Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 8 Location: Jacksonville Fl
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Sorry Posted: 08-30-07 10:46am
Hello Rich, Carrianne, Guy and everyone,
My sincere apologies for not reporting on
my visit with Dr. Tolli last week. He
agreed with my surgeon that I do need the
fusion surgery but questioned the two
level because of another disc that looks
just as bad. He wants me to have his guy
there in ST. Pete to do another discogram
and MRI. Discograms can be subjective.
When the dye entered the disc in question
it could have leaked out thus causing no
pressure for a true finding. He stated my
discs are too far gone for Laser not that
I could have anyway because of insurance.
I was very impressed with him. Very
confident, knowledgeable and business-like
yet seemed concerned for my well being.
This may not be fair to say but I did get
the impression that he was selling
himself. I would probably have him do the
surgery but for the distance plus I
believe in my Doctor here in Jax.
I now realize after three plus months of
severe pain, meds, (to no avail) and
testing that I must go forward with the
final option. This past week I've been in
a funk, a little afraid of what I'm
facing. As difficult as this is for me,
it's just as tough for our loved ones.
They may as well be in the same condition.
I have my girlfriend Lori to thank and in
the future when I'm unable she will post
here for me with updates. A positive
attitude and believing is the key along
with a support group like Lori and all of
you.
I have an appointment this afternoon to
see my surgeon in hopes of making
arrangements for surgery and ask about the
third disc. I promise to do better and not
be a stranger to perhaps help someone
along the way like you all did for me. I'm
grateful.
Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 21 Location: St, Petersburg,FL
Report - 1 Week After Surgery At Lsi. Posted: 08-30-07 10:51am
Yesterday, I walked around our
neighborhood block - it got a little
painful at the end, but overall it wasn't
too bad. Prior to surgery, going from one
side of the house to the other side was
challenging. I am now standing with
normal posture instead of being hunched
over. I still get sciatica pain in the
left buttox, but not as soon or as
crippling as before, and I still have pain
on the side of the calf above the ankle. I
have been feeling "slightly" better every
day. I have also been making short
shopping trips, whereas before surgery I
had pretty much given that up.
The jury is still out as to if I will need
another surgery at L5-S1 (the first was at
L4-5). I was told on the front-end that
it might be necessary. Since I live
nearby LSI, I am giving things a chance to
heal and not hurrying into the second
surgery.
Guy
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lonestarguy
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 590 Location: , Hoosierland, USA
Thanks: 10
Thanked:1
Hey Man! Posted: 08-30-07 11:20am
Donald....I'm not sure whether to
congratulate you for getting a plan
together or commiserate with you over what
you're facing. You do sound resigned to
the fusion, so I wish you luck in that.
Sorry that laser was just not in the cards
for you.
I don't envy you the discogram as I
explained my experience with one early in
this thread. But, chin up, we are all
behind you and hope that the surgery can
give you some relief. You're right about
your loved ones. They are just as involved
and just as sad with your situation. Look
to them for support in your journey.
Good luck and let us know how everything
goes or just pop on here to get a pep talk
if you want.
LSG (Rick)
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Marie B.
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 226 Location: Ohio
Pain, Confusion And Frustration Posted: 08-30-07 15:32pm
Dear Barb. I can really feel for you. It
is hard enough to work through all of
these specialists with varying degrees of
education and experience, but to
understand the jargon, various decisions
is a tough hoe for anyone to struggle
through.
The people on this Forum will be a help
mentally and emotionallyto you.
Try to slowly work your way through all of
your confusion with research and ask
questions and ask questions and ask
questions. Don't ever allow yourself to
feel intimidated when asking even the most
elementary questions. Remember. This is
your back.
DMB
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Marie B.
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 226 Location: Ohio
Rick....medicines? Posted: 08-30-07 15:47pm
Rick, I believe I read on another thread
on this forum you spoke about the
medicines you had been taking. Tje
subject was spending a lot of sleep time
on a recliner because of meds. I have
days like that. My hubby will find me on
my recliner with my "blankie" sound
asleep. I keep trying to tell him that it
is not just because I'm getting old, but
that it is a "drugged" sleep.
Would you share how you are handling your
meds now. I'm taking Advil 3Tab. and is
what really makes me sleepy. And
sometimes I add 1 Ultracet tablet when I
know I have to leave the house or clean
the house.
