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Back surgery

Started by JV, October 15, 2011, 02:26:30 PM

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JV

I have had some back trouble for years including sciatica but in the last year and a half it has progressively worsened to the point in January I went to a specialist.  I was given three choices, ignore it, take steroid shots or have an operation.  I chose the shots and had the third and final in September.  I wanted to get several projects done this fall and worked through the discomfort to try to finish.  About a month and a half ago after a long day I went to bed and when the next morning rolled around I almost couldn't get out of bed.  I had an old set of crutches and used them to move around and went back to installing tile ditch.  It finally got to the point I lost some feeling from above the waist down.  Back to the specialist, two choices, surgery or probably end up in a wheelchair.  MRI's revealed two bulged discs and stenosis all pinching nerves.  As far as I was concerned there was one choice, surgery.  He expedited getting me on the surgery schedule.   On Thursday at 11:00 AM two weeks ago I received a call saying be at the hospital the next day for surgery at 3:00pm.  Two ahead of me, so I didn't head to surgery until around 5:00PM.  I woke up Saturday morning with my wife telling me the surgery was 10 hours long.  By Monday I was on my feet briefly moving around in a wheelchair.  By Wednesday I was in physical rehab.  Surgery involved repairing  two discs and scraping five vertabrae.

I can't fully express my gratitude for the young people in rehab who worked to get me on my feet.  I had expected to come home with a walker.  Yesterday afternoon, I came home with a cane and walked throught the front door completely on my own.  My two primary therapists put me through moves I didn't think possible.  One of the last was to stand on a teeterboard between two parallel bars hands off and balance myself.  During the last session, the devil made me do it, I had my little therapist blushing and sitting on the floor laughing.  I have regained most of the feeling in my legs and feet and have never had much pain throughout.  Just muscles that had not been used in a while.  Although surrounded by pretty women and good food (for a hospital), I'm glad to be home.  It was gray and misting rain coming home, but I felt like the sun was shining on me and felt truly blessed.  Stubborness almost put me down, but a truly dedicated and skilled group of people got me back on my feet almost running.   :)
John

'05 Wood-mizer LT40HDG28-RA, Lucas 613 Swing Mill, Stihl 170, 260 Pro, 660, 084 w/56" Alaskan Mill, 041 w/Lewis Winch, Case 970 w/Farmi Winch, Case 850 Crawler Loader, Case 90XT Skidloader, Logrite tools

Jeff

This is great to hear. I know that it was keeping you down, and that is why we didn't get to see you at the pig roast this year.  Tammy and I are looking forward to seeing the new and better you and your wife this next year. :)
Just call me the midget doctor.
Forestry Forum Founder and Chief Cook and Bottle Washer.

Commercial circle sawmill sawyer in a past life for 25yrs.
Ezekiel 22:30

JV

Thanks Jeff, I already have it on the calendar.  I missed seeing everyone. 
John

'05 Wood-mizer LT40HDG28-RA, Lucas 613 Swing Mill, Stihl 170, 260 Pro, 660, 084 w/56" Alaskan Mill, 041 w/Lewis Winch, Case 970 w/Farmi Winch, Case 850 Crawler Loader, Case 90XT Skidloader, Logrite tools

sprucebunny

Glad it went well for you.
Keep up the PT.
MS193, MS192 and an 026  Weeding and Thinning. Gilbert Champion sawmill

SPIKER

I had 2 disks done pretty much totally removed them had siatiac pain for close to 20 years after injury in military shortly after the 1st gulf war.   the surgery done in Cleveland VA (Luis Stokes) the operation was not a good success and what was supposed to be a day or two in there turned into nearly 3 weeks worth after what I would now say was a botched surgery.   Ended up with no feeling in either legs for 3~4 days what I think felt like a broken bone in my foot.   Prior I never had a problem on my right side or my hips now have issues with both.   I ended up with a pretty nasty infection in the wound (I say wound & not incision as it was about a jagged as a bar fight beer bottle cut)   It is a little over 6" from my tail bone up & had 44 or 48 staples (cant remember now.)  They had to put in a vacuum drain which was in for almost a week.   I needed a walker for 3 or 4 months of VA provided PT which did not help much and was very little help from the tech...   I finally made them put me in a local PT place which helped a LOT they guy &  girls helping me did a bunch & was reason after 3 week there I got walking on a cane.

nearly 3 years since the PT was up and still do a lot of the exercises to help...   I still have next to no feeling below the knee on my left side mostly due to leaving the pinched nerve go so long according to the VA docs who kept putting my surgery off.   I also have bouts of sever pain which they want to fill me full of pain pills only.   they did not put in any pins or immobilize the bones they just ground some nerve holes in there and removed the disks...   

