My Cervical Spine Operation

For a few weeks I was a bit quiet on the blogging front. Think nerves took over before my operation.

Well for almost 5 months now I was suffering with severe pain in my arm. Many weeks were spent to and fro from my GP with x-rays and scans on my arm with nothing found. As a last resort the doctor, who had 'tennis elbow' on the brain referred me to a physiotherapist.

My visit to the physiotherapist was short. She got me to move around in different positions and just said "I want you to have a CT Scan on your neck before I can do anything".

After the CT Scan my problem was found. I had 2 bulging discs, C5/6 & C6/7, which were also trapping nerves. My arm pain was then diagnosed as 'referred' pain. Not once did O have pain in my neck. Pain was by now in my left shoulder blade and chest area with electrifying pins and needles.

The physiotherapist popped me on to a neck traction machine for about 6 sessions, it didn't help. A referral to a brain and spine specialist was then made. Firstly the specialist wanted me have an MRI and then to try cortisone in to the discs. I must say this was not nice and I had to have Valium to calm my nerves. This didn't work.

Second option was the 'surgery of the cervical spine'. I had this operation on 21st October 2009 and on waking the next morning the horrendous pain in my arm and pins and needles had gone. just ached in the neck area from the operation. After 2 days I was released, after they removed the few staples in my head and the drain from my operation area.

To put it bluntly the surgeon shaved bone from the 2 discs to make a hole for the trapped nerve to escape in to.

It is now 30th October 2009 with tingling in my fingers and still aches in my neck and shoulder area. I am hoping this will go away but only time will tell. I didn't need any stitches to be removed as they were dissolvable and as you can see the scaring is minimal. Quite neat eh?

Pull Together To Help Someone - Darnell

A story of a young man in his prime and his family which need your help.

Darnell is a 20 year old, still living with his parents. Until he fell ill, he worked with his mom, who owns a construction cleaning business. His father is a prison guard. They live in Columbia, South Carolina. Darnell has two brothers, a cousin was also raised by his mom and dad, but he is now grown and out of the house, and another cousin is still living with them currently, she is 9 years old.

Darnell has no health insurance, because his father's insurance dropped him at age 18, and his mom's business is too small to be able to afford an employee health care plan. He has recently been diagnosed with a tumor behind his eyes. He noticed something was wrong when his vision was beginning to fail. He went completely blind in both eyes within a matter of weeks. The tumor is pressing down on both optical nerves. Most recently, his condition turned worse, when he was unable to keep any food or water down for three days. He was admitted to the hospital, and the doctors decided to surgically remove his tumor the very next day. No word yet on his condition after surgery.

The family is in a financial bind. Expensive tests (MRI, eye tests, CT-scans, doctor visits, etc.) all required down payments, and monthly payment plans. The family is falling behind on their regular bills. Although Medicaid has been applied for, bills must be paid until it kicks in, if it is approved.

We ask you to please consider shopping our shops as we are donating money to this for this family (search JETTEAM on Etsy.com), donate money out right and please please please pray for this family. If you are interested in donating money please contact krystal.backer@gmail.com