Laser Spine Surgery

Saw my spinal surgeon today, but I'll try rewriting what I wrote tomorrow.

Not a good day.

RichT

Hey Rich,

Good question, I've been having trouble getting on this site for a couple of days, so got some catching up to do on the posts.

Glad to hear so many though are doing well post op.

My only suggestions is this and take it from me, don't every forget it.

DON'T OVER DO, IT'S NOT WORTH IT AND YOU REALLY PAY FOR IT IN THE END.

Remember also that I'm the one who said it, as I'm suffering in agony and promise never to do it again.

Oh, am I suffering too.

Really did it this time overdoing. Now I not only strained that muscle that is just below your waist, the one on the butt, but I tore it.
I know, couldn't just do a nice simple strain, got to do it all the way.

Can't sit for more than 10 minutes cause the pain is horrible so spend most of my time on my feet.

Doc inst. are very gentle, simple back exercises, the ones I started with a year ago after surgery, when I first get up in the AM. Have my breakfast and then it'caca the shower with the hot water on the muscle for 15 minutes.
Then back to those exercises again. Then dress and go outside to walk on very flat surface for 10 minutes. Then in the house with ice for 20 minutes, then up and move around.

Full blown PT starts next week and if the muscle doesn't heal in 4 weeks its an endoscopic muscle repair with 1-3 stitches.

Isn't life grand? A whole year of my life back after surgery for spinal stenosis, and I play really stupid just one day.

Oh yea, its percocet to sleep and hubby just loves that one. I get so loopy on just one of them it isn't funny. I swallow it and hit the bed, cause within 20 minutes I can't stand up without help.

So remember I said this and please keep reminding me I said it. Don't even have to be polite about it, cause my doc sure isn't.

He even called me yesterday and never asked how I was feeling, just asked me "how's the water bill doing and the gas bill".

Gees, don't want to see the water bill believe me. All I've been doing all summer is watering my garden beds. We either get a huge thunderstorm and the water just runs off cause it's too much at once or we get nothing for weeks at a time.

Now I'm in the shower 4 times a day for at least 10-15 minutes and the hot water tank is running like a leaky faucet.

OK , i live my doc but, he could have asked how I was doing along with the water bill and the gas bill.

So here it is again folks.

I PROMISE NEVER TO OVERDO AGAIN, REALLY, I MEAN IT, HONEST, I WILL NEVER OVERDO AGAIN, EVER, EVER, EVER.

FRAN

Glad we are all together again.I had some trouble to but I think they got it all fixed. We had 4 days of rain so my water bill got a break.
I am trying not to over due it but I fell so freeking good its hard.
I have been swimming every day and I have lost 12 lbs since surgery.
Ok now its your turn carrianne, hope surgery goes well.Tell gary
I said hi and we miss coffee in the morning with him. Now we need to get
dakmba,and beetle over here. fran take care of you butt. I hope you
dont need surgery.

Joe

Hello Everybody,

After meeting with my spine surgeon yesterday, I now more than ever appreciate having you as friends, your support, and being able to chat and share our thoughts with one another.

I had better make this short or my post will get zapped again.

Basically my doc said that because of my age (71), I can't wait very long before I have surgery, or I'll be too old to have spine surgery. He told me not to wait more than 6 months before having surgery. He feels I need to have fusion in two places. Asked him how big the incision would be and he raised his hands to where they were a good 12" apart. Mentally I went ouch big time. I am confident that he was trying to be as honest and upfront with me that he could. Oh yes, there are other spine things that also need fixing, but no need to go into that. His biggest concern if I wait too long is the loss of the use of my legs. That REALLY hurt to hear.

Before I talked with my spine doctor I talked with and went through the usual spine exam with his PA. His thoughts - I'm doing very well. I have good use of my leg muscles and nerve sensations are good. He recommended I just stay with the epidurals as long as they work. Now you go figure who is right? Talk about being 180 degrees apart.

