Just got home from RF Ablation (L2-L5)

[AZRickD]

I miss the trail running, too. I can do it, I suppose, but I have relegated myself to the mountain bike. Swimming and pedaling motion is usually very good for my back. Makes it loosey-goosey. A much better activity than doing trail maintenance for the Forest Service two weeks ago. My back spazzed out for three days after that.

I did the right-side ablation yesterday morning. Mild soreness treated with a series of icepacks. So far, so good.

Doing a night mountain bike ride today. It will be sweaty-hot in Phoenix tonight.

Left side is scheduled in two weeks. Doc is scheduled off for next week.

[jsewell]

Congrats on getting one side done. That is one procedure i have never had . I was in Phoenix once in the summer, it was very hot. I was there for a convention dealing with the blind, which was my field of study. Hot is all i remember.
I am going to keep trying to swim. I can only do strokes that do not involve head movement. (broken neck) I never even tried mountain biking, i loved running so much and never imagined all this back stuff would happen to me.

I hope this ablation holds up well and you have good luck with the other side as well. Keep moving!!
Judy

[AZRickD]

I did the left-side two weeks ago (on June 26th).

So far, the process is going more standardly. Last October I got fairl immediate relief. The docs and literature said that the relief would be minimal at first and then increase as the sensory nerves slowly shut down.

So, while not perfect, it is manageable. I wake each morning to a short series on the inversion table to get me unkinked from a night of crooked sleep. Then I go on the Spinalator table (purchased used from a closed chiro office). Stretching and/or a MTBike ride. I use ice nearly every day, held in place by either a single elasto-back brace or the addition of my block-n-tackle back brace when I need things to straighten up.

Mountain biking tonight, as the temps in Phoenix will drop to a chilly 94F as the sun sets.

[Maria]

Never heard of that.. does it align the spine?

[jsewell]

I never heard of the spinulator table either. I am so out of sagittal alignment that i am having major surgery in Sept to try to fix it. The surgeon said i am fixable to a certain degree. i am so hoping, it would be so nice to walk relatively straight. I am now so hunched over, in pain and very self conscious about it all.

I am happy you are continuing to be so active, that is what my docs tell me to do. I am now hiking a little bit with a goal of reaching my favorite stream before my next surgery.
Ice is great stuff , even greater in the Phoenix cool days of 94!
judy

[Maria]

Ok I googled it. So please tell what it does for you. I've never been to a chiropractor before although I utilized services of osteopathic doctors before with various manipulations and stretches and some low intensity type of treatment. One older osteopathic doc I saw several times had a table that did some of the work for him instead of him actually doing the lifting of limbs and such.

I could watch the video clips on youtube but I'd rather know what it does for you if you have the time and inclination to explain. Thanks, Maria

[AZRickD]

After nearly two and a half months of nada, a couple of weeks ago my back started behaving itself. I still have to stretch, hang upside down, use the back brace quite a bit (and ice).

Here is the company that makes the back brace I use

Back Brace and Neck Brace Supports for Neck and Back Pain Problems

I also use a stretchy elastic one as well. I use both when dirt biking. Keeps everything straight, and seems to relieve some downard forces as the brace squishes me upward.

Spinalator table: Spinalator

The Spinalator (or roller table) is essentially a massage for the spine. Too expensive unless you get a deal on ebay/craigslist.

Inversion table: Walmart.com: Sports & Outdoors: Exercise Machines: Inversion Tables

I begin (and end) each day with a twenty-second stretch on the inversion table. Some like to hang for many minutes. I don't see the need for me.