My husband had a
anterior cervical discectomy with fusion on Monday. This operation involves removing two discs and replacing them with a bone graft and a metal plate. He has a four inch gruesome looking incision across his throat. He was sent home from the hospital on Wednesday and did not require a neck brace. This was his ninth surgery - thumb, elbow, shoulder (2), knee, skin grafts - due to third degree burns (2), tonsils and hand. For martial artists reading this post, five of the surgeries were because of a karate related injury. If the past predicts future behavior...he is a terrible patient.
As the caregiver, the burn on his leg was the hardest for me to manage. He could not walk for several weeks because the skin graft needed to heal. Changing the bandages took close to an hour everyday. It was a difficult time. I was extremely concerned about his neck surgery. I did not know how we would manage his recovery, our daughter, my job, the dojo and the house. Not to mention that I am a bit squeamish about necks and spines. I remember being the only pregnant woman in our pre-natal class who had no intention of having an epidural. No one was going to get near my spine with a needle. No way.
On Wednesday, I realized that we should move a recliner from our second floor to the first floor. Normally, this should not be a problem but for us it is a huge undertaking. Our house is dated 1790. It is cold and drafty, low ceilings, narrow windows and stairwell. There is addition with a low flat roof that transitions to the karate school. Not a single piece of furniture can make it down the stairway. When we were renovating the house, we had to cut a larger window out the back side of the house. It opens to the flat roof. It is the only way furniture gets in or out. I enlisted the help of my brother and nephew and we were able to get the chair out the window, across the roof and lowered down in front of the karate school. At one point during the chair move, I could not locate my husband. I found him walking on the flat roof the very day he came home from the hospital! What was he thinking?
I am happy to report that he is doing excellent He has increased ROM, less pain and more strength in his arms. He is not required to wear a brace and is able to walk around. He was even in the dojo last Thursday observing and offering corrections.
As the caregiver, the burn on his leg was the hardest for me to manage. He could not walk for several weeks because the skin graft needed to heal. Changing the bandages took close to an hour everyday. It was a difficult time. I was extremely concerned about his neck surgery. I did not know how we would manage his recovery, our daughter, my job, the dojo and the house. Not to mention that I am a bit squeamish about necks and spines. I remember being the only pregnant woman in our pre-natal class who had no intention of having an epidural. No one was going to get near my spine with a needle. No way.
On Wednesday, I realized that we should move a recliner from our second floor to the first floor. Normally, this should not be a problem but for us it is a huge undertaking. Our house is dated 1790. It is cold and drafty, low ceilings, narrow windows and stairwell. There is addition with a low flat roof that transitions to the karate school. Not a single piece of furniture can make it down the stairway. When we were renovating the house, we had to cut a larger window out the back side of the house. It opens to the flat roof. It is the only way furniture gets in or out. I enlisted the help of my brother and nephew and we were able to get the chair out the window, across the roof and lowered down in front of the karate school. At one point during the chair move, I could not locate my husband. I found him walking on the flat roof the very day he came home from the hospital! What was he thinking?
I am happy to report that he is doing excellent He has increased ROM, less pain and more strength in his arms. He is not required to wear a brace and is able to walk around. He was even in the dojo last Thursday observing and offering corrections.