Cheers to the Big Ragu,I hope he is healing fast

Well, hey, Bosco and the rest, thank you. I almost pulled up the original tread that Dennis started that’s now 6 pages back, but I didn’t, and I apologize. The 10th of this month marks a whole month post surgery, and yesterday I had to go see my surgeon so he could let me know how things are looking. But first, I had to have x rays done-

A187B535-7665-4399-B997-03A70F6558DE.1615362785.jpeg
2103EED5-CB79-4E37-AB28-04AA6E8B9F23.1615362786.jpeg
F5CD38CA-DE7A-42FA-B24F-9EE2D29D4D14.1615362786.jpeg
C7A2BD84-38D6-43BC-81B0-656C018E2D0A.1615362786.jpeg


Side view and straight on front view shots of all the work he did. What can’t be seen is all the internal dremmel work he did within the spinal cord tunnel to remove the “bone in the way” in order for him to “ pull my head back to proper vertebra specs/curvature” and from there tighten up the grub screws against the rods that pass thru the anchors. 

I asked my surgeon, on a scale of 1-10 what was the level of complexity in working on my neck, and he calls typical everyday neck fusions on average a level 5, and mine was around an 8 or even a 9. I remember back in my work days as a sheet metal worker, certain jobs were “ho-hum” just another day in the office, while some jobs required sharper pencils and a few sleepless nights due to the project being “out of the norm”, so I wanted to know at what level my surgery task was, coming from a more highly trained tradesman with more expensive tools, lol.



im healing, but not gonna lie, I’m miserable in pain. It feels like I’ve got a set of hands on each of my scapula bones and both sets of hands are trying to just separate them from my body. I’m concerned about my right hand, as I’m right handed and my thumb and first two fingers(trigger finger) are 100% numb from fingernail down. My left shoulder is trashed, as I can’t even raise my left arm up. Dr says I’m inflamed around the spinal cord still, and it could take up to 3 months to settle down. Hopefully no BS there. It’s 12am as I’m typing this, and it’s looking like another long sleepless night due to being uncomfortable. 

I wanted to end my reply in a positive note, as I felt like all I did was whine, and the positive to all of this is I received so many great pm’s from caring folks on here, I came home to a package that contained this from DAVELARSON-

93357564-E4DB-4BAB-98FA-BC004893CDF8.1615364129.jpeg
34CBDC51-F455-421C-8615-3DA727E9DDA5.1615364130.jpeg


This copper angel made my wife tear up, and to see it hang and the sunlight pass thru it is amazing. Oh, and just yesterday? I received a very thoughtful gift in the mail from “a secret society” headed off by INTENSEATY22. 

To those all involved in the secret society, to DaveLarson and his thoughtful metal fab skills, to those all who sent me a caring pm and a phone call, and to those all that wished me luck and quick healing, I thank you. 

Its not always about Daystates, FX, Hatsans and Marauders on this site. I wanted to point that out. What a great community.
 
Oh ouch!!! I thought the titanium plates in my larynx were bad but they are nothing compared to that! They really screwed with you and literally so. It's amazing what the surgeons can cook up to fix things these days. You are blessed for that anyway. I pray for your speedy recovery and that you will have much relief in the pain area.

God bless 
 
Heal well my friend. After I got in a car wreck my left trigger finger is always numb like you can poke it with a needle or run it in the fire and nothing. Had physical therapy rehab sessions that only temporarily helped with the feeling but lucky it wasn't my righty. That wreck was like slow motion like how you see in the movies slow motion for real. My finger hit the glass and wouldn't stop bleeding for a long time. Someone ran the stop sign. Saw him coming and even swerved to lessen the impact surprised my totalled car didn't flip over. Just like the slow no in the movies 4 real like how I lost it in a Corvette flying down steep hill high rate of speed absolute downpour wet road spinning out slow mo Just like that lucky I gassed it and cranked the wheel to regain traction and made it stop spinning out like maverick and goose in Top Gun. Gotta try it it's a feeling like nothing else just don't die. Just like a dream. You become a new person after that like a cleansing. For real.
 
I’m hurting just looking at the pictures! It’s so awesome that it can be done. The dremmel work and those screws have really impacted you, I can only imagine what it’s like. You must be incredibly tough to get through this, but you don’t have a choice either! You got run through the wood chipper and reassembled. Hang in there Augie we are all hoping and praying for the very best outcome. I’m not going to mention Humpty dumpy because that’s not going to be to outcome here!
 
Hopefully recovery gets better. Been following whats been going on with you & I can relate to what your going through. Last year I almost died, had to have a major surgery back in late February 2020. I was in hospital for 11 days before I went home & I’m still at home mostly recovered. I’m at high risk due to many health problems-if get Covid not going to turn out good for me. So I’ve been at home since, ( kinda like house arrest lol) - I work from a home office currently, but in few more months I will return to work office. I can tell you that you can’t rush healing, as it does take time, especially what you had done. Also These Airgun forums, Airgun hobby & my family kept my spirts up even though I was in a lot of pain most of the time & didn’t sleep much either. You got a lot good people on here that care, and I’m sure your Family is there for you as well. I Wish you the best and a speedy recovery & Have faith & May God Bless you. 
 
I have a sneaking suspicion, that my happenings pale when compared to what some of you have gone or are going thru. When I read about near death experiences, well, yeah, mine is truly not a big deal. You all with the truly “tough times”, I’ll be praying for you!



today is my first day of physical therapy outside of the little bit I got at the Sutter Roseville Rehab facility. Dr instructed me two days ago all he wants them doing is the rotator cuff work along with the numb fingers.

we shall see.