L4-5 & L5-S1 Chartie Stenum - kc0iet

[kc0iet]

It has been sooooo long since I have been on the forums that I forgot where all of them are!

Anyway, I just wanted to say hello and give you an overdue update.

It has been two years since I was in the hospital for my last pair (the 6th and 7th) major spine surgeries! I am doing really well. I still have a lot of health issues and am now hopelessly addicted to Fentanyl but rarely take any other pain meds and have NOT used my wheelchair since I got home from the hospital (July 2009). Thanks to the DVT's between surgeries in 09, I will always have to take Coumadin and keeping the levels where they need to be is a challenge...

But - I am about to take on another huge challenge. I'm not sure if I am ready, but I got in to Law School! I will be moving half way across the country, alone, and embarking on the most challenging academic pursuit of my life! Your prayers and positive mojo would be appreciated. I have been working towards this goal ever since I have been unable to work. I am both excited and scared ****less! Without further complications or delays, I will be 50 when I take the Bar Exam!

PS - Mark, did you change your email address? I've tried many times to email you. My prayers continue to be with you

[Maria]

Hey Kc..
I remember when I was thinking about going to law school and how old I'd be when taking bar exams (back then I was nearing 40y.o.) and a friend said "you're going to be that age anyway".. so true!

Such exciting progress you've made and while medicated! I stopped taking Neurontin last August and have finally felt like I can think again tho the last few years on it seemed to really make my mind sluggish. Probably just wasn't bothering to try to think!

I don't know any docs in the area that you're relocating to however you're probably going to want to try to locate a good Pain Management doc to prescribe for you vs. a GP. When I relocated I tried to get a 3 month supplie of meds as it took me a while to find someone to prescribe for me (when I moved out of state).

Good luck w/everything and please keep us updated!

[dshobbies]

Wow KC,

I'm jealous. I was about 40 when I thought of going to law school and I'm sorry I didn't - and I would have taken the bar exam before 45.

So to you I say - good for you!!!! Gutsy move but after what you've been through, a walk in the park, which is difficult enough.

And of course, glad you're doing well enough to even consider it, let alone actually do it. I'm quite impressed. I know you'll be inundated with studies but please, please, keep us posted. Success stories give so many so much hope, even after initial bad outcomes - Please

Dale

[mmglobal]

Here is a picture that Janet sent me in August of 2012... she was just about to start her second year of law school. As mentioned above, when she returned from her surgery with Dr. Coufal, she put away her wheelchair and never used it again (until law school.) The demands of having to cross a large campus quickly carrying 50 pounds of books were too great, so she brought her wheelchair to Houston and it allowed her to stay in school.

These pictures still bring tears to my eyes.

[mmglobal]

I just spoke to Janet. Unfortunately, the report is mixed. Regarding her schooling, Janet "made it through the hard part" and got more than 1/2 way through law school. Unfortunately, she needed to return home to care for her ailing mother and is no longer in school. I can't tell you how much I admire her ability and drive to have gotten that far, and her priorities for putting family first. Way to go Janet.

Warm Houston was good for her. Unfortunately, her pain syndrome reacts pretty severely to cold weather. The Missouri winters are really, really bad for her. In any case, she is still on a medication level that is a fraction of what she needed following her two botched Stenum, Ritter-Lang surgeries. She bought a recumbent trike that she absolutely LOVES and, in spite of the harsh winter, she has over 500 miles on it.

Her leg still gets pretty swollen from the DVT, but it doesn't hurt her nearly as much. You don't want to be having a long anterior revision surgery if you can avoid it... I've seen many, most OK, but there can be problems. That's why you really need to be with a careful, competent surgeon... make sure it gets done right the first time!

So, even though the news is mixed and her life could be much, much better; she is still a thousand times better than she was.

Hang in there Janet!

Love,

Mark

[Maria]

Mark thanks for updating on Janet. That's just incredible re the law school endeavor and even more so having gone back to take care of an ailing parent. Both photos of Janet are great~ congrats on the recumbent biking and doing as well as you are now Janet with all that you have going on! Would love to see you post here again if you've any free time or inclination to do so!
Maria

[kc0iet]

I know, it has been forever since I have been here - sorry…

I was so glad to hear from Mark yesterday that I decided to check in. This month is proving especially hard for me as I would be graduating from Law School this month I was exactly half way through, and on the Dean's List when I left.

Anyway… how do you like my trike?? I guess I just like a challenge LOL. Climbing hills is MUCH harder and slower when you cannot stand up on the pedals LOL. I got the trike 9/27/2013 and ride every chance I get. That has not been much this year since the furnace was still kicking on LAST WEEK! The cold REALLY sets me back. In fact, I left my bed only to go to the doctor for meds from January through May. Hopefully I will bounce back quickly now that winter is finally over! But it is depressing to know that once the cold returns - I must return to hibernation. Unfortunately I put a quite a bit of weight back on over the long winter in bed. I was quite happy tipping the scales at 105# before winter - not so now!

I am still on Fentanyl and Percacet, but much less. During warm weather I was doing very well. I purchased a recumbent trike to further my rehabilitation, and did quite well with it until winter. During cold weather I must either stay in bed or take more medication. I am still unable to sit or stand without a significant increase in pain. I can only find comfort in a near zero gravity position. I cannot sit on the couch long enough to watch a TV show or sit at the table for a meal. But if I sit in my only acceptable position (in my hospital type bed, or on my reclined trike seat) I can sit as long as I want to. Still hopeful that more exercise will increase my strength, stamina and pain tolerance.

Thanks for keeping everyone posted for me Mark. Maybe some day I can ride my trike to CA to see you LOL.