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.
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.
