I'm just sending a little note around to everyone that might be interested that I am due to undergo surgery on my spine this Friday (the 28th). If all goes well, I should be able to walk out the same day, possibly the next, depending on when the surgery ends up being scheduled for the day. I'm having what's called an "anterior cervical diskectomy and joint fusion". Basically, they go in through the front of my neck, remove a herniated disc from my spine, insert some donor bone between the two vertebra, and then install a metal plate to hold it all together. It's supposed to be minimally invasive, and have minor impact on my function. However, if it all goes as I hope, it could end or diminish the constant nerve pain, insensitivity, and weakness I've been suffering for the past few years.

I will post again when I am recovered enough to use the computer, which should be soon by all accounts. I'm pretty nervous, especially since it's so near my spinal column, but I'm also hopeful.