Fran, THANKS SO VERY MUCH for asking your doctor where you live if he knew of an excellent spine surgeon in my area. AND that he was kind enough to give his recommendations. I'm seeing the doc in my area on September 4th. He already has my MRIs, will take new X-rays when I meet with him, and I'm going to get a copy of my EMG report for him today.

That's about it for now. More later.

RichT

Hello Joe,

Glad you are doing so very well. Your success helps to encourage all of us. I hope all goes well on your return to Bonati.

Regarding the PM that I said was removed - WRONG!!!! I had forgotten that you posted it on the ehealth PM section. Sorry about that.

Your thoughts about what has happened over at Spine Health because of the action os manly one person (or so it seems) are the same as my thoughts and the rest of us here.

We too have had some wonderful much needed rain the past few days. I was pleased I was able to get one tree and four shrubs planted a few days before the rains started.

Regarding dakmba and beetle - I have previously invited both to join us here. Perhaps your personal encouragement to join us would be good.

Need to a break and to take care of a few things, then most likely I'll sneak back in to see what is new.

RichT

Hello Fran,

AHHHhhhh, glad you got the message. We all want to be young again and do the things we remember being able to do. It is not easy to accept the realities of our aging beings that that is no longer reality. Trust me Fran, I know what you are talking about. What I did in my 20's I could not do in my 30's. What I did in my 60's I can no longer do in my early 70's. DAMM, my wife's 90+ year old uncle was right. "Getting older isn't for sisies." Only as I "mature" in years do I better understand his thoughts.

YES, every one of you who share your successful surgery or other positive result gives the rest of us hope and something to "cling" to.

I am blessed to know you Fran and everyone else on this thread. Honestly, what we have, our bond, one would be difficult to find in the so called "real" world.

My thoughts and prayers are with you as you "conquer" another valley in your climb of Mt Everest.

RichT

To "fail" is to understand the potential of "success".

Hello Joe,

What a fantastic feeling I know it is. After my first cortisone injection I felt as though I was 10 years younger as I told my wife. It didn't last long, but OHHHHHHHhhhhhhh did it feel SOOOoooo GOOD!!!! Man I split enough wood for my daughter to last her a year. LOL I'll take all the "uppers" I am blessed with, and only hope I realize the differnce between reality and fantasy. Thank you Fram for your "reality" check.

Joe, I hope you will be able to coach ice hockey this fall/winter as you wish.

By the way Joe, how is the job searching going? I truly hope that all who review your resume understand the "jewel" that you would be to their motivated company.

Hello Carol,

One never knows how or when someone "touches" their life. You have done so for me.

So glad you are finally able to access this thread. Thanks for hanging in there.

It truly feels good that most of our family is now "reunited". May the rest follow.

RichT

Hello All,

Sorry to seem to post too many posts. It is your concern, thougths and prayers that lift me up.

RichT

Well I have finally made it over here......took me a while though. I tried posting last night and nothing happened. So I am trying again.

It is good to read that Joebob .....is getting stronger and has his old life back............CONGRATS on the weight loss.....I'm sure you feel much better.

Carrianne......it is good to read about the freeing of that nerve....I'm hoping that is what they will be able to do for me.

I fly into Tampa and then on to Weeki Watchee to stay with my Dad and Stepmom....for my evauls at Bonati on Mon and Tues....I was wondering if Carrianne if you are still having your second surgery on Tues of if they had gotten you in earlier? Would still love to meet you there at the coffee counter if at all possible.

This has been a rough week for me in the pain department. I just keeping telling myself .........one day at a time.......but it gets so difficult to handle at times. I know all of you know what I mean. I went to Target and Walmart today to get a few things for my trip........and it was all I could do to push the cart around. I am taking my laptop with me..hopefully I will be able to log on while I'm down there.

