

> > sure

> > > at what level he will attach to. I was wondering why with you

he

> > did

> > > an ant/post/ant, and why with others he does a post/ant/post

> > > aproach? Well it sounds like you're doing good.

> > > Best of luck to you Dianne.

> > > P.S. Doesn't this Dr talk sound like a foreign language to us

> > > laymen!?

[Guest guest]

Dear Elyse,

Yes, the next step would be coconut oil. After that add a good

antifungal such as garlic or oil of oregano. The last step is to

take probiotics.

Bee

> SInce treating candida is something where you don't want to do

> everything all at once, is there a sequence of steps?

> I've been on the diet for a while now and am ready for the next

step. > I'm guessing it's coconut oil (which I haven't managed to

get yet, will > post another question about it). Thanks.

>

> Elyse

[Guest guest]

For about $15 you can purchase " Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. "

This book follows the same format as Reading Mastery (which is another good

option but much more expensive). If your child likes the computer, another

option is to purchase 40 or 80 lessons through www.headsprout.com. Both Reading

Mastery and Headsprout's programs are scientifically validated and have been

successfully used with students with autism.

Best,

_______________

Lynch Barbera, RN, MSN, BCBA

www.verbalbehaviorapproach.com

http://verbalbehaviorapproach.blogspot.com/