Today's meeting with the neurosurgeon confirmed what I knew to be true. I need to have much more extensive surgery to remove all the cancerous tissue in the region of the C6 vertebra. Even though this news was expected, it is much more disheartening because I am feeling like my old self again....no more pain, very little residual neuropathy and lots of energy. Ready to get back to golf, pickleball and life as I knew it. Now I face all the risks of surgery, the extensive pain of recovery and the possible lasting side effects.
What I know is that the surgery will be extensive. The surgeon will go in from the front and remove most of that part of C6 and dissect the tissue around the artery to the brain and the nerve to my left arm. He will replace the missing tissue with mesh, cadaver bone, and a plate. Then he will turn me and go in from the back removing most of the left side of the vertebra and any remaining cancerous tissue. He will then fix everything in place with two screws.
If all goes well, I will be in a rigid cervical collar for three months with restrictions on lifting and activities. It will be six to 9 months of recovery before I should have about 90% of my range of motion. I will need to take a year off from golf, but if everything heals well and the tumor is gone, I should be back to golf and all other activities next Spring.
The surgery is scheduled for March 4th, but they are working on moving it up at least a week, maybe two. This means that I will be able to go to Arizona for two weeks to relax, soak up the sun and play a little golf. That should be really good for my psyche as I need a really need a boost at the moment.
What I know is that the surgery will be extensive. The surgeon will go in from the front and remove most of that part of C6 and dissect the tissue around the artery to the brain and the nerve to my left arm. He will replace the missing tissue with mesh, cadaver bone, and a plate. Then he will turn me and go in from the back removing most of the left side of the vertebra and any remaining cancerous tissue. He will then fix everything in place with two screws.
If all goes well, I will be in a rigid cervical collar for three months with restrictions on lifting and activities. It will be six to 9 months of recovery before I should have about 90% of my range of motion. I will need to take a year off from golf, but if everything heals well and the tumor is gone, I should be back to golf and all other activities next Spring.
The surgery is scheduled for March 4th, but they are working on moving it up at least a week, maybe two. This means that I will be able to go to Arizona for two weeks to relax, soak up the sun and play a little golf. That should be really good for my psyche as I need a really need a boost at the moment.
