Spinal Fusion

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

Anyone here had the pleasure of getting a spinal fusion? Two weeks from today I get one. Yeah...so excited....not really. This has been going on for years, but I'm at the point where I've tried practically everything and honestly, taking pain meds gets pretty old.

Here's a few pics of what the L3-L5 fusion will look like. A couple titanium rods, 6 pedicle screws, some bone graph for the fusion and a couple cages to go between the vertebrae where my disc used to be.

16751

16752

16753

16754

So, has anyone here been through it? How was the recovery? Are you glad you did it or if you had the chance for a do-over, would you opt out against it? How's the mobility after your rehab?

I'm just really curious on what to expect coming from someone that has been through it as opposed to the sunshine the doctor is blowing up my ass. He's supposed to be a great neurosurgeon, but he's never had it done to him.

Thanks for any input,
Randy

[FZRguy]

PM Dysco. He's been to hell and back with back surgery.

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

Awesome, lol. "...to hell and back"

Thanks!

[dirkterrell]

Damn, that looks like a load of fun... not. Good luck with it, man.

Dirk

[Sully]

OMG!! Good luck Randy, you will be in my thoughts. Whatever you do, take it easy afterwards.. don't even sneeze! :)

[MetaLord 9]

Damn Randy, good luck man

[Filo]

One of the MRA racers had it done a few years ago. He is in my demographic - low 40's male. I can send him an email and see if he wants to share. What I know is before surgery - no walking possible, after surgery racing again...

[bodhizafa]

Good luck with those metal detectors!

[derekm]

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp26/dsfdlish/misc/backxray-1.jpg

+ I got it all yanked out about a year later

[Wrider]

Good luck with those metal detectors!

Eh they don't detect titanium.

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

derekm-

They removed it after the fusion process was complete? Is that necessary or by choice? Did it help you after it was done?

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

Thanks for the well wishes everyone.

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

One of the MRA racers had it done a few years ago. He is in my demographic - low 40's male. I can send him an email and see if he wants to share. What I know is before surgery - no walking possible, after surgery racing again...

Thanks for the response. PM'd.

[derekm]

derekm-

They removed it after the fusion process was complete? Is that necessary or by choice? Did it help you after it was done?
my choice. heres the cliff notes- worked at a mc shop. test riding bike on 2 lane one way. explorer turns left in front of me from right lane. my ass (i used to keep my wallet in my rear pocket) collides with door of explorer as low side completes. cant move legs for a couple minutes. so i had a l3 burst fracture- take a hammer to an ice cube for visual effects. it was fusion or torso brace so i chose (l2-l4) fusion . def noticed limited motion so i opted to have them removed once i was "as good as can be" a bit less pain than with hardware in and now way better motion.

[Vehicle 1]

Good luck with everything Randy.
I fractured my L5 before, but it was not bad enough for surgery. Back injuries suck!

Let us know how it goes.

D.

[MetaLord 9]

...so i had a l3 burst fracture- take a hammer to an ice cube for visual effects.
woof.

damn dude. I didn't realize that when you were posting up about it a while back.

[brennahm]

Had C6 & C7 fused. Maybe a little less motion, no pain. Had a great neuro, best in the area. 9 years on and only the scar reminds me it happened.

[sprtbkbabe]

That sucks Randy! I hope this surgery goes well for you. :( Taking pain meds everyday can't be a good ritual.

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

my choice. heres the cliff notes- worked at a mc shop. test riding bike on 2 lane one way. explorer turns left in front of me from right lane. my ass (i used to keep my wallet in my rear pocket) collides with door of explorer as low side completes. cant move legs for a couple minutes. so i had a l3 burst fracture- take a hammer to an ice cube for visual effects. it was fusion or torso brace so i chose (l2-l4) fusion . def noticed limited motion so i opted to have them removed once i was "as good as can be" a bit less pain than with hardware in and now way better motion.

Thanks for the feedback.

[ghostrider_9]

Randy, give me a call when you get a chance. I had L5-S1 done less than a year ago.

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

Good luck with everything Randy.
I fractured my L5 before, but it was not bad enough for surgery. Back injuries suck!

Let us know how it goes.

D.


Thanks Diego.

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

Had C6 & C7 fused. Maybe a little less motion, no pain. Had a great neuro, best in the area. 9 years on and only the scar reminds me it happened.

