L3-4 & L4-5 Prodisc above existing L5-S1 ADR- Tisury

[tisury]

Time for an update. Not much to report. I know it is still very early, but this is definitely a roller coaster ride. I have days that I feel great and other days (especially rainy days) that I hurt like hell. Sometimes it is the old familiar pain, and some times it is strange pains. One day my hips hurt, the next my knee, then my back, then my calves, feet, or my legs. All in all though, it is still better than before surgery and I seem to recoup much faster by changing position, soaking in a hot tub or walking. The morning stiffness has improved greatly. I am still on the 50 mcg patches of fentanyl (reduced from the pre op 100 mcg), and have decreased the amount of percocet and Soma I am taking. At 4 weeks, I started wearing my brace part time instead of all the time and that caused some minor flare ups in my low back. That was expected though. I can only hope that things continue to improve with time. It's tough, since I am not known for my patience..........but that's what I need to be right now.......patient, very patient. Sitting is still a challenge. Wish that would improve so I could get back to working some. Could use the money right about not, but I refuse to push myself and do anything to risk my recovery.

Finally got to see one post op xray. Wish I could figure out how to post it. The bottom ADR at L5-S1 that was done here in the states looks really crooked now. It always was and the surgical report said it was "slightly off center". Now with the 2 new discs above it though, you can really notice how off center it is. Hopefully, this doesn't turn out to be an issue.

I go for a walk 4-6 times a day. Morning and evening (when it is cooler), I go a mile and a half. The rest of the walks are between a half mile and a mile. So yes, I am breaking it up. My leg strength is definetely improving and I have lost quite a bit of weight in these 6 weeks (15-20 lbs). That doesn't hurt either.

Maria - 3 coach seats? Wouldn't that cost as much as a business class seat? In our case, it would have cost the same. I even tried to get coach out (figuring I would just suffer) and business class for the return - but that was more because it involved two one way tickets instead of a round trip.

[Maria]

I'm so glad you posted an update! I'm sure someone here can tell you how to upload or get your films posted.. not me tho!

Re the 3 coach seats, to Fla. it's about $1000 r/t and it serves me well as I can side lie all the way or have three seats entirely to myself. I either need to flatly recline when flying or to lie across seats on my side. No compromising with semi reclining.

If only I could get an ESI authorized I could travel so comfortably.. I would gladly pay cash for this in Germany if I were to visit and could get it done there.

Re your walking.. that's awesome with the weight loss. Same thing happened with me actually. Now I walk an easy mile to two a day at one time, and other walks are shorter. It's a bit hot currently tho during the daytime so Lola doesn't want to walk and she's my inspiration really! I do take an evening walk with another back pain friend and we both fair pretty well on this one doing the 1-2 mile walk in a clip.

My longest walk was 6.5 miles to the dog beach in San Diego and then I walked around Ocean Beach looking at clothes/trinkets with my friend and she had to call her husband to pick us up as we had our dogs and we were all a bit tired.

In fact after I came back that evening my neck was actually killing me more than my back but my back was stiff and my feet were murderous with pain (wore only TEVA sandals to walk the distance).

Ok, so again, congrats on the walking and weight loss. I think you're very wise to not jeopardize your recovery with a too early return to work and/or activity that is painful...

Re the L5S1 disc, I too hope it will be non problematic for you and that your recovery will in time be so great you'll be back into everything you did before and then some!!

take care, thanks for the update!