Autonerdz forums

Hi all,

I’ve said for years…  The value of this used car isn’t adversely affected so much by its age - as it is by its mileage!  I’m sorry that I haven’t been available lately to help some of you but please know I’ll probably be “back in the saddle” come January.

As some are aware, I awoke on August 14th unable to feel my left hand and had what felt like electrical shocks running down the back of my left arm.  Since then, there had been more developments such as my back/neck “grinding” when my head turned, involuntary muscular convulsions affecting my whole body (pinched nerves in the spinal column), dizziness and an inability to sleep (due to pain).  The situation has gotten so bad I had almost completely stopped driving due to the dangers involved, which meant I’d also curtailed doing a lot of my automotive diagnostic work.

Tests ruled out other possible causes and the neuro surgeon I’m seeing agreed there were problems in my neck and back that required surgery. 

I had an operation on December 8th.  2 plates, 2 cadaver disks, 8 screws and a three-inch long scar on my neck later…..  I’m a new man!

At this point, the swelling in the front and the back of my neck is going down (as is the bruising, which I don’t do!), I already can FEEL things with my left hand (instead of just touch them), the electricity I was feeling running down both arms is MUCH less and those uncontrollable electrical jolts that ran through my whole body causing momentary convulsions are fewer and less intense. 

Doc says the nerves that I was crushing when the disks disintegrated will most likely heal completely over time.  The recovery time is only a few weeks (before I can return to work - I hope to get back to work in January) and they say I’ll have “full function” of the neck after about a month. 

So…  I’m optimistic about getting relief (finally) and returning to my not-so-grumpy self when this is all done.  Thank you for your patience and understanding of my limitations.

Thank you also for your prayers and good wishes.

Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, killer Kwanzaa, happy holidays, whatever is appropriate (lol).

Great to hear that went so well!  Scary stuff.  You are a brave man.  Guess you didn't have much choice though.....

Here is hoping you have a full and speedy recovery.

The Car Whisperer - Autonerdz wrote on Dec 20^th, 2016 at 1:32pm:


Good to hear things are looking up Jamie!

Hope you finish healing up quickly.

Good to hear that you made it through Jamie, hope recovery goes well.

Now as to these electrical pulses you were feeling - you did take a capture right? We need to add that as a known good or bad to the database.

Hi Jaime, glad to hear you are doing better! That is a rough road to go down.

Glad all is going well with your healing

Hope to meet you at Automechanika next year. I see you are scheduled to give a few classes

mikeadema wrote on Dec 21^st, 2016 at 9:20am:

 

Thank you everyone for the kind words and "get well wishes"!

P.S. - Sneezing sucks!  OUCH!  hahaha

Glad your feeling better, Merry Christmas