another persons MRI results

[coffeeman]

It seems more and more people are reaching out to the Spyderco Family for support and prayers.

Today I returned to the medical center to meet with a surgeon to discuss the results of my MRI from last week.
This surgeon along with my orthopaedic dr discovered the pains I have been experiencing are from a degeneration of my spinal column. I have been under a few doctors care since early february to determine why i have had so much pain around my shoulders. I have been losing strength in both arms, hands and legs. The last few weeks it has gotten a lot worse and they told me untreated it could lead to paralysis.
I was told by the surgeon that I am a priority in scheduling for the operation.
He plans on it happening within a week and am on extremly light duty at work.

This is all such a shock, I thought this was something like a pulled muscle and now the possibility of being out of work for 3-4 weeks.
So much for money for the Blade Show, now what little I have has to cover being out of work without pay for a couple of weeks at least.

All seriousness aside, is there a Spyderco knife he can use for the operation.

Also handling :spyder: knives has been difficult to grip, the only real comfortable knife is the Manix. I have not been able to work the Volpe, which I have been wanting because the action is too stiff.

Just had to share with my other family, sorry for the babble!

Michael

[TheKnifeCollector]

Michael: You are in my prayers!! I am truely SORRY for what you are going through!!! That must be very scarey for you. Did he tell you the name of the operation? What is it called? A Laminectomy or?? Thank you for sharing that with us!! There is NOTHING like the power of prayer!! I know you are in shock....Stick close to your family, friends, and your faith!!! If there is anything I CAN do, please ask!! Hugs to you!!

[Axlis]

I am terribly sorry to hear this Michael. Just know that you are in our prayers, God will get you through this!

[Hannibal Lecter]

Prayers for you and your family, my friend.

--------
Hannibal

[ghostrider]

Michael,

Thanks for sharing this with up. You'll be in my prayers as well. No need to apologize for the "babble". That is what we are here for.

[smcfalls13]

Michael, I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers... :(

[rcbalt2]

Michael we will be praying for you. I think a spin would work for the surgery. Its small enough. Take care.

[JD Spydo]

I have been under the knife myself in a major operation once and thank GOD it was a success. But I do feel your pain & anxieties. But I would definitely get a second opinion on a diagnosis of this magnitude. My prayers are certainly with you. Please keep us posted. JD

[DAYWALKER]

Aloha coffeeman,

Prayers sent my friend. Take care and keep the Faith...

God bless you and yours always.

[greencobra]

That would be a shock to anyone Michael. Sending positive thoughts your way and have a speedy recovery.

[Woody]

Prayers sent Coffeeman.... Have faith............

[Gerard Breuker]

Hope you can have the operation as soon as possible. My best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[silverback]

All the best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[spyderknut]

What surgery are you going to have? Anterior diskectomy and fusion? If your neurosurgeon plans on fusion and you smoke, stop NOW. Smokers have a much higher failure rate of spine fusion than nonsmokers. Once you have neurologic deficits like weakness or numbness, the choice is fairly clear that you just need to proceed with surgery.

You will be in my prayers!

[bh49]

You and your family in my thoughts. God bless you

[Joyce Laituri]

Michael,

From one of your many SpyderFriends, get well soon buddy and take care of yourself. You and "your better half" are both in my thoughts and prayers right now.

Get better soon.

Joyce @ Spyderco

[potterma]

Michael,
Sorry to hear about this.... Prayers out for you...

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: Hang in there buddy, it's spring! :spyder:

[Ed Schempp]

Michael,
I will miss you at the Blade Show. Hang in there, and we will see you next year...Take Care...Ed

[Jimd]

Prayers sent your way, Michael! Hang tough!

[coffeeman]

I found out on Friday that my Surgery is to be on the 28th of this month.
They actually put me in the spot that another patient was trying to get work clearance to use.
The actual surgery is called Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Spinal Fusion (ACDF). They will remove two of the discs at the base of my neck replace the with cadaver bones and use titanium plates and screw to hold them in place. An option was to remove bone from my pelvis, but that would mean more cutting on me.

This should give me six weeks of recovery for the Blade show.
I will be contacting my friend with tables at the show to make sure they have a chair reserved for me.

thank all of you my friends for the kind words of support and i have nothing but best wishes for you all.

Michael

[Piet.S]

Best wishes Michael, and a speedy recovery.

[psimonl]

No need for excuses...

We are a big family that supports its member....

My thoughts are with you.....

Take tare...

Simon

[BlackNinja]

Today I returned to the medical center to meet with a surgeon to discuss the results of my MRI from last week.
This surgeon along with my orthopaedic dr discovered the pains I have been experiencing are from a degeneration of my spinal column. I have been under a few doctors care since early february to determine why i have had so much pain around my shoulders. I have been losing strength in both arms, hands and legs. The last few weeks it has gotten a lot worse and they told me untreated it could lead to paralysis.
I was told by the surgeon that I am a priority in scheduling for the operation.
He plans on it happening within a week and am on extremly light duty at work.

This is all such a shock, I thought this was something like a pulled muscle and now the possibility of being out of work for 3-4 weeks.

Prayers sent, Michael! I feel for you, as I recently had my L4 - L5 disc removed, due to degeneration. That was just a disc, though, not my whole spinal column.
I was told that it was a pulled muscle, actualy a "sprained strain", three and a half years later I'm having my disc removed because, IMHO, I was never properly diagnosed.
I hope for the best, and feel better!

Joe

[spydutch]

My thoughts are with you Michael ;)

Best wishes and a speedy recovery.

Take care.

[ghostrider]

Prayers sent Michael.

Never feel you can't share these things with us. Like Simon indicated, we are a family who supports eachother.

[bh49]

Best wishes
R