Back Surgery and Neck Surgery
Posted on: Wed, 08/20/2008 - 01:03
CoEqual Products Bed Lounger for Surgery Recovery

After recoverying last summer from my C5-6 neck surgery just with pillows, I got the smart (I thought) idea to purchase a bed Lounger advertised for surgical patients who need to sleep sitting up, for my Septoplasty and sinus surgery last week. I carefully investigated the website, choose the proper products, picked out the covering fabric, made sure it was non-allergenic, had pockets on side for remote, glasses, etc. It even had an adjustable head rest, that rotated to hold your head without neck strain, and an adjustable lumbar pillow too. I suspect some of you can see where this is going, right? Yep. Had nose cartiledge broken and repaired, and sinus rotor-rootered last Wed. Came home, crawled into bed, to, I thought, relax into the arms of my welcoming bed buddy. (Their term, not mine, I called it something else!)

Words fail me. I can't describe how uncomfortable, ungiving, stiff this thing that was supposed to cradle me and give me respite from my pain was. And after about 2 hours, my neck and shoulders were screaming in pain. I still have muscle spasms from my discectomy and fusion, but they were screaming at the torture I was putting them thru. Thank God my ENT had perscribed Vicodine for my pain. Little did I know I would need it because of something that was advertised as being an aid to my recovery. I didn't use it for 4 days, then last night, being the glutton for punishment that I am, I tried it again. I've been having trouble sleeping due to the steroids anyway, but after a half hour threw it out of my bed.

Fortunately I have the website in my files, at least I did something right. They advertise that since they know how delighted I will be, they have no problem with me using this product for 60 days, and if I'm the slightest bit unhappy with it can send it in for a full refund, at their shipping expense. I'll call tomorrow for the UPS pickup, and see if they are out of business yet. I know a lot of neckies and others here often ask for ideas or items that might make recovery a little easier. I just wanted to write this testimonial on this "wonderful" product, hoping to help some of you avoid my mistakes.

May you all be peaceful and pain-free. PS. I think they will try to sell me a bridge in the desert next.

Maggie

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Type 2 Diabetes. Peripheral neuropathy, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel both wrists, right shoulder acromioplasty, appendectomy, hysterectomy, Septoplasty, Sinus surgery.
laparoscopic nissan fundiplication (surgery for GERD)
C5-6 Discectomy, fusion with cadaver bone, titanium plate and screws
1 4mm left frontal white matter lesion.
MRI Report: April, 2008
C1-2 mild degenerative changes. C2-3 Posterior disc/osteophyte complex and facet degenerative changes resulting if mild canal stenosis. Mild to moderate right and left foraminal stenosis. C3-4 disc/osteophyte complex assymmetric to the left and facet degen change rsulting in mild to moderate canal stenosis. moderate right and severe left foraminal stenosis. C4-5 moderate canal stenosis. moderate right and left foraminal stenosis. C6-7 mild canal stenosis. bilateral foraminal stenoses.
Thoracic T9 hemangioma. Mild Schmorl's Node endplate deformities. degenerative changes , most significant at T6-7 with right paracentral disc protrusion. associated canal stenosis.
Lumbar MRI Bed 2007
Lumbar degenerative dis desiccation and degenerative disc narrowing especially the upper levels.
L4-5 broad based disc bulge combined with facet hypertrophy and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy resulting in central stenosis.

Lots of pain. Leg Weakness on neurological exam. Tramadol, Baclophen, neurontin, magnesium, potassium, Toprol XL, melatonin