Lower back surgery

[lofsfire]

The two doc's I have seen are neurosurgeon, and so is the one I have coming up on Monday.

As far as the inversion table I have one but docs and Chrio both said hold of on using it for now it could make it worse. Chrio said once I can use it to do 2-3min no more than 5 once a day. And should start off with a little angle and work your way up over time.

dmsrx I think that is called microdecompression spine surgery. My pain management doctor recommend a local doc that does it. Turns out I had two friends that went to him as well and said the same thing as you, that they feel great! However, from what both of my docs told me I'm not a candidate for it due to the amount of slippage in my vertebrae...

 

[legend02]

Back in 2011 I had a similar issue with L4/L5 , both Specialist's wanted to shave the discs , but told me I had a thin spine, which worried me if they shave would my back be the same as strong.

After consulting with my Regular DR, who said since your a diabetic it will take longer to heal , I decided to wait it out and do therapy etc.... It took over 6 months to get better and in March of 2012 I went n my first trip of that season. I rode two days as the third day got warm and trails got bad and I didn't want to punish my back.

I was told I old never Snowmobile again without the Surgery, been riding all these years since with no issues since then

 

[sprchev1]

I had back surgery 5 years ago in February. I was 40 yrs old at the time. I had a bulging disc and a bone spur on one vertebrae in my lower back. I did not ride at all that year. I tried a ride around my yard in April and it was no go. I tried again about 3 weeks later but still no go. I missed out on an entire year of riding because my back said no. If you can't swing a golf club without pain don't even attempt it. Give your back time to heal and stretch it every chance you get. I took the long view and am thankful I did as i have no pain and now can do whatever I want with no worries. Listen to you doctor and take it slow.

 

[lofsfire]

My 3rd opinion from the spine doc in Indy said the same thing, fusion. So I'm keeping to my plan and going to Rush. I'll keep you posted sometime after the 18th depending how I feel...

 

[heckler56]

My 3rd opinion from the spine doc in Indy said the same thing, fusion. So I'm keeping to my plan and going to Rush. I'll keep you posted sometime after the 18th depending how I feel...

Wishing you a successful procedure and speedy recovery.....

 

[lofsfire]

Well the surgery seemed to go good, I haven't been out of bed yet and I'm still a little sore. However I guess that's to be expected. Should start physical therapy in a few hours.
One of the first questions I ask the doc about was riding. He said most definitely and maybe even at the very end of the season. However it's probably wise if I just write this season off make sure it's healed up 100% before I go pushing it...

 

[slimcake]

Good news! Be sure to do exactly what the docs/PT people tell you. If you screw up the rehab you will be in worse shape. Take it easy!!

 

[saber1]

good to hear and i would follow docs advise

 

[heckler56]

Great news. I am still waiting to get authorization for a mri (you would think my inability to sleep, walk, or sit would be enough).

Keep us posted.

 

[lofsfire]

Thanks for the kind words! I was up walking around a good part of the day today.
I'm still obviously sore from the surgery but that seems to be the only pain... and if that's the case at least there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I was in and out of physical therapy. They said I was walking fine had me doing stairs and the other big one they cautioned me on was getting in and out of bed the correct way. I was able to get dressed and got everything that they stuck in me out except for the drain. I still have a little too much drainage for them to release me but it's decreasing...

PMheckler56 is the hold up with your doctor or the MRI place? I had my MRI all set up for one of the outpatient centers instead of the hospital for two reasons I've had stuff down there before and I was happy with them but the other good reason was they were $2,000 cheaper... Anyways, if it's the MRI place not being able to get you in ask your doctor for the order to be "stat". There was an issue that came up and I couldn't do it at the outpatient Center and had to go to the actual hospital which as I said cost a lot more but they gave me a hard time when trying to schedule it and want to push it like 2 months out. once I told him the doctor at stat written on it they got me in the next day first thing in the morning and I was calling at closing time... I think at least some spots open just for situations like this.

 

[heckler56]

I am in a rural area with only one mri and limited local specialists. My insurance gives me 24/7 nurses on call from Cleveland Clinic. The nurse advised a spine/ortho mri order will get immediate insurance approval instead of my GP ordering it. She was screening the two local spine/ortho drs to get me in ASAP. Earliest Dr visit is Dec 2.

 

[bankers_hours]

I had the same vertebrae fused 10 years ago after 30 years of on going back issues. I am a big guy and suspensions haven't always been as good as they are today but I have had zero problems with my back from riding. I will say, I do wear a wrap around back support belt to give added support to my lower back and wore these before my surgery.

