thanks kiwimike and EWSW
 

I have been thru lots, but tell you what - I got my body cast on yesterday and I find it unbearable! In 1971 I was in a total body cast for 3 months, but today I am in partial body cast and want out. The doc told me that if it isn't working they will take it off. So, this morning at 8 am I am going in to have it sawed off. My chest is crushed in it, I am red raw under arms and hip, I sit in a slanted position, going to bathroom is almost impossible and sleep, ha!

The purpose of cast was to simulate a fusion as a last effort to verify that a fusion would work for me. Well, in the 1 day I have been in it (It's supposed to be 3 weeks) I haven't been in pain. That's good enough for me, plus I have had a discogram which also proved the area was the correct one.

I feel like a woos, but I just want them to cut this damn thing off. Hopefully when I get to doctor's office, they will do what they promised.

whoa.
 

worker's comp finally came through. i gotta call them back, but it looks like i'll get eviscerated and frankensteined in early/mid january.

lemme tell ya, this JUST got real. really real. :(

i know it's my only chance to lead a normal life again, but it's weighing on my melon somethin awful. thanks for all the stories and support guys.

i'll keep checking in from time to time, and i'll post most often while i'm recouping. i might even write me up another blog-style story.

stay classy san diego

so cool!!
 

That is sooo awesome. And you know you have one of the best docs around! It will go fine. You'll probably be in a brace (not a body cast) afterwards. Don't be nervous, everything is going to work out. Now have a good Christmas knowing it will be your last one in which your back will hurt like it does.

Batfish and Libre good luck in your decision making process. I'm sure both of you will make the right decision for you and your family. Get's real in a hurry. Also it can be possible to get well in a hurry if there are no complications.

Just got back from the doctor today, pain is minimal (still surgical), Xray show bones fusing and brace comes off in two weeks. Very very excited. I never thought it possible but my back feels really good. Walking has helped so much.

Keep us posted, good luck and merry christmas!

cool, cool.

i'll definately be posting, tho i'll prolly take a little bit after surgery, when i get back home and can sit at a computer for a minute or two.

getting cut on jan 13. just enuff time to get over a new year's hangover.

countdown
 

for those still reading...

today was pre-op day.

everything looks good, and everything sounds good.

it seems that my doctors have the same concerns that the other posters' doctors have, but my doctors don't seem to be quite so adamant. i mean, don't pick up anything heavier than a coffee cup? does that mean you can't have milk in your cereal? and how heavy is that box anyway?

i was told to limit myself to around 8 lbs, aka, a gallon of milk (or a gallon of water, for everyone that's paying attention). that sould free me up for everything i need to do for myself. feed myself, dress myself, that kind of stuff. getting something heavy off the top of the fridge....well, i should prolly call someone.

and apparently, bone isn't 'wet' or dry. it's kinda like concrete. you can walk on concrete after a day, but the stuff isn't REALLY done drying for 20 years. i will be on uber-limited status for around 2 months after surgery, when my fusion will be semi-solid, after which time i'll start PT, and the PT'ist will let me know, along with the doc, how much i can increase my physical-ness. but, until then, no bending, lifting, stooping, or lifting. well, not NONE, but as little as humanly possible. i can still lean over a little bit to reach for the remote, but i'm supposed to scootch over to the edge of the couch as much as i can first. ya dig?

also, keep in mind that i'm 31, and don't have any history of bone or cartiledge problems.

stay tuned till next time, same bat-place, same bat-channel!

Heybat
 

good luck on your surgery Bat. You have a great attitude and good doc, you're going to do great! And just think of all rest you will get.
I have my doc appt today when he will tell me that I should have surgery and schedule it. At long last, something is going to be done hopefully. Appt is at 9:30 so I'll check in later to let you know how it went.:D

nice!

good luck, i'll check back later.

Good luck. I'm 9 weeks out with the brace off three days ago and walking up to 3 miles. It feels great. However I am still not picking anything up heavier than Milk. Good theory on the cup of coffe for the first couple of weeks. Time has gone quickly and I feel much better. My doc says no PT until 4 months, reason for so long, why risk it. Don't disagree and satisfied with walking for now. Still a little sore but this thing worked. Have a speedy recovery my man.

welllll, this it it!
 

Got to see doc and sure enough I am scheduled for surgery on Feb 16. What he will be doing is fusing S1, L5, L4. He will be opening spave between disc and put something in there with a cage around it. Then I 'guess I will have plates and screws to hole it together so it can fuse. It will be minimally invasive in that he will not be cutting thru muscle, only small incisions. I will have to wear body brace from above chest to hips and wear that for 3-4 months. I hope it works!! Everyones comments have been so helpful. I am glad I started checking this forum. I am also on parkinsons forum because I have parkinsons too. It gets better and better. Anyway, I need to ask someone on there if there is any decline in parkinsons after major surgery. I know in Alzheimers, even getting a cold throws a person back mentally and they won't completely recover all of it.:(