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The Aftermath of the Carnage
Well it's been a week since the surgery. I've got a 8-10 inch incision line
going up the back held together with a ****load of staples. It's supposed to be another week before they can be removed. I'm in a bit of discomfort from both the staples and the fusion itself. I'm taking Lortab and Lodine so I can sit, walk and sleep. No numbness or tingling. Just weak, really weak. When I got out of surgery I had all the usual tubes. I had a Hemovac drain and put off about a liter of blood. Pain was addressed with a PCA pump with morphine - kept it for two days. I started walking in about 36 hours after the procedure. These staples are ****ing me off and I can't start driving until after they're gone and I can give up the Lortabs. This has been an interesting experience. |
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#2
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The Aftermath of the Carnage
vincent walker wrote:
Well it's been a week since the surgery. I've got a 8-10 inch incision line going up the back held together with a ****load of staples. It's supposed to be another week before they can be removed. I'm in a bit of discomfort from both the staples and the fusion itself. I'm taking Lortab and Lodine so I can sit, walk and sleep. No numbness or tingling. Just weak, really weak. When I got out of surgery I had all the usual tubes. I had a Hemovac drain and put off about a liter of blood. Pain was addressed with a PCA pump with morphine - kept it for two days. I started walking in about 36 hours after the procedure. These staples are ****ing me off and I can't start driving until after they're gone and I can give up the Lortabs. This has been an interesting experience. Vinnie, This sounds like what my ex-wife will be going through for a "synovial cyst" in the lumbar region. What was the reason for your surgery? You may have said, but I frequently ignore rsa completely when the noise/information ratio gets too high. |
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The Aftermath of the Carnage
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#4
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The Aftermath of the Carnage
vincent walker wrote:
wrote: Vinnie, This sounds like what my ex-wife will be going through for a "synovial cyst" in the lumbar region. I knew somebody who had one of those on a toe -- kept forming oil-filled blisters until the joint was fused. Weird. What was the reason for your surgery? You may have said, but I frequently ignore rsa completely when the noise/information ratio gets too high. Let's see I was born with an inherent weakness in the spine - Spondylolithesis. I damaged the L5 (Lumbar disk) in a ski accident in 1969. Slightly dislocated it - pushed it forward. I would intermittently suffer from lower back pain and sciatica but was able to live with it for 4 decades - until I became a nurse - it migrated more forward - total displacement about 1cm and things were getting very dicey - constant pain and occasional loss of muscle control in the legs. Proof that no good deed goes unpunished! The only workable solution was a L5/S1 Fusion/Decompression with Titanium. Most Lumbar procedures will mirror what is happening to me. You spend two weeks trying to get comfortable with the staples and the new bone arrangement. Actually, knock on wood, I'm doing well at this stage. You have to be patient and follow the prescribed regimen-too much too fast does not work in your favor in this case. Everything - bones, muscles and nerves need to find their new equilibrium. You can go stir-crazy, though. Got x-rays to post? Metal is always interesting! -- Cheers, Bev ================================================== Is the Pope Catholic? Do bears **** in the woods? Does Rose Kennedy have a black dress? |
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The Aftermath of the Carnage
vincent walker wrote:
On 9/25/07 11:33 AM, in article , "VtSkier" wrote: Vinnie, This sounds like what my ex-wife will be going through for a "synovial cyst" in the lumbar region. What was the reason for your surgery? You may have said, but I frequently ignore rsa completely when the noise/information ratio gets too high. Let's see I was born with an inherent weakness in the spine - Spondylolithesis. I damaged the L5 (Lumbar disk) in a ski accident in 1969. Slightly dislocated it - pushed it forward. I would intermittently suffer from lower back pain and sciatica but was able to live with it for 4 decades - until I became a nurse - it migrated more forward - total displacement about 1cm and things were getting very dicey - constant pain and occasional loss of muscle control in the legs. The only workable solution was a L5/S1 Fusion/Decompression with Titanium. Most Lumbar procedures will mirror what is happening to me. You spend two weeks trying to get comfortable with the staples and the new bone arrangement. Actually, knock on wood, I'm doing well at this stage. You have to be patient and follow the prescribed regimen-too much too fast does not work in your favor in this case. Everything - bones, muscles and nerves need to find their new equilibrium. You can go stir-crazy, though. Good Luck with your recovery. Here is my lumbar case for comparative purposes, less evasive due to less diagnosis to yours: 3 years of progressive L4 and L5 disc issues from bulge to final rupture L5 (hard telemark fall last Feb. 07) and the L4 herniation and mild to moderate stenosis based on CT and MRI scans. Progressively worse pain and sciatic symptoms which I could not take after 6 weeks of rest and meds so I opted for surgery. Lumbar laminectomy with discotomy, which basically means clean out the loose disc fragments in the spine and loose pieces in the disc while leaving that in place, shaved bone on vertebrae to relieve pressure on spine and apply steroidal cortisone on herniation to mitigate that a bit. Surgery in late April 07. Walking some the next day. Walking only exercise for 6 weeks, then some light lifting and stretching. Lifting 10 pound at 2 months or so. Sciatic symptoms almost completely gone immediately, though some return of minor leg tightness recently. Hikes and lifting under 30 pounds seems OK, basic house chores, etc. no hard work (I used to moonlight as landscape laborer). I bought my A-basin pass and other 4 packs on surgeons advice that skiing will be fine if I heed normal caution suggestions. I hope to get at least 20 days in (usually I'm 20 - 30+ days on alpine), though bumps may be limited. I plan to go on a hunt elk in two weeks but only as an observer, no packing out more than 20 pounds, simply want to camp and be in the field. The muscle and tendon cuts really limited torso strength, twisting exercise or work, and has been my biggest limitation beyond getting through atrophy elimination. Patience is key in my case as well, but feeling a lot better and glad I did it so far. Cheers -- Bill Armstrong - Xilinx Colorado - "Excellence is achieved by the mastery of fundamentals." -- Vince Lombardi |
