skutsch

Fantastic Steve!

Geez, I guess and update is in order. I got the brace off in late April. 8 months. Seems like a long time but the reality is it went fast.

Doc said, time to put the broken neck behind me, but to live cautiously. I think I am pretty much back to as much as normal as I am going to be. Still get sore, those muscles are still pretty weak, but no "structural pain". I have had some of the mobility return to my neck, but it is still pretty limited.

Enjoying the girls soccer seasons, and looking forward to getting in the boat. Can't wait to see everyone at Green Lake, drink a few beers, pass along some much deserved hugs and share some stories.

Thanks one last time for all the support! Hope everyone is having a GREAT spring. See you all soon!!!

Joe - truer words couldn't be said. I can't even imagine doing a restart on this one. I had intentions of being able to run the snowblower this winter, but I think, after your words of wisdom, I am going to take the conservative approach and let my more then generous neighbor handle the job this winter.

Moj - glad to hear your recovering as well. Crazy what the rehab plan is for knees and hips these days - 4 weeks and your logging serious miles on the treadmill. Hope it is pain free!

Both you characters please remember to be extremely cautious during this winter to avoid falls... good shoes, short steps, use handrails, and assume everything is covered in ice (or soap in the bath/shower) nothing is more heartbreaking that being sent back to the starting line, or worse due to a fall during recovery.   

Steve,
Tell that body of yours that it's doing a good job. Have a merry Christmas.

Steve, great to hear that you just keep doing better. After about a quarter century of driving the box type ambulances with no side or rear visibility I can attest that you can set a vehicle up so that it can be driven strictly with mirrors. I am so used to this that when I buy a new vehicle I bring the stick on blind spot mirrors with me when I go to pick it up (maybe Santa will leave some in your stocking!). Setting and maintaining proper mirror adjustment to eliminate blind spots is critical. Have a great Christmas.

Great news Steve a Chistmas gift for sure

Has to be nice to be out on your own, if even for a little bit. Very good steps forward. Best wishes for a continued recovery and a very happy 2015!

Glad to hear it Steve- keep healing up!

Well, I had my 4 month post accident follow up last Monday. All reports were good. This was the first time I could actually visually see on the x-rays where the fused vertebrae looked to be growing bone (there's a softball for someone) and increasing bone density (my doc has been saying all along that it was progressing, but this was the first time I could notice a difference). So I was pretty excited about that!

Doc wants me to start going for short periods of time with out the brace, while you would think that I would be excited about that, to be perfectly honest it scares me to death. As uncomfortable as these things look, they are not that bad and provide an unbelievable amount of security. So I will be working on that, probably more of a mental challenge then anything. The last few nights I sat on the couch without the brace and I am getting more comfortable with the idea.

I also am cleared to start driving again. I do have to spend the next couple of weeks re-learning that process. I really can't turn my head, so I have to learn to check mirrors and blind spots by turning my entire body. The doc put my wife (an OT) in charge of signing off on my safety awareness. I have been out a couple of times on the neighborhood streets with her and it is going well. I broke the rules and drove solo to the grocery store last night - first time I have gone anywhere alone for over 4 months - a BIG step!

So progressing, it will be slow - it takes over a year for a bone to heal 100%, so I plan on giving it all that time, plus more to grow new bone. I get the sense the doc wants me to rely less and less on the brace, I am not so sure I agree but will follow his lead. Looking forward to a great Christmas with friends and family, I wish the same for all of you. I want to thank you all again for you prayers and support - couldn't have done this without you. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

skutsch wrote: jbear wrote: skutsch wrote:    I think of all you folks a lot, looking forward to the next Chicago Beers outing, or Green Lake reunion, knowing there are so many other get together's I want to attend; White Lake, The Benjamins, St. John River Run, Uhhh....am I missing something here..... john Hoping to get to all of these soon, maybe one a year should be a goal. Really all depends on the kids activities...

somehow missed "Florida..driving for Eddie & John" on this list...where are those reading glasses?

john

jbear wrote: skutsch wrote:    I think of all you folks a lot, looking forward to the next Chicago Beers outing, or Green Lake reunion, knowing there are so many other get together's I want to attend; White Lake, The Benjamins, St. John River Run, Uhhh....am I missing something here..... john

Hoping to get to all of these soon, maybe one a year should be a goal. Really all depends on the kids activities...

skutsch wrote:    I think of all you folks a lot, looking forward to the next Chicago Beers outing, or Green Lake reunion, knowing there are so many other get together's I want to attend; White Lake, The Benjamins, St. John River Run,

Uhhh....am I missing something here.....



john

holy cow...a Randy_in_Ohio sighting...

john

skutsch wrote: can't wait to get behind the wheel again in the boat, I think summer will be good, maybe even a late winter trip down south if I can swing it. I know Eddie and Jbear will let me drive for them, and they have that all the time glass water, so I don't have to worry about the bouncing from the waves, sounds like perfect therapy (mental if nothing else!)

and no snow here...so plan on coming down here...bring your Dad.



john