Here I go, my 3 level Activ-L story begins

[joemonfl]

Thanks Mark, I did pay for it the day after discharge and am letting my daughter and her mom do the touring (and they are beat).

Unlike others the more I walked the more sore my muscles got. My hamstrings are soooo tight due to the new height and as i'm stretching post op, I'm doing better. Laying on my back pre op, I could get to 90 degrees, post op, just 35. massage helps.

Last 2 nights sleep have been great, no more tossing and turning and walking up from pain, either pre or post op. pre op, 6 hrs sleep was a great night, the day my daughter flew in, I slept for, I'm embarrassed to say, 12 hours.

[ans]

Good luck to you as you're progress sounds great. Btw, Dr. Carl Lauryssen in LA really liked the Active-L disc.

Take care - Allan

[joemonfl]

Hi Everyone, hope you all had a merry xmas.
I'm back in Florida and today I am 2 weeks post op. I never thought I'd feel this good again.

The trip from Munich to Philly on US Air was pure hell. About a 10 hour flight which is hard enough, but US Air does not have fully reclining seats in business/first class such as the ones on Lufthansa. That would have made it much easier. (US Air cancelled my flight at the gate from Jacksonville, Fl to Philly so they rebooked me the next day on Lufthansa through Charlotte)

I would STRONGLY suggest: finding the shortest flights, avoiding airports with long delays, and fly at least Business class with an international carrier like Lufthansa, it will cost you more but on the way back, will be worth every penny.

I got home Wed at midnight after being up for about 23 hours and it was so nice to be back in my own bed. (But would not mind seeing those german nurses again.)Still getting over the jetlag but back is feeling great.

Before I left a could manage a walk with my German Shepherd of about an 1/8 mile with pain. This morning he got his first mile walk, in over 3 years, and was very surprised. That was two of us. The back muscles are getting much more used to the new implants and soreness is getting less.

Pain meds are tramadol 50, arthritis formula tylenol and flexeril.

**Oh one negative about the operation.** I got in my car to drive to the grocery store when I got back and since I am now 3cm taller, my head hits the roof, looks like I better go truck shopping next.

Happy New year everyone.
Joe

[mmglobal]

Great news Joe, I'm so happy for you! Remember to ramp up slowly. That will be tougher and tougher to do as you feel better. It's harder for the former atheletes because we have higher expectations about what we can do.

Keep it up... I look forward to reading about your continued improvement and returning to a normal life.

Mark

[fuzzy]

Hey Joe, great to hear you are doing so well! I agree that one need to carefully find the best air ride possible. I can report that United has good business seats on the larger airplanes to Europe Their 747 business class upstairs is the best but do not book a seat right in front of the bulkhead. There you might not be able to get flat enough if you are tall. The united 767 planes the seats are good enough but not quite as nice as the ones on 747 they are slighly more narrow but fold flat nicely. Put the blanket on the folded out foot rest and lay you feet or ankles on top rather then on the foot rest and you are totally flat. This was actually a good ride home.

I have the same problem with my old Range Rover. I am now solidly hitting the roof with my head and there is no way to get the seat lower :-( but my Dodge truck is perfect and it has been patiently waiting for me to be able to drive it again. That time at least for short drives has come (bounce bounce bounce)!

[sahuaro]

Joe:
I just read your thread and am so glad you had a good experience and successful surgery. You certainly are brave to have gone to Germany for the surgery by yourself, and it was wonderful of Mark to look in on you.
Wishing you continued success!

[joemonfl]

Hi Mark, Fuzzy and everyone.

I'm 3 weeks post op as of yesterday 1-4-08. Had some Florida weather that reminded me of Munich, ..chilly.

Feeling pretty good, No spine or leg pain but low back muscles and quads are real sore. I'm sure it will take time for my body to get used to the new mechanics. What a treat to have muscle soreness again. Massage does wonders as does laying down in the afternoon a bit.

Belly incision is pretty much healed, about 90 %. Still a little puffy. No dressings for a week now.

Oh great news, sex no longer hurts as it did before surgery. And no post ADR sexual complications either...thx dr zeegers

Will start light Pt late next week along with massage.

All in all, life is sooo much better. Now if the Jags can win tonight