A miracle and a nightmare has happened 15 mos post op

[MAX]

Hey Paul,

Mark from Rochester. We talked some time ago. I'm just a lurker, and rarely write, but I hope what I have to say is worth something to you.

Sorry if this covers old ground.

As I recall your decision to move to ADR was fairly quick after the onset of back problems. I also believe you told me you were into weight lifting.

I went from a very active and fit 35 year old to a fairly sedintary 45 year old. In 1995 I had a serious fall that resulted in an urgent laminotomy/discectomy L5-S1. It took me probably 2 years to stop having severe spasms and "popping" after my surgery. Unfortunately, I discovered the more I worked out - the more problems I had with my back. I was going to the Y 5 days a week doing 2 sets on the nautilus, jogging 2 miles and swimming 1 mile in the pool! I weighed 170 lbs and felt great.

I tried to slowly build back to my routine, but literally ANY workout caused problems with my back, so I stopped. Now I weigh 215 and am dealing with chronic bone pain as my disc is gone.

I came to the conclusion that the more I worked out and built my core muscles up - the more tense or tightened up my lower back got - aggravating the weak joint at L5-S1. So I quit. In hindsight I should have seen a professional and came up with a better routine.

I am just sick and tired of being in pain (minor and severe). I was holding out for the ADR, but your story really scares me. Though I think this has little to do with the ADR, and more to do with some sort of physiological/surgical issue. The basic surgery is the same as fusion - and every doctor I spoke to strongly advised me against having a fusion just for pain issues. Warning me that there are too many nerves in there that can get disturbed, and I could end up in a worse situation. The final statement was that it was my choice - with a 60/40 chance of being symptom free.

I deal with that "popping and crunching" in my back daily. I have been told it is the muscles and ligaments releasing. some muscles spasm more than others in the mass causing overstretching and pain. When you pop them they are realligning. Same idea with cracking knuckles.

Sorry to ramble - hope this helps a little.


Mark

[Rein]

"...the mind bone's connected to the...shin bone..." ;-)

With sincere respect, this is not a problem with 'the mind.'

Originally posted by MAX:
[qb] Hey Paul,

As I recall your decision to move to ADR was fairly quick after the onset of back problems. I also believe you told me you were into weight lifting.Mark [/qb]

Mark -

My decison for ADR was not quick. It was made 4 years after the onset of problems.

I think you should seriously consider fusion or ADR. You l5/s1 is unstable which is why it fails when you put it undr stress. Imagine trying to do curls if your elbow joint had no cartilage.

I have never met, read, nor heard of anyone with may pattern of problems post ADR.

Paul

[Rein]

Paul

Sorry; I didn't mean to infer that your problem was of the mind. Rather, I was responding to Lisa's post and only meant to remark, humorously, that the entire body is interconnected (in ways continuing to be discovered) and the mind does affect the body at times, and vice versa. I, of all people, certainly acknowledge that the pain from my completely degenerated disc is very real and I didn't just dream it up!

The mistake was all mine, Rein. Everything you just said was right on.

[Justin]

Hey Paul,

Just checking in to see how you are feeling. Any news?

Keeping you in prayer,

Justin

[Harrison]

Yes, Paul, how are you? Did you try any NSAIDs?