Who was your neuro?

Thanks.

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

That sucks Randy! I hope this surgery goes well for you. :( Taking pain meds everyday can't be a good ritual.


Thanks!

[Sean]

Damn Randy! I have nothing to offer, but if there is anything I can do, don't hesitate!

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

Damn Randy! I have nothing to offer, but if there is anything I can do, don't hesitate!


Thanks buddy.

[birchyboy]

Nothing I can do to help either. Make sure the doctor uses Loctite though. Probably red, not blue.

[bulldog]

Anyone here had the pleasure of getting a spinal fusion? Two weeks from today I get one. Yeah...so excited....not really. This has been going on for years, but I'm at the point where I've tried practically everything and honestly, taking pain meds gets pretty old.
GSXR~SNAIL, have you considered using "medical marijuana" instead of pain pills? I know it is a taboo subject but I have a friend that was always zombied out from all the pain medicine the doctors had him on. He went the medical marijuana route and says that it controls the pain better and he can actually live a halfway normal life now. From my experience of him he is way more coherent on the MM than on the pain pills. It may be an option you should consider for pain relief.

[Joe]

Nothing I can do to help either. Make sure the doctor uses Loctite though. Probably red, not blue.

Safetywire:
You can't pass Tech with Loctite.

[guessinthe2000]

That thing looks effing scary

[brennahm]

He's in N FL so I don't figure he'll be much help.

[TT5.0]

Have you looked at any other options? My wife got an artificial disc replacement instead of a fusion. It is an option that allows you to keep full range of motion. They physically remove the disc, and replace it with one made from metal and plastic. Google "ADR", or Pro-disc for more details. If the disc replacement doesn't end up working out, they can still do a fusion on top of the artificial disc. My wife had her L5-S1 replaced, and it seems to be a lot better. Unfortunately, she is now having problems with another disc around L2-L3.

Here is the link to the Pro-disc for Lumbar site:
http://us.synthesprodisc.com/EN-US/DiscReplacement/ProDiscLumbar/

There are other types of discs also, but this is the one my wife got. The bad part about the actual surgery is that they have to go in through the front, so abdominal muscles get cut, and recovery can take some time.

Dr. Kenneth Pettine in Loveland is one of the best spine surgeons in the world, and was the first to ever perform a 3-disc replacement. I would highly recommend at least a consultation with him.


Edit: Here's a couple of crappy phone pics of my wife's backside... :D Please keep the staring to a minimum. The screws they added are apparently a new technique to hold in a tendon for facet joint longevity.

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

GSXR~SNAIL, have you considered using "medical marijuana" instead of pain pills? I know it is a taboo subject but I have a friend that was always zombied out from all the pain medicine the doctors had him on. He went the medical marijuana route and says that it controls the pain better and he can actually live a halfway normal life now. From my experience of him he is way more coherent on the MM than on the pain pills. It may be an option you should consider for pain relief.


bd-

I'm hoping this surgery gets rid of the pain and nothing is needed. But, I'll keep this in mind.

:siesta:

[Dysco]

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173810
Here's a few words on my surgery. If you dig around, there are a couple of shots of my actual spine.

My fusion is 14 levels- from T2-L4. It got infected and I had 6 surgeries in total. My range of motion is non-existent and my pain is pretty minimal. I felt comfortable trailriding 3 years post-op.

And titanium will set of metal detectors all day long.

(Hi everybody!)

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

Have you looked at any other options? My wife got an artificial disc replacement instead of a fusion. It is an option that allows you to keep full range of motion. They physically remove the disc, and replace it with one made from metal and plastic. Google "ADR", or Pro-disc for more details. If the disc replacement doesn't end up working out, they can still do a fusion on top of the artificial disc. My wife had her L5-S1 replaced, and it seems to be a lot better. Unfortunately, she is now having problems with another disc around L2-L3.

Here is the link to the Pro-disc for Lumbar site:
http://us.synthesprodisc.com/EN-US/DiscReplacement/ProDiscLumbar/

There are other types of discs also, but this is the one my wife got. The bad part about the actual surgery is that they have to go in through the front, so abdominal muscles get cut, and recovery can take some time.

