Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Steph,

Glad everything went well. Take good care of yourself.

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Thinking of you Steph! Hope your healing is swift and pain fades away!
Marcia

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Steph, I hope the pain is fading away now. I have to admit now that I was afraid for you and I am relieved the operation went well... soon new plans to run around the planet! Hugs. Michka

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Good news, just keep on healing. You will be going
everywhere soon.
patb

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

YES,
Seattle is missing one of its favorite citizens out and about !
Love,
K

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Glad things went well. I know what you mean about the pills, I hate 'em too. Be well.

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Steph,

As difficult as it may be for you to be in the spotlight of our concern and prayers, you are very special and dear to all our hearts, so just allow us to worry about you a bit, ok? Now those who know you have admonished you to "take it easy." It is my belief that you might just have a bit of a problem with that, so I will close by saying that I am happy you are continuing to do so well and will ask that you do go a bit easy on yourself.

I am utterly broken by the turn of events for dear Shelia, but you are very dear to us too. You and Chrisy must focus on yourselves now. Bless you and may you have comfort and rest.

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Glad to hear everything went well!! Keep the good news coming!

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Thanks, friends.
I have been up and around and trying to catch up on paperwork that is stacking up, etc. Things that should not requite too much bending, twisting, leaning, but they DO. I want to go into my normal office routine of moving like I was a pretzel, so I catch myself and have to find a way to do things with a stiffer back and waist, so I don't reherniate!

So, I take to heart the admonitions to go easy, but I hate to put so much on poor hubby. Finding a new happy medium each day makes life interesting!

The pain is reduced to my knee, which is still stiff, sensitive and weakened.

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Good girl, Steph! It is maddening to hold yourself back, isn't it? Hope you continue to heal quickly. Knees are so tricky. Try a little Bromelein supplements. That stuff works wonders and is made from pineapples. Take on empty stomach an hour or so before you eat or two hours afterwards. Your knee should quickly improve.

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Steph, Galde things went well. best to you as you get back into the swing of things. Alice

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Thanks. I don't think I will be doing any Salsa dancing any time soon. Or ice skating. Frown, frown.

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Steph, So glad surgery is behind you and you're feeling better on your recovery road. Don't overdo! Huge Hugs, Joanne

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Steph, Glad you are doing well---mend fast and healthy! Best Regards, Ceesun

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Glad to hear that you are recuperating, Stephanie. Have been thinking of you.

Barb A.

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

In case anyone is interested, I got my back surgery notes when I went for my postop checkup.
My incision is healing extremely well, and we focused on my exquisitely painful knee.
I was sent for an ultrasound to check for any blood clots. None found, so that was the good news. The bad news is that the pain is all from my nerves and will take some extended time to heal.

The surgery report says: "... the nerve root was exposed at L3-4 and was found to be displaced posteriorly. ...anterior to the nerve root a large free fragment of disk was found. This was removed ... the nerve root was well decompressed and found to be free of pressure following the procedure. ... All the nerve root dissection was under the operating microscope."

I want to find out just what is meant by "large" disk fragment. How many millimeters is "large?"

It is now obvious that this was not the kind of thing that was going to get better on it's own.
So, ladies and gents, take back and leg pain seriously, as just normal activity, never mind an accident or some kind of trauma, can cause serious damage to your spine.

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Of course we're interested! We love you...even that pesky knee of yours!
Thanks for the update. I hope the pain recedes sooner, rather than later.
Denise

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Hi Steph,
Thanks for the update and advice. I really hope that your knee "shapes up" sooner than later as well. Glad all is well with the back incision.

Just take things as you can and you will be back to your regular self with your regular knee. I wish I knew the answer to your question but I do not. It would have been nice for the docs to have listed the size on the report but perhaps you can still get the info with a call.
K

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

steph,

The best luck to you.

CLTann

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Reading that report..no wonder you were in so much pain! Just reading the words "exposed nerve root" made me cringe. Big hugs to you..im so glad that you were able to get this dealt with, and you are on the road to recovery. You know, as an aside, every time I read your posts and see your signature information, I am inspired and I feel hopeful. While everyone around me seems to make plans for when I "get really sick", I remember you and your journey, and I think just maybe...you know? So really, thank you.

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Thanks so much, KSGal. When you look back, I have had a lot happen connected with this cancer diagnosis. But, I took the route of "using a sledgehammer" on my cancer and not going easy with it. Seems most docs these days are more into the QOL (which they can because of the newer drugs), but I had to "go for a remission."

As for the "exposed nerve root" - that was during the surgery when I was pleasantly elsewhere. The neurosurgeon had to "expose" that area to find out exactly what was wrong. And true to the CT myelogram, he found it.

Here is a link to the particular (METRx) instrument my neuro used to minimally access my spine area. My incision was small and has healed very quickly.
http://www.back.com/articles-metrx.html

Re: Surgery tomorrow - finally!
 

Steph, That is just crazy amazing! Thanks for the showing the intrument. I am in awe ouch?