I'm Up and Around after a Week on the Ground!!!!

Well I'm up and around somewhat now, after having surgery last Thursday February 15. I'm finally able to gather up enough steam to be able to write a few posts. For those of you interested, I had what's called an anterior cervical fusion. Basically three discs in my neck were degenerative(combination of years of skiing, mountain biking and lifting heavy speakers at music gigs) and Raleigh neurosurgeon Dennis Bullard had to take the degenerative discs out and put in three bone grafts, along with bone marrow and stem cells from my own hip. After inserting the bone grafts he secured it all with a titanium plate and some screws in my vertabrae. Sounds attractive doesn't it? I mean I never knew as much about the spine as I've learned over the past month with this ordeal. I woke up early in January with numbing pain down my neck and right arm(sort of felt like a stroke) and I thought I must have pulled something. After getting X-rays and an MRI the docs at Carolina Back discovered my spine was in serious trouble. So I consulted with quite a few folks, went to Raleigh Orthopedic and then finally to Triangle Neurosurgery. Needless to say the surgery went well. I can't drive for six weeks while it all heals, but it feels great to have the nerves working again in my right arm. For the record, this was the first time in my 42 years I've ever had any surgery(besides my tonsils and wisdom teeth) I guess I've been lucky, because I never knew how real pain felt. I can safely say I have seen that road and don't wanna go back. From here on out I'll eat more fruits and vegetables, drink tons of water and exercise like crazy.

In order for your spine to stay healthy you need to do all of the above. If you have any pain whatsoever, don't hestitate to see a doctor. It could save your back and your life.

For more details and some good resources online go to www.espine.com, www.spineuniverse.com, www.spine-health.com All of these websites are great resources if you're having back problems. Remember exercise is the best medicine to keeping your back healthy and strong!!! I'm gonna go full tilt once I'm up and running at full speed ahead. Drinking lots of water helps keep your discs hydrated as well.

I'm hoping to get back on the radio within the next week or two. My surgery involved going thru the front of my neck and moving my vocal cords as well as my esophagus so I'm still pretty sore, but my voice is getting stronger every day!!! Pretty soon I'll be as good as new..

Talk to ya soon!

Dallas