Dr. Kenneth Pettine in Loveland is one of the best spine surgeons in the world, and was the first to ever perform a 3-disc replacement. I would highly recommend at least a consultation with him.


Edit: Here's a couple of crappy phone pics of my wife's backside... :D Please keep the staring to a minimum. The screws they added are apparently a new technique to hold in a tendon for facet joint longevity.


TT5.0-

Thanks. I actually asked my doctor this as my first question, he said with the injuries I have, I wasn't a candidate for this. So, I went to another doctor for another opinion and he essentially repeated what my doctor said. To be honest, I didn't understand the explanation completely, but they both said I wasn't a candidate.

Weird, because that's one of the issues I have among many with the back. The discs at L3/L4 and L4/L5 have, due to trauma, went from bulging, to herniated, to now completely desiccated (flat). Additionally, there are rather sizable bone spurs, again due to the trauma, that are infringing on the foraminal spaces putting a lot of pressure on my spinal nerves. I get a lot lower back pain, radiating pain over both my hips into my groin, numbness to an extent down my right leg and weak strength in my right ankle.

The crappy part about this is that it's been going on for a long time and has just become intolerable. If I wasn't such a knucklehead and had it treated properly much earlier, I wouldn't be dealing with this now. Early treatment is the key. I was actually in the military when I suffered the injury initially, loading sidewinder missiles on F-15's, but military doctor after military doctor diagnosed it as muscle spasms and prescribed a muscle relaxer and Tylenol. Obviously, it was a little more than that at the time, and over time has just progressed. Exercise, physical therapy, traction, pain meds of all sorts were a little too late.

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173810
Here's a few words on my surgery. If you dig around, there are a couple of shots of my actual spine.

My fusion is 14 levels- from T2-L4. It got infected and I had 6 surgeries in total. My range of motion is non-existent and my pain is pretty minimal. I felt comfortable trailriding 3 years post-op.

And titanium will set of metal detectors all day long.

(Hi everybody!)

Holy crap, that's one hell of a fusion.

I asked the doc about the metal detectors, he says I get some kind of metal implant card. But he said based on feedback from his patients, it depends on the sensitivity of the detector. Some go off all the time, some didn't.

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

Man! Sorry to hear that, best of luck!

[FZRguy]

So glad you got your life back Mike! We gotta ride when you get back to the metro area (you haven't seen the sumo), and go for some Indian food.

Good luck with your surgery GSXR. Keep us posted on your rehab.

[Matty]

Good luck Randy.......

[ghostrider_9]

Holy crap, that's one hell of a fusion.

I asked the doc about the metal detectors, he says I get some kind of metal implant card. But he said based on feedback from his patients, it depends on the sensitivity of the detector. Some go off all the time, some didn't.

I've never had an issue with them and I fly quite frequently with my job.

[Dysco]

Holy crap, that's one hell of a fusion.

I asked the doc about the metal detectors, he says I get some kind of metal implant card. But he said based on feedback from his patients, it depends on the sensitivity of the detector. Some go off all the time, some didn't.
The implant card thing won't get you past the TSA without a grope. A little fusion may not cause you to beep. I beep every time, but I am smuggling pounds of titanium, not ounces.


My best advice is about PT. Join a gym if you haven't and start working in the pool- even before your surgery if you can. I would walk the length of the shallow end forwards and backwards for 10 laps or so, then grapevine it in both directions for 10 laps or so- and then repeat to exhaustion. The trick is to tense up your core while you do it while still breathing regularly. A good PT outfit can teach you everything your need to know, but as soon as the doc recommends PT, get on it and treat it like the most important thing you're doing.... because it is. The best I ever did was 2-a-days at the gym in the pool and then doing light weights and core strengthening. Your health is more important than anything else: job, friends, etc. That doesn't mean don't take care of those things, but don't skip your PT ever.

My second best advice is to find a caretaker if you don't already have one for the first few days out of the hospital. It's going to hurt BAD for about a week, then kinda bad for 6 weeks, then it'll have pain half-lives. Don't be afraid to medicate. It's far worse to go unmedicated than feeling overmedicated, DAMHIK. Plan on getting rides for a little while- driving with a lot of pain and no meds is almost the same as driving while on pain meds. 2 years to full recovery is a good ballpark, but you'll be able to do a lot in the meantime.

