I had my appointment with Dr. Cyr this morning to see if I could start the process of transitioning out of the neck brace I’ve been wearing 24/7 for three months. Starting today, I get to be without my brace for 1 hour at a time, four times. That lasts for five days. Then the next five days, two hours four times, then five days later 3 hours 4 times. So in 16 days, I’ll be completely out of my brace.
The first thing I did was take a brace-free shower.
Dr. Cyr seemed surprised that he could see signs of fusion already happening. He was very happy with what he saw, so that made me happy. I get to lift 10 pounds now instead of five. I don’t have to worry as much about how I move and whatnot. I can move however I need to move as I go through life, but I need to not stretch my neck on purpose.
He also agreed to do a CT scan at 5 months instead of waiting until 6 months to see if I’m fully fused and to see if I can be released from all restrictions and begin physical therapy.
Also, it looks like even when I’m fully released from restrictions I might return to OTF as a power walker rather than a runner. Doc said my best chance not to meet him again in the operating room is to not run and put stress on the rest of my discs. I sure don’t want to do this again.
So anyway, as you see me over the next couple of weeks, sometimes I’ll have my brace on and sometimes I won’t.
Happy day for me! ~ Catherine Gear Banks
