BACK SURGERY ON JULY 18TH! SCARED...

[enhanced]

So, I literally cannot take the pain, and trying to hide the pain from family and coworkers any longer. I've become an emotional trainwreck, trying to hide the pain these past months.. I'm tired & weak.

I met w/ a neuro here in Baton Rouge, that claims he's the best at what he does, and the he "will not fukc me up"... I do like the confidence, but I'm still nervous AF!!

He claims I can be back to work in 3 months! I don't sit behind a desk much at all.. Very active, 12 hour days. Again, he guaranteed 3 months. Especially after he confirmed that I don't use any type of nicotine.

I'm considering stocking up on sermorelin to run at a higher dose to help speed up recovery.

I turned 51 in January, & I'm a major busy body.. That's probably some of the anxiety - how am I going to stay out of the gym & off the mtb trails???

Anybody out there go through this? L-4-S5 fusion...

 

[Renew1]

So, I literally cannot take the pain, and trying to hide the pain from family and coworkers any longer. I've become an emotional trainwreck, trying to hide the pain these past months.. I'm tired & weak.

I met w/ a neuro here in Baton Rouge, that claims he's the best at what he does, and the he "will not fukc me up"... I do like the confidence, but I'm still nervous AF!!

He claims I can be back to work in 3 months! I don't sit behind a desk much at all.. Very active, 12 hour days. Again, he guaranteed 3 months. Especially after he confirmed that I don't use any type of nicotine.

I'm considering stocking up on sermorelin to run at a higher dose to help speed up recovery.

I turned 51 in January, & I'm a major busy body.. That's probably some of the anxiety - how am I going to stay out of the gym & off the mtb trails???

Anybody out there go through this? L-4-S5 fusion...

I'm going to send you a message, brother... But it'll probably be tomorrow.

Everything's going to be fine.

 

[Rocket3015]

Sounds like you are in good hands!!

 

[Jstrong20]

I made it to 44 with. Never having surgery. Had to have a quad tendon repaired. I lost weight worries and was very nervous. The day it came I said **** it I'm going to handle whatever. People told me how painful it would be for days after and how bad pusillanimous therapy would be. Turns out I had almost no pain after surgery and physical therapy was t bad either. Staying positive makes a big diffrence. Obviously my surgery isn't as serious but still once I excepted it and calmed down went crazy smooth. **** I've always had a fear as a kid of dying in my sleep for some reason so I was crazy scared to be out to sleep. I had a great dr that works on Athelstan. Sounds like you have a good dr too so trust in him and do what they tell you so you can recover quick.

 

[mindgame]

If your active and all like you say. You'll be fine.

 

[Hyde]

Order and read the Back Mechanic by Dr. Stuart McGill on Amazon. Do it now.

This will either A. Convince you your back can be fixed without surgery and provide the way forward or B. teach you how to recover and rebuild your capacity post-operation. Whether or not you go under the knife, you need this understanding and skill set to get & keep your spine healthy.

Please do this. It’s an easy read with lots of pictures that you can finish in a weekend. Invest in your longevity & ability to enjoy your life.

 

[Rocket3015]

Order and read the Back Mechanic by Dr. Stuart McGill on Amazon. Do it now.

This will either A. Convince you your back can be fixed without surgery and provide the way forward or B. teach you how to recover and rebuild your capacity post-operation. Whether or not you go under the knife, you need this understanding and skill set to get & keep your spine healthy.

Please do this. It’s an easy read with lots of pictures that you can finish in a weekend. Invest in your longevity & ability to enjoy your life.

Great Advice !!

 

[GQdaLEGEND]

Its normal to be nervous man .. its okay you got this.

I haven't gone through anything like this but can tell you i get nervous and anxiety always kicks in when something is wrong with the body .. totally human nature.

sounds like you have a good dr and will pray that he is right and can get you up and running in 3months or less.

 

[xR1pp3Rx]

for the love of god have you at least tried vertibal axial decompression!?> its a form of traction they put you into for extended periods... like 15-30 mins per session. this kind of decompression will suck even herniations into the disk and allow it to repair and heal. the spinal disks are one of the things the body can functionally rebuild as well as possibly nerves.

I have had a diskotomy (removal of part of the disk) on L4-L5 and later in life they wanted to fuse me... dont let them fuse you if you can avoid it at any cost.
it will destroy your life. **** that. I know 3 separate people who got something fuse and it worked right up the spine and one of them is fused in multiple locations now. Heal it with something else if possible.

 

[enhanced]

Short on time, but here's a pic of my spine..

 

[enhanced]

MRI image.

 

[Hyde]

MRI image. View attachment 233167

Why are you posting this? We’re not spine specialists. Do you want everyone to tell you surgery is the best option? You won’t get that answer, and you don’t need anyone’s blessing - this is your health & wellness. I cannot feel your pain, and I will not suffer if you make the wrong decision.

