- Joined
- May 18, 1999
- Messages
- 15,395
Well today was the big day. Got to see the results of the CT scan that was taken the day the Discogram was done. Just a confirmation that indeed the L-5 to S-1 joint is shot and it's bone against bone.
Seems I handle pain better than most folks according to Dr. Anthony, my pain management Dr.
But I don't know if that's a good thing or not.
Anyway surgery possible within three weeks!
Dr. Gaede said he would try the new procedure where he will do a tiny incision off at an angle and push through and around the muscle instead of cutting in from the back with a big incision.
Bone from the bone bank, cadaver bone I'm sure, will be inserted after the joint is spread apart and the nerves pushed off to the side making sure they have plenty of clearance.
The bone will be deposited where needed and then treated with a chemical that encourages bone to grow.
I'll be up at the side of the bed that evening and walking the next day, out the fourth day if I'm eating and drinking and having the consequent bodily functions.
A month in a chair back brace and I should be good to go, that's if everything goes all right.
Dr. Gaede said I should be able to expect at least a pain level of 2 if that much but that I may have to have injections into the SI joints from time to time.
After the surgery tests will be done to see about the pain emitting from my hips if it is still there to see if my hips need work.
Then the road to recovery again. I'll work at it as long as it doesn't hurt too bad.
Told Dr. Gaede that I was getting too old for this though.
Seems I handle pain better than most folks according to Dr. Anthony, my pain management Dr.
But I don't know if that's a good thing or not. Anyway surgery possible within three weeks!
Dr. Gaede said he would try the new procedure where he will do a tiny incision off at an angle and push through and around the muscle instead of cutting in from the back with a big incision.
Bone from the bone bank, cadaver bone I'm sure, will be inserted after the joint is spread apart and the nerves pushed off to the side making sure they have plenty of clearance.
The bone will be deposited where needed and then treated with a chemical that encourages bone to grow.
I'll be up at the side of the bed that evening and walking the next day, out the fourth day if I'm eating and drinking and having the consequent bodily functions.
A month in a chair back brace and I should be good to go, that's if everything goes all right.
Dr. Gaede said I should be able to expect at least a pain level of 2 if that much but that I may have to have injections into the SI joints from time to time.
After the surgery tests will be done to see about the pain emitting from my hips if it is still there to see if my hips need work.
Then the road to recovery again. I'll work at it as long as it doesn't hurt too bad.
Told Dr. Gaede that I was getting too old for this though.
