Good News From the Neurosusrgeon

I had a very positive meeting with the neurosurgeon today. I had X-rays first and the technician was amazed in the hardware that was in my neck. He had never seen anything like it. He showed the X-rays to me and I was amazed at how the things that had been verbally described to me actually looked. Dr.Antezana said that everything was in place and looked like it should at 7 weeks since the surgery. He reiterated that he had really disturbed the nerve and what I was experiencing in my arm and hand was to be expected.  He hoped the symptoms would decrease over time. He told me to wean myself from the brace and to get back to normal activities as I can,but stop when there is too much pain. He also prescribed aggressive PT to strengthen my left arm and neck.

I am overjoyed with the news and anxious to be finished with the brace and hopefully get more function in my hand and arm.

 Spring has sprung at Willamette View

I have been meaning to write a post for quite a while but typing long passages is difficult because the thumb and first two fingers on my left hand are tingling and not working normally. My left arm is quite week so typing  is a challenge.

It is also quite challenging to live and sleep in a hard plastic collar.Sleeping was very difficult and painful in the hard collar, but I have been sleeping much better since I graduated to a soft collar two weeks ago.. I have found out how fortunate it was that I purchased the apartment at Willamette View. I have everything I have needed since the surgery. A  home health aide helps me two days a week with the things I can't do: shower, wash my hair, change the bed, and do the laundry. I also have my meals provided so I don't have to worry about cooking. The only exercise I have been able to do is walking and I have walked 3-5 miles each day wither outside around the interesting neighborhoods or in the great athletic center we have on campus. I have been getting a massage here as well as going to acupuncture off campus. it is great having my sister here and she has been a great help as my chauffeur.

I was in a lot of pain at the beginning but by 6 weeks I was off pain killers, but will have to take pills for the nerve pain and neuropathy as they will be the lasting results of the surgery. Don't know how long it will take but it is most annoying to have my left hand not working and having shooting pains down my arm and hand.

I was getting quite down after 5 weeks of being quite limited in what I could do but a 10 days away was just what I needed. My dear friend Phyl drove over from Montana, picked me up, and took me to the coast after a night stay over in Corvallis. We were joined by Carolyn Miller for three days of wonderful meditation and discussion stimulated by recordings from Pema Chodron. Of course the food was delicious and we relaxed with some fun movies.

I got dropped off in Corvallis and had a wonderful, exhausting week chatting with friends at two brunches, at my book club and science dinner club. I went to a fabulous piano concert and played bridge with many of my bridge friends. Sophie stayed with me for the entire week, waking me at 6:30 every morning ready to go. We took walks every day. She is such a loving dog and I really miss her in Portland. The week really helped my morale.

Since my return to Portland, I have felt exhausted and have slept 8 to 10 hours a night with a nap in the afternoon. I have been concentrating on helping my sister who is going in for a knee replacement on Thursday. I will go to the hospital with her and folks here at WV have volunteered to drive me to and from so I can visit her every day..