I really know it isn't age that caused my
back to degenerate. It was this constant
housecleaning.
To all others on this Forum, I ask your
forgiveness if it looks like I am hogging
all of the message spaces. It's just that
I have not had somebody to worry, cry,
chuckle or talk with about this
predicament I found myself at the time of
life that is supposed to be called my
"Golden Years".
Donette
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Rozhillary
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 7
Happy Bonati Patient Posted: 09-01-07 10:45am
Hi Everyone,
I met Carrianne and her Mom on the day
after my second surgery and again on
August 28th before her second surgery.
She told me about this site so here I am.
I am a patient at Bonati Institute and
have had 2 proceedures done this summer.
My first surgery was the microdermibrasion
of the facet joints on June 18th and the
2nd suregery was a laminectomy, partial
facectomy, partial forenotimy and a
discectomy in July 17th. I just had my
follow up appointment on Aug 28th with Dr
Moffat and I am done for now he says I am
a work in progress. I have had cronic
back pain for 8 years. I had tried
epidural injections, accupunture,
rhizotomies only to be frustrated and
still in pain. I could not stand or walk
for more that 2 minutes at a time with
excruciating pain in my lower back,
buttocks and upper legs with both legs
going numb. I am now 90% pain free and no
numbness anymore. Dr Moffatt told me my
surgical pain should be totaly gone in 6
weeks. I can't express enough how
wonderful the staff and doctors at the
Bonati Institute are, they are true to
their word everything they told me they
could do for me came true.
I hope you are feeling better Carrianne
and thanks again for telling me about this
site.
Roz
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Carol Lumbar
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Sherman, TX,
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 09-01-07 15:47pm
Hi Roz:
Welcome and thanks for sharing . . .
I tried to post earlier today and had many
problems getting on the website:
So here goes . . .
Good Morning Everyone! Saturday, Labor
Day Weekend!
O.k. it was all my little mind could do to
keep the names of the posters straight in
my mind on spinehealth, let alone over
here! I ran into trouble using my
original code name: "Carol Lumbar" as I
thought it would be important to keep the
same identity here, but ehealth's rules
are: you don't use real names. I chuckled
to myself, as my code name was created as
a pun about the 30's screen siren and wife
of Clark Gable . . . "Carol Lombard!" I
myself, thought it was quite funny, but of
course I was drinking medicinal merlot at
the time! I thought everyone would "get
it" since my perception was that back
problems are generally the domain and part
of the "circle of life" of getting old!
(How wrong was I?)
But anyway . . . I think I need a legend
for who's the NEW who? I LOL when
Dragonfly finally flew over to ehealth I
like your new color! . . . I do believe
most of the original gang is here . . .
thanks again Rich T for creating a safe
haven . . . I feel the same "good vibes"
that were on the original thread followed
us here!
With that said, welcome everyone, and pls.
excuse this old mind, if I have confused
names . . .
Rich T's request for further explanation
of how I was feeling when I first started
posting was written in response to my
personal journey, reflection, denial and
confusion of the deterioration that was
going on in my back. I've always thought
I'd been one of those, eat (kind of)
right, exercise (3 mile a day jogger),
hard working, regular people who took
measures to live a long, healthy life.
After going to three doctor's who all said
something different, I was resentful, that
there shouldn't be more available to me
than the response, back pain = fusion! I
didn't feel enough less invasive measures
were available to me other than masking
the pain with shots, which I'm also not
fond of, since "pain" is a body's way of
indicating that something is wrong!" I
don't need a panacea, I need a successful
solution, and my stubborn German mind,
cannot wrap around anything less! But
fortunately or unfortunately from the
sounds of many . . . I'm not alone! This
is MY back and by golly, if they can put a
man on the moon 30 yrs. ago, why is this
sooooo hard!?? After all, they are
doctors, right? Sound familiar DMB?
Now, while Iam stubborn, I'm also
thoroughly grateful and thankful that this
is ALL that's wrong with me (so far). And
after educating myself on the back pain
forums, I know that things could always be
much worse, as they are for many, which
then made me feel GUILTY. The research
scared me enough to know that I need to be
thorough, as I'm the only one who has my
best interests at heart. Exploring less
restrictive options, makes sense to me.
But, I do think that this is a slippery
slope and eventually . . . I will have
expired my options as they seem limited or
so I thought till I began inquiring about
laser or less invasive methods/procedures.
