I didn't have a choice Frank. I was as near being paralyzed as one can get. I worked too hard for way too long.
@Faye Fox Please elaborate, if it's not too offensive, intrusive, or indelicate a request......... Frank
It is called vertebrae fusion. Several disc were removed and cadaver bone was installed. It is all tied together with titanium plates that are screwed into the vertebrae. Jaw has titanium bone implants for holding dentures. Reason for fusion was bone spurs growing into spinal cord, a result of 25 years earlier when I took a temporary job core drilling to get core samples for the government when they were collecting data on the USA's natural resources in gold and silver. The old guy running the drill, FELL ASLEEP. We were working through the night as it was cold and snowing and the equipment could not be shut down or risk freezing up and losing an important bore hole. This was in Idaho a bit east of @Yvonne Smith 's old stomping grounds. It was a 250 foot pull getting the 300 lb overshot out of the bore hole. I was replacing a breaker on one of the generators, when the overshot came out of the hole, swung out glancing off my hardhat and shoulder, knocking me back and over the edge of the drill site. I rolled down in the snow and no idea how long I was unconscious. I had to crawl in the snow using one arm to get back up the bank and the old guy was still asleep and the drill clutch was hot and smoking with the overshot tight against the top of the tower. Anyway I got him woke up and he got me down to the hospital where they relocated my shoulder and xrays showed no fractures. Sturgeon 25 years later said they should have done an MRI and they would have seen them. It wouldn't have made any difference except the fusion could have been done 5 years earlier and not put me at risk for paralysis. I was lucky the overshot didn't hit me straight on or I would have been killed instantly. Still lucky it didn't break my neck. I only took this job because I knew the contractor and his wife. This old guy's help quit and the contractor was in a bind to finish within the month or lose a couple hundred thousand. He paid me twice the going rate, and being the softy I am, took the job against my better judgment.
Not meaning to steal your spotlight @Faye Fox . Know many people, have friends that have dealt with implants, replacements etc, including myself, some through accidents, some through life. I guess in our younger years we think we are bionic, as years go by it shows we aren't, so we pay the price. Including my mom and a couple of friends, implants were done to give support for dentures, as the same for yourself. As far as vertebrae fusion, seems that is a old type of repair, depending on each one's issue, replacements are a newer procedure offered. I turned down fusion, for obvious reasons, you don't have the same mobility. that was many years ago. Still considering the replacement option, three areas are in need, but when i'm ready and not before. My knee replacements are in a newer category, MRI is done about 6 weeks prior to surgery, from there sent to a company in the States, and your custom parts are made for you, were told not to do anything dumb that may change things, then your customs fit parts may not fit. Mine are porcillen, to last 30 years if taken care of. Both hips are to be replaced, when i'm ready.
Even today with cervical disc replacement, I would still have to have fusion because of the necessity to stabilize the damaged vertebrae. If just the disc is damaged, then the disc replacement that came out 2007 is the way to go. I may have to have a couple of disc replaced in time because of the strain so much fusion puts on them. Neuro-surgeon says I should be OK if I can stop doing some of the hobbies I love, which I have.