Neck Hurting>Called in Sick!

Well my Dear Friends, Let me have it! I can hear the "I told you so's already!" I started feeling some pain last night before going to bed so I took my night time meds about one 1/2 hr before I normally do. I also took two muscle relaxers instead of one which I never do but is OK per the Doc's instructions. I fell asleep around 1:00am, not sure if it was the pain or anxiety from it hurting. I woke around 3:00am an my the right side of my neck was throbing and shooting pain down my spine into my back. It aslo went into my right shoulder. The left side was the side my surgeon fixed but he also fused the vertabrae which certanly could affect the right side??? I'm praying it's just a muscle spazm from fixing my sprinkler heads in my yard yesterday! I will call my Doc> the neurosurgeon when his office opens this A.M. I called my boss at 6:00am when I usually get to work. I told him I was scarred to death that something was wrong in my neck. He didn't say anything nasty just let me know as soon as you find something out. I'm going to turn OFF my work cell phone and go back to bed. I'll call my wife later on when I get up again. I really think it's just some sort of muscle spazsm from my neck muscles becoming atrofied from the collar but I'm not taking any chances!

I'll post later on this A.M. with an update!

Scarred in S.E. Fla.

Pete

Patti said it very well.

OK ... Patti: Duck tape would be too rough on the hair on Pete's arms, huh?
Scotch tape isn't strong enough. I've got a little bit of jump rope in the closet.
What could you contribute to the cause? I'm inexperienced in tieing people
up. Someone will have to show us the way.

Be Well, Pete. We're thinking about you.

Pamela

This is a very sore subject with me. I've had a lot of bosses in my life and for the most part most of them have been uncompassionate, coldhearted, self-absorbed people who only care about themselves. A lot of my bosses could care less what my physical condition was. The bottom line is Get to Work. Even if you have influenza, we want you to come in and suck it up. My bosses didn't care if I was contagious or not.

I would make my bosses angry because every time I had to miss work I would get a doctor's note excusing me from work. Missing one day of work was just as bad as missing an entire week. The last place I worked I spent 16 years there. Their attendance policy was exactly that. No matter if you miss one day of work or 10 days of work you would get an incident. So as sure as the sun rises, if I missed work I would usually take three days off if not more. Of course always followed by a doctor's note. My boss used to get so angry because as long as I had a note from the doctor, there was absolutely nothing he could do.

I just hope your boss or company was nothing like the place I spent 16 years in. Cold and callous, no sympathy for other people's health, and positively no compassion for any medical condition. I could write for hours with horror stories about this place. My state of mind is if I'm too sick or I hurt too bad to go to work, then I stay home! But always with a doctor's note.

By the way Pete, a big thank you for your sons serving our nation and protecting my freedom.

Thanks Jim, If I haven' already, welome to the world of painiacks! I'm glad your here!
I know just what your talking about! I've had some duzies myself infact, my pressent boss isn't even close to being the worst I've ever had! He is a jerk though. If we were not in this horrable ressesion, I'd be out of there by now! It's a very long story though. Even my friends here don't know the whole story even though I've been writing about myself here almost daily for months! Sometimes I get in the dreaded "It's all about me moad" which puts me in "guiltworld" when I finish writing but they accept me here for some unknown reason anyway! Please stick around, there is plenty of help here to go around! Great people!!!
PA, don't worry, I'm not far from Boca Raton. The Doc made me get pictures at THEIR facility last time as he didn't like the others I had. I still haven't heard back from them since this A.M. but I'm sure someone will call! Yes, my collar is on! I took a small nap and when I got up, I took two perc's which my pain doc said was OK as long as I didn't go over 5 a day. I may take an extra methadone also, just today to try to get this pain under control> It's up to an Ouwy now! I think maybe I'll jump in the shower and blast it w/ the hottest water I can stand! I don't usually care for hot showers! I'm a cold shower kind of guy! Anyway, thanks as usual for the advice and support! I'll be back later>
Pete

B.U. Thanks for the post! It's the same way here in S.E. Florida w/ water believe it or not. We are in a bad draught and have been for over a year now! We've been on water restrictions longer than that and I'm very careful of the water I use. I never take a very long shower. I'm just a GREEN kind of guy from way back before it was the thing to do!! I'm the biggest guy at work but drive the littlest car!
On the pain front> The girl at the Doc's office called me back, I have an apt. for my Xray at 11:00am on Wed. and then an apt. w/ the Doc at 1:00pm which isn't too far from there. The extra perc & methadone and the SHORT shower worked pretty good! I fell back to sleep and when I woke my pain was down to about a 4 from a 7 or 8 before! I just got off the phone with my boss, he said so you'll be out for the rest of the week, hug? I told him, probably unless the Doc says it's muscle pain and not nerve or nothing (cadaver bones or titanium) moved in there. He didn't sound suprised and was actually cool about it! Someone must have paid him some $$$, thats the only time he's not pissed off!  I have to go to the pharm for some thyroid & B.P. meds> Be back later!