. . Maybe one day I too, will be facing
fusion, but hopefully after other measures
have been realized. And it may come to
pass that I kerplunk a hefty sum down,
because of BCBS restrictions, which are a
whole different thread!
We are all . . . at different
"milemarkers" in this journey. I'm
inspired and in awe of those that have
traveled further than I. I'm learning
what to do, how to handle the emotional
strain and how to factor in your
experiences in my decisions. What is
right for one person, may not be right for
another. And, we as humans, are often
plagued, with the "would have, could have,
should have" issues. Who is to say what's
right? That is why I love learning from
the "collective experience" that is
genuinely shared here!
So, is it Don that is facing fusion
surgery??? I believe you have done your
homework . . . expired less invasive
options, researched other procedures,
gotten 2nd and 3rd opinions and now have
to be thankful that fusion is in fact
STILL a viable option. That in itself, may
be worth celebrating! What's the
alternative? Yes, it is heartbreaking
that you are faced with this, but then
again . . . there are many fusions that go
very well.
I have read of these experiences on the
other forum. I remember reading someone's
post, that you will know if fusion is
right for you, because you just can't live
with the pain, or the quality to which
your life has been reduced. If fusion
gives you an opportunity of a better
quality of life, than by all means believe
it, embrace it and get your mind geared
toward it and be the best "fusion patient"
ever!! One's mind, and positive attitude
etc., can help or hinder the intended
outcome! Is it going to be an easy road?
Probably not, but I'm betting that you
have risen above adversity and perhaps
much worse in an earlier part of your life
. . . And it seems like you have a
wonderful surgeon on which you can rely!
I sincerely wish you the best! Sometimes,
we have choices to make and other times,
choices are made for us! I believe God
gives us signals.
On a lighter note, it reminds me of a joke
(I don't tell good jokes, and it's harder
to write them out) but this is about a guy
who was stuck on a roof during a flood.
A man in a boat comes by offering the man
a life jacket. The man on the roof
declines, saying, God will save me! He
will anwer my prayers.
A second boat comes by to offer the man a
ride, and he responds the same, "God will
save me, He will answer my prayers. . .
A helicopter comes along, and the man
refuses assistance, saying again, God will
save me. He will answer my prayers."
Unfortunately, the man died in the flood.
When he arrived at the pearly gates, he
questioned God, as to why he had abandoned
him, and not listened or answered his
prayers saying, "I prayed and prayed but
you didn't answer my prayers".
To which God, replied, "son, I DID hear
your prayers. Who do you think sent you
the life jacket, boat and helicopter?"
We will all figure out what's best for our
unique situations and I believe we will
all come out on top! I've got some
studying to do, finally a quiet house . .
. sorry this was sooo long . . . have a
great holiday weekend everyone!
C
|
RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 880
Thanks: 20
Thanked:0
Welcome Posted: 09-01-07 19:09pm
Hello Roz,
Welcome to our thread.
I'm very pleased you and Carrianne were
able to meet at Bonati.
Thanks for sharing about yourself and your
experiences at the institute. I truly
hope all goes well and that in a few weeks
the pain will have subsided.
Roz, your thougths and experiences that
you share here will help many I know. Not
just those of us who post, but also those
who just look in.
RichT
|
RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 880
Thanks: 20
Thanked:0
Everyone Posted: 09-01-07 19:20pm
Hello All,
To make a long story short, my computer is
dead. Hardward issues, so it may be a few
weeks before I can get it up and running
again. I'll be thinking about everyone of
you. I'm so very pleased with the new
posters. I wish I had time to respond to
each and every one of you.
Carol, I really liked your God and the
helicopter story. You made a most valid
point. God does answer prayer, He just
may answer it in a manner different from
our limited vision.
Take care everyone.
Sure hope the hardware issue doesn't
become major. When you build your own
computer you are the one who has to get
your hands "dirty".
RichT
P.S. - Thanks to my son, I can use his
computer this evening.
|
Carrianne
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 107 Location: Tampa, FL
I Return... Posted: 09-02-07 14:09pm
Hi everyone and so sorry I haven't written
until now. My second surgery was indeed
more of a challenge as far as recovery
goes than the first. Today is the first
day I've felt somewhat normal.
I lost a lot of blood during surgery,
don't know why. They did 2 blood patches
as a precautionary measure in case there
was a "knick" to my dura (outer covering
of spinal chord). They took blood from my
arm and injected it into the spinal area.
