There were a few major complications during her surgery.

The most serious was a large dural tear (the very thin membrane that protects the spinal cord) resulting in a dangerous CSF leak (cerebrospinal fluid leak) discovered during the new fusions and removal of extensive scar tissue on several levels.

That is a life/limb threatening and potential brain damage situation so requires extreme caution.

They've had to keep her sedated, lying prone, and used a paralytic agent and intubation normally only used during spine surgeries to prevent any movement that could damage the surgical repair of the torn dura.

They woke her up this afternoon and raised her up 10° to test if the repair is holding. No instant headache, which is great! but new, extremely painful muscle spasms on her entire left side suddenly began. Not sure why. Another MRI tomorrow to see what's changed and if it is related to the CSF leak.

Once she is stabilized, she'll go to Northeast Rehab in Nashua for the rest of her inpatient recovery & rehab, then home once she doesn't need round-the-clock nursing care.

It's going to be a long haul to recover from this.

She may pop in a few times to post if she's able and not in too much pain.