Eddie G Prodisc L4-L5 October 2006

[johnb]

Eddie,

I've followed your story and love your sense of humor that you keep despite your challenges. No PS3 for me but I've got my XBOX360 and I've already completed GTA4. Some folks find the content objectionable but its good fun for me. My nephew comes down and begs to play and he's 11 and I say no way, no cop killing for you (his dad is a cop and it just creates a bad image in my mind)

There is one part that is sort of like the FBI and if you walk on their turf, the feds and police come after you. Its good fun. PM me if you have any trouble but it sounds like you have been gaming as long as me so you're probably set.

Let's hope this is the surgery that gives the relief you deserve.

John

[Eddie G]

Yeah it's definitely an adult game. I don't play the game to complete missions against the computer, I only play online with other people from around the world. We set up teams and chase each other around. That's the fun part for me, like virtual paintball in a HUGE city. (except it's not paint) Kids should NEVER play this game, especially play the story line.

My pain is still pretty bad. I had pre-op right hip pain, I have post-op left hip pain. My right leg feels weaker. I have sharp pains in my tummy and back incision pain. Luckily I bit my tongue, cut my finger, and slammed my ankle on the corner of the hospital bed, all within one hour, to help with the pain. Yep that was sure lucky.
I also squatted down to look into the Frigidaire™ and when I got up something popped in my back. Felt like an adjustment. It was either the spine settling or the house settling. Wow!

Hope all is well. I read your history and i am wondering how long should i wait to have adr. My pain is 1to4 and still do not take anything for pain. DDD L4-L5 with L3 to L4 disc problems. Suggested fusion at L5-S1.

I wouldn't have surgery until your pain is unbearable. 1-4 is not bad to me, my normal pain is a constant 7 with spikes up to 10.
I'd wait until you can't sit down anymore, can't have sex, or have episodes of laying on the floor unable to move.
If you're sitting & having episodes of sex on the floor, you'll keep. Don't worry, the doctors with the knives and all the BS with the insurance co's will be waiting for you when you're ready. Plus the longer you wait, the more experience these surgeons get with the discs. There are new technologies coming out and maybe you'll fancy some fancy new procedure.

Plenty of on non-invasive stuff you can try first.

[Maria]

I just thought to look at your recent surgical posting and WOWWWW have you been thru it!

You know I'm where you are telling people to be prior to having surgery or more surgery in terms of waiting till ya can't do this that and the other and odd thing is that I already went thru those stages and came out on the other side mostly where pain meds give good relief as long as I've got an ESI going on a few times a year and all activities go except sitting. Always foiling me there and limiting what I can do but I'm sort of concerned that I may make it worse with more surgery YET I'm moving on with osteporosis in the spine and thinking sooner would be better than later re surgery because I will not be able to do anything should the bone become too soft in the future let alone the progressive degeneration of the lumbar spine (heck, my whole spine has DDD).

Oh well, I do hope you continue to recover well and soon will be in less pain and more mobile. I will continue to read your progress/updates.

My cats are ancient now (one had to be put down recently circa age 15) and the others are 13 and 12 and lazy little Persians. They stay w/dh currently not me and there is a huge 20 plus pound domestic cat living there as well and boy can he jump and create a dent in the old bod (my 22 lb mini schnauzer as well who thinks she's a cat).

Ok hope your Mum will be feeling better ASAP as well and gets a good doc to manage her care. take it easy Eddie and thanks for the updates!

[Eddie G]

Well, I still feel like poopey. My major pain has shifted from my right hip to my left hip. The back pain is equal on both sides and still pretty bad. I spent a few hours today standing and walking and now I really tired & sore and done. I'm laying in bed with Curly The Super Cuddly Tonkinese Cat and I'm slowly melting away.
He makes me feel better...even if just mentally.

San Diego winning tonight's game will make me feel better too!

[mmglobal]

It's always scary to have new or changed pain after surgery, but it's very common. The back pain is expected too.

Keep ratting out your mom on the internet... that'll keep your spirits up.

