Kyphoplasty

Testimonial

November 6, 2005

"Party time"

So there! It has been unmistakable proven that I am not a spinless idiot, as has been implied.

On March 27th, 2005, under extreme sedation for pain, in a standing position, I passed out and collapsed in a heap. Having lost consciousness, I have no recollection of falling. But Jane came to check and found me flat on the floor, - face down. Not being able to help, she had to just watch as I squirmed about, using all four limbs to work my way back to our bedroom. Somehow, I managed to get back into bed.

Much later, when my doctor was finally located, he told Jane to get me back to the hospital. With my inability to even sit up, much less walk to our garage, she had no recourse but to call for an ambulance. Upon arriving at the hospital, an MRI was done. The fall had crushed my L-3 vertebra.

Standard procedure for a crushed vertebra is called Kyphoplasty. It's a two-pronged effort in which a needle is led into the area of that vertebra. It contains a balloon which is inflated, thereby forming an open space. A second needle is led into that space. Through this needle, a cement-like substance is pumped in to a completely fill the area. After a period, this substance sets to form a solid mass with no form other than that of the space into which it was pumped.

There have been negative comments, by some doctors, of this procedure. When I consider one of the alternatives, - the rest of my life in a horizontal position, - I thank God and the Ingenuity of those who formulated the idea.

Attached is a photograph of the afore-mentiond unmistakable proof.