Laser Spine Surgery

Hi everyone! Just got back from a nice walk with my mom! So refreshing! She's been here since before my first surgery to help out and she'll be here for my second as well, which by the way, was moved to this coming Monday. Please keep me in your prayers! I sure felt them last time! Thanks!

Carol, Fran, MJ, and all recent joiners,
Welcome! It's great to see all of you on here! Thanks again, Rich, for inviting us to join you!

Joe,
How fabulous that you're so active!! And you've lost 12lbs? WOW! I bet you feel so energized! I will certainly tell Gary you say hello and that you miss the coffee mornings! One more great thing about Bonati is that the people truly remember people, even after they're all healed!

Have a great day everyone!!
Best wishes and God bless,
Carrianne

Hello Everybody;
I had my surgery at LSI on Thursday 8/23/07 and here is my report so far.

I am not sure of the spelling of all this, but LSI (Dr. Wolff) did a disectomy to remove the herniated portion of the disk, a laminectomy and forenectomy to clear out the stenosis of the spinal column and nerve root exits and a thermal ablation on three facets. This was at L4-5 where my problems were most severe. I also have problems at L5-S1 and I was advised that I may need to get that fixed too. I was told that the procedure took 47 minutes and it really was not uncomfortable. We left an hour or so after surgery and my wife drove me home, about 40 minutes to St. Petersburg, where I snoozed off the anesthesia for most of the rest of the day.

Prior to surgery, I was "walking" in a bent over position and after 50-100 feet I would usually have to bend over and hold me knees to relax my back in order to walk another 50 ft.. I had given up shopping unless the store had an electric cart. The dehabilitating pain was coming from the sciatic nerve in my left buttox. I also had tingling and a little numbness down the left leg and left foot and was developing a "drop" foot. Age 60.

Thursday night after surgery, I was a little discouraged because it seemed that nothing had changed. Friday, I still had some sciatic pain which would come and go, but was able to get around quite well. As of today, Saturday morning, I am about the same. I was standing for quite awhile this morning and I wanted to sit down because the sciatic pain started to kick up. However, I am walking straighter and farther. I am hoping for continued improvement. I think I did have some nerve damage which may take a little time to heal. The incision is a little sore when you put pressure on it, but really not bad at all. People have been amazed at how well I am getting around after only one-two days post surgery.

I'll make another post in a few days.

Guy

Guy,

Thanks so much for your update on your surgery! It sounds like we have similar issues. I had my surgery at Bonati on L5/S1 which took away most of the painful stiffness in my back. I still have pain in my legs so will have another surgery this Monday on L4/L5.

If this helps any, it took me a week or so to really notice a difference. There's so much going on in there that it may take you a little while to notice. The nerves are getting use to their newfound freedom! Not everyone feels immediate relief! Hang in there! It sounds like you're healing well already!

Best wishes and God bless!
Carrianne

Carrianne:
Thanks for your input. It is a little discouraging to be on day-3 and still have sciatica pain, but as you said, I am hoping that time will improve the situation. I hope your second surgery makes all the pain go away!
Guy

Hello Carrianne,

I hope your surgery goes well tomorrow and that you have a speedy recovery

I'll be with you in mind and spirit. My thoughts and prayers are and will be with you.

RichT

Hello Guy,

I'm glad that your surgery went well. That you are now able to stand up straighter and walk a bit more. I'd say that is good news considering your surgery was just this past Thursday.

Oh yes, I understand, that with all the "you can walk away pain free" promoting, you may be somewhat disappointed at this time. Just be patient. Damaged nerves do take time to heal.

Guy when I had my epidural injection (morning), by that evening my wife thought I was walking somewhat straighter by that eveninng. Several days later the pain in my legs was gone, but it took about two months for the tingling sensations in my lower leg to go away.

Hang in there. I truly hope and pray that your pain will subside.

RichT

Guy,

One more thing I just remembered and forgot to tell you the other day. My mother-in-law's orthopedic doctor told her that nerves only heal a quarter of an inch each month. That may explain a little more why you still feel some pain (and me too).

Keep walking and icing! That's sure helped me. Best wishes and God bless!
Carrianne

Carrianne,
Best wishes for surgery tomorrow. I'm praying for a good outcome for you.

A question for all that have had surgery at either LSI or Bonati.

Did any of you have and PT that involved any or all of the following.

