Laura O.
Well, hello all! I got to take off my c-collar after my last dr. visit on 8/19. Doc said x-rays looked great and I could lose the collar now. I certainly will continue to be careful though, as I am still dealing with the overstimulated nerve responses, especially in my left foot and leg. The rehab. dr. prescribed Neurontin 100mg. to help ease the nerve pain. I started with one pill at bedtime for the 1st week, then one in the morning and at bedtime for the next week, and finally I will be taking it 3x a day from the 3rd week on. I hope it helps. I really think I could walk better, if my left leg didn't always feel as though it might start jerking right out from under me. My strength is improving. I cannot afford the outpatient therapy because of a change in my health ins. policy, so the hospital set me up with therabands and exercises to do at home. The rehab doc would really like for me to be in therapy so I could "transition from a walker to a cane and then without anything". I rarely use my walker anymore though. When I shop, I found it actually easier to hold on to a shopping cart (imagine that!) as long as I'm not going to be walking for a long time without rest. As for Social Security, I have always heard that they can be VERY difficult to work with. I just received another bunch of forms to fill out about my job history. SO much fun. It's sad that they seem to believe everyone's a con looking for an easy buck. Philip, I hope your surgery went well, and that you are on the road to recovery. I know that since my surgery, the only pain in my neck area at all is caused by me moving my head wrong. It's still new to me that I no longer have full range of motion, so sometimes I forget and then am quickly reminded by a small stab of pain in the area of the top 3 vertabrae (above the hardware). But, no headaches, of any kind so far, and no burning pain radiating from my neck down and across both shoulders. I am going to check out the web address you gave if I can access it. I've been having a bit of trouble with my computer. Anyway, thanks for the info. Take care and be careful! Laura :)