I have to guess they tied me down to operate as I had both feet bruised bad after and my hip on the right side felt pulled out of the socket & has caused me pain since then.   When I was brought back into post op room I have never been in as much agony as I was then.   I remember pushing the pain dose button like it was a video game button >:( :o   When there is a cold front coming I know about 30 hrs in advance of the rain & front as I'm having to pop the Naproxin like PEZ candy.   daily foot & lower leg crams with 24/7 pins & needles on my left leg/foot.   2 or 3 times a month I'm off the Naproxin and onto heavier stuff due to the pain and on average can stand/walk about 2 or 30 mina day much more and it gets worse.   I can also not set on the couch very well or drive more than 25~30 min without ending up with a lot of pain & discomfort.   in the last few years I cant remember a 3 day span where I was lower than a 5 or 6 on the 0~10 pain scale.  probably dont hit the 6 or so point more than a few days a month for more than a couple hours.

Be glad that all turned out well.   I think though much of my issues leads back to the VA teaching hospital and lack of experienced surgeons in the room when mine was done.

mark
I'm looking for help all the shrinks have given up on me :o

JV

Mark, that really torques my jaw.  I have heard some VA facilities are really lacking in skilled people.  No excuse to treat our vets with second string staff.  We have a small facility in town with a nurse practitioner and a doctor.  Also a facility at Marion, Indiana about 30 miles away and one at Fort Wayne.  I have used all three with success but no major surgeries.  One procedure at Fort Wayne was with a local specialist from outside the VA apparently contracted to do so.  I'm just using Tylenol 3 for hip and low back muscle pain.  If you haven't already, check with a outside respected specialist who may have a possible correction even at this time. 
John

'05 Wood-mizer LT40HDG28-RA, Lucas 613 Swing Mill, Stihl 170, 260 Pro, 660, 084 w/56" Alaskan Mill, 041 w/Lewis Winch, Case 970 w/Farmi Winch, Case 850 Crawler Loader, Case 90XT Skidloader, Logrite tools

SPIKER

JV:

My local VA center in Mansfield has been pretty good to me and the people there have been great.  I've had a couple GOOD docs at all of the locations for the most part the biggest issue being you rarely got to see the same person 2 times @ Cleveland VA as they are attached to the Cleveland Clinic which is a teaching hospital for residents to learn "Practice" on the veterans.   It is more of a "Skill Level" on most of them as they are 3rd year students practicing the medicine on you and they all know they can say try this for 3 or 4 months and they will never see you again.   Basically passing the buck which is what happened to me for 15 years until my back went out and I couldnt move anymore.    they did it to me again by tricking me into an additional appointment 3 months later which prevented me from getting help outside the VA I ended up getting help & paying for it using my own insurance for several back injections which got me back to walking for a few weeks done by a back surgeon local in Mansfield.   He was setting me up for arthroscopic surgery when the va got me in on an emergency appt which told me it would be the same surgery the non-VA doc was going to do but after I got out I was told things were much worse then they thought and they couldnt do the arthroscopic and what was going to be a 2~3 hr surgery turned into a 6~7 hr one.

I did have several great docs up in Cleveland Stokes center though, DR Carol (reminds me of Columbo TV character in his speech & mannerisms to a "T" as a pain management person.)   He was a very good to deal with and was a long term VA doc & one of his counterparts for back injections on the same pain management department.   DR Carol was non-invasive pain management with stretching tens unit and such where as the other doc was internal pain management.

I have been thinking about looking for additional help as in the last few months to the point where my pain & lack of feeling has gone down hill a lot...   I stretch many time a week which has me quite flexible for a middle age guy but has not helped the pain.  It has kept me from getting any better disability compensation as the docs & evaluators say heck your flexible & can bend quite well so your fine go back to work.   (Note I dont play the the system like so many people do & I dont care about $ I want fixed but until you can no longer move very little can be done to help it seems...)


I will probably be back in there soon the way things have been going spend days on heating pad and popping pills that seem to do nothing but make your stomach upset is not much fun...

,mark


I'm looking for help all the shrinks have given up on me :o

WDH

JV,

Glad you are mending and I missed you at the Pig Roast.  I hope Copper is doing well and keeping you company.
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

JV

Copper's getting fat and lazy, we both need to start talking walks.   :D
John

'05 Wood-mizer LT40HDG28-RA, Lucas 613 Swing Mill, Stihl 170, 260 Pro, 660, 084 w/56" Alaskan Mill, 041 w/Lewis Winch, Case 970 w/Farmi Winch, Case 850 Crawler Loader, Case 90XT Skidloader, Logrite tools

WDH

Walking is good for a mending back.  Copper can chase squirrels.  You better not chase any quite yet until you heal up a little bit  :D.
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

JV

A logger I know called me a couple of days ago about a possible small saw job.  I met the fellow yesterday morning and looked it over, should be fairly easy.  Nice grassy area to work on next to a small woodlot.  The doctor raised my lifting limit to 10 to 15 pounds so the customer understands I can't lift.  Doctor also cut me loose to drive and operate my skidsteer if I don't get in a hurry and bounce too much.  I'm going nuts doing exercises and just walking.  I hate TV and I just don't think I can play one more computer game of Texas Hold'em.  I'm not morning person, my heart doesn't start beating until 10:00am, but I was up a 5:30 this morning a fixed a pot of coffee, oatmeal and toast.  My wife is still sound asleep.  The cage is getting smaller and smaller.  Bwahh  Ha Ha.  Help!
John

