lets talk about HEALING and time

[gary]

Hey All;
heres a subject that is brought up often and i need to clarify a few things with my experience now 30 months post op from my 2 level prodisc surgery.
At least 10 years ago, when i was dealing with the onslot of chronic lumbar back,butt,leg pain and swelling&numbness. after my laminectomy in '79 my surgeon told me i'd be back in 5 years for a fusion at that level&the one above and below also . Well, if you haven't figured it out yet, i'm a REBEL,I hated doctors,needles,scalpels,etc. i have been told by many a doctor both neuro and ortho that i should expect major sciatic nerve damage due to a total collapse at L4,5 and a partial at L5-S1. I had numbness, burning in my legs below my knees,misdiagnosed with something called RSDS (sympthatic nerve desease)and lived with a fear i'd never be right again . Some docs thought i was just a drug addict looking for my next fix(i'd like to find those guys and strangle them-hahaha
anyhow,i'm now 30mos post op, never ever felt this good in my entire life!!as far as my back.
I met mmglobal shortly after he got back from Munich and the 1st ADR patient like me, we compared notes. I watched him and another 2level ADR play tennis at 3mos, i was totally jealous, and told him at that time, i didn't think i would ever be at that stage. Well i was WRONG.i now play Golf,am looking forward to be water skiing this next summer, and now after watching Mark's video of him skiing, can't wait to do the same. I knew going into this ADR thing,it wasn't going to be a piece of cake type of recovery,or quick,or easy. After all i had suffered for almost 30 yrs.I wasn't looking for a quick fix and i surely wasn't expecting a full 100% recovery like i have {:--)
and was warned i may not by Delamarter. what i am getting at is you can't give up. or expect to be like everyone else, we all heal at different stages,regardless of what our surgeons tell us.
even at 14mos i was still experiencing nerve pain, shooting pain in my legs,feet and some numbness. Now i don't, i don't have any nerve damage, the docs, every one of them was wrong!!
....I have a new lease on life. I have a motto i live by. it's a picture that hangs on my wall at home and at work, it's a picture of a Bird, i think it's a Crane, this bird is about to devour a Frog, the head of the Frog is down the Birds throat, the hind legs dangling out his mouth and the front legs have a tight grip around the birds throat, the saying below is, "DON'T EVER GIVE UP".
if anyone would like a copy i'd be happy to mail it to you. it's helped me through many a bad time.
so again, have a positive attitude, LAUGH like theres no tomorrow(except when it hurts the back of course-hahaha )
gary

[Harrison]

Awesome post, Gary. Your outlook on life is great! Thx for sharing!

[JeffreyD]

Gary,
As someone is is going to be having ADR in the near future, your story gives me so much hope.
I have been struggling with crippling back problems for 12 years. The worst thing is knowing I am sliding downhill with little hope outside of supernatural intervention of improving. I am looking forward to being on the "uphill climb" for a change......working to get better, even if it takes years.
Your journey of intestinal fortitude is awesome.

Jeff

[Poncho]

I just came accross this and found it inspiring! Thought I would give it a bump.

Thanks Gary,

[Cindee]

I am happy for you Gary...keep on enjoying!