Nerve flossing
ultrasound around the surgical area, and muscles
message of the involved areas of muscle pain and nerve involvement

I had all of those at the beginning of my PT, twice a week for 4 weeks and wow, did it take care of all the nerve pain, increased the speed of healing and mobility.

Rich, no depression, just totally furious and disgusted with myself for not thinking and being so stupid.

Us "Spineys" no better than to spend hours upon hours in the same position. Essentially that is what I did. Sat on my butt driving the car for almost 3 solid hours and then did more sitting at home, more sittin on the butt in the car and then straight to dinner and sat again.

As I said, body not used to doing that kind of thing. So got to get this muscle healed, one way or another, then get me a car and get the old body in the car several times a week for short jonts around and keep building up the tolerance.

Rich, keep positive thoughts about the doc referral. If it doesn't work out, then, by all means, contact my doc's office, but we can talk about that only if we have to. You're apt isn't that far off. Patience, my friend and positive thoughts first.

Fran

Carrianne...I have been gone this weekend and just got back. I wanted to wish you luck with your surgery tomorrow and let you know we are all pulling for you.

LSG (Rick)

Fran,

Thanks for your prayers!!!! I certainly felt them last surgery and am praying I can lay just as still for the next one!

For my physical therapy, they didn't do ultrasound on me, but did interferential electrical stimulation which feels great on tight muscles. They did do neuromuscular work like you had and that was definitely my favorite part!

Thanks again for your thoughts and well wishes!!! God bless,
Carrianne

Hello Everyone,

I have dinner, relax in my recliner for awhile and then come back here, and WOW I feel I missed a whole day. LOL

Fran - Regarding ultrasound - My physical therapist used it on my torn rotator cuff, siatic nerve, and a few other spots. YEP, its amazing how much it helps. Of course, having a terrific young lady do the massaging helped too.

Fran, we Spiney's just want to be able to do the things we used to be able to do. We sometimes get caught up in life and do things beyond what we should be doing. And I know for myself, what I could do eight months ago, like driving to a nursery in NJ and back (7 hrs) in one day, I would dare not try doing now. DAMM!!! LOL Gotta stay positive or you'll get after me. We Spiney's not only are "MOVERS", we have to MOVE to keep these bodies "lubricated".

I'm really looking forward to my appointment with Dr. Wiesel.

Rick - Nice thoughts for Carrianne.

How are you doing these days?

Carrianne - We keep the good Lord busy don't we. Thanks!!!

"I try to look at pain as a time to learn what we need to know before making a big decision!" - BEAUTIFUL!!! You are Right ON!!

That "electrical stimulation" I found really helped during PT. I could just relax. It does feel good.

See you later.

RichT

Hello All,

Just noticed an ad on EHealth by MicroLaser. They are in CA. They say they are less expensive than most other laser facilities.

Thanks RichT for asking. I'm doing well these days. I can walk without a my cane and this weekend, we went on a long drive and had a great time. I tolerated the car drive okay so I'm encouraged.

You are really a great guy to keep up with all of us and your good wishes mean a lot to all of us. The hardest thing is to keep our spirits up day-to-day and you help with that.

Good luck with your visit to Dr. Wiesel. Hope you get good news.

Later,

LSG (Rick)

Thanks to everyone for continuing in their sharing . . . Special thanks to Rich T . . . your thread is awesome! And I might add you are moderating this thread wonderfully!
I've had problems for two weeks trying to get on this site . . . I believe now, everything is fine! It's good to be in this "neighborhood and glad to hear everyone is doing soooo well, whether compliments of Bonati or LSI. Can't wait to hear about the recent surgical updates . . . I may be a bit late, but you have all been in my thoughts and prayers . . . in fact, been thinking about you a lot!!

I'm having to get used to navigating this site . . . maybe you "can teach an old dog, some new tricks!"
Take care . . .

Sidebar to Rich . . . you know you're only as old as you feel! And from the sound of it, you're at least in your "young fifties!"
C

Hey Everyone
Carrianne and MJ I was thinking of both of you today and hope all is
well. I had a follow up call from bonati today to make sure I am
healing and have no problems. I feel like I should be getting paid by bonati
as I have talked to several people over the last couple of weeks and
they are looking at bonati as a posible solution. Yes guy nerves need
time to heal.Keep walking and stay positive it will get better.
Rich nice job getting this thread moving.Good to have us all together
again. I hope everyone enjoys there last week of summer.

Joe