Greetings from Maryland

[Greatbear]

It occurred to me that I have transitioned from a long-time lurker then to a member that quietly lurked even more, and only more recently started participating. Anyway, my name is Phil, I've been wrenching on stuff since I've been in single-digit age, am quite accomplished in most mechanical, electrical/electronic and construction related endeavors. My uptick in posting comes as I am on temporary disability waiting for lower back surgery. I hope as I approach 50 years of age (in less than a year and a half) that my body does not become like some of the hopeless jalopies I've worked on that kept needing repair after repair.

Anyhow, this is a great forum with a lot of varied people from all over, and has been a lot of help in passing the time. Hope to make some new friends here as well.

Cheers!

 

[aqr81]

Best of luck to you on your upcoming surgery.

 

[Greatbear]

Thanks! It's done, and now I eagerly await several months of recovery.

 

[George Aponte]

Hello Greatbear,
Amazingly enough, I had 4 herniated discs in my lumbar area - L1 to L4, and had a procedure done 15 days ago, it is called a plasma disc decompression. The dr. goes in with a needle and with the help of x-ray machine and assistance from 6 other nurses and specialist monitoring, he removes the debris from around the disc. My doctor said it would take at least a couple of months for me to see some changes, but I saw him on Thursday and told him I had already walked for 1/2 hour everyday and could sleep waking up only 2 times instead of 7 as before. I was in a car accident 3 years ago and have been in pain ever since. I am 64 years old and did take care of myself. I also have a C2-C4 herniation and my neck is also injured. Hang in there, do exactly what the Dr. recommends and have a lot of faith and think positive, as if you are already healed and it will happen.
All my best to you and your family,
George-66mustang
P.S. I love Mustangs!

 

[787B]

Hey Maryland, here's Maryland too! Forest Hill to be precise. I'm new to this forum but already have learned so much!

I'm a few years younger, but know the fun of back problems. C-spine trouble. Good luck on the recovery!

 

[StinkyBunny]

I'm another Marylander, Bel Air checking in here. Keep up with your physical therapy and your recovery will go a lot faster.

 

[Greatbear]

Thanks, everyone, you've made me feel welcomed here.

As for my surgery, it was a L4-L5-T1 laminectomy, as well as clearing debris from one badly herniated disc. Unfortunately, because of a hereditary factor that caused my spinal cord duct to be rather small to begin with, the laminectomy (a process which removed the lamina, or that fin-like tab present on all the vertebrae as well as the posterior portion of bone that surrounds the spinal cord) was a necessity. this also pushed the spinal cord forward against the herniated disc, which actually dug into the spinal cord itself causing numbness and extreme pain. There is going to be a long period of time where the nerves attempt to regenerate. In the meantime, I have severe numbness in both feet. I will learn more this week after a followup visit with the doc.

It aint fun getting old, and all that heavy lifting in my past seems to have caught up with me!