Finally, if you're married or you have a significant other taking care of you, order flowers in advance for the second or third day you're home. This will pay serious dividends.

[Dysco]

So glad you got your life back Mike! We gotta ride when you get back to the metro area (you haven't seen the sumo), and go for some Indian food.


Yeah we do! I spent the last 6 weeks in Salida doing a clinical and I'll be headed up to Steamboat soon. I graduate in May, so my schedule should free up a little. Kate got a WR250R so now we're both well equipped. 8)

[Dysco]

I found my post on recovery...

Dysco's advice for life after major surgery or injury.

1) Make a plan. Write yourself a note about how you're feeling and where you want to be at the end of your mess. Reread it when you get discouraged. Write more. Keep them all.

2) Take care of the person (or people) that is taking care of you. This is critical. Order flowers for your wife before surgery to be delivered afterwards, make plans with other people (friends or a CNA service) to give your caretaker a break or whatever you think will work to make life easier for them. Whatever you're feeling physically, they're feeling emotionally. (It's a bad idea to schedule a "party" that they will have to prepare for and clean up after.)

3) Hospitals aren't hotels. The harder you work in them, the less time you'll have to spend there. Get out of bed to pee, walk around the unit as much as they'll let you, and work to let the nurses and CNAs know you want to do as much as you can on your own. Eat your meals. Healing takes calories. If a nurse sucks, tell the patient rep. If a nurse was awesome, tell the patient rep. They can't improve things if they don't know about them, nor can they reward positive outcomes.

4) Make a list of questions for your doc. In the 5 minutes you might see him or her a day, you may not be able to remember your questions. The doc is usually in a hurry- they are busy people. Don't bog the conversation down with stories about irrelevant stuff. If you stick to business they will actually spend more time with you.

5) Write everything down that the doc or physical therapist tells you to do to get better. Keep an accordion folder to keep your instructions straight. Follow the instructions. Make sure to make the difference between a limit and a benchmark. A limit is "don't walk more than 1/4 mile a day." A Benchmark is "I want you to be walking at least a mile a day." Follow the limits, double the benchmarks.

6) Stop when it hurts bad. Pain is going to change you. There is good pain, bad pain, and pain that's always going to be there. Figure out when to stop before the bad pain, ignore the others.

7) Come up with a plan to get off your pain meds. When you're prescribed a med for pain, ask not only about the side-effects, but about how to get off of them. Some drugs require you to taper them off, some you can stop cold-turkey. If you don't taper some drugs, you will experience withdrawal symptoms- It'll cost you at least 2 days of recovery. If you find yourself increasing the number of pain pills you take, call the doctor. If you have to take pain meds for longer than two months, ask your insurance to pay for a pshrink or a program to follow. Dropping the meds altogether may make you a difficult person to live with. Continuing to take pain meds after you don't need them WILL make you a difficult person to live with.

8.) Physical therapy is the most important part of your life. Rest is the second most important thing. If work makes either one of those too hard, take leave or use more leave. You can work part time on FMLA if the doctor orders it. Tell them what you need specifically and they'll make it happen. PT office visits are for learning how to do things on your own, ask lots of questions, tell the therapist exactly what you want to be able to do, then double the time you spent there at the gym or at home. A slow 2 hour PT session at the gym was really effective for me. Sometimes I went twice a day.

9) PT doesn't stop. I was in better physical shape 4 months after my surgery than I am now because I stopped working out all together. (The difference now is that I'm much stronger and have better balance) Stay with the gym routine and build up. PT is forever. You'll feel better about yourself and you'll probably end up in better shape than you were in before. I regret not sticking with it and it'll be harder to get back into it now that I've decided to go back.

10) The bike is last. The bike you had going in may not be the best bike for you coming out. Start small, start slow. Build up gradually. It sucks but it's better.

[ghostrider_9]

I found my post on recovery...

Dysco's advice for life after major surgery or injury.

1) Make a plan. Write yourself a note about how you're feeling and where you want to be at the end of your mess. Reread it when you get discouraged. Write more. Keep them all.

2) Take care of the person (or people) that is taking care of you. This is critical. Order flowers for your wife before surgery to be delivered afterwards, make plans with other people (friends or a CNA service) to give your caretaker a break or whatever you think will work to make life easier for them. Whatever you're feeling physically, they're feeling emotionally. (It's a bad idea to schedule a "party" that they will have to prepare for and clean up after.)

