Update on My Bionic Neck (Cervical Fusion)

for the curious, or those contemplating this procedure

"Six month" follow-up on the progress of what I am now calling my bionic neck. (Cervical fusion.) I was about a month and a week late with this visit, but since the initial part of my recovery was quite hellish, we'll say I was only fashionably late

All the hardware is still in place, and the PA says she sees the expected amount of bone growth, so the fusion is on track. (It usually takes a year for full fusion.) Disc spaces above and below look good, the same as previous, so that's on track, too.

Overall, she says I have an excellent chance of avoiding further surgery for ten years, and a good chance of avoiding further surgery altogether. She's sending me for PT to help that happen. (I'll be continuing HIT as well.)

A new, fancy bionic neck...if I can keep it, right?

*I have some niggling issues with swallowing (pills are a no-go), and I sometimes get sore with singing or too much loud speaking. But she said that swelling can also be an issue after this surgery for up to a year(!) In any event, I'll see an ENT soon for those issues. Long term, after the fusion is complete, she said they could remove that metal plate, which might do the trick and would be a minor procedure.