Also new here

[skybytch]

Hi everyone,

My name is Lisa. I've been a skydiver since 1990. Was diagnosed with DDD amidst intense sciatica in mid-2000 (at age 35) and had a fusion done on L4/L5/S1 in January of 2001. No hardware and no harvesting of bone material; my surgeon used donor bone between L5 and S1; L4 is sitting on top of L5.

One year to the day after surgery I was back in the air; did 200+ jumps that year including being part of a world record jump. I'm still jumping today and I've also taken up hiking and backpacking; managed a 100+ mile trip on the PCT this past summer.

I've been dealing with C-spine issues for the past five years but so far it hasn't been bad enough to warrant more than a few months on Neurontin and a series of PT sessions.

Another jumper that I know will be having Activ-L artificial disc replacement surgery in his lower back tomorrow. His doc told him he should be able to jump again in 3 months or so. I'm looking forward to digging into the threads here to find out more about it for when my neck finally does give out on me.

Anyway, I'm glad I found this forum. Judging by my mother's 3 spinal fusions, I'm not positive that I won't be needing further surgery in the future. It's great to see that there are other options with less horrible recovery times now.

[dshobbies]

Hi Skybytch,

You and Mark have your heads in the clouds, though he hasn't returned to the skies. My son is becoming a pilot, his lifelong dream. Personally, until people can fly, I prefer my feet on the ground so I can't relate but understand passions that light your world. Glad you were able to return to something you love.

Sorry about your c-spine and hope that the non-invasion treatments work for you.

Welome to the forum!

Dale

[mmglobal]

Have we jumped together?

Activ-L patient organizes skydiving record!

What was your home DZ?

[mmglobal]

I just went and looked at your profile... northern cal.

One of my best days ever was at the Bungee Wilburs in Yolo... the event was formation loads. We got blown out on Sunday and wound up jumping into the Crazy Creek Gliderport about 70 miles away... literally landing in fields of flowers in the rolling hills northwest of sacramento... greatest day ever. (Gliderport is owned by former national glider aerobatic champ.... I took a flight with him that was amazing.)

I loved Yolo.... never did get there on my birthday for the shower treat, although that may be a locals only thing...

Blue Skies,

Mark

PS... do they still do the high altitude jumps there.... Caribou?

[skybytch]

Don't think we ever jumped together (I do recognize your name though), but Perris was home for me from '96 - '03. Worked for Square One on the dz in '96 and at the mail order/warehouse the rest of the time.

I'm currently jumping at Skydance. Yes they still do high altitude jumps, out of the PAC now. You'll have to explain the shower treat - I've been here over three years but I don't know about that one! ;-)

[mmglobal]

Were you on the Elsinore 60 ways in August or September 2007. (It was a tune-up/try-out for the 297 way in Bali in 2008.

Were you on Deguello?