Update: Surgery in my near future???

Well friends, today I traveled to Houston and met with my neurosurgeon, Dr. Heilman. And I have news. Upon examination, it was discovered that I have significant loss of strength in my left arm and hand, and have a total loss of muscle/tendon/nerve reflex in my left arm and wrist.

The loss of strength in my left arm was to be expected. I could already tell that I had some weakness on that side. I assumed it was residual effect of the paralysis that occurred a little over a week ago. But then the doctor performed another simple test: a reflex test.

He tapped my right elbow and it reacted normally. He tapped my right forearm in a particular spot and the result was the same. Again, he tapped my right wrist and I had a normal reflex reaction. Then he checked my left elbow, forearm and wrist. ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE. I was stunned. He performed the test several times in each area. No change. I had not expected that.

After more questions and more examination, Dr. Heilman gently suggested that surgery appeared indicated, but that he wanted an MRI to visualize the extent of spinal cord compression and the extent of the spinal damage. As I suspected, he feels this has been slowly developing over many years. He seemed to feel addressing this sooner rather than later is to be preferred.

I informed Dr. Heilman that due to my inability to lay on my back for more than a few seconds or minutes at a time, plus my neck pain and recent development of mild claustrophobia, I was unable to undergo an MRI. He pressed the issue and decided it would be best to put me under general anesthesia and get a good MRI, rather than obtain less detailed imaging from a CT or myleogram, or even an open MRI.

So, he referred me to their anesthesiologist, and ordered pre-op blood work as well. As my wife put it, pre-op blood work is good only for two weeks; that means he expects I'll need surgery, AND SOON. [If any of you know Dr. Heilman's reputation, he is generally very conservative and performs surgery only as a last resort.]

With all my pre-op work done, I will be scheduled for an MRI on THURSDAY 9/17 at the Houston Orthopedic Hospital and Fondren Orthopedic Clinic (located on Main Street just south of Greenbriar). I will undergo GENERAL anesthesia for my MRI, which is not ideal, but oh well. The anesthesiologist will be only about 10 feet away monitoring my vital signs while the imaging is going on. After the MRI, I'll be moved to recovery for about an hour, and then await the doctor. Beyond that there is not much more I can tell you at this time.

Lisa will drive me to the hospital, but will be unable to sit with me, because she is having her monthly cancer therapy on the same day. I have asked a couple of friends to sit with me at the hospital before and during my MRI and my time in the recovery room. Hopefully, I'll have some "comfort companions" to help me through this. I'm not too worried, but I don't want to do it alone. Okay, I'm a whimp. I admit it.

Thanks for all your prayers. Keep them going.

David Adcock
College Station, Texas