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Posted by Robbin Castro
I promised myself that if I ever got through surgery, I would post what happened to me to let others contemplating back surgery know what happened.
At four months post-op, I can say I'm fully recovered. I had a fusion
with pedicle screws of two levels, and a laminectomy at three levels.
About four years ago, I started experiencing your standard sciatica
pain, going down either of the buttocks. Two years ago, an X-ray showed
sponylolithesis between L4 and L5, grade one. It just kept getting
worse and worse. I would turn one way getting out of bed and be down for
two days, I'd go on the bike ten minutes longer than normal and be out
for a week. Finally, I did something, and the sciatica pain wouldn't go
away. Doctors recommended fusion surgery. I had tried chiropractic,
acupuncture, inversion therapy, traction, nutritional supplements. But
you could see on an MRI where the compression was and I didn't see how
anything but a mechanical solution could really help in the long term.
Some writers say that only one out of three back surgeries is a success. Some people write how they've had it done and now live in constant pain trying various medications. I don't have to go on if you're reading this.
However, the people I would run into in real life kept telling me
different. I ran into about seven people who had what I was planning,
and they all raved about it, and kicked themselves for waiting so long.
I didn't get the disparities. I wanted a RECOUNT.
Then I realized, if you're reading this newsgroup, you're probably
having a problem. If you have a successful surgery, then you're reading
other newsgroups, like kayaking or skiing. Therefore, almost by
definition, the people who have had surgery reading this group are
probably a problematic group and not representative.
Therefore, I vowed that I would log in and tell everybody what happened
to me, after the surgery, after I didn't care about reading this medical
stuff anymore.
I had the surgery. I was in a lot of pain for about two weeks, and
significant pain for about a month. I would not want to go through it
again. The medication helped a lot and it wasn't unbearable.
Then I started feeling good, started walking a lot more, started
experiencing hours where I didn't think about my back.
At two months, I went back to work. Other than some discomfort at
sitting for long periods, I was fully functional. I was doing long walks
and taking physical therapy.
At three months, I cut loose from physical therapy and went back to the
gym on primarily machine weights two times a week. Other days, I
powerwalk, do the PreCor, stationary bike, swimming, and stairs.
At four months (now) I have no pain standing, lying down, sleeping, and
I feel just a slight muscle tiredness when I sit for longer than about
two hours. So I get up and walk around and I'm just fine. Most of the
time, I wouldn't automatically think I ever had back surgery. I can't
feel the screws, I can feel any pain. I'm still waiting to get more
flexible and stronger with the lifting and bending muscles. I'm better
now than I have been in five years. Even getting up in the morning, I
don't have that stiff back like I used to.
I'm planning on getting back into river rafting and kayaking this
summer, and snow skiing next winter. I've been told to not push it, so
that's why I'm not going this winter.
I'm a 48 year old male in fairly good shape. I found out that the
doctors don't have anywhere near the answers that you need, either
before or after the surgery, so depend on them, but also seek out other
professionals in physical therapy, sports medicine, nutrition,
alternative care, etc. Check them all out, find out what's right for
you.
And don't despair. I've got more metal in me than a small junkyard, but
I feel great and I'm looking forward to getting back into my sports. I
may not be able to do it like I used to, I may not be as hard core, but
I'll be trying to have fun anyway, and that's really what it's about.
Feel free to write if I can answer any questions. Good luck to you all.
Rick Castro
rrcastro@mediaone.net
