These updates are getting less frequent and will be shorter because there is not too much to report. YAY!!!

Remember, I came home from Germany at 2 weeks post-op, taking 120mg/day of OxyContin. It took 4 weeks to get down to zero. An additional week of withdrawals made 5 straight weeks of symptoms. I haven't had a narcotic in 2 weeks now. I still can't believe it. I'm tapering off the Wellbutrin (antidepressant) and will be done with that in a week. That will leave Bextra (an anti-inflammatory) as my only med. I'll try stopping that soon.

My old low back pain is almost completely gone. I still suffer from the muscle spasm pain, but now that the withdrawals are over, I can see it subsiding. I don't know how long it will take for me to rehab those old, weak muscles.

I've been swimming and working out in the Gym for a couple of weeks now. Today, I'll put a soccer ball in my gym bag and see if I can kick it around the indoor arena - VERY GENTLY! I can't wait. That is going to feel wonderful.

I keep thinking about picking up a tennis racquet or a golf club, but I think it's too soon to attempt any of the big twisting motions.

I don't want anyone to think that I'm ready to get back to sports... It is going to take months. The weather here has been great. I went flying yesterday and took our puppy, Sam, in the plane for the first time. She did great. It was such a busy day yesterday, that last night was pretty bad in terms of the spasms. BUT, that's only after a busy day now.... things get worse through the day, but it's very tolerable most of the time.

Take care all... talk to you soon!

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!!!

quote:

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Originally posted by robertmoffatt:
your arms must be tired from flapping... or do you use a cape and a funny tight suit when you fly...

just kidding mark... i'm eager to hear of your fullest recovery.

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Love,Lisa

My understanding is that the lost axial reflex doesn't represent any impairment. Ask me in a few weeks!

i think that they did the first cervical ADR here at sacred heart hospital (eugene, oregon) about two or three days ago (heard it on the news). and patient (s) doing well.

it's too late for me, but i sure am glad this option is out there for others!!

have a great evening.

I am SO SO SO SO happy for you Mark.

Let's try to get together soon.

xxoo,

Karen

Last time I was checked (awhile ago) my reflexes had not come back. It hasn't presented me with any problems and I too was told it's not uncommon for them not to return.

As far as your leg goes Mark and kicking...you will have to sort of relearn stuff. Not so much kicking, but fine motor skills (like ball handling and foot quickness). I, too, used to drag my left leg before surgery. Both feet have always been fairly equal in strength and skill for me and it sucked trying to get that left foot to work right when I first came back. I could run, jump, and kick with no problems from the left side...but the small/fine movement of the left foot was horrid initially. It was like the leg was just stupid...it took a lot of retraining and concentration on my part. But eventually the muscles relearned how to do fine motor skills and it became second nature again. It was nice once I didn't have to think about it anymore.

P.S. I did fall flat on my face a few times when that leg was still learning...so be cautious. But, it was pretty funny.

Maria Teresa

- Maria Teresa, from Florence, Italy.
-1998: first surgery, a COMPLETE DISECTOMY L4-L5 AND FUSION BY A CARBON CAGE
-pseudoarthrosis for failed fusion
-1999: second surgery, a POSTERIOR STABILIZATION l4-l5, by PLIF (a TITANIUM CAGE and SIR bars and PEDUNCULAR SCREWS).
-second surgery caused me a peripheral neuropathy
-at present, pain pharmacologic therapy: gabapentin, tramadol, amitriptilin, ketorolac
-Currently considering revision surgery ( removal of titanium cage L4-L5 by an anterior approach).

e-mail: anemoreb@tiscali.it

Shell

Last night we went out for a quick dinner and the first play. We saw Major Barbara by George Bernard Shaw. It's a long play, but I survived. It was great to see live theatre again!

SB Charite III: www.linkspine.com

ProDisc: www.spinesolutionsinc.com

I went to Munich (from southern California) to have mine done at the AlphaKlinik by Dr. Zeegers.