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Over 14 years ago August 1997 I was in a seemingly simple whiplash accident. I was sitting at a red traffic signal in my Silverado pickup truck when my life went from super healthy, strong, muscular and vital to "Oh Cr** That Hurt!" in an instant as a little loopy driver sought to keep flowers on their seat and forgot to use the breaks.
15 months later I was in fusion surgery to remove a ruptured disc with related scare tissue, and a bulged disc compressing my spinal cord by 60%. By this time I could hardly walk, my arms and hands ached constantly, I couldn't look left or right over my shoulder, and the doctors would ask if I was incontinent.
The fusion surgery was painful, never cleared up all the numbness in my arms and hands, but it reduced 90% of the pain and numbness - it actually prolonged my life. With a few years of therapy I could walk pretty well but running, sports, high-power rifle shooting, shotgun and a few other things were out of the question forever.
Upper body strength continued to whither away, the smaller fingers on both hands remained tingly and low back pain was ever increasing.
What would I do? Some would say, "Retire and get used to it". I'd reply, "Nope, I've got too much left to do".
In June 2011 I was laid off in a downsize - okay - now I thought is the time to get to the bottom of the pain and get fixed up if possible. My journey through consultations with 7 different surgeons (4 in the USA) landed me in Stenum Fauschklinik near Bremen, Germany for surgery by Dr. Ritter-Lang at a cost less than a newest cheapest Cadillac.
Look at the x-rays and see what modern medical scientific engineering has given to me: two (2) M6 artificial discs made by SpinalKinetics in Sunnyvale, CA - one above and one below the 1998 titanium fusion plate.
Within 3 days after the surgery I had no more pain radiating into my hands, both hands all fingers were warm and fully functional, I was only a bit sore from the operation. The soreness was gone within 4 weeks, and a bonus - no more need for Viagra - yep the game is back in play.
Now, 5 weeks later I am ready to start some basic strengthening exercises. My lumbar still bothers me, but that is another future surgery. PM me for details and contacts if you would like.
15 months later I was in fusion surgery to remove a ruptured disc with related scare tissue, and a bulged disc compressing my spinal cord by 60%. By this time I could hardly walk, my arms and hands ached constantly, I couldn't look left or right over my shoulder, and the doctors would ask if I was incontinent.
The fusion surgery was painful, never cleared up all the numbness in my arms and hands, but it reduced 90% of the pain and numbness - it actually prolonged my life. With a few years of therapy I could walk pretty well but running, sports, high-power rifle shooting, shotgun and a few other things were out of the question forever.
Upper body strength continued to whither away, the smaller fingers on both hands remained tingly and low back pain was ever increasing.
What would I do? Some would say, "Retire and get used to it". I'd reply, "Nope, I've got too much left to do".In June 2011 I was laid off in a downsize - okay - now I thought is the time to get to the bottom of the pain and get fixed up if possible. My journey through consultations with 7 different surgeons (4 in the USA) landed me in Stenum Fauschklinik near Bremen, Germany for surgery by Dr. Ritter-Lang at a cost less than a newest cheapest Cadillac.
Look at the x-rays and see what modern medical scientific engineering has given to me: two (2) M6 artificial discs made by SpinalKinetics in Sunnyvale, CA - one above and one below the 1998 titanium fusion plate.
Within 3 days after the surgery I had no more pain radiating into my hands, both hands all fingers were warm and fully functional, I was only a bit sore from the operation. The soreness was gone within 4 weeks, and a bonus - no more need for Viagra - yep the game is back in play.
Now, 5 weeks later I am ready to start some basic strengthening exercises. My lumbar still bothers me, but that is another future surgery. PM me for details and contacts if you would like.
