Hi Rob Oh dear - I am glad you did not put your back out again laughing at myself and I guess your wife. I feel so so embarrassed. I had really given it no more than a glance and was really looking at your adorable dog. Please apologise to your wife. I guess that deep down she is amused - I certainly hope so. Explain to her that I am elderly and my sight is not as good as it used to be!!!!
So glad things are going well for you - the numbness and tingling are following the same pattern as mine but at least I was warned. I think the secret is time. Before three months you are not really certain how far the final improvements will go and indeed Hugh's consultant said you can still get improvements up to 18 months. I am not sure if I have any symptoms now all pain is from the OA and the spinal stenosis but I can now walk up to 100 yards without needing to sit down but need a stick beyond about 30 yards and my pain is on standing and walking but never on sitting or lying down.
I started driving this weekend at nine weeks.Quite a challenge as I have not driven for a year, it is a different car and automatic not gears. Putting that into perspective my favourite car of late was my Ford KA so a Peugeot 308 estate is a bit of a shock for manouvrebility, and I learnt to drive 54 years ago and was taught to drive on my gears not my brakes so that is an even greater shock. Think I really need to glue my left foot to the floor. However, it has gone fairly well except for the latter. I am surprised you are allowed to drive so soon. The written instructions from our hospital actually say three months, but as I have no pain or numbness remaining he agreed to me starting a little early.
Take care
Angela
No harm done Angela, she laughed it off! (After she put out a bounty on your head, lol)
I only did a short drive, so nothing too serious.
PT started today and was a waste of time, i thought the physio was rubbish and she gave me some exercises to be doing and scheduled me in for two weeks time!!!
Anyway, still feeling good and optimistic about the future!
Love to you all!
Rob x
Hi Rob
You must be about five weeks now - how is it going. Is Rio being a complete distraction to any discomfort and is he exercising you well?
Angela
Five weeks today Angela, and thanks for asking 🙂
I've made progress but still experience some pain but certainly not to the extent as before. Climbing and descending stairs is a bit of a problem. Going for a number two's has become an Olympic event for me, the Tramadol im still taking causes severe constipation lol!
Apart from that, not a lot else to say, Rio is great fun and has been a great way for me to get out of the house and go for some walks which have helped.
All things being equal, i go back to work next Monday and am looking forward to it immensely, im getting bored at home and the sight of my wife is starting to bore me :D:D:D:D thats a joke btw lol
Take care and see you in a few weeks hopefully!
Good luck everyone and hope your all feeling a tad bit better!!
Rob
Hi Rob,
I still have some pain as well but it does not impact me. ie I can get about and do most things. For that I am gratefull and try to remind myself each day how much better I am than I was pre op. I started getting symptoms in my good leg but feel this is just the nerve sorting itself out. Whoever invented the term 'pain in the butt' obviously had sciatica!
Hi Rob and Hugh
Good to hear that generally things are going well and you are going back to work tomorrow. I am sure you will take it easy to start with but do take care.
It is interesting how we all react to different drugs differently. Tramadol and Pregablin never gave me constipation, but Tramadol dulled my brain a lot. We were like the Two Ronnies - I would start a sentence and Peter would supply various endings as I could not!!! Glad I am now off that - have you been on a reducing dose or are you still taking the original amount? Sadly I am back on Pregablin. A little surprised by this as I thought it was for nerve pain but the rheumatologist says no they use it in some cases for arthritis pain too. This is because she will not allow me to take Tramadol (thank goodness) but feels long term NSAIDs would be dangerous for my slightly erratic kidneys. I don't have any side effects with Pregablin and just hope there are no silent ones!
We have been away this week to Harrogate. It was the big Embroidery/textile show which I had said last year I would never go to again. However, Peter persuaded me I would enjoy it and booked a hotel right opposite the exhibition centre. I did enjoy it but it was very crowded and spread over six halls and it certainly displayed my limitations and will not go again. We did have good weather and went to Fountains Abbey, Brimham Rocks and York as well.
I am now three months and very glad I had the operation for the things it has improved. However, my feeling is that if it happens again I am not repeating the op. I think every op weakens your back more. It sounds a bit pessimistic but I asked him if the spinal canal could close again and he said he really could not say, but that he did not think it would close in the two places he had opened up but as the canal was very narrow it could occur somewhere else.
I have the nerve pain slightly in my right leg in the car as passenger on longish journeys. The short journeys I have driven myself do not seem to affect it. However, this passes very quickly and no other problems. The lumbar spondylosis however leaves me with pain whenever I stand or walk. This is usually around 2 on the scale unless I have walked a distance. As however, I have no pain at all on sitting or lying down this overall is bearable so I am generally happy with life.
Hugh good to hear you are doing well. Wish I could be more active like you.
Angela
Hi Angela, glad to hear that in the main you are doing reasonably well.
Im still taking my meds but only the morning dosages, they seem to get me through the day. I still have some never tingling in the good right leg and some pain in the left hamstring but no butt pain. Surprisingly, driving appears to be ok but we just bought a new sofa suite and its lovely and comfy but too soft for me :(. Im going to look into getting something for myself more comfortable.
Yes, i return to work from tomorrow and cant wait. Love being the boss and earnign good money too helps lol!
Are you still looking for a lift from Liverpool St to Euston in December?
Take care
Rob x
Hi Rob
That would be lovely if you are sure.
Good luck again for tomorrow.
Angela
Hi Rob
I guess we are all eager to know how work went. Are you still pleased to be back. I do hope so.
I have also sent you a private message.
Angela
Hey Angela,
I have replied to your PM.
Work has been going well, i have now done nine days on the bounce and going in again shortly. I have been sensible doing shorter shifts at night. Driving and sitting has not been an issue but the mornings i do feel some slight sciatic pain but compared to pre op its not as bad. Still happy i took the decision to have the surgery.
Take care and hope all are well!
Rob x
Hello everyone,
Well its been 3 months and two weeks since my operation and im pleased to say im still doing pretty well. I'm back at work full time, walking the dog daily and generally getting on with life. I'm still aware of some residual discomfort but wouldn't call it pain as such. I'm able to do almost all the things i could before but do take it a lot easier. So pleased i chose to go ahead with the surgery though and fingers crossed i continue to improve. I hope you all had a great Xmas and New Year and look forward to hearing from you all in your recoveries in the coming weeks.
Regards
Rob
Hi Rob
Good to hear all is going well. May it continue to do so.
All the best
Hi Rob
Good to hear from you again. Sorry I have been busy and off computer so had missed this post completely. It is so quiet on here - is no-one having surgery at the moment.
Glad to hear things are still going OK with you - you have really done well. Wish I could say the same - but then we had different operations. As far as the op went still fine and delighted I had it. Still have back pain on standing and walking. Currently I have moved from ordinary physio to the physio gym at hospital. My back has not enjoyed this at all. In fact by week 3 I started to wonder if it was doing me more harm than good. However onwards and upwards - I shall persevere.
Glad to hear Rio is keeping you on your toes!!!
Angela