Well folks...I made it thru the surgery just fine. I was pretty sore but was released and headed to the motel where we were to stay overnight. I had a drain tube coming out the incision area which they made the incision to get to the disc in the front of my neck because drainage is expected and I had to measure it the next morning, return to the surgury center and have it removed. It was heald in by stiches. Right now I feel great and I'm tickled to death because of all the stories of good and bad for post op recovery and pain that goes along with it. I no longer have the nerve pain in my arm or tingling and numbness I was having in my fingers. I do have some pain between my shoulderblades and any bending motions aggrivates it so I have to be very careful. I have to wear a neck brace for 6 weeks which the 1st 3 I have to wear it continuously except to take showers, the other 3 while driving, walking around and sleeping. I cannot drive for 2 weeks. I have some pictures I will show you of post op.

Driving back to motel right after surgery. I dont look like I'm doing very well in this pic. You can see the cleansing iodine all over my face..How I got it there I have no idea. I was in pain at this moment.



Here you can really see how I was suffering sitting at the motel pool while drinking a beer thru a straw



X-ray of post op bone graft, plate and screws inserted where the removed the disc between C7-T1 spine.