Later.......mj57

Hello Carrianne,

It is so encouraging to know that your surgery at Bonati is helping. I truly hope and pray that in the days ahead your will be even more pain free.

Please do stay in touch. Your posts and updates mean a lot.

RichT

Rich,

So glad that I could help you find someone in your area for another opinion. It's so hard to find a good ortho doc that anyone can trust and when one of us does, we need to let others know about the doc and get referrals for others from that trusted doc.

I feel wonderful that I have been able to refer several people to my spinal doc and they have all been helped by him tremendously and just love him.

I wish that everyone could use him and his office and when they can't, he's more than happy to give names of docs in the area that someone lives in.

He himself is disgusted by the lack of quality spinal docs or any ortho docs for that matter and the treatment that people have been given.

Both he and the other docs in his office use the "other place" as a learning tool. To quote him "it's the best place a doc can go to learn everything wrong with how other docs treat patients and everything not to do as a doc."

They've all heard the horror stories that patients have told them and had the experience of undoing damage caused by other docs. They only wish that they didn't have to do that.

Speaking of "the other place", it has been strange over there and the action in question was not done correctly, but I do understand why they did what they did.

My hubby wondered if the posts would continue to be allowed or there would be a problem. They didn't bother me, but I know that they would bother some people.
My own doc, and the docs in his office constantly refer people to "that place" and he told me last week, that a couple of patients didn't like it there because of some of the posts.
It's unfortunate when things like that happen and it hits a nerve with some people, but that is life. (by the way none of it bothered me or hubby.)

I think it became a situation of "caught between a rock and a hard place" if you know what I mean.

I hated to see people upset by it, and leave the forums and I didn't like the thought that some people would turn away from the forums and joining because of some threads.

I didn't like the methods used though to deal with it and I'm so glad, Rich, that you started a place for us to come together again, even if we still visit elsewhere.

At least we are still together here.

Good luck with the appt. it isn't that far away. I hope he is as good as my doc says he is and he can help you in some way.

To everyone who is about to have surgery, my prayers and best wishes are with you, to those recovering, be patient and don't do anything stupid like I did, it's not worth it. To those getting new evaluations, I hope it is good news that you here and all goes well.

Oh, yes, my doc says that Dr. Tolli (sp) "is one of the best to use, but not as good as me, no one is as good as me." OK he's conceited too, but his praise on himself is correct and if he says the doc is one of the best, I'd personally trust him with my spine.

OK enough, I'm off to cook in that hot shower again. take some perc and go to bed.

Fran

Hello MJ,

What a most wonderful sight to see your post here. Sorry you have had some difficulties. Thanks for persevering. Our family is growing and bonding. Makes me very happy.

My thoughts and prayers are and will be with you in the coming days. I truly hope that all goes well and that the horrid pain you have now will be a distant memory shortly.

Take care.

RichT

Hello Fran,

Thanks for your kind words. It is a real joy for me to see this thread on a roll. To see old friendships being reestablished, and to see new friendships being formed.

As I told my wife this evening at dinner, if your doctor's recommenation for a local spine doc doesn't work out, don't be surprised if I'm off to Boston. Hopefully that won't be needed, however ------.

Have a peaceful rest this night to rejuvenate your body and mind.

RichT

Hi all! It's so wonderful to see so many familiar names here. Thank you Rich for setting this up!

There's been quite a few posts since this morning! Since it's midnight and my bedtime is usually 10 I'm going to catch up tomorrow!

I am praying for a pain free night for everyone!!! God bless you all and thank you for your unending support!!!

Carrianne

Good Morning Carrianne,

You are most welcome Carrianne. I just felt we needed a new fresh beginning away from the "difficulties" at the other forum. This website has some growing pains, and I'm sure the glitches will be overcome.

AHHHhhhhh when I awoke this morning I thought to myself, "WOW I slept very good last night". Now I know why. Thanks for your prayer, IT WORKED!!!!

Take care.

RichT