Lumbar Disc Surgery

[Hepar]

Glad it went well! Agree with the others on the pain meds. So easy to get hooked. I had one of my knee surgeries in NYC and it was ridiculous at how much they pushed those meds on me. My first knee surgery (ACL, MCL, PCL, meniscus and patella tendon) I had one of those morphine clickers. I loved that thing a little too much.

 

[Thai]

My daughter and youngest grandson came to see me the day after surgery. I looked out the doorway to see than standing there loking confused and told them to come in. They came in and looked around the room and finally asked who I was talking to. Low level hallucinations come with my opioid use. Interesting, mostly fun but those days are in the past for me now.

I've been avoiding this for so many years it doesn't feel much worse than it did prior to surgery, my pain tolerance is high. I've been told by many docs that I shouldn't be able to drive more than 5 minutes. I'm hoping things go smoothly through the winter and that I'll be feeling good by the time snow melts here.

Now I just have to constantly remind myself - no bending, no lifting, no twisting. While that sounds easy I'm finding it surprisingly hard to stick to.

Good to hear that you're getting better.

You may want to take your pain meds (Norco, Tramadol, or Tylenol #3) IF you're in significant pain. Do not try and be a hero and suffer (unnecessarily) because that may make you less active or less likely to participate in your PT/exercise program. Being less active or not fully participating in rehab exercises because of pain may cause more harm than good in the short- and long-term.

 

[CXS]

Thanks Thai. I'm no hero when it comes to pain but I am respectful of the power of opiates too. I have Norco and Tramadol on hand so today I'm trying Tramadol to see if it kicks the pain back a bit. I used Tramadol after hurting my back in June leading to this surgery, not very strong but probably good enough.

The novelty of a short hospital stay and being home is giving way to the routines of exercize and limitations. I wear a soft brace mostly as a reminder not to BLT when moving around. I also swallowed my pride and am using a walker when I leave my place to walk. I'm optimistic the walker will only last a short time but my left leg is real weak and falling would suck.

Being reminded again and again of the negatives of nicotine I quit smoking too since it's a real impairment to bone healing. That adds a pulmonary exercise to my routines. Gotta love aging!

 

[bofa]

Wishing you a speedy recovery. Like others ive been dealing with back issues since a high school injury. Docs still refuse surgery due to age. I have a bucket list in case i ever get back to normal. Hope youre there soon!

 

[CXS]

Thanks, but what does age have to do with it bofa? Age of injury? Your age?

 

[bofa]

Thanks, but what does age have to do with it bofa? Age of injury? Your age?

I wish i knew. They keep saying im too young to have whatever surgery they had in mind. Ive heard that for the past 15 years from 3 different specialists. At some point i guess ill be "old enough" but hopefully still young enough to do a few things on my list.

 

[RedSled]

I wish i knew. They keep saying im too young to have whatever surgery they had in mind. Ive heard that for the past 15 years from 3 different specialists. At some point i guess ill be "old enough" but hopefully still young enough to do a few things on my list.

It's kinda like a timing belt replacement, you have to do it every so many miles. In other words, they only want to do it once.

 

[bofa]

It's kinda like a timing belt replacement, you have to do it every so many miles. In other words, they only want to do it once.

Hah - thats a good analogy. It just sucks that im missing out on activities in the prime years of my life. By the time they're willing to operate it may be too late for me to enjoy things.

 

[Thai]

I wish i knew. They keep saying im too young to have whatever surgery they had in mind. Ive heard that for the past 15 years from 3 different specialists. At some point i guess ill be "old enough" but hopefully still young enough to do a few things on my list.

If i had to guess, then it is likely that your MRI of back is not bad enough to warrant surgery. It is all about risk vs. benefit. Risk of surgery is only worth it when the benefit of surgery far outweighs it...such as in CXS case.

 

[CXS]

I wish i knew. They keep saying im too young to have whatever surgery they had in mind. Ive heard that for the past 15 years from 3 different specialists. At some point i guess ill be "old enough" but hopefully still young enough to do a few things on my list.

Hah - thats a good analogy. It just sucks that im missing out on activities in the prime years of my life. By the time they're willing to operate it may be too late for me to enjoy things.

Strange! Obviously I'm "old enough" but I've been told to do this for about 15 years starting at 50. IIRC you're still pretty young bofa. I chose to do it now because if I waited much longer it just wouldn't make sense since full recovery/healing takes so long. It's a shame for you not to be able to do things now because tomorrow isn't guaranteed!

 

[bofa]

Strange! Obviously I'm "old enough" but I've been told to do this for about 15 years starting at 50. IIRC you're still pretty young bofa. I chose to do it now because if I waited much longer it just wouldn't make sense since full recovery/healing takes so long. It's a shame for you not to be able to do things now because tomorrow isn't guaranteed!

Yeah im in my 30s still. In the meantime im trying all sorts of crap. Stretches, yoga, walking... just bought a hot tub too.

Hows the recovery going?

 

[bofa]

If i had to guess, then it is likely that your MRI of back is not bad enough to warrant surgery. It is all about risk vs. benefit. Risk of surgery is only worth it when the benefit of surgery far outweighs it...such as in CXS case.

Dont know really. The last doc said my lumbar area looks like that of an 80 year old. Lol. That doesnt bode well if i actually make it that far.

 

[CXS]

Dont know really. The last doc said my lumbar area looks like that of an 80 year old. Lol. That doesnt bode well if i actually make it that far.

Maybe time for a second opinion @bofa?

