Observation

[dshobbies]

I love observing people and surmising patterns... a personality kwirk. I've been emailing another ADR recipient in England and though our circumstances were different, the outcome is similar. I would enjoy hearing from others how your own experience was similar or different.

If you would indulge me. I had a 3 level, S1-L3 Prodisc with Dr. B, just about 1 month after my friend who had a single level with Dr. Z. During my surgery the nerve root to my left leg was 'irritated' resulting in extreme nerve damage. Though improved, my back was still limiting and the nerve damage to leg created another disability. My friend experienced no surgical complications but realized little relief from the surgery to the point that she wondered if she really needed it in the first place.

Our one year anniversaries came and went with little fanfare, both of us still suffering with pain and severe limitations in sitting and walking. We had both started physical therapy which helped but...

Then, as your two year anniversary approached, we both started to see marked improvement. Our lives began to resume, though still with limitations, some previous passions. However different, our healing seems parallel.

From the various posts I've read, a pattern has developed. For those who experience an uncomplicated surgery and rapidly find their sought after pain relief, they seem to be back to their lives, (with or without new limitations) within one years time. This is not to say they don't continue to improve after that point but one year or less seems to be their 'healed' point. For those who do experience problems early on or find no relief from their pre-surgical pain, slowly find the relief they seek at about the two year mark. In both cases, it is assumed that the ADRs did indeed fix whatever was wrong in the first place and there are no secondary problems. Unfortunately, some experience no relief and are not able to resume any part of their previous lives and need other corrective surgeries/procedures.

So, where do any of you fit into this observation? I'm sure others who are hoping for their miracle or who haven't yet achieved it will be interested in any developing pattern... or not.

Dale