As you might or might not know, I underwent surgery in July to relieve cervical spinal cord compression. The surgery involved removing degenerated discs, replacing them with allografts, and fusing four cervical vertebrae (C3-C6). I’ve been wearing a cumbersome neck brace ever since.

That era ended today. The neck brace that had been as much a part of me as a dog’s collar becomes a part of him is now off. Observe the smiling, happy, phonily posing Turkey in the picture at left. I feel somewhat naked without my constant companion of the past 4-2/3 months, but I’m certain that I’ll get used to not feeling constantly strangulated by it!

Now begins some physical therapy to work on the neck and shoulder muscles that have no doubt atrophied. I can tell you that my head is a big load to hold up, which means those muscles will be sore for at least a couple months. Just wanted to share my good news with all of you!

(This does not mean that this Turkey will cease to be a pain in the neck—that tends to be the case with or without a neck brace!)