Big Letdown

M

MikeH

Joined
Oct 18, 2001
Messages
4,611
Well, tomorrow was supposed to be the big day. Back surgery. From the time I missed Blade this year until now, the pain and uselessness of my left foot has gotten very bad. To tell the truth, I was really looking forward to having the back surgery, which would have been my fourth, the previous three having provided wonderful relief.

I was told last week to skip my Plavix for seven days. I checked in with my cardiologist, who said absolutely not. I had two stents installed in January, and he said I must not skip Plavix for at least a year afterward. I am now faced with the dreary prospect of dragging my left leg around on a cane for six more months. What is really getting me down is the extended lack of any meaningful exercise. I feel like I am turning into a marshmallow. The only enjoyable outdoor activities I can still manage are my trips to the range, and I must cut them short.

I am needing some O2W blades to arrive so I can at least fondle them.
 
Sorry to hear about this, Mike. Try to keep your spirits up. I will keep you in my thoughts and hope for the best.
 
Sorry to hear about your situation Mike. I had back surgery about 5 years ago, so I feel your pain, at least a small measure of it. Sounds like your situation is compounded with other complexities.

Do you mind my asking how your injury came about? Mine was due in part to a car accident, which seems all too common for back patients. In any case, try and stay hopeful and occupied. Can you access a pool? That might be helpful all around. I genuinely wish you all the best.
 
It's a huge issue trying to manage exercise when you're injured or have a chronic condition. And it's great you're not overlooking it.

Have you tried any upper body stuff with dumbbells, like curls, seated military press, bench press, if your condition will allow?

Have you tried those exercises bands / cords? They're pretty good and give good negative resistance.

Even isometric exercises are better than nothing. Hang in there, if I lived near Birmingham I'd love to be your exercise partner!
 
jstn said:
Sorry to hear about your situation Mike. I had back surgery about 5 years ago, so I feel your pain, at least a small measure of it. Sounds like your situation is compounded with other complexities.

Do you mind my asking how your injury came about? Mine was due in part to a car accident, which seems all too common for back patients. In any case, try and stay hopeful and occupied. Can you access a pool? That might be helpful all around. I genuinely wish you all the best.
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I had my first back operation at age 22. Blew out a disc while working my way through Auburn at a construction job to supplement my Air Force scholarship, which I lost because of the surgery.
Second in 1983. Third a couple of years ago. I have had intermittent problems for years, but had been on a year-long streak where I was doing much better, so much so that I could take up fishing again. During April I went once a week, hooking up trailer, moving heavy batteries, sitting in boat, bending and reaching all day. Apparently the effect was cumulative, as the morning after my last trip I was in severe pain and my left leg below the knee totally numb.
 
Sounds like you have had a rough go of it recently, but here's to you getting back to full strength and back to doing what you love. Hang in there brother! If they are putting in rods, maybe request they put in rods made out of INFI rather than Titanium!
 
Good luck. Blew 2 discs out when I was 21, 20 years ago, and then had my neck fused a year or two ago. Missed that whole year of fishing so I know what you're talking about.. Pain starting down my arm again now so I'm assuming they will have to re fuse my neck again at some point. Ick.
 
PeteyTwoPointOne said:
It's a huge issue trying to manage exercise when you're injured or have a chronic condition. And it's great you're not overlooking it.

Have you tried any upper body stuff with dumbbells, like curls, seated military press, bench press, if your condition will allow?

Have you tried those exercises bands / cords? They're pretty good and give good negative resistance.

Even isometric exercises are better than nothing. Hang in there, if I lived near Birmingham I'd love to be your exercise partner!
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I did heavy duty resistance training for years. I have dumbbell sets from five pounds through 75 pounds and one of the oldest, hardest-worked Bowflex machines in existence. I don't think my back would let me do the incidental handing, picking up and putting down that dumbbells entail but I will be trying lighter, hi-rep stuff on the Bowflex for cardio. Strangely enough, I have arrived at age 70 with very good knees and even with the left leg issues can still do a few arm-assisted deep knee bends.
 
jstn: No rods. In fact this was scheduled as outpatient surgery, home the same day. My doctor has a very good reputation as a minimally-invasive surgeon.
 
good for you brother! sounds like you're really on top of things as much as possible...Now it really makes me wish I could be your exercise buddy, at 70, you could teach me a lot....keep us updated and PM me anytime you need to talk/vent/bounce around some ideas and most of all shoot the bull about blades!
 
Sorry to hear about your troubles. Hope the six months pass quickly. Maybe Jerry will come out with a sword cane for you during O2W. Just moved back to bham on the other side of town, so if you need help moving INFI around give a shout. 3 Sept. 2008 was the last day my back didn't hurt.
 
We are all thing of you, Mike. Hang in there and it will get better.

Six months? It'll pass fast.
 
I feel for you. Just getting over a pinched nerve myself. Happened in Jan. and still having some pain from it run down my legs. Really though I was going to have to go to a doctor over that one. The last time I had one that bad was about 15 years ago,it didn't hurt as much but took 9 months to get over.
 
MikeH said:
jstn: No rods. In fact this was scheduled as outpatient surgery, home the same day. My doctor has a very good reputation as a minimally-invasive surgeon.
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Did they say why you had to be off the meds?
 
u812 said:
Did they say why you had to be off the meds?
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Plavix is a blood thinner. I cut my left thumb a few days ago, just a nick really, and it took several hours for it to clot up and stop bleeding.
Not being able to stop bleeding during surgery can ruin your whole day.
 
I get it. My son is a Hemophiliac,he can be factored for surgery.Not the same I know but looks like they could come up with something.
 
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