Two level cervical disc replacement

I tripped over the dare dog and fell backwards ,smacking my head on the wall then hit the floor. The neck hurt a little bit. I shook it off . A few days later while putting my dad’s 300# gun safe in the basement I felt a nasty pull in my neck. Weeks later it worsened. I had an mri which indicated I had two significant herniated disc at c5 -c6 and c6-c7. I had to follow the typical protocol, therapy, meds and the epidural injection. Only had one epidural shot. If was very interesting. There were 5 nurse and two doctors in the surgical room. They had me lay face down. I was covered with a warming blanket . The I felt the nurses putting straps over my back and legs. Wow I restricted to move my body with the exception of my arms. The nurses then draped the green covers over me. The injection area was prepped. The it was time to get the local shots. A gloved nurse grasped my head and kept me from moving. Another localized injection administer except the needle when deeper , and another deeper more. There was a brief pause since it take locals a little more time to take effect.The doctor then tells me he is going to insert the epidural needle . With that being said a nurse on my left and the nurse on my right grasped my wrist and fore arms. Then they pulled my arm towards my feet. Then the big ass needle was inserted. Then the steroid was injected. Oh my god the pain I felt. It was so intense I started to go in shock. The nurse restraining my arms did make it any better. The shot did nothing for me.

So the next path is artificial disc replacement which will happen 20th. The pre op info I was told...I’ll be stripped of all my clothing and only have a gown . I’ll be awake going into the operating room. I’ll get placed on the table and the nurses will start to prep me . The anesthesiologist will knock me out. Once out he will inibate me . Mean while one prep nurse will insert a Foley catheter while I’m unconscious. Boy that’s no fun. The other nurses will remove my gown and wipe me down . Dam I’m going be naked and asleep. Then the neurologist is going to insert a shit load of acupuncture needles in my body and hook lead to each one which all hooks up to a computer that monitors my nerves. After that the doctor makes a two inch incision in the front of my lower neck area. I guess after that he gets down to the bad discs and removes them. Then a little bone clean up and the new disc is installed. After that.... it’s probably the closure.

What is going through my mine is what are these nurses thinking when they have a naked unconscious man in there presents. I m very great shape and have well defined muscles. I m hoping the catheter is removed before I regain consciousness. Not looking forward to this with all that happen this year.

What is going through my mine is what are these nurses thinking when they have a naked unconscious man in there presents.

Let's see.. They could be thinking "hope he doesn't die like the last three guys did".. Or maybe they're thinking "gee, are we missing a retractor?" Or maybe they're thinking, after the surgeon closes.. "what's this little round plastic thing? Weren't we supposed to put TWO of them in there?" Or maybe one of them who was assisting notices she's missing her watch?

Seriously, sorry you injured your neck. Done right, the surgery is pretty strait forward. While you're in the OR nobody is really going to be admiring your muscles or your package. Seriously.they're not.

Hope your surgery goes well.

Doc

Thank Doc for the kind words of encouragement. I’ve been really stressed out this year . Lost both parents within 14 months, been dealing with a drug addict sister w/ her heroin addict daughter and now this. I have all the respect in the world for these medical professionals. The surgeon is a great friend of mine and a long time school mate. I want to get this over with because of the frickin pain. The pain meds don’t do a thing . Yes im scared. This is the first major surgery I ever had. Sorry for babbling.

You're not babbling.. You're fine.

Seriously, if I can help feel free to contact me.

Doc

Yikes! How scary for you! What a tough year you have had. I hope all goes well with your surgery and with your family. Hang in there!!! (A friend of mine from church just had some sort of big neck surgery and he has pretty much recovered fine from it from what I can see. They went in through the front like you described.)

What really scares me is waking up during the procedure. In the past I woke up during and endoscopy and also during a colonoscopy. Younger life it was during a tonsillectomy. At 6 yrs old it took four nurses to hold me down before they induced more whatever to knock me out. Nothing like getting a vasectomy and the doctor did not give the local longer time than needed before making the incision. It’s really bad when it takes 10-15 min for the local to numb me completely. I’m definitely going to give the anesthesiologists my past history. In the past one doctor that gave me a caudal epidural injection said it was all psychological. When I started to go in shock during the injection process he obviously believed me. I never went back to that doctor.

I’ve been fighting with the medical insurance company for over a month. They would not approve the disc replacement and would only approve a fusion. I said no way am I getting a fusion. I told my doctor I was willing to pay out of pocket for the disc replacement and I would fight the insurance company legally. I was fighting this because the doctors reviewing my case was a internal Medicine / occupational physician and an orthopedic that specialized in shoulder and knee . Wait no spine experience ? After appealing this twice another insurance doctor who was a neurologist reviewed my doctors appeal. He approved the disc replacement and surgery is scheduled for the 31st of Dec. Yes I’m very nervous since this is my first major surgery. I’m eager to get it done to relieve me from this horrible pain. And I will be respecting all medical personnel that will be working on me. Happy New Disc year for me!

Well the two disc replacement was a success. My surgeon was willing to let me go the same day after recovery. I opted to stay one night over. So it was New Year’s Eve . I had no more nerve pain to look forward to. Glad I stayed too. They have much better pain meds at the hospital. Also I didn’t expect the anesthesia to have an effect on my bladder. It did. I had the urge to purge yet I couldn’t. The attending RN scanned my bladder and I was retaining which happens . I did get a straight catheter and I filled the 1500ml bag. I guess I’m part camel. I’m glad I was in the hands of the professionals and I am very much thankful and respected all those that attended to me. Yes I was treated with dignity.

Now recovery time at home. I’m glad I fought the insurance company on the ADR denial . There was no way I would allow a fusion in my neck. Happy New Year.