Diane's surgery blog

[mmglobal]

I don't think I ever lived at a Lettski level... she's amazing. Diane wears the brace whenever she's out and about. She's being quite conservative and is waiting till the magic 6 week date (1 week from today.) She wears it quite loose and has taken the stays out. It's more of a reminder not to do things... not really for support.

[ellecincos1]

Diane,

I very glad that you are doing well, you look great! I bet most of those pains will be gone soon slowly you'l get there
Best wishes,
Myriam

[mmglobal]

Well, we've been in Miami for 2 days now. Diane's activity level is very high. The flight over caused her L ankle to swell a little and to become mildly uncomfortable. We believe that is part of the sympathetic nerve issues mentioned in the 'warm leg' post. Along with that... her L heel is very dry, while her R foot is completly normal.

She's enjoying the conference and is able to sit and walk better than I. Standing still still gets her, but she manages quite well as I stop to talk to so many people at great length. We just got back to the hotel room, more than 12 hours since we left this morning. Tough, busy day... especially since we both started the trip already behind the curve with little sleep and high activity levels in the days that lead up to the trip.

So it's all great news still.

We had an amazingly warm moment this morning as we caught up with Thierry Marnay, the inventor of the ProDisc. He's used to seeing me at the conferences and was very pleasant as always. When Diane thanked him for inventing the ProDisc and told him that she was less than 6 weeks post-op, he said, "You've got 2 ProDiscs?" He was so very happy to hear our good news... he stepped forward and gave Diane the warmest hug. We talked for a long time about so many things... It was such a pleasure to see him enjoying this so much. I experience a small taste of this with my work, but for him, the gratification that he receives from moments like these must be enormous. This occurred in the back of the main hall and the moderator of the next session was clearly perterbed with us, because he was trying to get the next session started and Dr. Marnay clearly wanted to keep talking... and the next session was his!

[Maria]

Ok, sorry but this photo with Diane and Dr.Marnay is blinding me with Diane's smile~ Ya think after a 12 plus hour day one can say they've plateaued? Sounds like your wife is on her way to Letteski living Nice photo BTW

[mmglobal]

I hope that we are coming to the end of the frequent posts... and this is just a few days later than, and so similar to the last one... but I think that this is wonderful and I want to share it.

I had a similar moment myself, when I got to spend some time with Karin Buettner-Janz and Dr. Zeegers together at SAS4 in Vienna... the co-inventor of my disc and the surgeon who implanted it. Well, the picture below was taken at exactly 6 weeks post-op for Diane. We were at a cocktail party at the very end of a very long day. You'll read about it on the SAS blog soon.


Dr. Thierry Marnay, Diane, Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli

This was great for both of the doctors. They see patients when they have surgery or when they are in pain. It's not all that often that they get to see their handiwork wearing such a huge smile.

Diane and I are home from SAS now. No meds... no back pain... little sciatica with activity... but now her threshold for what constitutes too much activity unbelievably high. (Actually, she does not have to stop... she just has to put up with mild sciatica after an incredibly long day.) She has stopped wearing the brace with no ill effects.

I'll only post when there is something significant to post now...

All the best,

Mark

[Firerescuefin]

Hey Mark and Diane,

I would guess that a "congrats" or "that's great" does not begin to cover the feelings that the two of you feel looking back at this episode of your lives. What a blessing it seems that you have been able to be to each other through the trials you have faced TOGETHER. I am glad that you both had a great trip, and I look forward to seeing the morsels that fall from the plate as you go over your experiences in the next couple of weeks. Mark, I look forward to sitting down with you soon.

[ellecincos1]

Diane it must of felt great to stand in between two people who contributed of getting your life back. YOu look great and the picture is owesome

Best Wishes,
Myriam

[nomorepain]

U.S. Trials vs Germany Prodiscs, glad to hear you both are doing well, It was great to talk with you on Mothers day! so when is the next west coast meeting of spineys? Another feat of mine, and a first in a very very long time, i change my own oil, tune up my old volvo, crawling under the car, leaning over the fenders changing spark plugs, something i could not do before my prodisc surgery, 6 years and still feeling great! Welcome to the Club Diane, it will be cool to follow your recovery from year to year!
gary

[Maria]

Don't have another West Coast meeting until after June. I really want to attend but will be in Florida for nearly all of June!

Diane, you look radiant!! And the surgeons look nice too~ tho you've the implants and look the livliest! Hope you're doing well ~ beautiful beach weather coming up this weekend!

[ans]

I agree: D., you certainly do look radiant. Congratulations and hope this is your last surgery ever. - Allan