Operation...
Now I really don't know how many people will read this but it is the easiest way to get the information out there...
Some may have known that we were in T.O. this last weekend, and while it was also to visit Lian's family, the main objective was my consultation with an Orthopedic Surgeon this past Monday.
After looking over my latest X-rays, CT scans and some basic pain threshold testing on movement, It was decided that my condition warrants surgery...
I won't explain what spondolylithesis is again, but the bottom line is that my L5 disc has shifted 50% over the S1 vertebrae and this is causing pressure on the L5 nerve. Basically I can walk about two hundred yards, I then have pain radiating from the lower back through my buttocks and then down my entire leg. The further I walk the longer I have to stop and recover, and then the process starts all over again. This will not get better over time, only worse...the exact timetable cannot be projected.
I played golf close to 35 times this past summer because of this and at one point did not play for 3 consecutive weeks, and less than 7 times after the long weekend in August (this is about 20% of my normal summer activity)...I was taking vioxx and was feeling better, but after it was pulled from the market I started on celebrex...it's not really working for me, and I had the ok to try a couple in one day, but it really upset my stomach and caused other lower problems as well.
The doctor I saw in Toronto, Dr. Chapman, originally a North Bay boy...was recommended by my regular Doctor as one of the best. I waited almost three months to get in for this consultation and will have to wait until May 4th for the operation. They were able to get me in a week earlier, but Lian is in her cousin's wedding that weekend and since I have to wait that long, what's another week...besides, a free bar is too good of a thing to pass up...
I will have to head down again for blood work, ECG monitoring and other small tests before the surgery. Now from what was discussed it will take anywhere from 3-4 hours and then I will be in the hospital for a minimum of 5 days, at which time I can come home by car, with the odd stop to get up and move. I will be off work for anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks. This of course depends on how well I recover, manage pain and basically as the Doctor put it, "Get off your ass and walk".
I have a large percentage of my wage covered by sick leave and extended benefits...but we will have to tighten our belts...I guess the Hummer is out for now...lol...
So that's it, it's things as usual for now...I am going to try to take off another 20 lbs. in the next couple of months to help in the recovery process. I want to do this now so I will not be in a walker by the time I'm 40, or in enough pain that I have to resort to popping percocets like they are Tic Tacs (by the way, percocets is basically Tylonol and Oxycodone, they call it 'Hillbilly Crack', the stuff Jack Osbourne was adicted to)...the main goal is to get back to as close to normal as possible. It wasn't trauma or living life to excess that did this, just the way I was put together by the good Lord...he missed a couple of soldering connections in the back...
I plan on sticking around for a long time, not only for Lilly and Lian but to finally see the return of NHL hockey in 2022........
Wallace out.
Some may have known that we were in T.O. this last weekend, and while it was also to visit Lian's family, the main objective was my consultation with an Orthopedic Surgeon this past Monday.
After looking over my latest X-rays, CT scans and some basic pain threshold testing on movement, It was decided that my condition warrants surgery...
I won't explain what spondolylithesis is again, but the bottom line is that my L5 disc has shifted 50% over the S1 vertebrae and this is causing pressure on the L5 nerve. Basically I can walk about two hundred yards, I then have pain radiating from the lower back through my buttocks and then down my entire leg. The further I walk the longer I have to stop and recover, and then the process starts all over again. This will not get better over time, only worse...the exact timetable cannot be projected.
I played golf close to 35 times this past summer because of this and at one point did not play for 3 consecutive weeks, and less than 7 times after the long weekend in August (this is about 20% of my normal summer activity)...I was taking vioxx and was feeling better, but after it was pulled from the market I started on celebrex...it's not really working for me, and I had the ok to try a couple in one day, but it really upset my stomach and caused other lower problems as well.
The doctor I saw in Toronto, Dr. Chapman, originally a North Bay boy...was recommended by my regular Doctor as one of the best. I waited almost three months to get in for this consultation and will have to wait until May 4th for the operation. They were able to get me in a week earlier, but Lian is in her cousin's wedding that weekend and since I have to wait that long, what's another week...besides, a free bar is too good of a thing to pass up...
I will have to head down again for blood work, ECG monitoring and other small tests before the surgery. Now from what was discussed it will take anywhere from 3-4 hours and then I will be in the hospital for a minimum of 5 days, at which time I can come home by car, with the odd stop to get up and move. I will be off work for anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks. This of course depends on how well I recover, manage pain and basically as the Doctor put it, "Get off your ass and walk".
I have a large percentage of my wage covered by sick leave and extended benefits...but we will have to tighten our belts...I guess the Hummer is out for now...lol...
So that's it, it's things as usual for now...I am going to try to take off another 20 lbs. in the next couple of months to help in the recovery process. I want to do this now so I will not be in a walker by the time I'm 40, or in enough pain that I have to resort to popping percocets like they are Tic Tacs (by the way, percocets is basically Tylonol and Oxycodone, they call it 'Hillbilly Crack', the stuff Jack Osbourne was adicted to)...the main goal is to get back to as close to normal as possible. It wasn't trauma or living life to excess that did this, just the way I was put together by the good Lord...he missed a couple of soldering connections in the back...
I plan on sticking around for a long time, not only for Lilly and Lian but to finally see the return of NHL hockey in 2022........
Wallace out.
posted by Craig at
11:28 PM
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