Hi everyone :) Thank you all so much for the prayers, meditations and wonderful positive thoughts! I got out of the hospital and home about 11 am on Thursday. Was early, but everything went so well and I promised to be a really good girl and do absolutely NOTHING but walk, rest and sleep. My surgery went extremely well "textbook" was my neurosurgeon's word. They were able to use more of my own bone to make the repairs than originally thought, and so did not have to use as much cadaver bone as was planned. The piece that broke on my vertebra was about 1/2 inch or so long and the bone density was VERY good, so they were able to use mostly that as well as a smaller than planned piece from my hip. This all means that hopefully healing will go faster than it normally does because my own bone will fuse and grow to itself so much faster. There are small steel rods about 1 1/2 inches long and about 1/2 inch wide anchoring on either side of the two vertebra. Already the impact shocks are gone. It was a sensation as though the shocks had gone completely out in your car. Imagine that with each step you took. But, that's gone now! :) And the burning pains from the nerves being severely compressed are much less and will continue to reduce as the nerves 'reset and recircuit" themselves. Sitting is still painful, as is just about everything else, but mainly the sitting. I'm already able to walk better. I'm taking it easy, doing nothing, taking my medicines and wearing a bone growth stimulator device 24/7 to also aid and speed the bones in fusing and healing. I have three incisions, 2 about 1 inch long and the third, where they took the hip bone, is about 4 inches long. Several staples holding everything together right now and my hip is really sore and painful when walking, standing or sitting where they took the bone. But, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Things are getting better each day. I'm still on a lot of medications, which they will start weaning me off of in about 3 weeks. This post took me forever to type because I have to keep getting up and down. But I wanted to let you all know how I'm doing and how much I appreciate you all! Kathy

I would suggest that you first see your present doc. Hear what he has to say and then, before doing anything that he suggests, get a second opinion ASAP. Bring copies of all your records from your present doc, everything that is in his charts including the operative notes, any xrays, MRI, CT scans. Everything. Get your second opinion from a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon that specializes in the shoulder. You should have healed from that surgery by now and not be having any problems. I had similar problems from ortho surgery on a tendon in my arm. Long story short, my biggest mistake was not getting a second opinion before surgery and not using a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon. In June I had to have spinal surgery and used a sports medicine doc specialized in spinal surgery from the same practice that I got my after the fact second opinion on my non healing arm. They fixed my arm fine, and also my spine as well. The regular orthopedic docs said at leas 12 months to recover from the spinal surgery and very large incision in my back. Was in an out in 12 hours and almost fully recovered from spinal surgery with a 1 inch incision scar in my back and it's only been 3 months!!!!! I would never use just a regular orthopedic surgeon and always get a second opinion. Good luck and let us know how you are going.

Hi Sherry, Happy to learn that all went well with your husband's surgery. Hopefully his recovery (with the dreaded catheter) will go smoothly. It sounds from your post that the hospital at least kept him overnight? If so that is wonderful. I wasn't sure if they actually would based on some horror stories I have heard. I would not have been surprised to learn that they sent him home with orders for you to return with him at 6:15 a.m. the next morning. (This happened with my husband's vitrectomy.) Too bad that you got sick. No doubt the worry, the hospital and the horrendous wet weather all played a part in it. As to what people ate before tea and toast when sick - well nothing or flat ginger ale and unsalted crackers. Please take it easy and make sure your husband does as well. I hope you have an appointment to change/clean his catheter sooner rather than later. And keep dry.

My Opthamalogist did my cataract surgery, making my right eye for closeup viewing and my left for distance - I LOVE it - no more glasses! I have had no problems since my surgery and, 2 1/2 years after the surgery, I am starting to read normal-size print without glasses - mine was a 100% success, imho!