L4/L5, L5/L6 (S1) Prodisc-L - treefrog (aka Cathy)

[treefrog]

Well, this coming Tuesday will be 4 weeks post-op, and I still can't believe how well I am doing . That aching I had in my legs is gone, I now think it might have been a side effect of the lorazepam. I haven't taken it, and I have slept on my side, which were two things I thought might have been causing it, and that pain is gone.

I still sleep more than normal, but I figure that is par for the course. I go to sleep around 11, and don't wake up until 9 or 9:30. Though I don't typically take a nap, today was an exception, and it was only a slight bit of dozing really.

I really don't have pain, though I was more uncomfortable yesterday afternoon, and last night. Even this morning I was still feeling it, but this evening I am feeling better. I took amitiptyline last night, to help me sleep. I am still taking pain meds, 20 mg Opana-ER 2xday and ~7.5 mg oxycodone 3xday, but I've already cut down my gabapentin to 300 mg 1xday (from 4xday pre-op). I am only waiting to see my PM doc on Monday to start tapering off the pain meds. I will need a lower dose Opana-ER, and find out how long to stay at each reduced dose. I don't think the oxycodone will be as difficult, and I think that will be after the Opana, but I'll see what the PM says.

Before surgery, I thought that my day would be spent sleeping a lot, or at least laying down a lot. With short walks to break up my day. I did not think I would be sitting at all. But, since getting back from Germany, I pretty much only sleep at night. I sit at the computer, and I lay down on the futon in the living room, but I get up much more than I every would have thought to be doing. I can walk farther than I ever thought I would be doing post-op, and that was something I did a lot of in the days post-op in Germany. I am just super amazed.

I am not concerned about my ability to go back to work. But I still plan on waiting, to let my body heal. Because even though I am feeling great, I know that my body still has a lot of work to do. Now, I am hoping that the job I want will be there when I am ready to go back to work. I guess I do worry a little bit, will I be able to sit all day (well with short breaks to get up and walk around), since I do break up my sitting now with laying down or walking. But, it isn't even 4 weeks yet, I'm sure I will be feeling even better in the weeks ahead.

[dshobbies]

Cathy,

This is wonderful news. You sound right on track and seem to be doing everything right.

You wait and wait and then voila, you're on your way to getting your life back. Poster ADR girl - you now give others the courage to go for it.

Hope all continues to be good. There may be a few bumps here and there but that's all normal stuff, especially if you overdo - though the panic rears its ugly head. Common sense goes a long way but I think you've already figured that one out.

Keep up the good work, Dale

[treefrog]

Last Monday I saw my PM doc, it was just a day before my 4 week post-op date. She was very impressed with how well I was doing, and how nice my incision looked. She said that ADR patients can return to work at 4 weeks, and asked if I was okay with that. I told her I wanted to wait until after 6 weeks, just to get to that point of time when the bone is supposed to grow into the disc.

She had x-rays done, though they didn't do extension/flexion, I'll ask her to do that next time. From what I can see they look good, but I can't see that the bone is growing into the disc. Of course I don't know what to look for either.

She prescribed a lower dose of Opana-ER, so I have started tapering off that. I went from 20 mg 2 x a day to 10 mg 2 x a day, will stay at that level for 2 weeks, then go down to 5 mg 2 x a day. Two weeks of that, then I will start tapering off the oxycodone, as long as I am not feeling pain.

She did say she thought I should stay off the diclofenac (NSAID), for a couple of months, saying there was conflicting thoughts as to whether they interfere with healing. I had been taking it, since just after surgery, but I stopped. If I can stand not taking it, it's probably better to be off it. But I know Dr. Bertagnoli prescribed diclofenac to another of his patients, so he must not feel that they interfere with healing.

Tomorrow I will be contacting a person about a job opening at my employer (Duke Univ). I am hoping that I can start working part time anytime from July 8th on (that will be 6 weeks post-op). My PM doc suggested working 4 hrs/day for 2 weeks, then 6 hrs/day for another 2 weeks, before going back full time. I would still have intermittent FMLA, and leave time, so I could get paid more than 4 hrs/day (so I can keep my benefits). I am hoping this person is willing to give me a shot with this position, it is a new career path for me, but something I think I can be good at.

I have some pain, but it is minimal. I would rate it as a 1 (sometimes a 2). The most annoying pain right now is just at my incision, but internal. I know the internal takes longer to heal than external.

[Michelle Maree]

Hi Cathy,.......I sometimes feel like calling you Froggy like Miss Piggy did with Kermit ...he he.
I am glad to see you are doing well and improving nicely. I have observed that you have a very positive and well thought out approach to the whole thing. I wish my head was that organised!
Overall was it a big hastle to go to Germany or well worth it for the peace of mind? Did you have any problems with the travel? I guess everyone has to travel bussiness class dont they for the lumbar? Would you do it again?
Do you feel at this stage that you will be pain free or a little too soon to tell?
Before you had the surgery was your joint still pretty mobile? Mine is very stiff and locked up and I think I would be worried to have ADR because of this facet locking. How much disc height did you still have? and do you know the sizes of the prodiscs that were put in?
Sorry for all the questions, I probably should have PM'd you but others might like to know some of your answers aswell.
Thanks Froggy, (im in a silly mood,too much oxy I think.)
Michelle.

[treefrog]

I think it was definitely well worth it, in my mind, to go to Germany and have the worlds expert on ADR perform my surgery. The travel back to the US was uncomfortable, and I am glad that I was able to get a first class seat. I didn't book business or first class when I made the arrangements, instead I waited to see if I would be able to handle sitting in coach. There are some people who have been okay flying back coach, but I don't think I would recommend it.

I would definitely do the surgery again. I have no doubt that I will be pain free in the coming months.

I was still pretty mobile and flexible pre-op, though I did have pain.

My disc height was still pretty good, in comparison to other people's. But I don't know the exact height.

The ProDiscs I had put in are both size M, 10 mm core, both upper plates and one lower plate are 3 degrees, and the other lower plate is 8 degrees.

[treefrog]

Today is 6 weeks post-op!! I was able to drive today, get my hair done and do a little shopping. I was out of the house for about 3.5 hours. I don't feel like I have extra pain, and hopefully it won't sneak up on me overnight, since I have an interview tomorrow morning.

I am waiting until after my interview to reduce my pain med dose again, and to reduce the stiffness of my brace. But I am ready to go back to work, though I don't think I am ready to handle full time yet.

[Michelle Maree]

Amazing!!!...... unheard of in the world of fusions. You are very lucky.
I wish I had have trusted my intuition earlier and gone to Germany 2 years ago before my facets degenerated. But I listened to doctors and physiotherapists and Pain Management who want you to put it surgery off untill it can be too late. This is usually o.k with fusions but with ADR it can put you out of the race for good.
You really do have to be your own advocate through all of this and do the research find out for yourself whats best because sometimes the discouraging people you come across really dont know!!!!!
Kudos to you Cathy for having the wisdom and strength to have a vision for yourself and working towards it. Because it can be hard enough to organise to get to the surgeons in your own town when youre in pain let alone across the other side of the world.
Congratulations on the start of a bright new future,
Michelle.