That all being said, I respect you as a longtime member, and especially as a fellow human. I have known crippling back pain. I know what it’s like to not wash your legs for months at a time in the shower, or put on your own shoes. To not be able to sleep at night, hurting in every position every moment even standing up.

And I can tell you that surgery is not the end of the rehab; it’s still the beginning of the climb up the mountain even if you go that route. You can make it to a place of less pain and better health, but it WILL require daily work. And with your work ethic, you can do this.

Do not fall for the idea that surgery is the final solution. The rest and recovery and rebuilding months are crucial. They found a majority of people who did a “phantom” surgery rehab (rest & rehab for 12-16 weeks) had very similar outcomes to those who actually went under the knife as well.

 

[xR1pp3Rx]

MRI image. View attachment 233167

looks rough brother.. god speed what ever you do!!

 

[celc5]

That image indicates surgery. Your surgeon will fix that mess. No guarantees that it will feel better. But anatomically, u will have perfect alignment after

 

[ELROCK]

I had T2-L2 fused with titanium rods done 10 years ago. I do not wish this surgery on my worst enemy. Mine was a “successful” surgery, but man it was the toughest 2 years of my life. Do not believe that 3 months you will be playing tennis again like nothing happened bullsh1t I was told! I don’t wish to scare you just giving my experience with it. I know you are a good man and a tough one so I know you can get through it. Keep us posted. Wish you all the best!

 

[PhantomReaper]

It's normal to be nervous..Brother..
Not going into detail, but I've been Fighting a terminal C for ten years..along with other medical issues..
Sometimes we just don't have any other options..
A great Dr....being in good shape prior to Any procedure...a good mental attitude..
And..taking the time it requires to recover..
That's usually the hardest part for most of us...
A couple of yrs ago...the Dr.s wanted me to have neck surgery with a Halo for 8 months..Well, back then I didn't know if I had 8 months left..I found a great PT place and was able to avoid the surgery..
I'm in need of a Bone Marrow Transplant..
And now..my health is failing..I doubt I'd survive the procedure..to top it off..
Talk about nervous..I saw a great Dr. about 4 weeks ago..she thinks I have a brain tumor..I haven't had the CT scan yet to confirm..guess I'm chicken ****..LOL

Stay Strong Brother..lean on family and friends..try to stay positive..
Best of luck..
Z...

 

[Rocket3015]

It's normal to be nervous..Brother..
Not going into detail, but I've been Fighting a terminal C for ten years..along with other medical issues..
Sometimes we just don't have any other options..
A great Dr....being in good shape prior to Any procedure...a good mental attitude..
And..taking the time it requires to recover..
That's usually the hardest part for most of us...
A couple of yrs ago...the Dr.s wanted me to have neck surgery with a Halo for 8 months..Well, back then I didn't know if I had 8 months left..I found a great PT place and was able to avoid the surgery..
I'm in need of a Bone Marrow Transplant..
And now..my health is failing..I doubt I'd survive the procedure..to top it off..
Talk about nervous..I saw a great Dr. about 4 weeks ago..she thinks I have a brain tumor..I haven't had the CT scan yet to confirm..guess I'm chicken ****..LOL

Stay Strong Brother..lean on family and friends..try to stay positive..
Best of luck..
Z...

@PhantomReaper sorry to hear of the things you are going through, Stay Strong you can beat this!! You are in my prayers !! I do have a bit of an idea what you are going through, I have a Stem Cell - Bone Marrow transplant Scheduled for Sept. and I plan on Kicking Cancer's Butt !!

 

[PhantomReaper]

@PhantomReaper sorry to hear of the things you are going through, Stay Strong you can beat this!! You are in my prayers !! I do have a bit of an idea what you are going through, I have a Stem Cell - Bone Marrow transplant Scheduled for Sept. and I plan on Kicking Cancer's Butt !!

Perfect Attitude..!!!
C is as a Battle Mentally as it is Physically..
My sister got a stage 3 kidney diag last year..She had been fighting other medical issues for years, mainly due to drinking and drugging for decades..She called me when she found out, and said "I'm not fighting it"
She passed a month later...
Other thing I've learned in my 10. Yr struggle...You have to have support and 24/7 type...
Sadly, my wife was there from Day 1...But it wore her to the Bone..She fell deeper into alcoholism, depression and isolation..
I saw it, but with my failing condition, couldn't do much..
She passed in December...Cardiac Arrest in the passenger seat on the way home..I'm still dealing with the Guilt and Greif from that..Since then, I've been alone trying to find a way....Alone..it just can't be Done..!!
I've had to move in with family and my independence is about gone..
Only Good Thing...see isn't here to see me suffer ...but damn I really miss her..!!

That's a little about my personal journey..
But..Godspeed Brother..I wish you a flawless BM Transplant and Speedy Recovery..
My odds aren't good,but I've gotten 10 yrs out of a 3 year C..that's a miracle..
Mental Attitude and Intestinal Fortitude are the best Weapons in this Battle..Sounds like you have both..