#6
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The Aftermath of the Carnage
On Sep 25, 1:03 pm, The Real Bev wrote:
vincent walker wrote: wrote: Vinnie, This sounds like what my ex-wife will be going through for a "synovial cyst" in the lumbar region. I knew somebody who had one of those on a toe -- kept forming oil-filled blisters until the joint was fused. Weird. What was the reason for your surgery? You may have said, but I frequently ignore rsa completely when the noise/information ratio gets too high. Let's see I was born with an inherent weakness in the spine - Spondylolithesis. I damaged the L5 (Lumbar disk) in a ski accident in 1969. Slightly dislocated it - pushed it forward. I would intermittently suffer from lower back pain and sciatica but was able to live with it for 4 decades - until I became a nurse - it migrated more forward - total displacement about 1cm and things were getting very dicey - constant pain and occasional loss of muscle control in the legs. Proof that no good deed goes unpunished! The only workable solution was a L5/S1 Fusion/Decompression with Titanium. Most Lumbar procedures will mirror what is happening to me. You spend two weeks trying to get comfortable with the staples and the new bone arrangement. Actually, knock on wood, I'm doing well at this stage. You have to be patient and follow the prescribed regimen-too much too fast does not work in your favor in this case. Everything - bones, muscles and nerves need to find their new equilibrium. You can go stir-crazy, though. Got x-rays to post? Metal is always interesting! -- Cheers, Bev ================================================== Is the Pope Catholic? Do bears **** in the woods? Does Rose Kennedy have a black dress? X-Rays, MRI's. I heard that I need to get a special card to get through airport security - can't go setting off those alarms. |
#7
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The Aftermath of the Carnage
On Sep 25, 10:24 am, Doofus Fighter
wrote: On Sep 25, 1:03 pm, The Real Bev wrote: vincent walker wrote: wrote: Vinnie, This sounds like what my ex-wife will be going through for a "synovial cyst" in the lumbar region. I knew somebody who had one of those on a toe -- kept forming oil-filled blisters until the joint was fused. Weird. What was the reason for your surgery? You may have said, but I frequently ignore rsa completely when the noise/information ratio gets too high. Let's see I was born with an inherent weakness in the spine - Spondylolithesis. I damaged the L5 (Lumbar disk) in a ski accident in 1969. Slightly dislocated it - pushed it forward. I would intermittently suffer from lower back pain and sciatica but was able to live with it for 4 decades - until I became a nurse - it migrated more forward - total displacement about 1cm and things were getting very dicey - constant pain and occasional loss of muscle control in the legs. Proof that no good deed goes unpunished! The only workable solution was a L5/S1 Fusion/Decompression with Titanium. Most Lumbar procedures will mirror what is happening to me. You spend two weeks trying to get comfortable with the staples and the new bone arrangement. Actually, knock on wood, I'm doing well at this stage. You have to be patient and follow the prescribed regimen-too much too fast does not work in your favor in this case. Everything - bones, muscles and nerves need to find their new equilibrium. You can go stir-crazy, though. Got x-rays to post? Metal is always interesting! -- Cheers, Bev ================================================== Is the Pope Catholic? Do bears **** in the woods? Does Rose Kennedy have a black dress? X-Rays, MRI's. I heard that I need to get a special card to get through airport security - can't go setting off those alarms. I have two screws above my left ankle. I get through airports ok, but the metal detector at the Federal Courthouse went off. |
#8
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The Aftermath of the Carnage
On 9/25/07 1:13 PM, in article , "Bill Armstrong" wrote: Good Luck with your recovery. Here is my lumbar case for comparative purposes, less evasive due to less diagnosis to yours: 3 years of progressive L4 and L5 disc issues from bulge to final rupture L5 (hard telemark fall last Feb. 07) and the L4 herniation and mild to moderate stenosis based on CT and MRI scans. Progressively worse pain and sciatic symptoms which I could not take after 6 weeks of rest and meds so I opted for surgery. Lumbar laminectomy with discotomy, which basically means clean out the loose disc fragments in the spine and loose pieces in the disc while leaving that in place, shaved bone on vertebrae to relieve pressure on spine and apply steroidal cortisone on herniation to mitigate that a bit. Surgery in late April 07. Walking some the next day. Walking only exercise for 6 weeks, then some light lifting and stretching. Lifting 10 pound at 2 months or so. Sciatic symptoms almost completely gone immediately, though some return of minor leg tightness recently. Hikes and lifting under 30 pounds seems OK, basic house chores, etc. no hard work (I used to moonlight as landscape laborer). I bought my A-basin pass and other 4 packs on surgeons advice that skiing will be fine if I heed normal caution suggestions. I hope to get at least 20 days in (usually I'm 20 - 30+ days on alpine), though bumps may be limited. I plan to go on a hunt elk in two weeks but only as an observer, no packing out more than 20 pounds, simply want to camp and be in the field. The muscle and tendon cuts really limited torso strength, twisting exercise or work, and has been my biggest limitation beyond getting through atrophy elimination. Patience is key in my case as well, but feeling a lot better and glad I did it so far. Cheers Thanks for the info. Based upon what the MD told me, I was hoping to do some light local stuff in the February time frame. Has Physical Therapy suggested any stretching at this time * it might help that leg tightness. |
#9
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The Aftermath of the Carnage
On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:45:08 GMT, vincent walker
wrote: I was born with an inherent weakness in the spine - Open goal for The Fluffer - will he shoot, will he score? Suzie -- Suzieflame |
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