As it turns out, there was no leak, but
I've just had a terrible time getting back
to myself. I've struggled with an unending
headache, nausea, and dizziness. They
tested my blood and found that I'm mildly
anemic so getting my strength back is
taking a while.
Good news, my legs don't hurt anymore! I
still feel a little tweek here and there
but Dr. B said it would go away. Yeah!!!
I'm going to get back on here and read the
other posts in a couple days when my
headache is gone (hopefully). It's hard to
focus right now. But wanted to check in
and let you all know what's been going
on!
MJ,
It was so wonderful to meet you, and I'm
sorry you had to see me lying on the couch
in pain!!!! That wasn't normal!! You are
very kind and I won't forget your calming
voice!! Thank you!!!
Roz,
Welcome! It's great to see you on here!
Please keep us updated on your progress!!
Everyone, this is the "wheelchair one day
walking the next" story I told some of you
about on the other forum!!
Have a great day all!
God bless,
Carrianne
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mj57
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 22 Location: , USA
Re: I Return... Posted: 09-02-07 16:31pm
Carrianne
wrote:
Hi everyone and so sorry I
haven't written until now. My second
surgery was indeed more of a challenge as
far as recovery goes than the first. Today
is the first day I've felt somewhat
normal.
I lost a lot of blood during surgery,
don't know why. They did 2 blood patches
as a precautionary measure in case there
was a "knick" to my dura (outer covering
of spinal chord). They took blood from my
arm and injected it into the spinal area.
As it turns out, there was no leak, but
I've just had a terrible time getting back
to myself. I've struggled with an unending
headache, nausea, and dizziness. They
tested my blood and found that I'm mildly
anemic so getting my strength back is
taking a while.
Good news, my legs don't hurt anymore! I
still feel a little tweek here and there
but Dr. B said it would go away. Yeah!!!
I'm going to get back on here and read the
other posts in a couple days when my
headache is gone (hopefully). It's hard to
focus right now. But wanted to check in
and let you all know what's been going
on!
MJ,
It was so wonderful to meet you, and I'm
sorry you had to see me lying on the couch
in pain!!!! That wasn't normal!! You are
very kind and I won't forget your calming
voice!! Thank you!!!
Roz,
Welcome! It's great to see you on here!
Please keep us updated on your progress!!
Everyone, this is the "wheelchair one day
walking the next" story I told some of you
about on the other forum!!
Have a great day all!
God bless,
Carrianne
Hello Carrianne...........It is good to
see you here, and know that you are up and
doing so well and that your pain is almost
gone. I wish well in your future plans.
And I am so glad that we did get to see
one another.
God Bless you.......mj
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Marie B.
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 226 Location: Ohio
Can Spondy Progress Posted: 09-03-07 07:27am
Saw my Pain Management Doctor on Friday.
He thought the opinion of the first spine
surgeon a bit too aggressive. The X-Ray
of Spondy in his opinion does not show
enough slippage to decide on fusion.
He offered pain medications first plus a
referral to another Spine Surgeon.
So at present I am on meds. Celebrex 400
mg takes the edge off but the pain is
still there. I would rather not spend the
rest of my life taking meds, but my
husband is urging me to consider this.
I am waiting for an appointment time to
see the second surgeon. This one I am
told does Minimally Invasive spinal
surgery. I will ask if I am a candidate
and I will ask his opinion of Laser
surgery.
Carol are you taking meds between the
injections and have you moved a little
closer to surgery since your last post.
I am worried about the procedure of
opening the lamina while not keeping in
place the vertebrae. I worry will I be
facing a further slippage of the openings
created. Has anyone discussed this with
you?
Donette Marie
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Marie B.
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 226 Location: Ohio
Dura Nick Posted: 09-03-07 07:37am
Carrianne, I have been watching your posts
from the old forum. I worried when you
said the second surgery was difficult due
to the lost blood and possible dura nick.
That seemed to suggest one of the dangers
that DS had brought up in all of his
warnings on the old forum against lasesr
surgery.
I am glad the results have provided you
improvement. Hopefully this will soon be
in the past and forgotten so you can get
on with your young life.
Donette M.
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Marie B.
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 226 Location: Ohio
Computer Down Posted: 09-03-07 07:43am
Rich, Great!! I finally find you all and
your computer goes down.
You will have to spend a lot of time at
your son's place to keep up on the posts.
