The back pain does not concern me. Yesterday, I started PT. I also decided to quit wearing the support brace. I still walked several miles without the brace, so I'm a little extra sore... higher activity levels, less meds, no brace - AND I STILL WOKE UP PAIN-FREE!!!

Pain-free didn't last all that long. It takes a while for the Oxy to kick in, so even though I took one when I awoke, my levels are still going down for some time. Last nights dose was taken an hour early, so at 7am, it had been 9 hours instead of 8, so it's really starting to wane in my system.

The things I can do amaze me. I'm often picking up our new puppy, sometimes while bending over the baby-gate. I thought she weighed 10 or 12 pounds. Yesterday, we took her to the vet for her shots. She weighs 21 pounds!!! I about fell over. I haven't been able to lift 20 pounds without paying for it dearly, in a long time!

The bad news is that I can now load the dishwasher without pain. I guess that in a day or two, I'll be able to empty it too. Unfortunately, I can also empty the trash.

It feels so good to be approaching normal. Thanks all for the love and support. I don't know what's been going on here, but I've seen posts from Dinkie and Halo about leaving the forum. I sure wish there was some way for us to contain the BS here. I hate to see such wonderful people leaving. I've watched them do so much good over the last couple of years. JimRad too! He was relatively new, but he was helping a lot of people posting his post-fusion experience.

I'll post again as soon as I take my next step.

Mark

Mark

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*** L4-5 and L5-S1 Disc Replacement (SB Charite III) 9/20/02 by Dr. Zeegers, AlphaKlinik, Munich, Germany ***

2/25/00 Microdiscectomy/laminotomy L4-5, 10x15x7 mm left paracentral protrusion

9/23/00 CANCELED L4-S1 360 fusion CANCELED

9/15/01 emergency microdiscectomy L5-S1, 14x13x10 mm left paracentral protrusion

Both discectomies resolved hip/leg/foot symptoms, but left the underlying back pain. Residual left foot pain and numbness. Lost axial reflex (left ankle).

Researching artificial disc options. ProDisc vs. SB Charite III looks like a toss-up, but you can see which one won.

*** The AlphaKlinik was wonderful. My expectations were high, but the clinic, it's staff, and Dr. Zeegers far exceeded them!!!

They are more than willing to review films and make a recommendation. I went there, never having spoken directly to any of the doctors. We communicated via email. I actually sent Zeegers MRI images in .jpg files.

Good luck. Tell them I sent you and I'm doing great! Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Every single forum members is rooting for you. What's interesting about your post-op experience is that you are maxing out your limits, as opposed to taking things slow. This undoubtly builds muscle, strength, and limberness, and I've always wondered which way is best.

Please keep up the progress reports, I know we will be referring future ADR candidates to your posts for a long time.

http://neuro-mancer.mgh.harvard.edu/ubb/Forum259/HTML/006211.html

It's great to hear about your continual progress. Keep telling us the good news!

now that you can do dishwasher duty and trash patrol, just come on over. but you MUST bring puppy, too - dogs are THE MOST AWESOME 'HUMAN BEAN' in the world! what kind is she? what's her name? dee

Then I come here and read your post, and can actually envision being able to walk again without so much pain. To wake up pain free? To walk pain free? I wouldn't believe it from someone I didn't know. Hanging in there; thanks