It's time for me to post....

[Guest guest]

OK ladies, I've been silent for months now, except for e-mailing Dorcas in

St. Louis, and on the rare occassion, Cam. Technically, I guess I'm still new

to this group with the exception that I jumped right in and had my revision done

within about a year of my first post.

I won't bore you with my story, you can read it in my previous posts if

you're so inclined. The main problem I was having was that I'm an RN who worked

in ICU for 20 yrs. and it was getting so hard for me to work it was pitiful. My

co-workers kept urging me to " Do Something " , but I was afraid.

Finally, in December of 2009, I sent my x-rays, myelograms, CT's and MRI's

to Dr. Bridwell in St. Louis. I'll tell you what, I've always trusted my gut

feelings, that's what has served me best in nursing and my 50 yrs. of life on

this earth. Boy, were my gut feelings right. I absolutely LOVE Dr. Bridwell.

HE TRULEY saved my life. I had my first appointment with him on 2/8/10. He said

he could help me and I put all my trust in him. I didn't even have more than 5

questions to ask prior to my surgery (and I'm a very precise and particular ICU

nurse when it comes to my patients). I just knew I could trust Dr. Bridwell. My

biggest issue was, " When can I go back to work? " I had 2 anterior fusions last

April, 2010 at -Jewish, 2 days apart. Ended up with a metal " halo " drilled

into my skull for 2 days, that was the worst part. Hardly remember it now. Had

an anterior fusion on 7/20/10 and that was it. I worked part-time mid-June to

mid-July. I went back to work full-time (in the ER, now) the third week of

September, 2010.

Today, I can hardly believe what I looked and felt like this time last

year. Couldn't stand up straight. Couldn't go to the grocery or anywhere for

that matter, without holding on to a shopping cart. At work, I pushed around my

" invisible " patient in a wheelchair, just so I could get around. I had a

morphine pump that delivered continuous morphine to my spine AND I took oral

morphine and Vicodin DS, 180 pills/month. I was still in horrible pain. Nobody

believed me. I didn't talk about it to anyone, but my co-workers and family said

I didn't have to...it was written all over me.

But this is today. I have NO pain. My leg numbness and bad pain was gone

before I left the hospital. (NOTE TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE NEUROPATHY IN YOUR

LEGS: DON'T wait too long to have revision surgery, you may not regain full

function or feeling in your leg(s)!)

No more pump, no more pills, and I gained 3 " in height. But we ALL have

different outcomes. I think my saving grace was that I love to work, I love my

job and I'm single, so I have to work (can't live the lifestyle I like on

SSDI...tried that for 3 yrs. and it didn't work for me!!)

Bottom line: If you're scared and remembering your surgery when you were a

teenager, don't be (well, maybe just a little!). Things have changed ALOT since

the 70's and 80's in spine surgery. One more thing. Don't base your decision on

who your surgeon will be on how " Warm and Cuddley " he is. I've never met a

surgeon like that in my 27 yrs. of being a nurse. Dr. Bridwell jokes around

with me and even gave me TWO HUGS at my visit in October, but that comes

afterwards. Only go to a surgeon who has done HUNDREDS of revision surgeries.

(I had one from California-won't name names-who was calling me and e-mailing me

trying to get me to schedule my surgery with him. I knew from that something

wasn't right), and stop worrying! It's weird how things work out when you decide

to have your surgery.

Good luck to you all!!!

Janet Bellware from Beavercreek, OH