You know, if I didn't have this Spondy, I
would move more quickly toward surgery.
My Pain Management doctor does not belive
my pain is from the Spondy.
It takes just too long between
appointments with doctors that makes this
process all the more painful to go
through. I want to be like Joebob.
Done with all of this decisions,
decisions, decisions.
Donette
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littleonefb
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 192 Location: ,
Thanks: 5
Thanked:0
Been Awol to Long Posted: 09-03-07 21:10pm
Sorry everyone, for being AWOL for so
long. Just so many things going on and my
mind has been fuzzy with percocet in me.
Long story I will get into.
Carol. so glad to see you with us again.
You are the original poster who started a
thread and we sure need you here too.
Carrianne, so sorry to hear you had a
difficult second surgery. As we all no,
there is no surgery of any kind that, that
doesn't come with risks. Sad but true and
that some surgeries run more risks than
others. Glad to hear, though that you are
slowly on the road to recovery and
hopefully you will be up and around soon.
Rich, how dare that computer go on you
now. You will have to take a trip to your
son's tomorrow to tell us what happened
with the new doc you are seeing. My
fingers are crossed that this doc will be
able to do something to help you or at
least refer you to someone who can. If we
need to, and I hope we don't, we can
discuss further options up here in the
Boston Area.
Donald, sounds like you've made the right
decision for you. We all have a breaking
point of pain tolerance, debilitating life
style, and when that point is reached we
then have to make a decision. Do we go on
that way or do we do something to try and
change the situation and try something to
improve the quality of life we have.
You've made your decision after careful
research and several opinions and it's a
go for you. I'm glad you've made that
decision. You've settled everything in
your mind, are sure you have made the
right decision for yourself and you are
going with it.
Positive vibes going your way and my
prayers as well. Keep that positive
outlook with you and your confidence in
your doctor. It goes a long way in your
recovery.
Fran
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joebob
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Aug 2007 Posts: 23 Location: Springfield, PA USA
Feelin Good Posted: 09-03-07 23:25pm
Hello everyone
Yes this does have the feel of the old
site.Nice to not have anyone telling
us what we can and can not talk about. I
have been occupied with my
son, getting him ready for hockey.Everyday
I am either swimming, at
the gym or ridding my bike. I have started
skating and practicing
hockey with my son. No back or leg pain at
all but the muscles are
having a little trouble adjusting.Nothing
a good massage cant fix.
Streatching and walking several times a
day has been the best for my
recovery.
Carrianne
So glade to hear you are recovering.keep
walking and you will see the old
symptoms dissapiering and every day you
will feel a little better.
Hope everyone had a good weekend
Joe
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Carol Lumbar
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Sherman, TX,
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 09-04-07 05:12am
Hi Fran . . . nice to read your posts
too!
Donnette:
When I sent my information to both Bonati
and LSI, they both did not think the
"instability" was an issue. No one, ever
mentioned spondy to me . . . that's about
4 different doctors. The term they used
was "instability." Which when I read the
"stuff" sounds like "spondy!!" But, then
again, what do I know. Glad you've got
some time . . . to make your decision.
I'm not taking meds in between shots. A
little or a lot of IB, usually does the
trick. The neurontin and lyrica, etc.
make me too fuzzy to think straight and I
have enough trouble in that dept. on my
own! So, I can either function and be in
mild pain, or no pain and can't think?
Hmmmm!
Off and running early this morning . . .
Everyone have a good day . . . Rich T will
have his homework cut out for him until
his computer problems are taken care of .
. .
Don: how you doin? You've been too quiet!
Same with LGS?
See ya later,
C
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Marie B.
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 226 Location: Ohio
Muscles Posted: 09-04-07 06:32am
Joebob, When you talk about back muscles
still bothering you,
are you talking about the muscles around
the site of surgical entry?
My understanding of Min. Invas surgery
regardless of laser or not, muscles are
not cut, but pushed aside. I'm trying to
decide why your muscles still make noise
for you.
I know some orthopedic surgeons and some
chiros always recommend ice on the back to
reduce swelling at the aggravated site..no
matter what the aggravation is caused by.
After a certain period of time they then
advise a person to go to moist heat for
the purposes of bringing red blood cells
to the area to increase healing time.