Figured I'd update now that I'm a 4 weeks post surgery. Life is good, recovery is boring! No more pain meds, no more brain fog, no more exhaustion and I'm feeling pretty damn good. Incision swelling is virtually gone, stitches soon to come out and PT starts in 2 weeks.

I'm sure PT will kick my ass as my legs are pretty weak and I appear to have some nerve damage from delaying fixing this for so many years. in preparation for PT I'm walking a bit more than a mile every day. Sad as it is, that's quite an accomplishment these days but it's progress. It's hard but will get easier day by day.

I was cleared to drive a bit, took my wife's car out today with her as my co-pilot. It felt good to get out and find my foot control is great and she was watchful and didn't scream once!

I'm optimistic my planned trip to Moab in March might actually be realistic!

:thumb3:

 

[bofa]

Maybe time for a second opinion @bofa?

Figured I'd update now that I'm a 4 weeks post surgery. Life is good, recovery is boring! No more pain meds, no more brain fog, no more exhaustion and I'm feeling pretty damn good. Incision swelling is virtually gone, stitches soon to come out and PT starts in 2 weeks.

I'm sure PT will kick my ass as my legs are pretty weak and I appear to have some nerve damage from delaying fixing this for so many years. in preparation for PT I'm walking a bit more than a mile every day. Sad as it is, that's quite an accomplishment these days but it's progress. It's hard but will get easier day by day.

I was cleared to drive a bit, took my wife's car out today with her as my co-pilot. It felt good to get out and find my foot control is great and she was watchful and didn't scream once!

I'm optimistic my planned trip to Moab in March might actually be realistic!

:thumb3:

Thats awesome man - glad to hear your are doing well! If you are walking you must be feeling pretty damn good, physically and mentally.

Ive seen a think 3 different specialists over the years and stopped trying. I just deal with the outages for now but the next bad one I'll see if anything has changed. You know how bad it sucks to live in CO and to not be able to ski? :lol:

 

[fourwd1]

I'm looking for a miracle! Seriously I'm going to see what the surgeon says. As mentioned I've had 4 disc fusion recommended in the past but that's major surgery. I'm hoping techniques have been developed to avoid that. My guess is you're a candidate for microdiscectomy which is outpatient surgery where they remove the disc section that's pressing on nerves causing the pain.

Not being able to sleep is as bad as chronic pain, it beats you down as I'm sure you know. I'm suspecting I waited too long since I appear to have nerve damage causing weakness in one leg. I'm no doctor but I may be an example of what not to do!

Preaching to the choir.
I had C4/C5/C6/C7 fused in 2010, and then a revision in 2012.
I'm the poster boy for pain.

 

[CXS]

Thats awesome man - glad to hear your are doing well! If you are walking you must be feeling pretty damn good, physically and mentally.

Ive seen a think 3 different specialists over the years and stopped trying. I just deal with the outages for now but the next bad one I'll see if anything has changed. You know how bad it sucks to live in CO and to not be able to ski? :lol:

Thanks, the attitude/mental part is key IMHO. Being able tp put on my own pants was the big boost. LOL.

Last time I skied was decades ago and I knew if I even attempted it after moving here that I'd likely end up in a wheelchair.

Every specialist I saw wanted to cut on me, I guess it's good they don't for you? The best advice I got was from an orthopedist that wasn't a surgeon down your way in Skyridge. If you ever want a name ot two let me know. Right now I'm pretty high on my surgeon!

 

[CXS]

Preaching to the choir.
I had C4/C5/C6/C7 fused in 2010, and then a revision in 2012.
I'm the poster boy for pain.

That sucks man, sorry to hear it. Still lots of pain?

That's the main reason I delayed surgery until now, advances in medicine seem to come pretty fast.

 

[fourwd1]

Shit yeah.
But not nearly as much.

 

[bofa]

Thanks, the attitude/mental part is key IMHO. Being able tp put on my own pants was the big boost. LOL.

Last time I skied was decades ago and I knew if I even attempted it after moving here that I'd likely end up in a wheelchair.

Every specialist I saw wanted to cut on me, I guess it's good they don't for you? The best advice I got was from an orthopedist that wasn't a surgeon down your way in Skyridge. If you ever want a name ot two let me know. Right now I'm pretty high on my surgeon!

Will give them a look when it happens. I have Kaiser now though so they are a bit of a pain when it comes to network.

I forgot you were in Aurora. If you need anything hit me up and ill try to help.

 

[Thai]

Thats awesome man - glad to hear your are doing well! If you are walking you must be feeling pretty damn good, physically and mentally.

Ive seen a think 3 different specialists over the years and stopped trying. I just deal with the outages for now but the next bad one I'll see if anything has changed. You know how bad it sucks to live in CO and to not be able to ski? :lol:

Just a piece of advice...if 3 specialists deemed that you are not a surgical candidate at this time, then i would NOT keep looking for specialists that want to do surgery...you may/will find one eventually...there are good and bad doctors out there...and the outcome may not be as you wanted.

If my back is bad, then i would listen carefully to those doctors that want you to avoid certain activities that will make things worst. Don't be an idiot and do things against his/her advice. A friend of mine disregard advice regarding his herniated disc and did tons of golfing and other stuff...screwed up his back even more, requiring surgery ASAP. Problem? The time when the pain became unbearable to the time where he was fully functional was months and it caused him to lose his job, which caused an enormous financial burden on his family.

General advice...your bad back affects not just you. YMMV.