'05 Wood-mizer LT40HDG28-RA, Lucas 613 Swing Mill, Stihl 170, 260 Pro, 660, 084 w/56" Alaskan Mill, 041 w/Lewis Winch, Case 970 w/Farmi Winch, Case 850 Crawler Loader, Case 90XT Skidloader, Logrite tools

WDH

Patience, my friend, patience  :)
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

D Hagens


JV and Spiker, thanks for sharing as learning off of guys that have pain and work hard for a living is a lot better then reading from couch potatoes :)

Piston

JV,
Glad it turned out well for you and that's great your seeing some progress, even if it isn't overnight  ;)

I had a bulging disk in my lower back, I think R5 or L5 not sure, and the specialist I went to suggested the spinal injection so I went for it. 
The doc said I should feel a lot less pain in a day and it should be gone in 2, well, no dice.... I honestly don't think it did a DanG thing.  When I went in for the procedure I felt like I was in an assembly line or something, they had it setup so they were doing one injection per person every 10-15 minutes. 
I never went back to that guy.

I sit a lot at work, about 11 hrs out of my 12 hr shift, and that's when I notice the back pain.  When I go home and work 12 hrs in a day cutting firewood or milling logs, I feel great, no back pain.  Although, I am sore the next day, it's a good sore, like I got some good exercise. 
-Matt
"What the Lion is to the Cat the Mastiff is to the Dog, the noblest of the family; he stands alone, and all others sink before him. His courage does not exceed his temper and generosity, and in attachment he equals the kindest of his race."

OneWithWood

Hang in there, JV, and don't push it too fast.
The bigger the toys, the harder it is not to play with them  :)
One With Wood
LT40HDG25, Woodmizer DH4000 Kiln

JV

A visit to the surgeon's office gave me the whole story.  Vertebrae T10 through L3 area fused with titanium pins.  He worked on a couple of discs and scraped all five to remove calcium buildups pinching the nerves.  Raised my lifting limit to 10 to 15 pounds.  I'm still in outpatient rehab twice a week to strengthen back, hip, and leg muscles.  Walking when it isn't pouring rain.  I asked about traveling and they said ok., just get out a stretch now and then.  Well, I took them up on it.  I bought an L500 Nyle kiln with everything except the chamber down in Kentucky close to Wood-mizer's facility.  CHEAP!  CHEAP!   ;D

Drove down yesterday and stayed at Madisonville overnight and drove home today.  In fact just got home.  Wife went with me to keep me honest on the lifting.  Vacation for her as we stayed in a really nice B&B she had found.  So no complaints on the kiln. 

I think I'm going to have to milk this for all it's worth.  Wife might spring for something else.   :D

They are going to have to shoot me with a tranquilizer gun to stop me now.   8)
John

'05 Wood-mizer LT40HDG28-RA, Lucas 613 Swing Mill, Stihl 170, 260 Pro, 660, 084 w/56" Alaskan Mill, 041 w/Lewis Winch, Case 970 w/Farmi Winch, Case 850 Crawler Loader, Case 90XT Skidloader, Logrite tools

Piston

Congrats on the new Kiln JV  8)
-Matt
"What the Lion is to the Cat the Mastiff is to the Dog, the noblest of the family; he stands alone, and all others sink before him. His courage does not exceed his temper and generosity, and in attachment he equals the kindest of his race."

Norm

That's good news JV...well except for the tranquilizer gun part.  :D

JV

I had my last outpatient rehab session this morning, they said I was doing well enough to cut me loose.  I can go back and use the gym equipment for $20 a month, so I'm taking them up on that.  Walking on those cold days this winter isn't all that appealing.  Plus I'd have a trained therapist on hand if needed.

I picked up a trailer load of batt insulation for the new woodshop last Saturday and will get the last load this Saturday.  Local insulation company has a sale on Saturdays for insulation that doesn't meet new specs.  I found 2" x 3' x 5' foil backed rock wool batts for $1.00 each.  I'm putting them up 2 deep for an R17 value.  The shop is 14' x 40' x 64' and I can insulated the end walls and side walls for $450.  Beats the $9500 foam estimated I got.  Just need some to fit between the roof purlins.  I need to get part of one wall insulated and some liner up so we can get electric service installed.

I have been on my cad program drafting up plans for the new kiln building hopefully to go up this spring.  I'm feeling better than I have in a long time.  No time to feel bad.   8) 

John

'05 Wood-mizer LT40HDG28-RA, Lucas 613 Swing Mill, Stihl 170, 260 Pro, 660, 084 w/56" Alaskan Mill, 041 w/Lewis Winch, Case 970 w/Farmi Winch, Case 850 Crawler Loader, Case 90XT Skidloader, Logrite tools

Patty

Women are Angels.
And when someone breaks our wings....
We simply continue to fly ........
on a broomstick.....
We are flexible like that.

WDH

Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

OneWithWood

Excellent news, JV.  One of these days I will get up there to check out your new digs.
One With Wood
LT40HDG25, Woodmizer DH4000 Kiln

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