If you are having relief from massage,
your massage therapist (if you are going
to one) will uses different oils to cause
the flesh on flesh (hands to body)
friction to be smooth and gentle, but it
also causes warmth to the tissues. My
Neuromuscular therapist uses oils that
have various spice smells that produce
heat with the massage. I not only left
the office feeling good, I had the
lovliest smells of spice about me. Never
the less, you might want to check out for
youself whether moist heat will help you
better then ice. Don't just use heat, it
must be moist heat. I would never
recommend moist heat from my experience in
acute situations.
There is a heating pad called Thermophore
which when placed on the back not only
warms the tissues but produces moisture on
the skin.
What's funny, no doctors here nor drug
stores ever heard of it and the products
they sell are really inferior. I bought
one for all of my daughters as Christmas
presents one year. I don't have the web
site at the moment, but I could find it if
you were interested. Google it also if
your are interested.
There are doctors in Pennsylvania who are
familiar with Thermophore.
Ahhh PA, the land of my birth, the woods
of William Penn and the three rivers of
Pittsburgh, the home of the Steelers. A
place where you always have a friend in.
So superior to Ohio.
DMarie B
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Marie B.
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 226 Location: Ohio
Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou, Carol Posted: 09-04-07 06:57am
C. Again thanks for the information on
your medications. I wondered if I was
becoming a hotel for the various meds that
Doctors kept writing Rx's for to help with
the pain. All those you mentioned I have
the Rx for but I have never filled. If 3
Advil and 1 Ultracet for the day can put
me to sleep, I can just imagine what those
you highlighted would do to me.
And if the pain is controlled by pills, it
does not mean the cause of the pain
disappears.
And who wants to live on pills. My
husband said if it eliminates the
possiblity of surgery, he would go for it.
My spouse is a non-confronter. I'm a
confronter. If something is wrong, fix
it.
So I am going to a surgeon in northeast
Ohio for an evaluation and then I already
have one mentally lined up closer to my
home.
I keep asking my husband if he would like
to have a 3 week vacation in Florida. He
replies "not in hurricane season."
Logical.
In the meantime, I am trying to judge the
value between minimally invasive spinal
surgery vs laser sppinal surgery.
|
joebob
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Aug 2007 Posts: 23 Location: Springfield, PA USA
Re: Muscles Posted: 09-04-07 14:51pm
Marie B.
wrote:
Joebob, When you talk about
back muscles still bothering you,
are you talking about the muscles around
the site of surgical entry?
My understanding of Min. Invas surgery
regardless of laser or not, muscles are
not cut, but pushed aside. I'm trying to
decide why your muscles still make noise
for you.
I know some orthopedic surgeons and some
chiros always recommend ice on the back to
reduce swelling at the aggravated site..no
matter what the aggravation is caused by.
After a certain period of time they then
advise a person to go to moist heat for
the purposes of bringing red blood cells
to the area to increase healing time.
If you are having relief from massage,
your massage therapist (if you are going
to one) will uses different oils to cause
the flesh on flesh (hands to body)
friction to be smooth and gentle, but it
also causes warmth to the tissues. My
Neuromuscular therapist uses oils that
have various spice smells that produce
heat with the massage. I not only left
the office feeling good, I had the
lovliest smells of spice about me. Never
the less, you might want to check out for
youself whether moist heat will help you
better then ice. Don't just use heat, it
must be moist heat. I would never
recommend moist heat from my experience in
acute situations.
There is a heating pad called Thermophore
which when placed on the back not only
warms the tissues but produces moisture on
the skin.
What's funny, no doctors here nor drug
stores ever heard of it and the products
they sell are really inferior. I bought
one for all of my daughters as Christmas
presents one year. I don't have the web
site at the moment, but I could find it if
you were interested. Google it also if
your are interested.
There are doctors in Pennsylvania who are
familiar with Thermophore.
Ahhh PA, the land of my birth, the woods
of William Penn and the three rivers of
Pittsburgh, the home of the Steelers. A
place where you always have a friend in.
So superior to Ohio.
DMarie B
Hey DMB
The muscle problem I am having is not
directly related to my surgery
L/5-S/1. My thorasic area has been a
problem for 20+ years and now
that I am active and standing streight
again those muscles and facet
joints are stiff. They are getting better
and are not a big deal.
I use ice and moist heat for muscle
relaxation. I have a tendency to
push myself to hard and I need to slow it
down a little.Overall though
I feel awesome. Dr moffet and the whole
Bonati team is the best.
Joe