3) Hospitals aren't hotels. The harder you work in them, the less time you'll have to spend there. Get out of bed to pee, walk around the unit as much as they'll let you, and work to let the nurses and CNAs know you want to do as much as you can on your own. Eat your meals. Healing takes calories. If a nurse sucks, tell the patient rep. If a nurse was awesome, tell the patient rep. They can't improve things if they don't know about them, nor can they reward positive outcomes.

4) Make a list of questions for your doc. In the 5 minutes you might see him or her a day, you may not be able to remember your questions. The doc is usually in a hurry- they are busy people. Don't bog the conversation down with stories about irrelevant stuff. If you stick to business they will actually spend more time with you.

5) Write everything down that the doc or physical therapist tells you to do to get better. Keep an accordion folder to keep your instructions straight. Follow the instructions. Make sure to make the difference between a limit and a benchmark. A limit is "don't walk more than 1/4 mile a day." A Benchmark is "I want you to be walking at least a mile a day." Follow the limits, double the benchmarks.

6) Stop when it hurts bad. Pain is going to change you. There is good pain, bad pain, and pain that's always going to be there. Figure out when to stop before the bad pain, ignore the others.

7) Come up with a plan to get off your pain meds. When you're prescribed a med for pain, ask not only about the side-effects, but about how to get off of them. Some drugs require you to taper them off, some you can stop cold-turkey. If you don't taper some drugs, you will experience withdrawal symptoms- It'll cost you at least 2 days of recovery. If you find yourself increasing the number of pain pills you take, call the doctor. If you have to take pain meds for longer than two months, ask your insurance to pay for a pshrink or a program to follow. Dropping the meds altogether may make you a difficult person to live with. Continuing to take pain meds after you don't need them WILL make you a difficult person to live with.

8.) Physical therapy is the most important part of your life. Rest is the second most important thing. If work makes either one of those too hard, take leave or use more leave. You can work part time on FMLA if the doctor orders it. Tell them what you need specifically and they'll make it happen. PT office visits are for learning how to do things on your own, ask lots of questions, tell the therapist exactly what you want to be able to do, then double the time you spent there at the gym or at home. A slow 2 hour PT session at the gym was really effective for me. Sometimes I went twice a day.

9) PT doesn't stop. I was in better physical shape 4 months after my surgery than I am now because I stopped working out all together. (The difference now is that I'm much stronger and have better balance) Stay with the gym routine and build up. PT is forever. You'll feel better about yourself and you'll probably end up in better shape than you were in before. I regret not sticking with it and it'll be harder to get back into it now that I've decided to go back.

10) The bike is last. The bike you had going in may not be the best bike for you coming out. Start small, start slow. Build up gradually. It sucks but it's better.

This all sounds vaguely familiar. It's almost if Randy and I talked about most of this stuff yesterday. It's nice to have it echoed from someone else that has been through the same thing.

[usmcab35]

man thats some crazy hardware, can you get it aniodized first? good luck man!

[musclemutt99]

Randy, I hope that you procedure goes well and I will keep you in my prayers.

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

Great information! Thanks for sharing...both of you.



I found my post on recovery...

Dysco's advice for life after major surgery or injury.

1) Make a plan. Write yourself a note about how you're feeling and where you want to be at the end of your mess. Reread it when you get discouraged. Write more. Keep them all.

2) Take care of the person (or people) that is taking care of you. This is critical. Order flowers for your wife before surgery to be delivered afterwards, make plans with other people (friends or a CNA service) to give your caretaker a break or whatever you think will work to make life easier for them. Whatever you're feeling physically, they're feeling emotionally. (It's a bad idea to schedule a "party" that they will have to prepare for and clean up after.)

3) Hospitals aren't hotels. The harder you work in them, the less time you'll have to spend there. Get out of bed to pee, walk around the unit as much as they'll let you, and work to let the nurses and CNAs know you want to do as much as you can on your own. Eat your meals. Healing takes calories. If a nurse sucks, tell the patient rep. If a nurse was awesome, tell the patient rep. They can't improve things if they don't know about them, nor can they reward positive outcomes.