Thanks for posting... It's great to give the true stories, warts and all, so others will have more realistic expectations.

Talk to you soon,

Mark

PS... say "hi" to sweety for me!

[Eddie G]

Hey I never said anything about warts! I quit licking toads back in high school.

I cringe every time my Mom bends the way she does. If I did that I would be on the floor crying for a week! It just seems that she may even be making her problems worse by doing that. Especially lifting heavy objects like that. OW!

I'm sure Mom could say alot more about me than I could about her so I better be nice. I just don't want her to her herself more and wind up like me.

Back pain is still awful today. I'm wearing my brace which is the coolest brace ever. (It has Velcro™!) I see Dr. Goldstein on Monday and I am bringing him another patient. She is a childhood friend of Mom's from Bayonne who has one of the worst backs ever. She has has alot of surgeries. Once she went in for surgery and they put her under anasthesia. Once she was under, the surgeons realized they did not have all the hardware so they had to run over to another hospital for the part while she was still under. She wound up in a coma for 2 weeks from this. This is what people get in NJ and why we NJ'ians all go to NY doctors. Dr. Goldstein has his hands full. She has screws and hunks of metal all over her spine and severe pain that keeps her bedridden. I'm going to set her up on this board on Sunday night. She needs alot of help. Dont we all.

[Maria]

Hey Eddie,
Hope you're doing OK and your Mom too. I know when my back is tender watching other people utilize improper body mechanics gives me the serious spine shivers~ take care, Maria

[ans]

I'm sorry you've been through the grinder. I had hip pain and my doc probed the area and it merely is trochanter bursitis; I hope it's innocuous like this for you. Wishing you well. Ever go to NYC to hear music (I like Popa Chubby's blues). Best Wishes - Allan

[Eddie G]

I am through with the home PT and now I move to outpatient PT at Kessler. (only 5 min away) I am pushing myself this time around because I need to get back to work. If I am not back to work by March 18th I am off payroll. My Short Term Disability ends at that point. I think I can do it. I am still experiencing horrible back pain but I've been experiencing that for over 5 years now so it's nothing new to me. I haven't had any paralyzing episodes since the surgery so that's good. My legs seem to be getting better. I dont have the constant sciatica leg pain, it's more intermittant now. I am building up my endurance from being vertical 1/2 hour to 1 hour, before I need to lay down. I am sick of my bed already!

Back to Work Positives:
I have a couch and a heating pad at work so I can relax whenever I need to.
My wife drives me.
I have a nice brace and two canes to show off.
I have a ball to sit on at my desk.
I get a nice paycheck and I have a cool job.
Keeping my benefits.
The Socialization at the water cooler.
A TV at my desk so I wont miss all the Judge shows that I became addicted to since September. That includes Judge Judy, Judge Alex, Judge Mathis, Judge Joe Brown, Judge Karen, Judge David, Christina's Court, People's Court, Divorce Court, Judge Piro, Judge Hatcher, Judge Penny..........oh and CASH CAB!!!!!!!

Negatives:
Getting up in the morning.
Getting laid off anyway because I'm going back during cuts.
Missing my cats.

So I hope I can build up my endurance enough to get back to work. Right now I couldn't do it, but hopefully in 5 weeks I will be in better shape.

I did develop Carpal Tunnel from using my wrists so much during my injury. I have 2 braces for that too. They're fancy.

Toodle-Loo for now,,,,

[New-disc]

Eddie,

How'd you get your avitar to upload?

Todd

[zfontana]

Originally Posted by Eddie G

Well, I still feel like poopey. My major pain has shifted from my right hip to my left hip. The back pain is equal on both sides and still pretty bad. I spent a few hours today standing and walking and now I really tired & sore and done. I'm laying in bed with Curly The Super Cuddly Tonkinese Cat and I'm slowly melting away.
He makes me feel better...even if just mentally.

San Diego winning tonight's game will make me feel better too!

gery

Ed i have the same pain as you and had the same surgery. L4-l5 facets are causing that pain hip and back pain. I have a tough time walking due to that hip and back pain. Hope all is well.

AJ