TruWrecks
Banned
Here's the diary: It's a bit long, so be for warned.
My adventure with a Lumbar Micro-discectomy. (L4-5)
The History:
I'm 34yrs old, and have been having chronic back pain for the last 14yrs. The trouble began when I was 23 and I lifted several 200lb+ complete wheels into an ARMY HUMMER (HMMWV). I lost my grip on the 4th wheel, and caught it. The 5th wheel was much heavier to lift. The next morning I couldn't pull my boots on, or sit back up if I bent over to pick up something. 3 weeks of light duty (35lb limit) and I was back in service. I spent plenty of time doing PT and had several X-Rays before I left the ARMY.
In the years since, I have collapsed on the floor after carrying something heavy. I have had back aches almost daily, but I try to not let that limit my life.
December 04, I stopped at a dark intersection (night time) and put my foot down on some gravel. I had a backpack on that added about 25lbs to my upper body, raising the center of gravity of me and the Busa. My right foot started to slide and the Busa started tipping over. I repositioned my foot and tried to stop the bike from falling. I twisted my body to the right (which was the big mistake) and the Busa pulled me right to the ground. I struggled to pick the bike back up. I got back on the Busa and rode it home. I was sore, and my pride had been scratched, but I didn't realize things were much worse than that.
For 2 weeks I sucked down Motrin (like candy) because my left leg was beginning to hurt. I then went to a DR to find out what was wrong. The DR said he suspected a bruised Sciatic nerve. About 2 weeks later my left leg started hurting in almost every position. I went back to the DR to find out what was really wrong. He had my do a few back flexes (in which I nearly collapsed doing). I couldn’t lean backwards, more than a few degrees, without severe pain. Time for an MRI. That’s when I found out the extent of the damage.
Damage Assessment:
L3-4 - Bulging central/rear. Not obstructed.
L4-5 - Left medial herniation. Obstructing left root nerve.
L5-S1 - Notable disc disease present.
Damage Control:
Take it easy for now.
Damage repair:
Thursday:
I report to the hospital an check-in at 10AM. I got dressed (or undressed
) for surgery. They took me to a private waiting room. They came to get me @11:40AM for surgery. (I chose to walk to the OR prep area as my last painful mile). They helped me get comfy on a gurney, and took me into the prep area.
The anesthesiologists came in to start my IV and ask me a bunch of questions about my health history (like I didn't tell them before
). The young lady (younger then me) that was doing the IV was a dentist that was being trained in OR procedures.
She missed the first attempt, but she got the second one right. I found out a few minutes later that the Head of Anesthesiology would be in the OR with me during the entire operation.
That made me feel much better. They gave me something to help me relax, and took me to the OR.
The OR was a bright, large, cool room. The team was already in the room when I was wheeled in. Someone in there told me I would be used to demonstrate a "Glidescope Technique" (breathing tube insertion). I joked about being a training tool, and they laughed. They must have given me something pretty potent, because that's all I remember about the surgery.
I woke-up a while later (about 6:30PM), and was moved to a private room. My wife was waiting for me there. The orderlies brought in the gurney, and started sliding a back board under me to move me to the bed. The Charge Nurse came in and told them to stop! They were about to slid my incision across the board. Ouch! They didn’t know what kind surgery I just had, and they didn’t ask. I couldn't move anything but my arms and head for a few hours. I found out that they were giving me something in my IV for pain, and something to keep me from trying to get up (It's not a good idea to try to roll over a few hours after back surgery). The pain was well controlled. I tried to eat some ice and pudding (my first meal in over 18hrs). I couldn't keep it down. Time for more sleep.
Friday:
I woke up around 1AM with something squishing my legs, over and over. I was hurting pretty bad, so they gave me a shot, and checked me legs to make sure I could move and feel them. I could.
Drink water, sleep, listen to the radio. Repeat for most of Friday.
At 8AM one of the doctors came in to told me I could go home today. Let's take a quick look at the current picture. I can barely sit-up yet, I haven't been able to roll myself over yet, I'm still on a morphine IV, and I can go home already? The RN in charge on me said "No Way"! Thank God for good nurses!
11AM I requested help to sit up on the side on the bed. 11:50AM one of the nurses came in to help me. 12PM I'm now standing beside the bed.
I feel like hell, but I'm back on my feet!
Still couldn't keep food down very well.
I was told that this may be the toughest day of my recovery. It was, but I made it.
Saturday:
About 8AM one of the Neuro-Surgeons came in to talk to me. He told me how the surgery went, and let me know what my limitations would be. He said I could go home today, or tomorrow. These people want to "Treat'n Street" people!
The nurse again said "No". Go Nurse!
The wife, and our oldest son, joined me for lunch today. I surprised them by walking (however, very slowly) to the day room for lunch. They then checked my out of the ward for about 30 minutes so I could get a break from the local ward. That really helped!
The doctor took me off the heavy narcotics today. He switched me from morphine to Toradol, and from Percocet to Vicodin and Tylenol. I'm sore from the surgery
, but I feel much better now.
I got solid food for dinner tonight, and I kept it down!
I'm still having some complications from surgery, so they keep my for 2 more days.
I completed 2 or 3 laps of the ward, and walked up and down a few stairs today.
Sunday:
Went for a lap around the ward this AM before and after breakfast.
Another visit from a PA (Physicians Assistant) this morning. Some of my post surgical issues were morphine related, so I'm still making progress.
I completed 4 to 5 laps today. My wife and son took me back outside for a few minutes today.
The nurses there said they were surprised on the speed of my progress.
Monday:
A few early morning laps around the ward before the doctor comes to visit me.
The Doc just told me that I can go home today, and I really feel like I'm ready now.
