Here's a link to Braintalk. I found a lot of help there:

http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=251

I feel for all you with the pain. I also have had surgery. Back in 04 I diagnosed with hernieted disc, c4-c5. I did what the doctor told, take care of myself, easy with the lifting, meds, shots, therapy. Then in dec 07, just one day, I could not move cause of the pain. Went to a new doc, gave me a nice coctail of drugs, I was out for like two days, when I came thru, though the pain was still there, I was feeling better.

End conclusion, that the problem had worsened, and I needed surgery. Immediate, but he gave me some weeks to get ready for it, cause my recovery time, between hospital and home, was 1 month.

Did the surgery in Jan 08. C4-C5, C5-C6, Best decision or forced decision that I ever made. In the recovery room, the first question that my GF asked me, How are you feeling. I replied, other than this anethesia *****, I have no pain in my back.

Little by little, I was feeling better. But I did one crucial step. The recovery. I spent, 5 days in the hospital, got out one day early, cause I could not take the hospital, but I promissed the doctor that I would be good. And for three more weeks, at home, I was perfect, I did exactly what the doctor told me to do and not to do. I did not even work, might have touched the computer an hour a day. I did not drive for 8 weeks after the surgery. Thankfully, my GF was there with me 100%, took care of me, made sure that I did what I was supposed to do and not do what I could not do. I am a little stubborn.

Even after returning to work, she would drive me there and pick me up. She was the best.

In the end, besides the surgery, recovery is the other 50%. You have to do exactly what the doctor says, and in my case, though I think that the doctor went a little overboard on the do's and dont's for the recovery after the surgery, I am glad that he was.

I feel great!!!

Even to this day, I do not lift heavy things. When I travel for work, I tend travel light with a small suitcase, taking two - three sets of clothes, including what I am wearing, and just launder at the hotels, this being, lugging a suitcase around airports is lifting. I do my neck excercises, and truly take care of myself in that regards.

I gained about 10-15 pounds over xmas-new year this past year, started to feel it around may, in the muscle tension in my back, cause all the weight went to my gut, and am now finishing losing it.


I FEEL GREAT!!!!!

I had L3-L5 fused using metal cages in 1998. Had to be done, no other course to repair 2 herniated discs. Couldn't hardly walk, with pain in my shins and toes. My sister who is a nurse, told me that neurologists do a better job than orthopedists.

Best advice I ever took. Lost some mobility due to the fusion, but pain was gone immediately. Still have numbness in toes, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Don't hold your breath. Admitting it didn't work would be admitting they aren't gods.

Pre-sugeryI would have not dreamed of pulling a Porsche transmission and torque tube post injury but now I function like a normal human.

Now not only am I pain but I am getting back in shape and ready for bigger things, I am a walking testament to proper care and positive surgical outcome.



Oh, and find another doctor the pain block is OK but increasing meds is not even if they are non-opiate.

Just seems to me that I'm masking something that should be fixed.

I had 3 epidural injections in 12/08 which reduced the pain a lot, but I believe made things worse by masking my pain.

Comes 2/09, I wake up one morning and my right leg can't support any weight.

They rushed me into surgery after that.

Now my right leg is where the nerve damage is centered. Seems to me if they acted quicker on the surgery in 11/08 when I was initially diagnosed as needing surgery - instead of masking the pain and waiting until something bad happened - I might be a lot happier today.

I still have 4 bulging or herniated discs from L1 to L5.

I want to thank you all for the support.

This has been a tough six months for me.

Al

3 in 6 months is OK.....if they are working which does not seem to be the case. If you are in the midwest or feel like getting on a plane let me know almost all of the forum members will vouch that I know many of the best orthopedists. I strongly recommend a trip to Cleveland Clinic.

As I said before I was a borderline medicated cripple 8 months ago and now I can do almost anything.

Yes. I think I wore a hard collar for about 6 weeks. No driving. In five months, I was completely healed. Back to the gym. Back on the Harley.;)
It does take a while for bone to completely knit around tiitanium. So I'm told.

Cleveland has one thing going for it. The Cleveland Clinic. Med speaks truth.

Someone else mentioned that recovery is the other 50%.Yep.
Hope you are able to find relief and a well deserved return to normalcy.

I had a fusion on L4/5 back in 1997. it did not go smooth at all, I am doing ok now. I am about to have another fusion in my neck at the end of the month.
The Dr. said he uses a type of stem cell to grow bone in a plastic cage like device. I hope it works out. Good luck out there everyone with back problems, we need it.

There are artificial discs available now in the USA for both the lumbar and cervical spine. They've been available for years in Europe. That's what MedMech has. I'd certainly look into an ADR before getting a fusion. There's info at ADRsupport.org. I had cervical spine surgery that did not require a fusion with Dr. Jho in Pittsburgh. I posted about it a few years ago.

They keep trying to get me to have one, but I refuse to yet. The chiropractor and acupuncture keep it in line.

My dad had it done, had the same disc removed 3 times in his life, and it keeps coming back an herniating.

That's just the experiences I've had so far

Al, best of luck with your recovery, hoping for a quick and complete one. Back pain is flat out the worst. I've done plenty of stupid things that have been harmful to my body in various ways (won't get into that!) but the worst, by far, was a back injury I had in a car accident. Tore all my lower back muscles, could barely move for a week or two. Physical therapy was 6 months, but even after following all doctor/PT orders to a T, I still have considerable back pain. Its one of those things that just nags nags nags and affects the way your entire body feels, no matter how isolated the actual problem is.

where are you getting it done and by which Dr?


A friend of mine had a lumbar and the one done through his neck (lol) Don't remember the fusions but I recently shot those surgeries with the same Doc that worked on him.. 45 minutes of operating by the doc with a very small incision to do the work and install the hardware.Dr.Robert Masson is a great neurosurgeon and he does these as his specialty.

My friend was up and walking with the assistance from a walker a week and half later and now is walking with a cane to aid his balance.

My surgeon said I was not a candidate, since my back was too unstable.



OTOH, he also told me to expect to have my pain cured.



He also told me that he didn't expect that paralysis was going to be an outcome, so I guess he was right on that one, fortunately.