One of the Main Reasons I joined...Not just gear talk..But the Other stuff..!!
You know, the curve balls Life throws Us..
I have two C's now..MCL and CLL..
Mantle Cell is the killer..
But I don't Bow easily..lol
Always here for a Brother fighting the Dragon..
Z...

 

[Smont]

Do we know if he had his surgery?

 

[GQdaLEGEND]

@enhanced how's it going brother ? hope all went as the way you had planned it.

 

[Steuss]

Hoping you're recovering ok. Guessing you're probably just now transitioning into the "walk 5 minutes, and then sleep for 4 hours" phase of recovery, combined with "I fear having to to poop because of the constipation" fun.

 

[Rocket3015]

Hoping you're recovering ok. Guessing you're probably just now transitioning into the "walk 5 minutes, and then sleep for 4 hours" phase of recovery, combined with "I fear having to to poop because of the constipation" fun.

That's funny, but so true !!

 

[marax]

I had an L4,L5 discectomy, and a C5 discectomy and a recently an L4-S1 fusion(all deployment related issues secondary to other injuries). I was active and in complete pain for several years. I was also fit. My numbers were going down from pain and age (47 at the time). Did a 405 squat for reps with a 500 dead for reps three days before surgery. The day after the fusion I was walking for short periods. By week 2 I was walking 1/4 mile 2 x a day daily. By week 4 I was walking a mile 3 times a day every other day. By week 8 I was out of the brace except for sleep and driving (rough roads). By week 12 my scans shows healing and proper alignment. By month 6 I was back on the weights, rowers, trail runs, with conditions. It has been 2 years since and pain is there but minimal and I have chosen to focus on fitness for longevity. Do it smart, don’t just lay about. Get your scans done and do follow ups. Expect other issues. I have no feeling in my 4 left toes except big toe. I have intermittent shooting pains, these let me know inflammation is bad. Rest be smart.

 

[Rocket3015]

I had an L4,L5 discectomy, and a C5 discectomy and a recently an L4-S1 fusion(all deployment related issues secondary to other injuries). I was active and in complete pain for several years. I was also fit. My numbers were going down from pain and age (47 at the time). Did a 405 squat for reps with a 500 dead for reps three days before surgery. The day after the fusion I was walking for short periods. By week 2 I was walking 1/4 mile 2 x a day daily. By week 4 I was walking a mile 3 times a day every other day. By week 8 I was out of the brace except for sleep and driving (rough roads). By week 12 my scans shows healing and proper alignment. By month 6 I was back on the weights, rowers, trail runs, with conditions. It has been 2 years since and pain is there but minimal and I have chosen to focus on fitness for longevity. Do it smart, don’t just lay about. Get your scans done and do follow ups. Expect other issues. I have no feeling in my 4 left toes except big toe. I have intermittent shooting pains, these let me know inflammation is bad. Rest be smart.

Good Information !

 

[PhantomReaper]

I've had back problems my whole life..started when I was 16..
I done everything to avoid surgery..and again lately with my neck nerve damage..
But there comes a Time..when the pain or quality of Life is impaired so much..a change is Needed..
If you've exhausted every other option..and know the risks and Odds going into it..
Still it's a hard thing to Face..
Godspeed
Z...

 

[marax]

All my stuff is anecdotal. I had the first surgery because I could no longer walk. The second surgery the surgeon said he would see me in 5 years for a fusion. I got 8 out of it. I waited until I had zero choices and expended all of my reasonable options before the fusion. I am not sure that I know anyone who doesn't have some kind of residual pain or numbness still, but mine is manageable and seems to get better with exercise. It really is individual, I think, and not something I just jumped into. I had no discs left and it was bone on bone on bone. Small bits had to be removed. My wife could put her hand above my tailbone and feel the grinding. Maybe don't wait til it's at that point.

 

[Steuss]

All my stuff is anecdotal. I had the first surgery because I could no longer walk. The second surgery the surgeon said he would see me in 5 years for a fusion. I got 8 out of it. I waited until I had zero choices and expended all of my reasonable options before the fusion. I am not sure that I know anyone who doesn't have some kind of residual pain or numbness still, but mine is manageable and seems to get better with exercise. It really is individual, I think, and not something I just jumped into. I had no discs left and it was bone on bone on bone. Small bits had to be removed. My wife could put her hand above my tailbone and feel the grinding. Maybe don't wait til it's at that point.

Yeah, fusion should generally be a last resort.

Once you fuse two vertebrae, the shock that was being absorbed by that disc is now distributed to the surrounding discs, which will potentially case them to deteriorate faster. Which, eventually means those vertebrae will be fused a few years down the road... basically cascading up (or down) the spine. That's why a lot of times, over the course of a decade-or-so, people who had a single fusion will eventually have multiple.

Hopefully the viability of artificial disc replacement will become available for a wide range of issues than it currently does.