Bionic Oilman
This will be a short update on my status, so that I don't have to write numerous discord messages at many servers. As I explained on my previous post that I have developed a condition called OPLL, which led to a condition called Cervical Stenosis. Cervical stenosis is a condition in which the spinal canal is too small for the spinal cord and nerve roots. This can cause damage to the spinal cord, a condition called myelopathy, or pinch nerves as they exit the spinal canal (radiculopathy).
Above is a CT-scan of my cervical spine prior to the surgery. If you don't know how to read a CT scan: the left panel is a vertical cross section along the top of my body. The front is to the left, and back is to the right. The image shows the uppermost part of my cervical spine that hold my head. Anything white is bone, grey is soft tissue and muscle. I used a white arrow to point the ossification within my spinal cavity. It is a ligament that turned into bone between C2 and C6 vertebrae.
Along the thin red line through the C3 vertebrae, is the section, which is the image to the right panel. Front of my body is to the top, again the white arrow is showing the ossification. This view also shows the spinal cavity where the nerves are, is significantly narrowed. This narrowing is called the stenosis, which if not treated, can lead to permanent damage of the spinal chord and cause paralysis from neck down.
Post Surgery
Obviously I can't leave it untreated. The remedy is a procedure called Laminectomy which I explained in the previous post. It was done on July 31 morning. Here is the result post surgery (x-ray):
Side-view facing right
Front-view
As you can see from the two x-ray images, after the partial removal of C2-C6 vertebrae, my doctor drilled 10 holes in the back of my spine, placed 10 screws, and attached it with bolts and two rods. You can also see the stiches, which are staples.
There you have it. The surgery was successful. I have always been a oilman, now I am a bionic oilman! I am okay. I can type. I have a collar on my neck now and will be there for a while. I am chewing painkillers as snack. It feels like a 18 wheeler went over me. It hurts everywhere still, but it is getting better. The fact that I can type this long sitting down means things are getting better. I even played a few Splinterlands games.
Many thanks to you all for your kindness and wishes. I had to write this for you in full transparency and I wanted to have this as a permanent feature of the blockchain.
Many thanks to all of hive and splinterlands communities.
Glad to see that your surgery was successful.
Hope you get well soon.
I am getting better daily. Almost no problems typing. Many thanks for the kind words
I thought it was your hands, not 12 screws in your spine.., that's serious stuff.., get well man!
Hand!! How did you figure that? Lol
Also only 10 screws :)
Not that make it less serious:)
Yeah , getting better by the minute that's the good news!
It's amazing we can perform this kind of surgery, less than a hundred years ago this was impossible. Much love Jimmy!!!
Getting better every day. Doing PT. Range of motion increasing by the day!
See! Getting screwed isn't so bad!
Take it easy dude. It's amazing what they can do for people nowadays. I know someone in life currently recovering from something far more intense. Keyword: recovering.
Yeah, when you are getting screwed you don’t feel a thing!
My other joke was: See! Being screwed up isn't so bad!
I'll be careful with the jokes though. Wouldn't want to knock a few screws loose.
Yeah that isn't bad either, especially when you have painkillers to snack on!
I've been there. If you start hearing voices, tell them I said hello.
Nice 😃!
A can of WD40 might be worth packing when next on vacation :)
Good to hear your well
I have heard that those screws loosen over time! Then they must open it back up and tighten:) :)
That was serious! These things happen to the best of us. Challenges will always arise for you to overcome them, it is God's Will. Glad to see the surgery went well and that you back in the saddle again. All the best and prayers of a speedy recovery coming from the TeamPH Community.
Many thanks Mango! You take care too!
Almost ready
Yeah, that's the next step :)
Sorry missed this post. Great to hear all went to well as expected.
Now it will be fun when you fly. Not going to queue behind you at customs, gonna take forever to get thru 😉
Ahhh… I took care of that ahead of time! The particular titanium alloy inside me is non-magnetic! It won’t fire any alarm through airport security
Quick recovery 💪
With patience and positive thinking, it's quick.
I didn't look at your X-rays from a doctor's perspective. I took the liberty, I apologize, of inverting the image and proving that the interior of the human being can be a work of art.
Based on the artistic current of the 50s and 60s, "Appropriation".
An aesthetic in which any kind of material can be incorporated into the work of art.
Interpret it as a moment of humor, please. Laughter helps recovery 😅😂🤣
It's rather good work of art to be precise. Thank you
In that case, that's better 🤓
Glad to see the surgery went well. I had a feeling that that was the case when I saw you replying in the SPL discord. I hope you have a swift recovery.
Thank you. It is going well so far.
I'm glad to hear you are on the mend. That looks like it was a pretty intense ordeal that you had to go through. I hope that your recovery ends up being relatively speedy.
Yeah I am definitely on the other side. It is probably as intense as it gets for a spine surgery, but these days both the medications and the procedures are so advanced that you don't really feel that you just went through a deadly ordeal :)
Modern medicine is quite impressive!
Wow, you are brave. But I guess you have to be. That is some serious surgery. My husband recently had a plate and screws implanted in his leg. Taking a long time to heal, but he is probably much older than you.
I wish you speedy, speedy, recovery.
Thank you
All da best sir.
You are welcome. I am recovering fine
At least you didn't wake up alone amidst a zombie apocalypse. There agree always silver linings 😀😀
Hope you heal at a rate of knots mate!
Yeah absolutely!
Surgery was excellent. Slept in instantly, and when woke up, was bit of high too! That was a great feeling to be honest. No idea what they mix in during the general anasthesia
I think it's in the pre meds prior to surgery. When I was in for something agree ago I woke up feeling grand. It lasted for ages then the next day I was like yeek!
must be! also they asked me just before that if I am anxious. I said, damn right I am. I have never been through any kind of surgery before! So the nurse lady said, don't worry I will mix something in your drip! :)
Double goodness!! 😀😀
Take it as a man, in silence, but this would be too much for you.
Yeah cause commenting on a post like this due to some silly feud is what men do.
Well, silly or not, don't brag about it.
Ouch, only can see the pictures of your vertical spine and I am a big big pain, sorry to you, hope feels better.
By the way the swimming pool can help a lot to you.
Best regards.
Thank you
Do you have problems entering airports or bank doors? Do they beep when you're carrying something metal/iron?
Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Thanks
Ohhh
The bionic oilman sounds so cool 😭🔥
Glad that the surgery went great.✨
So glad to hear that your surgery was a success and I pray that you get well soon and live your lovely beautiful life happily. God willing, you will recover very soon because you are a brave and courageous person. My prayer, brother, may Allah grant you good health and be healthier than before.
Sorry to hear of your ordeal. Are these operations rare? Looks delicate and risky. Speedy recovery.
Not exactly rare. The procedure was successful. I am recovering
Glad the surgery went well. I appreciate the support on my posts and hope you recover quickly.
Hope you recovering well. Blessings.
Holy crap AZ, that is CRAZY!!
I am glad to see your recovery is going well though :)
Thank you for sharing your updates and continue your recovery :)