Melissa Ellen Gilbert, an American actress, former president of the Screen Actors Guild, television director, producer, and politician, was born on May 8, 1963.
Gilbert’s acting career as a child actress got its start in the late 1960s when she made multiple appearances in television guest spots and commercials. She portrayed Laura Ingalls Wilder, the second oldest child of Charles Ingalls (played by Michael Landon), on the NBC sitcom Little House on the Prairie from 1974 to 1983.
Gilbert featured in a number of television movies when Little House was on the air, such as The Miracle Worker and The Diary of Anne Frank.
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Healing from “life-Changing” Neck Surgery
Gilbert posted a video detailing her procedure on Instagram with the description, “Despite I am only one week out it is evident that this surgery for me has been a life-changing event. On this Thanksgiving day, though I am isolated from all of my loved ones, I am so overwhelmed with gratitude.
According to the video, she underwent a number of exploratory surgeries in addition to having a plate from a previous spinal fusion and the hardware from a failed fusion removed. Gilbert also received an artificial disc to replace the fusion that didn’t work.
According to SELF, the spine is built up of interlocking vertebrae with discs positioned in between them to act as cushions. 33 vertebrae are typically present at birth, but by the time we reach adulthood, most of them have fused together spontaneously, leaving us with only 24. The cervical vertebrae in the neck are the C vertebrae Gilbert refers to.
The Mayo Clinic states that a spinal fusion is a process in which two vertebrae are permanently linked using hardware (such as metal plates or rods), preventing them from shifting.
So that the vertebrae fuse together, the goal is to mirror the natural bone-healing process. In order to repair herniated discs, spinal weakness or instability (typically brought on by arthritis), or diseases like scoliosis, spinal fusions may occasionally be required.
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While spinal fusion can be a successful treatment for some disorders, such as fractures or spinal instability, surgery does carry a risk of adverse effects and doesn’t always guarantee the absence of future spine problems or additional injuries.
The Mayo Clinic notes that disc replacement is a more contemporary treatment that involves replacing a natural disc in the spine with an artificial one comprised of plastic and metal. For the treatment of a herniated or degenerative disc, this can be a successful alternative to fusions, but it may not be an option for everyone.
“Dr. Bray was able to remove all of the outdated hardware, remove bone spurs that were causing numbness in my right hand, and, and, and, he was able to provide me with the artificial disc!!
Gilbert added, “Therefore, I now concentrate on healing and continuing to be Covid-free.
How Much Money Does Melissa Gilbert Have?
Celebrity Net Worth estimates Melissa’s net worth at $500,000. The California native, who is best known for her time on the prairie, was elected president of the Screen Actors Guild in 2001. She served in that capacity until 2005.