The spinal column has real joints (just like the knee, elbow, etc.) called facet joints. The facet joints link the vertebrae together and give them the flexibility to move against each other. The facets are the "bony knobs" that meet between each vertebra. There are two facet joints between each pair of vertebrae, one on each side. They extend and overlap each other to form a joint between the neighboring vertebra facet joint. The facet joints give the spine its flexibility.
My mom has had the bad luck of having those "bony knobs" wear down, resulting in a shift in the vertebrae causing the spinal chord to be pinched. This necessitated reconstructive surgery four years ago, and again last week, twice. They went in and ground down those bony knobs, drilled holes in the vertebrae and inserted posts running from L2 - L5. A bone graft was harvested from the pelvis, and little chips which should ultimately fuse with the spine and hold everything in place are held in with screws. Four years ago it was two vertebrae which needed fusing, but the spine degenerated further necessitating this second surgery.
Having the good fortune of living only four blocks from the hospital, I stopped by every day for a visit and to check on her progress. I watched my mom go from supine and barely conscious on day one, to WALKING laps around the ward on day three, getting all of the tubes out and enjoying much more mobility on day four, getting ready to go home on day five. Then the unpleasant news was delivered - a routine x-ray prompted a CT scan which showed that two of the screws were not in the right place. One was too close to a major blood vessel, and the other was not holding the fusion in place properly. So just as she was getting ready to go home, the tubes go back in and she's waiting for more surgery. The second surgery took place on Saturday, day six if you will, and was much less invasive than the first. Apparently the passage created for the screw was correct, but the screw did not follow the designated passage. This was corrected, the other screw pressing on the blood vessel was shortened, and she was closed up again. Up and walking the very next day, and fewer problems with nausea as a result of a change in pain meds.
Today, day nine, is the day she'll hopefully get to go home to start the two month long convalescence with no bending, twisting, or contact sports. My mom is fit and active, lean and healthy, walks, swims, goes to the gym, does all her physic exercises, and still her spine degenerated. Fingers crossed this is the last of it.
UPDATE: Not home yet . . . still in hospital awaiting elusive BM. Going on day 10 now . . .
UPDATE #2: Project poop a success. Finally coming home tonight!
3 comments:
Wow, that's an intense experience for both your mom and your family. Her good health should help her recover well, even if it couldn't prevent the degeneration itself. Lots of good thoughts zooming your way (to be passed to your mom, of course).
GO, Mom, go!
Congrats on going the business plan route...
I was coming up with stuff like "Katie Trant Saves Lives..."
... but think you could get away with LifeSavers? Imagine the promo, giving away candy with every class!
MM.. my personal thing in the hooping area was to use my name rather than coming up with something cutesy like "hoop girl!" "hoop world!" "hooporama" - but other people seem to like that sorta thing. There's a ton of Three Bags Full in yarnshop land, so anything that seems like a clever play on words is suspect... so I say, keep your name in it, or just make your name your brand! Katie Trant, First Air Trainer. Be pro, so that people know YOU, the way they know Ron Straight. (I assume..)
can't wait to hear what you come up with!
Wish your mum the best from both Cammy and I; tell her good luck with the BM!
T
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