[Rhodes22-list] Surgery

Wed May 26 19:42:17 EDT 2004

You mean you can cut your own food, my mother always told me that was to dangerous for me to do myself. :-)

MJM

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Alm" <salm at mn.rr.com>
To: "Rhodes" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 5:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Surgery

> 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
> >> 
> >> __________________________________________________
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