Greetings, forumites -

I just wanted to let folks know that if I don't post here for awhile, it's not that I've left, but that I am having surgery tomorrow afternoon.

My C3/4 disc is herniated and bulging into my spinal cord, so I will be receiving my 4th discectomy. I guess I won't be looking up at the sky as much anymore, as my cervical spine from C3 through C7 will be one solid mass of bone (I have previously had my C6/7, C5/6, and C4/5 discs fused).

I've done it before, so I know what to expect, both in surgery and recovery. But this should fix the problem with numbness and tingling in my fingers and arms for the past four months (it's hard to play piano when you can't really feel the keys). The greatest risk, unfortunately, is that sometimes the vocal cords get affected with this surgery, which is not good for me as a choir director. But given the choice of eventual paralysis (left untreated), I'll take the surgery.

I do covet all prayer.

Peace!

"I do covet all prayer."



Done. Get well soon!


Regards,


Bob

"I do covet all prayer."







Yes. Have you in thought and prayer.

Wishing you a speedy recovery soon.


Charlie

You are in our prayers my friend.

Have a safe operation and a speedy recovery.

John, believe me, we'll be thinking of you from Down Under.
Best wishes for a successful operation, full recovery and a very speedy return.
We don't want to miss you for too long now

Trevor

John,

All the best. I hope that everything runs smoothly for you and that recovery is speedy and as comfortable as possible.

My thoughts are with you.
Noel

Prayers for a speedy and healthy recovery!

Thinking of you over here in Ireland John, hope you make a very speedy recovery.

Musiclover

Heal quickly John. Wish we could have met when you lived up here in NOVA.

Hang in there John, and thanks for the update. I'm sure you'll be flooded with prayers and well-wishes... and part of them will be mine

Thanks, everyone. The well-wishes are very comforting.

The good news is that my wife will be with me and she is one of the best care givers I know. She just knows how to get stuff from hospital staff and make them happy to do it. Not a skill I have.

Best to you and here's to a fast recovery! As someone with disc issues you have my heartfelt sympathy.

Bud

Thanks, Bud (and Janice)!

All the best, John.

Wishing you a speedy recovery and hoping to see you back here before too long.

Take care, ROG.

Best wishes, John!

Best wishes for an uneventful surgery and a good and thorough recovery.

Guido

All the best John. I will be thinking of you.

John,

Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Best wishes from here, John, for successful operation and a speedy recovery. Cheers.

Wow! You've really had an ordeal with your back.

Absolutely John, you're in my prayers. So is your wife.

Best wishes and prayers John. You are blessed to have such a good woman at your side.

Jeff

Get better soon. It's not fun to be sick and in pain.

John,

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Pain sucks. I experience lower back and SI joint pain myself. Get well quick. I'll be monitoring this thread to see how you are when you re-appear.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, John.

Surgery went well, but still have some tingling in my fingers (which I'm hoping is just residual and will be gone in a day or two). I truly appreciate all the well wishes. Assuming the doc is happy about everything, I should be sent home tomorrow for light duty for awhile.

Wishing you a speedy and successful recovery John.

I must've blinked. Welcome back! (no pun intended)

John,
I'm glad to hear that the surgery went well. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Peter

John, my prayer for you is to heal quickly and completely.

I've had nerve compressions that led to numbness/tingling a couple of times, and for me it has always taken a while for the feeling to return after surgery/therapy. Fortunately, it DOES return

Just wanted to give an update that I am home, still have some tingling in my fingers, but much better than before surgery and so probably just have to give the nerves time to heal. The drugs to ease the pain make me sleepy and I doze a lot, but I do get outside and walk 30-45 minutes (per doctor's direction) each day.

I expect it will be another week and a half or two weeks before I go back to work.

Again, thanks for all the prayers and well wishes. This is a great forum of caring people.

Thanks for the good news, John.

That's great news John. Now, get back to work!




Regards,


Bob

That's great news to hear and in time sounds like it will be even better. Continued prayers for a fast recovery and healing!

Thanks for the update John. Sounds like you are on the continual improve. Let's look forward to 100%

John, that is great news. Thanx for letting us know.

Great news John! Hopefully by July you'll be feeling well enough to join the rest of us at Lake George NY for Matt's concert!

The hillside is above the stage; you won't even have to look up!

Outstanding news. Good for you. Continued improvement.

Just want to pass along wishes and prayers as well for a rapid and effective recovery, John!!!!!
Cecil

I went to the doctor today for my 6-week checkup. X-rays were perfect. The tingling in my right hand has mostly passed (I only notice it occasionally) and the tingling in my left hand is still there, but much reduced. The doctor says it just takes time for the nerves to heal, so that's good.

I am officially allowed to drive again and am allowed to lift my keyboard again (I was on a 15-pound restriction).

I'll do some physical therapy to loosen the tight muscles in my neck (more the result from hyper-extending the neck during surgery), and then a final check in another 6 weeks. Life is good.

So, yay!

Thanks again for all the well-wishers.

Excellent, John!

That is good news!

Fantastic! Very pleased for you John, and thanks for the update. Keep improving, eh?

Here's the 'all new' JF:

Glad to hear everything is working out for you John.

Great news John.

Thanks for keeping us posted John! Its good to know your tingling is going away... that can be annoying and debilitating.

I love that image, Trevor. My facebook avatar right now is the grand piano at the church I used to be pianist for, so very appropriate.

Good news John. Thanks for the update!

Great to hear john that you are on the mend. Keep on improving quickly.

Musiclover

Prayer works!!!! And you'll continue to get 'em John!! So glad you're on the mend!!
Cecil

John,

Glad your recovery road is smooth. Looking forward to the next update.

Very glad to hear you're on the upswing, John!