29/03/22 There are two kinds of...

Days are either quiet with very little to write about, or full of new things. Yesterday was the second kind.

It started with an early 'phone call to Springfield to cancel today's neurologist "review" appointment, as agreed earlier with his secretary.  Will re-make that appointment later, if there seems to be any point. Then I had an email from Mr.V's secretary who also turns out to be secretary for Mr.D, metalwork expert neurosurgeon at Brentwood Nuffield. She gave me a couple of phone numbers for appointments there. I rang one and to surprise (and delight) got one for 11:10 today. At that point I thought I'd better call AXA (insurers) to bring them up to date. All OK there, and they confirmed that if they want to treat this as a separate new claim for administrative reasons, it won't affect my No Claims Discount. That's quite a relief.

Then another email came in bringing with it Mr.V's clinic letter and a couple of scan reports. Here they are:

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X-Ray report:

EXAMINATION DATE: 11/03/2022 Examination: XR Cervical Spine

EXAMINATION: XR Cervical Spine

CLINICAL INDICATION:

Old odontoid peg fracture.

FINDINGS:

Lateral, lateral flexion and lateral extension views were obtained.

There is minimal anterior slip of C6 on C7. No instability has been demonstrated. In particular, no instability is seen in the upper cervical spine.

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CT report:

EXAMINATION DATE: 11/03/2022 Examination: CT Cervical Spine

Addendum created at 11/03/2022 12:35:57:

Addendum to previous report.

I note the history of myeloma. No destructive cervical spine pathology has been

demonstrated.

EXAMINATION: CT Cervical Spine

CLINICAL INDICATION:

Previous fall. Progressive neurology. Old fracture. History of myeloma

TECHNIQUE

Axial sections were obtained with reformatted images

FINDINGS:

There is an old fracture of the base of the odontoid peg. The peg is displaced significantly posteriorly and abuts the anterior arch of the atlas. The anteroinferior aspect of the displaced peg abuts the posterior aspect of the C2 vertebral body segment There is also posterior subluxation of the right C1 lateral mass on the right C2 lateral mass. Degenerative changes and osteophyte formation is demonstrated at the left C1/C2 lateral mass articulation.

Degenerative changes are seen in the cervical joints being particularly prominent on the right side at the C3-4 and C4-5 levels. Alignment of the rest of the cervical spine is normal

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What all that means, as far as I can tell with the assistance of my Unofficial Medical Adviser, is that it's a bit of a miracle I went as long as I did without serious consequences, and the sooner we get the scaffolding in there the better.

It's still unclear whether we're dealing with an old fracture or a new one, or both. But my UMA tells me that because of the way bone heals and re-forms, it's very hard to date these things. So perhaps the question is unanswerable and only of historic interest.

Now off for an early(ish) night. Giot to be at my brightest and best for Mr.D later this morning!