Pete

Yikes, Pete! That is really scary! I sure hope that everything is okay in there & that you just overdid it. Hopefully you didn't set your recovery back too far, or worse. Definitely take it easy until the doc checks you out!

I know how terrifying it can be not to know if something is wrong or not. I was pretty stupid after one of my shoulder surgeries & was messing around with the horses right after I got out of the sling - around week 3 or 4 post op - when one of them put me into the ONE position that I am still not allowed in to this day (and I'm nearly 3 yrs out from my last shoulder surgery). I was very, very lucky that I didn't tear anything, although I was set back at least 6 mo in my recovery. I think I was holding my breath until that MRI came back.

Skeye

Hi Pete:

I just wanted to let you know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers. I'm glad you are taking a few days off. Please take it easy!

Lorie

Pete please slow down and take care of yourself.

Sorry Pete and no "I told you so"s"

I think sometimes I do things I know are going to cause me problems later just so I can say I did it! I get so weary of the cant do's that every once in awhile I do like Nike and "just do it" Lol

At those times I at least remind myself I am still living or the pain reminds me anyway!

Sure am glad I have one of those VERY large hot water tanks!

Hope this day brings some relief.

My Goodness> So many concerned Friends! I am so thankfull to all Y'all!
Chart, I'm here, I had a bad night last night so I've been taking it easy. I've already fell asleep twice this morning already. I haven't posted because my neck is worse today and it hurts to sit at the comp. No, I haven't tried ice yet, maybe today I'll give it a try. I've been talking to my wife lots! She sounds very worried, even offered to come down but I know she has lots of work right now so I asked her not to. Thanks so much for your advise!!!
Angel, it sounds like your alot like me! I should know better but I still try to cheat and do more than I should. Yes> just do it and pay later> GRRRR> Dumb me! Thanks for the kind words!
Kara, You are such a sweet girl! I thought you were upset w/me and I wouldn't blame you if you were! I shouldn't have made a big deal out of the the $ thing. I'm really sorry for pushing and bugging you like I did! I hope your doing alright today and will get your meds soon> it must be awfull for you! I think about you all the time! I'm praying for you my little Sister! Thanks for posting, it means a lot to me!
Mom, It's great to hear from you again! I hope your feeling better! I promiss I'm slowing down> I always do what Mom tells me! God bess you and your very large family! I don't know how you do it all! You are my hero!
FJ, It's so good to hear from you! You are another one of my hero's! I hear everything your telling me! That's great news about your son! Will you get to see him after boot camp? My son Joe was in Thailand the last time I heard from him. We are hoping to get out to Washington when his ship comes in if we can swing it some time this summer! Thanks for the post FJ!!!! You Da Man!!!
Lori, Thanks so much for writing me. The thoughts & prayes are helping me greatly! I promiss I'll take it easy!!! You are such a nice person, we are so lucky to have you here on the board with us!
Skeye, what can I say about you??? You are something else! With all you have to do you make time to write everyone here and do it while your eyes are killing you!!! You are definitly on the top of my Hero list!!! Thanks so much> If anyone here knows about setbacks it's you and you just keep going like that pink bunny! You are one brave Lady! Thankyou from the bottom of my heart!
Golitho, Thanks for your compassionet words, sounds like you are definitly a big asset to our little family. Hang tight and thanks again!
Well kids, I hope I didn't forget anyone, I'm truely sorry if I did! My neck is telling me to go get more comfortable so I better listen to it! I'll be back later and hopefully in better shape so I can read all the posts. I haven't done that yet today!
Big Hugs to all my friends, I hope all Y'all have a pain free day!
Your Friend,
Pete

Pete,
I was wondering what kind of sleeping arrangement your doctor suggested. I've never had cervical spine surgery, but I know I need a good cervical pillow. Are you supposed to sleep with your brace on? Use a good cervical pillow - with or without the brace? It's just an aspect I was wondering about since sleeping positions can affect so much. I can't imagine what it's like after CS surgery.

((((((((((((Pete))))))))))))))

PaLady

Thanks so much for the kind words Pete! They mean a lot to me! And of course I am going to make time for my friends here. You all have helped me through so much & continue to help me get through each day. I feel truly blessed to have found all the wonderful people here!

I hope you are feeling better, now that some of the day has passed! Give that icing a try, or a heating pad.

Skeye