Surgery Time

[[JiF]major confusion]

Hi Gang,
OK, It's official. I found out today that I will be having back surgery on August 13.
They will be doing a fusion at L5 and removing a disk and replacing it with a ceramic cage along with some of my own bone.
Also they will be putting in some screws and pins.
They are telling my that it will take about 16 weeks for recovery.
I have to wear a brace for about 12 weeks.
So not only have I screwed up my summer, but I can also kiss deer hunting good bye for this year.
I probably will not be able to return to work until December.
That's ok, as long as they can take the pain away.
I am getting sick of being on pain meds, since this has been going on since the middle of May.
I guess I better get my 1942 in while I can.

[Polecat21]

I feel your pain bro. I have a 15 degree curve in my lower back from jumping out of planes. Doctors wanted me to wear a brace, but I just couldnt do it. Hope it all goes well for you and your up on your feet again in a short while.

[[JiF]Lt Gav]

Hey major I was thinking of you & how your visit would go.
I guess it is the lesser of two evils. You have the surgery & get fixed & hopefully as back to nearly normal as possible or you just carry on taking the meds & fighting the pain.
I'll put in a word for you with the big man upstairs!
Talk soon on TS

[[JiF][AARP]Tissueman]

Good luck with the surgery.

[[JiF]Navy_Seals]

Good Luck Bro

[[JiF]Lonewolf]

I wish the best for ya.

Not to scare ya but to give ya a heads up on it. I had surgery in 2002 and had a fusion of L5-S1 with rods and screws that had failed. I have had a lot of problems with mine and it is something that can't be fixed. I ended up with nerve damage from the scar tissue built up from the surgery. I have seen countless docs trying to get things fixed to kill the pain I have in my lower back and right leg all the time. I had went and seen another spine doc today to see what he had to say and he is going to have my family doc send me to get a spinal cord stimulator implanted to stop the nerves from sending pain info to the brain.

Do everything they tell ya to do and make sure you do your PT and don't rush to get back to work as that is the number one cause of a failed back surgery. Good luck with it and hope everything goes good for ya.

[[JiF]major confusion]

Thanks for the advise Lonewolf.
Part of my problem was something I was born with. My L5 does not have anything to lock it in place.
So it free floats putting pressure on the nerves. I learned about it about 20 years ago and was able to get treatment from a Kinesiologist. I also have a herniated disc between L3 & L4. Doing some landscaping and getting two truckloads of bricks finally put me over the edge.

All you guys are like a bunch of great drinking buddies. Getting on the forum and on TS is like stopping by the local pub.
Thanks for the kind words and thoughts.
You guys are the best!

[[JiF]Bier]

Good luck hope it works out well for ya .

[[JiF]evilhoosier]

All the best bro, good luck going under the knife.

[[JiF]Cesar]

Good luck!

[[JiF]Sgt Shellshocked]

Hope that all works out well for you Major all the best mate.

[[JiF]War Trophy]

You know what they say about the girls loving a scarred tomcat - you'll have to post the scar photos in Melon's pictures thread. Can't have Sir-Die-A-Lot hogging all the ladies!
Best wishes for the surgery and a speedy recovery!

[[JiF]Daterminaytah]

ill be thinking of ya bro


please atleast stop in and say hi a few times while going threw therapy to let us know how your doing

im tough in the game but when my friends hurt ... so do i


Mikey

[[JiF]Melon Farmer]

I'll say a prayer for you, MC. Take comfort in the fact that they have improved back surgery procedures about 1000 percent in the last couple of decades.

[[JiF]corn]

Good Luck and Prayers for you MC.