Fusion surgery over.....

[ans]

You sound great/articulate and have a realistic long-term idea of what to face. I guess your fusion was at L5-S1 - better this than an ADR lotsa people say. Heal well.

ans

[martyusa]

Originally Posted by ans

You sound great/articulate and have a realistic long-term idea of what to face. I guess your fusion was at L5-S1 - better this than an ADR lotsa people say. Heal well.

ans

Actually L4-S1 are the vertebrae that were fused. L5-S-1 was completely obliterated and L4-L5 was well on it's way to follow. As Tom Petty sings, "the waiting is the hardest part."

[mmglobal]

Marty... such great news. I love to hear, "the leg pain is gone... the nerve pain is gone... You know that the indications were correct and your pain generators are addressed. Please take care... heal well... and apprecate each minute you get without the pain that you knew too well.

You are very welcome for small part in your story... What I do is very rewarding and the best part of it is hearing about the restored lives.

All the best... please keep us up to date....

Mark

[martyusa]

Thanks everyone!

It is getting easier, physically. However the mental aspect is a different story. As some of you know I am a competitor and play sports year round. It's kind of a catch 22, LOL. In 1 case, I'm glad I have the Olympics to watch while I am down and out. And on the other hand, I can't wait to get back out there and at least have a catch with my son. So, we'll have to play this smart and conservative so recuperation is as perfect as it can be.

I have spoken to 1 of my M.A. instructors who had an older but similar procedure. She tells me the same thing everyone else tells me. That is I am not to screw around with anything for the first 6 months. Don't play, don't think that I am recovered yet and the most important thing is to let the fusion take and heal. She had had her titanium rods removed and is in constant pain because she pushed the envelope. She is setting up for corrective surgery just to ease the pain level.

I've started getting some numbness in my big toes and a few other, but nothing to crazy. I feel it could be from too much walking, or sitting a bit too long. However, it does ease up after I get a good rest. Sleeping is getting better as I am getting a good 6 hours now before I wake up for whatever reason. i.e pain, bathroom or my body is done sleeping for now.

I am really starting to feel my knee now. For over a year I have been putting most of my weight on my left side just because it was easier due to the simple fact most of my pain was on my right side. Ironic how the Hammy tear and radicular pain were both on the same side. We'll take a look at the on Monday to see what going on in there. Getting old really sucks......

[mmglobal]

Numbness in both big toes? Was that a pre-op symptom that you are feel again? You mentioned leg pain... was their numbness? Both sides?

[martyusa]

Originally Posted by mmglobal

Numbness in both big toes? Was that a pre-op symptom that you are feel again? You mentioned leg pain... was their numbness? Both sides?

No, just the right side for the pain. Which is the side I had most of the problems with. Pre-op symptoms on the right side was numbness in all the toes and even into my heal when I drove for long periods. The left side didn't come until about 1 month before surgery, but it is not giving me any problems as of yet. But it's different pain......I'll talk to Dr. Foti at my follow-up on Monday.

The last MRI showed L5-S1 disc pressing against the nerve on the right side, which is the same side the doc hit with the pin during the nerve root injection.

[mmglobal]

It's still so close to your surgery and your activity level is probably on the way up, so you may be flaring things. You are probably not on NSAIDs because of fusion. Stay cool... let yourself heal and increase your activities slowly. If you discover limits... dial it back a little.

I'd let the doc know anyway... onset of new symptoms is something you should let him know about. They may blow it off and may not want such detail... but err on the side of caution. When do you see her next?

Mark

[wavedreamer1@aol.com]

Originally Posted by mmglobal

Marty... such great news. I love to hear, "the leg pain is gone... the nerve pain is gone... You know that the indications were correct and your pain generators are addressed. Please take care... heal well... and apprecate each minute you get without the pain that you knew too well.

You are very welcome for small part in your story... What I do is very rewarding and the best part of it is hearing about the restored lives.

All the best... please keep us up to date....

Mark

I have had prety much all and plus that you have listed. My nerve pain has gotten worse and in the past month it seems that I am having lower back pain that I can not control. I have an implanted pain pump for the leg pain. Without it I could not walk. If you know of a good doctor that can repair damaged nerves please let me know. I need help, but I am very sorry to hear that you are not doing well. My doctor stated that PT was the worse thing to do if you have nerve damage. So you might want to check it out. My prayer. Sandra wavedreamer1@aol.com

[dshobbies]

Sandra,

As is my other post, you need to find out if anything is still compressing a nerve. The first step is getting another doctor. Perhaps someone in your area can suggest someone.

You also need a pain managment doctor. If you already have one, again, I'd suggest another opinion.

Nerves can regenerate over time or maybe not. Something else that helped me was accupunture -big surprise. But, if you still have cord compression, that has to be relieved before you can expect relief.

It's time for a new set of eyes and brains.

Might you be willing to travel? Then you have more options for doctors.

I'm sorry you're suffering and maybe there is help out there. You just have to find it.

Dale