The blog name came from the nickname I gave self after seeing 1st postfusion xray on lower back-the bolts looked otherwordly,but back was better than before. Old RN-worked 23 years of nightshifts in L&D at a mid sized hospital. Took loa for surgery and couldn’t make it back- no more back shifts. Have since had 3 levels in neck fused and 2 more on either side of 1st in lower back. Titanium is holding me together-literally. My height increased 1/2 inch after neck surgery. Degenerative disc disease(i prefer condition to disease-you can’t catch it from me)wore away all the disc cushion material at all 3 levels, actually four. Last level to be fused to triple fusion august 17th. For years I thought my neck looked shorter-maybe because I gained weight over the years. After the neck surgery it was noticiably longer-a little anyway- my doctor noticed it also. Unless the PA put a note on chart-“tell patient her neck looks longer as she gets a kick out of this.” Have started a walking program and am having regular massages as part of self designed rehab, also light weight-lifting as well as laundry,dishes,bed making........