I love open-ended questions because I get to interpret them any way I want!
The best thing during my spinal ordeal: (looking back there were at least a couple)
(a) oddly, the best thing was that the local docs were not helpful and were at times arrogant! It took years of trying one doc after another; during those years, cervical ADR was finally FDA approved and I was forced to look elsewhere for help--with good results!
(b) During the 7 years, I got to know my PT, massage therapist and trainer really well--and they are wonderful people!
The worst thing: Going through a personal injury trial against--you guessed it--State Farm. The trial was even more traumatic than the MVA.
Most helpful: After 7 years of working with my trainer, being physically fit. One specific example, was being able to use lateral muscles to lie down and get up after the surgery (and even knowing what and where the lateral muscles are!)
Least helpful: Can't think of anything!
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2001 MVA; C5-C6 disk extruded
ongoing physical therapy, exercise and massage
ESI's, oral prednisone, trigger point injections
foraminal and central stenosis C5/C6 and c6/C7
2007 EMG/nerve conduction shows pattern of chronic radiculopathy
January, 2008: Prestige ST Artificial Disk Replacement, C5/6
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