It is 4:40AM and Glenda and I are getting ready to drive to my 6AM appointment at the hospital. My Surgery is scheduled for 7:30AM today. I think I told you after doing the MRI, CT, Xrays, and Nerve Conduction tests they determined I have a very severe Cervical Spinal Stenosis from C3-C6.
Today they will try to fuse them and perhaps that will solve the problem.

I have had to cancel all my gigs for September and October because they told me to expect not to get around very easily for about 2 months and certainly not to lift anything at all or to drive a car. Complete
healing time might be up to a year they said.

Glenda will keep all our friends updated as the day passes today. Hope all is well with you and your day
is a good one.

Deane

Hi Deane,
I wish you all the best & will keep you in my prayers. I'm sure that your clients will miss you & your beautiful music for the next few months.
Thanks for all your help with my vArranger.
Wally

Best of luck Deane and Glenda from your friend in Florida.
Eddie

Deane my wife has a muscle disease, PMI. She was able to do any of her normal routines. Her doctor told her that she would have the disease for two years and then it would gradually fade. We prayed and did our best to eliminate any stress in our lives. There were times when she fell and was not able to get up; and times when she cried herself to sleep.

During the 6th month she began to improve. By the 7th month 90% of her pain was gone. We are now back to living a normal life; doctors as good as they are can only give us their educated guesses, the rest is up to your fate and ability to take good care of yourself.

Our prayers are with you, John C.

Wishing you the best, Deane. I'll be praying extra hard since I may have a similar condition. My visit to the neurologist won't occur until mid-September. The MRI is complete (both of them) and the problem area seems to be located in that part of the spine in the neck. I'm sure dreading all those needles and the probability I'll be given the same option as you.

Please keep us posted if you can.

Many prayers for you and Glenda.

Dave Rice

Wishing you the best Deanne ... you and your family are in our prayers ...

Hammer best wishes for a succesful operation and a speedy recovery.

Godspeed Deanne...good luck..

I had c5 & 6 fused so I am familiar with what you will feel like. I hope you come through it well and get back to playing. But don't rush it, and don't be in a hurry to drive. That's hard after you start to feel better. But turning your head around at those merges and yield signs can't be done until you're really ready.

Good luck with your surgery, Deane. I wish you a speedy recovery.

Ian

Time to find yourself a guitarist with a strong back!

Deane,

All the best my friend and hopefully, you'll be back doing what you love to do.

Tell Glenda to keep us posted,

Gary

I wish you all the best on your surgery and I hope you have a quick recovery as well. Keep us posted.

All the best, Deane. Hope all goes well.

I wish you the very best Deane. And best wishes to Glenda as well for helping you through this. Having her support is invaluable to recovering successfully.

My surgery went well but I have to say the last two days were pretty darn miserable. Recovery is the real monster here. Swallowing was next to impossible because of swelling around the incision point. Even water did not go down easily. Finally the steroid pills began to work and the swelling subsided enough for me to barely be able to eat cream of wheat late last night. There has been very little pain with all of this but I did get a good supply of pain drugs when I needed them. Weakness and unsteadiness is a real problem caused simply by my body dealing with the surgery. Finally I was able to eat potatoes and soup and walk about 50 feet without assistance.

I was sent home today from the hospital. According to the surgeon it was a “text book” success. He said I have very good bone structure which means the fusion should last a very long time if there is no trauma to my head or neck area.

My recovery time for playing gigs will be about 6 months because of the restrictions on driving and lifting things. Full recovery will be about a year. I setup my studio before going in for my surgery so I will be able to spend time at my keyboards. So far all my gig clients have been very understanding and have been wiling to reschedule gigs for later this year.

I ordered the new Yamaha PSR S950 and will buy the Korg PA600 if it comes out soon. That will give me plenty to do with my down time and perhaps re-invent my act. I’ll probably show up on the forum more and just keep in touch with everyone.

So now it is a waiting game and hoping I do nothing stupid to cause harm to the fused area. My wife has become the “caregiver” I never wanted her to become but I guess that is what Love really means – doing what is needed in times of crisis.

I want to thank everyone for your gracious posts of prayers and wishes for my well being. It meant a lot to me.

Deane

A speedy recovery to you, Deane.

Deane, learning all that new gear will make the time pass quickly. The best prescription for a quick heal is a good attitude and you seem to have that. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery.

chas

Deane,
Glad everything went well. My friend had a similar procedure, and a few months after the operation was almost as good as new, and now a year later is playing golf, and is totally pain free. So you should know everyday from now will be a step closer to a "new you"
The new S950 will sure help the healing
Larry

Good to hear it went well for you. Kudos to your wife, too, you are blessed.

Sucks to have to reschedule the gigs, I know, but just dig into and enjoy your new toys.

Home, Deane:

No place like it for healing. Keep us posted on your progress. Here's hoping the next year will "fly" by and you'll be back gigging in no time.

All the best,

Dave Rice

If your wife kicks you out, you can bring all your keyboards and stay in our guest room.
Glad to hear it went well. You'll probably be back playing before either of those new keyboards are shipped.
DonM

GREAT news Deane. Another "bump" in life's road.
Looking forward to hearing your review of the S-950 after you have had a chance to work (play) with it.
Eddie

Glad to hear you are on the mend.

Scott L

Deane,

Glad everything went well and I know that good looking caregiver will prevent you from doing something you shouldn't.

Keep us posted,

Gary

Deane ... thanks for keeping us posted and glad to hear the surgery went well ...
Our prayers will continue for a full and rapid recovery ...

Latest update: A setback due to meds prescribed. Seems like the pain medication and the steroids don’t blend well for me. I haven’t slept now for nearly two days due to the effects of the steroids. Now I know what they mean when people talk about being “steroid crazy”. These things cause a lot of anxiety, irrational fears and loss of sleep. I am experiencing all of these. Now we have to try a different anti-inflammatory agent to keep the swelling in my neck under control. Swallowing has gotten difficult again because they took me off the steroids and pain meds for now. Strangely, the actual incision point has no related pain at all. I am learning spinal fusion of any kind is a tricky business. Daily my numbness and tingling comes and goes and seems to be still present. Day by day folks!

Deanne get well soon.....we're rooting for ya!!

Deane,

Hope and pray for a quick and complete recovery !!

Get well soon, Deane...I hope your recovery is swift and you are back to playing in the very near future.

Ian

We'll pray for your speedy recovery Deane!

Jimmy

I have a friend who goes on steroid medication, and he definitely goes a bit potty on them! I am constantly having to talk him down from a bad attack of GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome!) or he goes out and impulse buys all sorts of things!

Make sure the wife has a firm grip on the purse strings for a while!

Get well soon.

Hang in there, Deane. We're pullin' for ya.