Welcome to day 92, the official date the nurse practitioner would have picked for halo removal. Thank goodness I'm a stubborn so and so that argued with the powers that be for a revised schedule. We are almost half way into her collar phase. Next stop, physical therapy.
Jan has been walking over a mile most days. Several days have been 1.5 miles so that is an improvement. She continues to feel insecure without the collar but she tests her limits of mobility with it on. She doesn't have the full range of motion but she is a little leary of trying too much. I have not encouraged her to test too far.
The back of the collar is board-straight with no anatomical curve like a human neck. To help, we took a trick from the halo days by putting a rolled-up washcloth between her neck and the collar to give her some support while laying on the pillow.
We did get a quick response from the neurosurgeon's office. They have responded in less than 12 hours, less than that when you consider I emailed them at 10:00PM and I had a reply by 9:30AM the next day! Thankfully, the x-rays she needs will be in the same building so no shuttles and no delays getting back to the office. The doctor may still be running late but what can you do about that?
Our curiosity has gotten the best of us and we are speculating on why the doctor told us we'd be seeing the nurse and then the nurse canceled our appointment and pushed us back to the doctor. Jan thinks it is because we complained. I think it is because they are afraid she is going to press it further. Either way, I'm only disappointed it didn't happen from the very beginning.
Jan still hasn't gone back to work. She feels guilty about it but a full day would definitely be too much for her right now. She's thinking of trying a few partial days. Tessa could take her to work on her way to school. I could pick her up when she was tired, be it lunch or any time before or after. Now that the pin sites have mostly healed over, it isn't as critical to keep them from becoming infected with three times daily cleanings.
For those that care, the big red car is back on the ground and drivable. I just hope it quits marking territory after the repairs.
Jan has been walking over a mile most days. Several days have been 1.5 miles so that is an improvement. She continues to feel insecure without the collar but she tests her limits of mobility with it on. She doesn't have the full range of motion but she is a little leary of trying too much. I have not encouraged her to test too far.
The back of the collar is board-straight with no anatomical curve like a human neck. To help, we took a trick from the halo days by putting a rolled-up washcloth between her neck and the collar to give her some support while laying on the pillow.
We did get a quick response from the neurosurgeon's office. They have responded in less than 12 hours, less than that when you consider I emailed them at 10:00PM and I had a reply by 9:30AM the next day! Thankfully, the x-rays she needs will be in the same building so no shuttles and no delays getting back to the office. The doctor may still be running late but what can you do about that?
Our curiosity has gotten the best of us and we are speculating on why the doctor told us we'd be seeing the nurse and then the nurse canceled our appointment and pushed us back to the doctor. Jan thinks it is because we complained. I think it is because they are afraid she is going to press it further. Either way, I'm only disappointed it didn't happen from the very beginning.
Jan still hasn't gone back to work. She feels guilty about it but a full day would definitely be too much for her right now. She's thinking of trying a few partial days. Tessa could take her to work on her way to school. I could pick her up when she was tired, be it lunch or any time before or after. Now that the pin sites have mostly healed over, it isn't as critical to keep them from becoming infected with three times daily cleanings.
For those that care, the big red car is back on the ground and drivable. I just hope it quits marking territory after the repairs.
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