L4/5 L5/S1 Mavericks

[SandyW]

Bob,

I also think you should inform the airlines, I can't imagine they would approve of the treatment you received. Hopefully in the future they will do something about the treatment of surgery patients. But if they don't know about the terrible treatment, then we can't expect any changes.

However, with that behind you, I sure hope you will continue to improve and reach that day when you will be pain free. Keep us informed and God Bless.

Sandy

[trkdoc714]

All,

Thanks for your kind words.

I let Lufthansa know what happened. The ticket agent at Bremen Airport had entered all of the right info into the computer. They're looking into the lapses that occurred in Frankfurt.

As for TSA, I failed to get the name of the guy that told me to tough it out. As you can imagine, TSA was about as helpful as any other government agency (we'll look into it) and I had to force my contact information onto them. I doubt I ever get a return call.

The travel discomfort appears to be behind me now. Although I have distraction type pain and minor spasms, I feel better today than I have for a while. There is no nerve pain. My pain levels are lower than the pre-op levels.

Now the pain is under control, I can concentrate on the really important things in life....daytime TV (kind of like mental sciatica).

Bob

[Justin]

Bob,

It's good to hear that you contacted Lufthansa. I flew with them in 2003 for my surgery and I didn't understand the hype about it being such a great airline.

Anyway, I'm glad you are feeling better and the distraction pain will get better as time goes on.

So you're back to watching the Jerry Springer Show, eh?

[Kathy]

Bob,
Glad you are feeling better. I'm sorry your flight home sucked. Mine wasn't so great either; but it wasn't because of TSA or the airline. We missed our first flight because I realized half way to the airport I left my walker in the hotel. Then, we get there and are almost gonna make it and my friend can't find her wallet. After running through the airport to the gate, while she ran to the rental car to see if it was in there, I find it in my purse (she put it in there). I had to go back to security, wait for her to return and get her id, so she could get through security. We finally get back to the gate and the plane left. We then spent 4 hours in the airport waiting for the next flight out (the airline didn't charge us anymore for missing our flight). We finally fly out, have a stop in Houston, bad weather hits, so we sit on the runway for an hour waiting for the storms to pass. We then have to take the long way to Dallas, 2 hours in the air versus 45 minutes. Anyway, I ended up not getting home until 11pm and I had arrived at the airport at 11am. I do have to say that I flew Southwest Airlines for the first time and I loved them. The flight attendants got me ice repeated times for my ice pack, brought me pillows and were very caring and sweet. When I arrived at curbside check in they got me a wheelchair, pushed me through the airport, let me go through the quick security line, and had a wheelchair waiting for me in Dallas (as soon as I got of the plane, they were waiting for me with a chair). The gentleman pushed me all the way to the curb outside and even offered to wait with me for my friend to get the car pulled around. I was very impressed with them and will fly with them whenever possible from now on.

Note to anyone flying: Take a cane or walker and tell them at the curb you are handicap and need a wheelchair. They will give you a special pass that lets you cut through the security quicker (you get to go in the line where the staff goes through). The pass also gives you pre-boarding and they will push you through the airport and get your bags. I didn't even know this service existed; but they offered when they saw my walker. It was nice to finally get a 'perk' out of this hell of pain I live in.

So glad you are doing so good Bob, I am jealous of your recovery! Were you on pain meds prior to surgery? What were you on? What are you on now? How is your son handling not being able to be carried by daddy? My 3 year old keeps asking, "mommy you back better, you carry me now?" You are in my prayers, Kathy

[trkdoc714]

Kathy,

I'm beginning to think the travel miscues were beneficial in a way. I've gotten back on feet quicker than the other 4 patients in my group after the long flights. Maybe the exercise helped (even if it was painful at the time). I had a bad night last night but had a great day yesterday. During the day I had no more than a 2 or 3 pain level. After laying in bed for a while last night, I felt the pain increase to 7 or 8.

I was taking Percocet 5/325 up to 15 mg daily before surgery. I took it as necessary. After surgery I took a morning and evening dose of Targin. I stayed with that dosage until the trip home. Then I resumed the Percocet as needed.

As far as the cane or walker, I had a cane with me but the gate keeper at Frankfurt was more concerned with getting the small kids onboard first (even though they announced kids and disabled first). I got irritated and walked past her to her supervisor, showed her the cane and letter from Stenum. She waved me through to board.

Justin, I haven't had to watch Jerry yet. I bought a pay-per-view package of Paul Rubin movies that I'm only halfway through with.

Bob

[fuzzy]

Over the years I have flown to europe a lot probably at least as often as Mark. A the years went by it got harder and harder to make the trip due to my back problems. I would be worse of every time due to all the ignorance of the various personal. In Germany Frankfurt I was forced to lay my case on an inspection belt for special inspection. even though I could hardly walk I was told to tough it out and no one would help me. That was very bad. Same thing happened on the US side where they send me to "agricultual inspection" line and the belt was 15 inches of the ground, to high for me to lift. After that I was flat for several weeks. So when it came time of surgery trip I was worried even with plenty of travel experience. To have the wheel chair service forgotten is unexcusable. Some people would not be able to do that (climb stairs). And the TSA folks seem not trained very well for handling people with special needs.

When I had my surgery I decided to stay 4 weeks to make sure I am in decent shape to travel and I am glad I was able to do that.

So I really feel with you as I know what you went through.


My advice for surgery travelers, no matter what airline.

NON STOP if at all possible.

BUSINESS Class!

You *need* to have travel companion (Mark!) DONT fly lone!!!!

[trkdoc714]

Thanks to Jake222 and his wife's advice, I'm pretty much back to normal. Their advice was to eat Pringles Lite with Olean oil. It helped with the regularity issue the very next morning.

The pain levels are below what I experienced before surgery and I'm sleeping through the night. I am going a little stir crazy though.

One of the worst problems I have is the muscle tightness but my wife massages my lumbar area (staying away from the central area) and it helps calm them down. While she massages, I get faint leg and abdominal sensations in the same areas that there was pain prior to surgery. I'm guessing she's working the right muscles and releasing the tension on the nerves.

Other than that, I don't limp anymore. I'm consciously taking shorter, softer steps as a precaution but there's no shuffling of the feet. I do have minor aches in my legs until after the massages. Once I get active again, the aches return after a few hours.

Fuzzy's right to a point, take a companion (a family member) with you if you travel to a different area. The travel ordeal was the biggest setback I had throughout this experience.

Bob

[Justin]

Bob,

It sounds like you are making great progress! Slow and steady wins the race. Thanks for the update.