My first post and introduction to forum

[Cris009]

Hello all and thank you to Richard for calling me and giving me some great advice !!!!!
My name is Cris I have DDD at L4/L5 with ongoing chronic pain in my lower back for 3 years now. I have ADR surgery scheduled for March 20 in Santa Monica,Ca.I live in Las Vegas so i will be traveling back and forth . I am either getting a Activ-l or a Prodisc .

I am looking for some advice on whether to fly or be driven home after surgery.
It is a hour flight although in a upright seated position. I assume I will be quite uncomfortable . Im prepared to endure the pain just hoping for some info from you all....
Thank you in advance for any responses ,I am really excited and looking forward to my surgery and to getting my lifestyle back.

thx
cris

[hezeronek]

Hello Chris! Welcome to the forum! I, too have ADR surgery scheduled. I'll be going to Germany for mine though. But from what I understand about most people here, and my personal preferences, I would definitely recommend flying instead of driving. Bouncing around in a car for hours on end is probably going to be more uncomfortable than sitting like a soldier for an hour. That is, unless you'll be riding in a really smooth car. Of course, it is your decision in the end, and not everybody will feel the same way. If you can spare the change, you may want to consider staying in Santa Monica for a week or two to heal up better before going home. And if you fly, you may want to cough up the cash for a business or first class seat. You'll have more room to stretch out that way. Anyhow, best of luck to you! Keep us posted throughout your recovery!

[JudyW]

My parents drove me from Marina del Rey to Corona in California. I think its around 55 miles and it sucked. It felt like an eternity and every bump was torture. I stayed in the hospital for four days before going home. I would suggest flying. I think either way you will obviously be uncomfortable. I was very light headed and nauseous also.

[Cris009]

thank u both for the great insight. I agree and thats a great idea to stay in cali a few days I may try to do that now and then fly home when im a bit stronger all around !!!

i also agree that the bumps in a 5 hour drive home having to stop ever hour to ambulate would be a real ordeal also.. My mind has really woken up the closer i get to surgery date but obviously 1 can always learn from those with the experience you all have !!!!

I promise to reciprocate with my story and experience once I am out of surgery and in shape to get on computer . I am very hopeful and confident in my surgeon Dr John Regan of Cedar Sinai and beverly hills and the St johns Health center as my caregivers. Please if anyone else has had their surgery done by Dr Regan or been to St johns in santa monica any info would be helpful and settling as I am sure ill be nervous as the surgery gets closer ive never been under the knife although I have had 4 ESIs in the 3 last 3 years .

The incision is where the pain comes from and im glad i learned about the raised toilet seat here reading yesterdy that will be helpful im sure !!!

you guys are great as is this forum and I hope the best for all of you facing an upcoming surgery as well as those still rehabbing and those with not so great results that are doing other things to try to regain your health . Talk again soon !!! SEE you on the other SIDE as ive seen some say !!!!!

cris

[2cool4U]

My wife drove me home on a 3 hr. trip as gently as she could, and I felt every bump, pothole, seam, and probably every bug we hit. Of course, we live in the snow belt, so road conditions here are poor. Either way, get a pillow between your seatbelt and your incision, and take drugs right before you leave.

[Deborah]

Hub had a hybrid which isn't comparable, but thanks to pain meds, felt fine on ride home of 45 minutes which included a fender bender accident! I suspect how one feels depends a great deal on meds taken... so I'd do whatever seems least stressful for your body (getting through an airport on departure and arrival could be tougher than riding in the car!). I think the docs can adjust meds to make sure the trip isn't a horror, but the real question is what's easiest for all involved.

Most important: After our experience; wear a good brace just in case! (...although he also fell out of bed without doing damage it appears... so the surgery seems to hold up well even if you don't! He's still not having pain issues.)

[annapurna]

Plan to stick around in California long enough to handle not just an hour flight but all the annoyances of getting checked in, hanging around the airport, flight delays, etc. We've rushed back home after a couple of procedures and greatly regretted it as one delay after another drained us.

Another suggestion is to pack light or mail stuff home to reduce the luggage you'll struggle with at the airports. Even if you'll be traveling with someone else, a lighter load for them means they can pay more attention to how you're feeling and not overtax you.

[Cris009]

again great advice from all the new posts ,thank you all for taking
the time to offer up scenarios and experiences. I am running it all thru my
brain to hopefully come up with a managable plan of travel . You never know what your gonna feel like on the other side but i agree preparing for the worst ,and adjusting to whatever your personal outcome is ,is all we can do in this case and life all around.
updates on my journey thru this surgery and rehab will come soon. I hope I can
get some content up as soon as I can that will help someone the way you have all helped and supported me already!!!!
thanx again
cris

[rhatzy]

Cris,

I had to travel back from Germany. I started in Bremen and flew to Frankfort (about an hour) and then on to Chicago (10 hours) and then an hour to my final destination. The first leg was manageble with percocet and what ever else I was taking. But then I had to wait four hours for the flight to Chicago. Because I work for the airlines, I rode first class to Chicago. However, waiting for departure out of Frankfort was pure hell. I was in so much pain. This after about 40mgs of percocet and a vile of morphine. Not until we took off and I was able to lay that first class seat flat did I get any relief. After that, I did okay.

Some people do ok and others like me were in more pain than before the surgery. I'd say that if you are in pain, just dope it up a little and stay ahead of it. I am fully recovered and back to work. I hope that everything goes ok with your procedure and your recovery is quick.

Mark

[hezeronek]

Mark,

How long did you stay in Germany after your surgery? I'm about to buy airline tickets for mine, and I'm weighing my options between staying longer vs flying back first class. It seems the cost is about the same. LOL. Right now, I'm planning on staying for two weeks after discharge. I'm hoping that will be long enough to have a reasonable flight home.