un-screwed

Saw the Neurosurgeon yesterday. After I reviewed my x-ray from last week I thought yesterday's Doctor visit was just a formality where he'd say "It looks pretty much like it did a month ago, let's keep things the same and check on it again in a month or so."

However, the Doctor came into the room with a scowl on his face. Knowing that wasn't a good sign (I'm pretty intuitive) my heart quickly increased it's pitter patter in my chest. He took me into his office and showed me on the x-ray where the top screw looks "looser" and the middle and bottom screws look like they have "void areas" around them, possibly indicating that they've been doing some moving of their own. He wants a better image of everything that's going on, so he filled out a slip to get me a CT Scan ASAP next week. Once he's able to look over the CT Scan he'll be able to give me his recommendation. The way I understand it, our options will be:

1. Go back in and put in a bigger screw on top
2. Go back in and take out the whole plate and screws. I'm not sure if this involves replacing it with a whole new set or not.
3. Leave things as they are, because it's not as bad as the x-rays looked (not likely)

The GOOD news he had for me was that since I'm not experiencing neck pain it's a good sign that I'm healing properly.

So, in summary, the saga continues and it's looking like once again I'll be "Back...to the OR". That would make 4 trips this year. Yikes. I should have gotten one of those frequent customer cards where they could punch out a hole each time I get cut open and I get a free MRI or something after 5 surgeries.

I don't know if this involves going back into a neck brace. I really don't want to be back in one, so I'll do what I can to avoid that. The recovery from the plate operation was a PAIN last time. I couldn't eat, sleep or swallow for like 3 or 4 days.

Well, after work today we are off to explore the Pacific NorthWest. I figure it should be a lot like the "Oregon Trail" game lots of us played back in elementary school. Oregon Ho!