[12secondv6]

Thanks everyone.

Update time.

Well, I have a new metal plate and 8 screws in my neck. When they were doing the surgery they found that the damage was worse than expected. When they removed the damaged disc's, they just fell apart.

They did not do the C3 to C4 fusion as of yet - it is a very high risk surgery so time will tell. That disc is still torn and herniated - maybe I'll be lucky and the body will heal it on its own. If I develop back/ neck problems then they will do that fusion through the back of my neck.

A couple weeks ago (as the pain in my neck/ upper back became less) the pain in my lower back became worse. I ended up collapsing a couple times due to pain. Went back to the doctor and got an x ray. As soon as I saw the x ray I was sick to my stomach - it was all curved and completely out of allignment. My doc got me into an mri immediately.

I have another bad herniated disc (L4 to L5). Also, for almost 2 years I have had back/ neck pain and my body has been compensating. I have been walking crooked/ bad posture etc because of the pain and damage so my spine is all messed up - it will take alot of difficult physical therapy to fix.

On friday morning I go in for injections into the spine - its a mixture of pain killers and steriods. The goal is to give the body some relief and let it heal on its own.

If it doesn't work then I'm going back in for surgery to have another spinal fusion. We should have that decision in the next couple weeks.

I am walking around with a damn cane and I have to use one of those extend o claws for things out of my reach. I feel like I am an 80 year old - especially with the cane/ claw.

I now have 2 fun scars on my neck - one bigger than the other.
I am finally out of the damn neck collars.
I am not in physical therapy yet - we gotta let my neck heal up some more.

I truly hate careless drivers - I have a lawyer.... I hope something comes out of it but money doesn't make loosing 2 years of my life worth it... and I'm still not even 100% (potentially 2 more surgeries).

Well, I am spending my days watching tv, icing my neck, playing ps3, putting heat on my neck, tons o pain killers n muscle relaxers.....and bored outta my mind.

Blah