DDSFS

"Bob Weinberger" wrote in message
news:_oyWg.833$P92.189@trndny02...
Op,
It really is a walk in the park.
I had a laminectomy of C5, C6 almost 20 yrs ago.
The pain/ numbess & loss of strength in my arms & hands were totally
releived and have not returned. The only negative after effect was a
patch of skin on my back was rubbed raw (healed within days) by spending
so much time on the table in an awkward position. I'm sure that techniques
must be even better today. In those days they went in thru the front of
the neck ( no scar visible) and used cadaver bone to replace the two disks
they removed.
I had to wear a Philadelphia collar (neck brace for several weeks post-op.
I'm afraid that I really upset the nurse who gave me my discharge
instructions:
" Now you are not to drive for 3 weeks."
" Thats OK I'll ride my bike to work."
"NO!!!"
" Are you telling me that I'll need to swkateboard to work?"

OBROFF, the decision to have the operation was based on the Dr.'s advice
that it would be time to have the operation when I could no longer fly
cast.

Bob Weinberger

Apparently, it ain't so different from 2o years ago! Neuro-doc said frontal
assault, 1 inch incision, remove disc, either use my own bone or cadaver
donated. Benefit of cadaver, no extra healing. Disadvantage of cadaver
bone is that it is only 80% likely to take. Which I found out tonight in
research methods class is a no go, if I was trying to so a relationship
between variable to the probability of .05 :~^ ( However, a 96% chance it
will take with my own bone. Which just happens to fall with in the
probability range by .01

I'm likely to go with the cadaver donation which the doc will screw into
place. Then I get to were the neck brace for a week of so. He said no work
for 4 to 6 weeks, and no driving while on narcotics. I guess it's a good
thing I didn't tell him I have been driven for the past several weeks on
percocet? Funny though the neck brace he showed me look more like one of
them dog collars that keep'em from lickin' their wounds?

Thankfully, my boss decided to be human for a day and said I could come back
to work whenever I felt ready to, and I could just hang out tying flies all
day!

Op