 

[lofsfire]

Sorry, I know, I haven't updated this lately, it's been a bit of a whirlwind last week... After writing my last post Wednesday was a day from ****. Everything from surgery was wearing off and they started taking me off of the drugs I had me on, kind of hit all at once. Once they got the pain meds regulated Wednesday night into Thursday started getting better again... By Thursday morning I was doing much better and very ready to leave the hospital. Unfortunately that didn't happen till about 7 p.m. Then I had a bit of a run around getting home and stopping at the drugstores... Still wasn't feeling as good as I did on Tuesday though. Friday I was able to do some work from home with lots of breaks, so many that I had to carry work over into Saturday as well. Getting around the house Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I was using a walker each day being able to walk a little better. As I got into Monday and Tuesday working from home became a little easier just had to stretch my day out. By Wednesday I was pretty much able to walk around without the walker and could sit at my desk most of the day with just normal brakes. Yesterday for Thanksgiving I was able to go to my families house and I didn't bother taking the walker with. I plan on just taking it easy the next few days here and then going back to work this Monday.

My lower back still feels "odd". If I lay on my side in bed and then try to roll over it feels like I'm trying to rollover a pillow since it's still swelled up back there... Of course that could just be in my mind. But each day I can feel noticeable progress in movement and the way my back feels... The tingling I had in my legs and feet seem to have gone away completely. So it's looking like this has been well worth it. I will update more when I have time.

 

[heckler56]

Good to hear.

 

[heckler56]

Well, one week ago today I finally got to meet with a a local surgeon. It was late in the afternoon. As soon as he entered the exam room he said he was admitting me to the hospital. The goal was to regulate pain and he made a slot for me for a Thursday surgery. They basically put me on every drug they had and the pain was still unbearable at times.
Since I had to crawl around my home for two weeks my legs were beginning to be somewhat useless getting up.
Surgery on Thursday ended after 8pm and they had me walking in a hour or so. Friday was a fog still through all the meds. I got rereleased later on Saturday. I am trying to add standing, walking and sitting time each day but it seems to be a bit of a battle after 3 weeks of living horizontal.

It turns out that the nerve was pinched so bad that when the surgeon got near it my leg would twitch. I am guessing that caused the surgery to go allot longer than normal.

Counting my blessings. The best surgeon in town made room to see me and made room to perform surgery as soon as possible.

 

[Deleted member 10829]

Glad to hear you got the surgery you needed, and so quickly too! Best of luck with a full recovery!

 

[heckler56]

Glad to hear you got the surgery you needed, and so quickly too! Best of luck with a full recovery!

Thank you. Spooner, Wi? Close to my brother in Birchwood and a fellow I went to high school with-rp7x.

 

[lofsfire]

Well, one week ago today I finally got to meet with a a local surgeon. It was late in the afternoon. As soon as he entered the exam room he said he was admitting me to the hospital. The goal was to regulate pain and he made a slot for me for a Thursday surgery. They basically put me on every drug they had and the pain was still unbearable at times.
Since I had to crawl around my home for two weeks my legs were beginning to be somewhat useless getting up.
Surgery on Thursday ended after 8pm and they had me walking in a hour or so. Friday was a fog still through all the meds. I got rereleased later on Saturday. I am trying to add standing, walking and sitting time each day but it seems to be a bit of a battle after 3 weeks of living horizontal.

It turns out that the nerve was pinched so bad that when the surgeon got near it my leg would twitch. I am guessing that caused the surgery to go allot longer than normal.

Counting my blessings. The best surgeon in town made room to see me and made room to perform surgery as soon as possible.

Heckler what all did they do? Sounds to be much better for you! I know it is for me. I had a bit of a drainage issue the last few days but they think the stitches were irritating things. They must have been right because after they pulled them yesterday I feel even better today. Each day I'm picking up speed walking. I have not used a walker since before Thanksgiving.

 

[heckler56]

Good to hear of your progress.
They fused s1&L5. Progress from numbness, standing, sitting, etc. has been slow which I expect since the nerve was so stressed and stretched. Tomorrow being a week since surgery, today feels okay. It helps I have spent allot of time on the phone with my out of state snow buddies.
I plan to go on January and February trips to UP, I’ll just drive to the stopping points ��. Sure I will miss the sled riding but still can enjoy the country I love so much with a great group of guys I found 10 years ago. Prior to then, I rode solo 70’s -2009.

 

[lofsfire]

That's great to hear you are doing well. We might have to meet up sometime. Look at it this way, missing one year is better than a bunch of year's!