[overcusser]

Not the pics that I was hoping for but better than nothing. The neurosurgeon was not allowed to take any pics other than with the x-ray, which he provided to me.

I've been suffering with degenerative disc disease at C6/C7 for almost a year now, along with stenosis. The pinched nerve at the C7 root has caused pain & tingling down my left shoulder and arm, and I've lost a good amount of muscle on my left pec & left tricep. Since this is a disc replacement & not a fusion, the incision is made in the front of the neck & the soft tissue is pulled to the side. The procedure fascinated me & I was hoping to get some good pics with my neck sliced open, but no luck. The steri-strips make the incision look longer than it is, but it will only be about 2" long. I was released the next day & have a decent range of motion to look up/down/all around. I should be able to drive after the sutures are removed in about 10 more days.

The herniated disc was removed & an artificial disc was added, along with the bone spur shaved down to correct the stenosis. The artificial disc is two pieces with a small bevel, as you can see. The doc things I'll be as good as I was before. I guess we'll find out in about 6 weeks when I hit the gym again.

http://www.concordortho.com/patient-...9f0a99d5d5ee2f

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anterio...omy_and_fusion

[collaredgirl65]

[Faline]

Cool x-rays and glad you're on the mend, thanks for sharing

[overcusser]

[overcusser]

UPDATE: pic of scar the day the steri-strips were removed, which was 5 days after the surgery.

[woddie]

All the best. And a cool scar.

[Faline]

Nice scar

[jander]

good job...very nice scar

[darkangelfrombelo]

Dude I LOVE that scar!

[Sharon]

Thank you so much for sharing your journey! All the best