Had a great consultation with my surgeon today. He offered me two different surgical options:

1. traditional ACDF: definitive fusion with little post op pain and quick recovery, but your 3 of your vertabrae are fused together possibly adding additonal stress to adjacent discs


2. Posterior approach laminotomy with nerve decompression: Approach from the back of the spine. Don't actually fuse any vertabrae, just open up the bony tunnel the pinched nerve/herniated disc is in, and remove small pieces of the disc and freeing up the nerve. This procedure would allow me to maintain all of my Range of Motion and will have no affect on adjacent discs.

The downside is that this procedure is more invasive and will be more painful to recover from. There is also the slim chance that some time in the future I may end up needing the ACDF.


I opted for the 2nd procedure, the posterior approach, and am scheduled for next Friday. The BEST news he told me was that I could be back at work working 1/2 days in after 1 week, doing surgery again in 3 weeks, and can start tracking my car again in a COUPLE OF MONTHS!!!!

WOOHOO! Bring on the Pain! Cut to cure. Cold steel heals!


Dan

 

My wife had some spinal surgery recently at banner here in phx and and turned out very well with some loss of motion 10% but out of the pain they fused 2 discs using porsche washers and a hammer for alignment. Actually we opted for the metal honeycome type instead of bone and around 2-3 month's recovery time. Also the neck brace can be used at the track and might help the driving. Keep you're head up.

 

I've had 2 laminectomys resulting from a water skiing accident, I wait 6 months to have the surgery, what a mistake. As soon as I woke from the procedure i could tell that the nerve pain was gone. With similar disfuntion and pain as you, i thought my sports life was over at 32. Now I'm racing and skiing and lumping cord wood again.

I drive not only p-cars but I also race a Formula Ford and experience extreme g forces with no ill effects. I poured a bead seat for the race car and between it and the 6 point harnesses, I'm held fast.

THe point is that you will recover and will be able to maintain a normal life post surgery, get it done and then drive your baby for many years to come.

Good luck, Sincerely
Rob