4) Make a list of questions for your doc. In the 5 minutes you might see him or her a day, you may not be able to remember your questions. The doc is usually in a hurry- they are busy people. Don't bog the conversation down with stories about irrelevant stuff. If you stick to business they will actually spend more time with you.

5) Write everything down that the doc or physical therapist tells you to do to get better. Keep an accordion folder to keep your instructions straight. Follow the instructions. Make sure to make the difference between a limit and a benchmark. A limit is "don't walk more than 1/4 mile a day." A Benchmark is "I want you to be walking at least a mile a day." Follow the limits, double the benchmarks.

6) Stop when it hurts bad. Pain is going to change you. There is good pain, bad pain, and pain that's always going to be there. Figure out when to stop before the bad pain, ignore the others.

7) Come up with a plan to get off your pain meds. When you're prescribed a med for pain, ask not only about the side-effects, but about how to get off of them. Some drugs require you to taper them off, some you can stop cold-turkey. If you don't taper some drugs, you will experience withdrawal symptoms- It'll cost you at least 2 days of recovery. If you find yourself increasing the number of pain pills you take, call the doctor. If you have to take pain meds for longer than two months, ask your insurance to pay for a pshrink or a program to follow. Dropping the meds altogether may make you a difficult person to live with. Continuing to take pain meds after you don't need them WILL make you a difficult person to live with.

8.) Physical therapy is the most important part of your life. Rest is the second most important thing. If work makes either one of those too hard, take leave or use more leave. You can work part time on FMLA if the doctor orders it. Tell them what you need specifically and they'll make it happen. PT office visits are for learning how to do things on your own, ask lots of questions, tell the therapist exactly what you want to be able to do, then double the time you spent there at the gym or at home. A slow 2 hour PT session at the gym was really effective for me. Sometimes I went twice a day.

9) PT doesn't stop. I was in better physical shape 4 months after my surgery than I am now because I stopped working out all together. (The difference now is that I'm much stronger and have better balance) Stay with the gym routine and build up. PT is forever. You'll feel better about yourself and you'll probably end up in better shape than you were in before. I regret not sticking with it and it'll be harder to get back into it now that I've decided to go back.

10) The bike is last. The bike you had going in may not be the best bike for you coming out. Start small, start slow. Build up gradually. It sucks but it's better.


This all sounds vaguely familiar. It's almost if Randy and I talked about most of this stuff yesterday. It's nice to have it echoed from someone else that has been through the same thing.

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

Man! Sorry to hear that, best of luck!


Good luck Randy.......


man thats some crazy hardware, can you get it aniodized first? good luck man!


Randy, I hope that you procedure goes well and I will keep you in my prayers.

Thanks fellas.

[derekm]

as far as mmj i smoked before during and after accident and always preferred mmj (well ANYmj) to any pills. unfort my current employer frowns upon any mj usage but fortunatly i see dr nelson vatenze once weekly for chiro. best chiro ive found since testing the waters a few yrs ago

[Mac020]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Kz33irhrkM&feature=related

Good Luck!

[MAZIN]

Damm dude, good luck with the surgery and since your gonna have a lil limited motion for awhile if you want I'll buy the fleshlight for your gf ;)

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

*UPDATE*

This is one of those why didn't I do this years earlier results....so far. I feel great, aside from the muscles trying to heal simply from the trauma of the surgery itself, I have zero, nada, zilch, pain. All of the pain I had before in the lower back radiating over the hips into the groin, leg, etc. is all gone.

As I mentioned earlier, I had the surgery (L3-L5 TLIF spinal fusion) on Tuesday, March 22nd (11 days ago). I had the surgery at 7:30 a.m., in recovery from about 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m., wheeled to my room by 2 p.m. Only issue with that was when I woke in recovery I couldn't catch my breath, they tried a few oxygen mask types and I still couldn't, so after yanking it off my face a few times I was able to gather my breathing on my own.

After getting to my room at 2 p.m. I was up walking (damn O and P Therapists made me use a walker) for three laps or about 15 minutes around the 4th floor wing around 5-6 p.m. I felt and still do feel better when I'm walking over sitting and laying down.

Wednesday (3/23) about 30 minutes of walking, about 1/2 with walker and 1/2 without. Finally convinced the Physical Thereapist I didn't need it.

