Surgery with Dr Zeegers Tomorrow at 8am :)

[Karger]

Day 7.

Well I survived the week. Today I feel great. Monday I walked a bit too much because Tuesday I felt like I did a marathon and was incredibly sore. I can't describe the soreness I felt. I guess I was getting cabin fever and needed to get out. Today I feel great. Didn't over do it!

It's a great feeling of progress ever day. Even if it's just a little. Makes me feel good my money was well spent.

Karger

[mmglobal]

andrew... great news!

Please ramp up your activities slowly... remember that just getting out of the hospital to the hotel is 1,000 times the activity you've had since the surgery... then the trip home is another 1,000 fold increase. Take it easy.. get home.... ramp up your activities very carefully!

Keep the good reports coming!!! All the best,

Mark

[vnf]

Andrew

One think my doc told me that I thought was great advice after my ADR surgery.

He said make small goals. Most people will say today, I will walk to this street and then the next day walk to the street after that one. Instead, tell yourself you will walk to a certain house and the next day, walk to the house after that one.

I thought that was a great way of saying take it slow but keep moving.
I really took that to heart and did not try to make myself go from years of barely moving to hey, I will walk a mile today!

Don't over do it. I still say the pool is your best friend.

[Maria]

I appreciate that input Vicki. I remember having a big open discectomy on L5S1 and being advised to recover slowly and at my pace which I did and things worked out pretty well (until disc later re bulged and after L4 bulged).

When I had what was then termed "bandaid" back surgery in '92 and was percutaneous discectomy at L4 I was basically told I could pretty much be on my feet right away and back to work in 2 weeks. In fact in the recovery room I got up to use the bathroom and my bed was given away and I had to sit in the waiting room post surgery for my ride which the nurses at the time said "that's fine."

I don't think it was nor do I think the lack of information regarding recovery was fine either and I had a failed back surgery which really was a nightmare in epic proportions.

Needless to say what I firmly believe is take it slow and easy re recovery because the idea is to go for the long haul not the short term recovery. I know ADR is different than discectomies and fusions but really the work is done in the same area and it is surgery of a significant magnitude. btw I had been working and working out (mildly but pretty much at least 3-5x/week prior to my 2nd spine surgery so I was not inactive by any means). While I think having a "virgin spine" is a definite attribute for surgery I do think sometimes it's just the way the ball bounces with how one responds to surgery. That is even counting a wonderful surgeon such as Dr. Zeegers. Pretty much however I'm talking about the patient's part in the recovery process.

Wishing Karger continued progressively great recovery

[henry4956]

I agree with Vicki & Maria wholeheartedly. I wasn't sure how to interpret one of your early posts (it may have been on the other forum) but my 1st reaction was, take it easy - don't be anxious to declare victory too soon and fall into the trap that I've seen many others snared by. In my case for example I am 3 months out and sometimes I think I am not making progress. It's only because at this point it is very incremental and hard to notice unless you say to yourself 'Did I feel this good a month ago?' - that's when I realize I am making progress. The early gains for me after 1st week were huge because I was coming from such a low, I guess I thought I would continue to at that same pace. The other day after finishing some pool time, I was getting dressed in the locker room and I remembered how difficult/painful it used to be. A small thing, but just another measuring stick.

Have a great day.

[vnf]

Karger....how are you doing?

Please try to update more often.
When I first found these forums, I used to read through people's outcomes from their first post to their last. I found that to be a good way of what was to be expected from day 1 of surgery going forward.

Someone reading your thread who is facing what you are down the road will like to read your progress.

Even if no one is posting, people are reading it

[Karger]

Originally Posted by Vicki_in_Florida

Karger....how are you doing?

Please try to update more often.
When I first found these forums, I used to read through people's outcomes from their first post to their last. I found that to be a good way of what was to be expected from day 1 of surgery going forward.

Someone reading your thread who is facing what you are down the road will like to read your progress.

Even if no one is posting, people are reading it

Hi Vicki,

Sorry, I should update more often. Life got super busy. I'm doing pretty good. Today marks my 8 weeks. Doing good all in all.

I still have a bit of pain at the l5 area and some pain in my butt. It's very minor, nothing some Advil or a beer can cure I'd imagine that it's some growing. perhaps it's my body still getting use to the disc. It's still way way better then prior to surgery and glad i had it done.

Anyone else had the same issues post surgery?

I'm back to work, however sitting in a chair is starting to hurt my back. I can raise my desk up and stand up, but standing all day also get's exhausting. I'm back to to swimming, riding a bike, walking etc. Not going anything over the top since it's just been 2 months. Still taking it easy.

Doing some push up's, a bit of bicep work, but again nothing strenuous.

If this little bit of back/butt pain would go away, it would be awesome. I recall Dr z saying time is my friend. Guess I just need to wait and let my body continue to heal.

Other then that, 2 months without the debilitating pain I was is awesome! I never thought I would feel like this again.

I'll try to update more often. Life just got busy with summer and all.

Karger