[Rhodes22-list] Surgery

[Steve Alm]

Hey Todd,
I finally got to mow my lawn today--one handed.  It felt good to get out and
do something to make myself feel useful.  But my wife still has to cut up
the food on my plate like a little kid who can't use a knife yet.  8-)  At
least I can go to the pottie all by myself now like a big boy--oops--too
much information.  8-)

Hope you're feeling better.

Slim

On 5/21/04 10:22 PM, "Todd Tavares" <sprocket80 at mail.com> wrote:

> 
>  Slim,
>  Actually, I think I am now just a hair taller. When they removed the
>  disks, they put in pieces of bone that were about twice the height of
>  the disks so that the muscles and tendons will also help to keep those
>  bone graft sections under compression until they calcify and fill with
>  marrow tissue.
>  My older brother is 6'5" and my younger brother is 6'4". All of my
>  adult life I have been only 5' 11 + 3/4" tall. I am going to hold a
>  level on top of my head and mark my height on the door jamb as soon as
>  I get offline here. Maybe I can finally say that I am six feet tall!!
>  :-)
>  I was just joking about my wife making me get my own coffee. She too
>  is a great care-giver and a true gem. I did make the mistake of
>  jokingly answering her question of, "Where would you men be without us
>  women?" by saying, "Probably still in The Garden of Eden." (I have an
>  odd sense of humor you must remember) I think if I wasn't in that neck
>  brace, I would have gotten a fat lip. : -q)
>  Todd
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  From: Steve Alm
>  Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 19:46:17 -0500
>  To: Rhodes
>  Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Surgery
>> Wow, Todd! Mine is nothin' compared to spinal surgery. Especially
>  one that
>> major. So...are you shorter now without the two disks? 8-)
>> 
>> My wife has been a great care-giver/cheerleader too. Don't know what
>  I'd do
>> without her.
>> 
>> Best of luck to you too!
>> 
>> Slim
>> 
>> On 5/21/04 4:39 PM, "Todd Tavares" wrote:
>> 
>>> Slim,
>>> 
>>> Glad to hear that your recovery is progressing well. Let me know
>  if you
>>> have any further problems.....I can give you the name of one of
>  the best
>>> neurosurgeons in the country.
>>> 
>>> This fine surgeon, by the name of Dr. Arthur Kobri ne, removed two
>  disks from
>>> my cervical spine and fused three vertibrae. He braced my spine
>  with a
>>> titanium plate (sorry Roger, but I dont know the # :-D).
>>> 
>>> The surgery was on the fifth of this month, and I was able to ride
>  the
>>> tractor yesterday to mow the lawn!! *\o/* I cannot go back to 100%
>  full
>>> work status for 12 more weeks either. I will be back on light duty
>  in 4wks.
>>> During my after surgery 2 week check-up, the doctor asked if I had
>  any
>>> post-surgery side effects. I told him yes......I have gained ten
>  pounds from
>>> sitting around all day eating Chips Ahoy cookies and watching TV.
>  LOL
>>> 
>>> Hope you feel better, and are back to tickling those ivories soon!
>>> 
>>> Todd
>>> 
>>> P.S. ( *\o/* )That was my wife doing her cheerleader imitation for
>  me being
>>> able to get off of the co uch... which meant I could now go and
>  get my own damn
>>> coffee :-D. If you need any perocet, let me know. I have plenty
>  left over
>>> ;-)
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: Steve Alm
>>> Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 11:27:08 -0500
>>> To: Rhodes
>>> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Surgery
>>> 
>>>> Hi all,
>>>> 
>>>> Due to an old athletic injury to my right elbow, I've suffered
>  some nerve
>>>> damage to my ulnar nerve. That's what we call the "funny bone."
>  This
>>>> chronic and progressive problem has recently taken its toll and I
>  have lost
>>>> most of the strength in my little finger. This really wouldn't be
>  much of a
>>>> problem unless of course, one happens to play the piano for a
>  living.
>>>> 
>>>> So on Tuesd ay, I underwent ulnar nerve transposition surgery.
>  That's where
>>>> they reroute the nerve to the inside of the elbow and tuck it
>  under the
>>>> muscle, where it will hopefully lead a more comfortable life.
>>>> 
>>>> The surgery went well and I thought I received very good
>  care/treatment at
>>>> the hospital. The procedure requires a general anesthesia but is
>>>> out-patient, so after they woke me up, they sent me home. My
>  fingers are
>>>> warm, have no numbness and I can wiggle all 5. That's a good
>  start. My arm
>>>> is in a cast and sling.
>>>> 
>>>> I spent most of the first two days sleeping. Yesterday I went for
>  a walk--2
>>>> whole blocks. Today I'm feeling quite a bit better and the pain
>  has
>>>> subsided considerably. One-handed typing isn't so bad, but you
>  should see
>>>> my left-handed handwriting.
>>>> 
>>>> The recovery will be pretty lengthy and I won't be able to go
>  back to work
>>>> for approx 3 months. And naturally, this gives new meaning to the
>  term,
>>>> single-handed sailing! I could probably sit at the helm and
>  steer, but
>>>> that's about all. We were planning a 3 week trip to Brazil in
>  June-July.
>>>> The trip is now extended to 5 weeks since I can't go right back
>  to work.
>>>> That's the good news. I can just as easily recover on a warm,
>  tropical
>>>> beach as anywhere else. 8-)
>>>> 
>>>> I'll keep you posted on my progress. Wish me luck!
>>>> 
>>>> Slim
>>>> 
>>>> __________________________________________________
>>>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>> 
>> __________________________________________________
>> Use Rhodes 22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
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