Thursday (3/24) about two different sets of walking, 30 minutes each and was begging to get the hell out of there. Boom....tired of my heckling and I was released.

Thursday night took a little getting used to a regular bed that didn't bend where I needed it to take weight off certain areas. Eventually fell asleep with a little Valium and Norco.

Friday (3/25) started weening myself from 2 Norco's and 1 Valium every 6 hours to 1 of each every 8 hours. Walked for about an 1 1/2 hours throughout day, but just in the house.

Saturday (4 days post surgery) went for a 3 mile walk outside. Felt great doing it...not so great that night. A little too much a little too soon. Bad night of sleep but still sticking to weening of meds...actually had to take 1 Norco to get to sleep.

Sunday (3/27) took it easy to rest and calm down aches, 30 minutes in house walking. Only took 1 Norco all day and off of Valium.

Monday (3/2eight woke up feeling signifigantly better, walked 1 hour total around house. No meds today at all.

Tuesday ( 1 week post surgery) another 3 miler outside throwing some hills and elevation gain to see how the back would do. Felt great! 1 Norco at night.

Wednesday (3/30) did 1.5 miles outside. Felt good again. No meds.

Thursday (3/31)did 2 miles outside, no meds. Feeling stronger and less muscle pain.

Friday (4/1) ramped it up with more hills and nearly completed 4 miles of walking outside. No meds. Feeling stronger. Went and got the car washed and was actually able to chamois/dry it being careful to bend correctly. Beautiful day! No meds.

Today (4/2) my daughter had her CU admitted student day from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. with lots of sitting and lots of walking. I don't like the sitting, really enjoy the walking. 1 Norco, I think mostly due to all the sitting and the driving to/from Boulder from SE Aurora.


So far, so good. I hope to be completely off meds (maybe just Tylenol when absolutley needed) by Monday, April 4th. 2 week check up on Tuesday, April 5th and to get these SteriStrips off my incision. It's about 6 inches (the incision :)) and these damn strips itch like crazy.

I want to doing some damn jumping jacks or something in front of the doc and give the dude (Dr. William Choi-Chief Of Neurosurgery, Skyridge Medical Center) a hug I feel so much better now. Highly recommended!

I guess I need to temper my enthusiasm as there may be set-backs, but as of now I can't believe how much better I feel. It really is a night and day difference. I use a bone growth stimulator for 30 minutes everyday to help assist in the fusion. I'm not entirely sure of the science behind it other than the (CMF) Combined Magnetic Field technology is supposed to aid/quicken the actual bone fusion the body would normally do on its own.

I want to thank everyone for their kind words of encouragement and support.

I especially want to thank Adam (Filo) for getting me in touch with Tony Baker (T Baggins) and a great talk with Tony, Marc (ghostrider_9) for another great talk...really need to talk with someone when dealing with a surgery like this and these guys put me at ease. (dapper) for bringing up some alternative solutions which I looked into heavily. And lastly, (Dysco) for some great advice. The flowers for my wife were a big hit and so was all of the other advice.

Thanks again everyone!

[dirkterrell]

*UPDATE*

This is one of those why didn't I do this years earlier results....so far. I feel great, aside from the muscles trying to heal simply from the trauma of the surgery itself, I have zero, nada, zilch, pain. All of the pain I had before in the lower back radiating over the hips into the groin, leg, etc. is all gone.


That's great to hear, man. Glad it's going well!

Dirk

[Wrider]

That is fantastic to hear! Congratulations and glad you're feeling much better!

[Vehicle 1]

Good to hear you are doing well man! What a relief must be to get better like that....
My brother was telling me that he kept yanking his mask too when he woke up from surgery once, must be a common problem; maybe although you are awake there is still some anesthesia affecting connections between the brain and some of your organs/muscles.

Good news!

D.

[ghostrider_9]

I am very happy to hear things are going well! Good for you! Best wishes on getting back to normal (whatever that is). Let me know if you need anything.

Seriously. . . Good for you, Randy!!!!

[MAZIN]

Good to hear man!

[sprtbkbabe]

Wow! That's quite a lot of walking already, Randy!

I hope you heal up fast! :yes:

[Sean]

:cheers:

[brennahm]

Congrats! I feel for you on the "it feels better to NOT lay down" part....

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

Thanks everyone.