Conclusion:
Back surgery hurts, but it's not as bad as I was told it would be. Getting up and moving again was one of the most physically tough things I had to do. I'm sore, but it's controllable and temporary. I'm finding it far to easy to exceed my post-op limits today, but I know I must be very careful for about 1 1/2 months.
Was it worth it so far? YES!
<!--EDIT|TruWrecks
Reason for Edit: "Added history"|1115876530 -->
My adventure with a Lumbar Micro-discectomy. (L4-5)
The History:
I'm 34yrs old, and have been having chronic back pain for the last 14yrs. The trouble began when I was 23 and I lifted several 200lb+ complete wheels into an ARMY HUMMER (HMMWV). I lost my grip on the 4th wheel, and caught it. The 5th wheel was much heavier to lift. The next morning I couldn't pull my boots on, or sit back up if I bent over to pick up something. 3 weeks of light duty (35lb limit) and I was back in service. I spent plenty of time doing PT and had several X-Rays before I left the ARMY.
In the years since, I have collapsed on the floor after carrying something heavy. I have had back aches almost daily, but I try to not let that limit my life.
December 04, I stopped at a dark intersection (night time) and put my foot down on some gravel. I had a backpack on that added about 25lbs to my upper body, raising the center of gravity of me and the Busa. My right foot started to slide and the Busa started tipping over. I repositioned my foot and tried to stop the bike from falling. I twisted my body to the right (which was the big mistake) and the Busa pulled me right to the ground. I struggled to pick the bike back up. I got back on the Busa and rode it home. I was sore, and my pride had been scratched, but I didn't realize things were much worse than that.
For 2 weeks I sucked down Motrin (like candy) because my left leg was beginning to hurt. I then went to a DR to find out what was wrong. The DR said he suspected a bruised Sciatic nerve. About 2 weeks later my left leg started hurting in almost every position. I went back to the DR to find out what was really wrong. He had my do a few back flexes (in which I nearly collapsed doing). I couldn’t lean backwards, more than a few degrees, without severe pain. Time for an MRI. That’s when I found out the extent of the damage.
Damage Assessment:
L3-4 - Bulging central/rear. Not obstructed.
L4-5 - Left medial herniation. Obstructing left root nerve.
L5-S1 - Notable disc disease present.
Damage Control:
Take it easy for now.
Damage repair:
Thursday:
I report to the hospital an check-in at 10AM. I got dressed (or undressed
The anesthesiologists came in to start my IV and ask me a bunch of questions about my health history (like I didn't tell them before
The OR was a bright, large, cool room. The team was already in the room when I was wheeled in. Someone in there told me I would be used to demonstrate a "Glidescope Technique" (breathing tube insertion). I joked about being a training tool, and they laughed. They must have given me something pretty potent, because that's all I remember about the surgery.
I woke-up a while later (about 6:30PM), and was moved to a private room. My wife was waiting for me there. The orderlies brought in the gurney, and started sliding a back board under me to move me to the bed. The Charge Nurse came in and told them to stop! They were about to slid my incision across the board. Ouch! They didn’t know what kind surgery I just had, and they didn’t ask. I couldn't move anything but my arms and head for a few hours. I found out that they were giving me something in my IV for pain, and something to keep me from trying to get up (It's not a good idea to try to roll over a few hours after back surgery). The pain was well controlled. I tried to eat some ice and pudding (my first meal in over 18hrs). I couldn't keep it down. Time for more sleep.
Friday:
I woke up around 1AM with something squishing my legs, over and over. I was hurting pretty bad, so they gave me a shot, and checked me legs to make sure I could move and feel them. I could.
At 8AM one of the doctors came in to told me I could go home today. Let's take a quick look at the current picture. I can barely sit-up yet, I haven't been able to roll myself over yet, I'm still on a morphine IV, and I can go home already? The RN in charge on me said "No Way"! Thank God for good nurses!
11AM I requested help to sit up on the side on the bed. 11:50AM one of the nurses came in to help me. 12PM I'm now standing beside the bed.
Still couldn't keep food down very well.
I was told that this may be the toughest day of my recovery. It was, but I made it.
Saturday:
About 8AM one of the Neuro-Surgeons came in to talk to me. He told me how the surgery went, and let me know what my limitations would be. He said I could go home today, or tomorrow. These people want to "Treat'n Street" people!
The wife, and our oldest son, joined me for lunch today. I surprised them by walking (however, very slowly) to the day room for lunch. They then checked my out of the ward for about 30 minutes so I could get a break from the local ward. That really helped!
The doctor took me off the heavy narcotics today. He switched me from morphine to Toradol, and from Percocet to Vicodin and Tylenol. I'm sore from the surgery
I got solid food for dinner tonight, and I kept it down!
I completed 2 or 3 laps of the ward, and walked up and down a few stairs today.
Sunday:
Went for a lap around the ward this AM before and after breakfast.
Another visit from a PA (Physicians Assistant) this morning. Some of my post surgical issues were morphine related, so I'm still making progress.
I completed 4 to 5 laps today. My wife and son took me back outside for a few minutes today.
The nurses there said they were surprised on the speed of my progress.
Monday:
A few early morning laps around the ward before the doctor comes to visit me.
The Doc just told me that I can go home today, and I really feel like I'm ready now.
Conclusion:
Back surgery hurts, but it's not as bad as I was told it would be. Getting up and moving again was one of the most physically tough things I had to do. I'm sore, but it's controllable and temporary. I'm finding it far to easy to exceed my post-op limits today, but I know I must be very careful for about 1 1/2 months.
Was it worth it so far? YES!
<!--EDIT|TruWrecks
Reason for Edit: "Added history"|1115876530 -->