Fusion (ALIF) on L4/L5 & L5/S1 scheduled for May 28th

**KBear** · 05-30-2010, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Greg

LOL....thats what I hate about the drugs. I take Percocet and Oxycontin and they just make me so irritable

....and when I lose my text (especially after typing a book) I lose my temper so quick. I cant wait for the day when the quality of my life is not dependent on a bottle of pills. I mean what happens if the world comes to an end and I cant get to the pharmacy at the end of the month?.....I'll tell you what happens; I DONT GET TO HAVE ANY QUALITY OF LIFE

Thats one of the biggest motivations I had to go through with spiNe surgery. I cannnot live my life and have the quality of it be dependent on a bottle of pills. It's just not a fair way to live. Thank god

for advancements in the medical field where they can fix us instead of say you're just gonna have to take meds for the rest of your life

Couldn't agree more.

**Carmen** · 05-30-2010, 08:14 PM

Does anyone remember where Gil was going to have his surgery? I am confused. Who is having their surgery on May 28th. Whose on first??? Gil was talking about going to Germany. Does anyone recall if he set that up? I was on yesterday but I must have missed it somewhere along the way. I never know where to go to first. As for losing your replies, I would be rich if I had a quarter for each time it went to outer space. i know to put it into word, but I am so anxious to give a reply, that I forget to do that. Duh!

Carmen

**Cindylou** · 05-30-2010, 11:43 PM

Carmen, Greg was origionally going to have his surgery on May 28th but it got pushed back until June, I think the 18th....it's in his signature. Gil is still searching for the right solution for his spine. He is planning on sending films off to Dr. Bertagnoli in Germany, but to the best of my knowledge has not made a firm decision yet. Hope that helps.

**Greg** · 06-04-2010, 08:01 PM

OMG!!!! 2 WEEKS LEFT!

I think its finally starting to set in that I am actually having surgery and getting myself fixed

...well hopefully. MY big concern now is that my sacroilliac joints account for about half of my daily pain

and when those flair up thats when the leg pain kicks in

. The doctors seem to think once we fix my back and relieve the pressure off the nerves then the sacro area will calm down

....I sure hope their right

. I'm just scared that sacro pain wont go away and I'll need future surgeries to fix it.

CL, you had a sacoilliac joint fusion, right? Do you feel like the surgery was successful and getting any pain relief? I hope it doesnt come down to additional surgeries for me but I'm finally to the point of repairing myself and might as well get it all done if need be.

**Carmen** · 06-04-2010, 08:56 PM

Hi Greg,
My life my be a little easier for me since I just got a new computer. I did not realize how much time my other computer was taking up/ I am wireless now and it feels good.

My doctor told me that the legs were the easiest to fix so I think you are going to be in good shape. The nurse had someone call me that had the operation March 3. So he is post op about 3 months. He sounded good and he had been back to work. He had 4 levels and he is had about the same thing that I am having, except he already had the spinal stonosis operation. He said by about from 7-10 days he was pretty much ok. Turns out he lives about a mile away. He was married so he said it was probably a little easier for him but he said his wife did not have to do too much after the first week. I think maybe we both are worrying way too much. I am a wreck since I have a lot to do before the due date. Putting together a new computer was a hassle since I did not know Win 7. I think everything is okay now. Are you bringing your computer to the hospital. I hope so. I want to wish you such good luck. You are so young to have this happen to you. You will be better and your life will certainly turn around. Maybe down the road a bit you will want to get married. I hope so. You can begin your family and you would be such a good husbank and father. Talk to you again soon, Carmen

Just thinking, I wonder if Justin is listening to the hockey game? Well anyway, I wasted a lot of time today
since for some reason the network lost the printer.

**Greg** · 06-04-2010, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by Carmen

Hi Greg,
My life my be a little easier for me since I just got a new computer. I did not realize how much time my other computer was taking up/ I am wireless now and it feels good.

My doctor told me that the legs were the easiest to fix so I think you are going to be in good shape. The nurse had someone call me that had the operation March 3. So he is post op about 3 months. He sounded good and he had been back to work. He had 4 levels and he is had about the same thing that I am having, except he already had the spinal stonosis operation. He said by about from 7-10 days he was pretty much ok. Turns out he lives about a mile away. He was married so he said it was probably a little easier for him but he said his wife did not have to do too much after the first week. I think maybe we both are worrying way too much. I am a wreck since I have a lot to do before the due date. Putting together a new computer was a hassle since I did not know Win 7. I think everything is okay now. Are you bringing your computer to the hospital. I hope so. I want to wish you such good luck. You are so young to have this happen to you. You will be better and your life will certainly turn around. Maybe down the road a bit you will want to get married. I hope so. You can begin your family and you would be such a good husbank and father. Talk to you again soon, Carmen

Just thinking, I wonder if Justin is listening to the hockey game? Well anyway, I wasted a lot of time today
since for some reason the network lost the printer.

Glad to hear you got a wireless computer....I dont know what I would do if I had to wait a week or so to hear how you and your procedure went

As a matter of a fact, I am actually engaged to my wonderful fiance Joanna Brinson and we are set to wed in May of 2012.....I told her when I met her I wouldnt marry her unless I lived with her 3 years. After that if she still wanted to marry me...and could put up with me....then I would know she is the one I could happily spend the rest of my life with. I love her with all my heart and never would have made it this far without her support.

I'm sure Justin is whatching the FLYERS WOOP THE BLACKHAWKS BUTT as I am so happily enjoying the game myself. I was born in Philly and have been die hard Flyers, Eagles, Phillies and 76er's fan since I was big enough to wear the jerseys. I sure hope we (Flyers) keep the 2 point lead and make this a back-to-back win

I will have my laptop at the hospital with me and Joanna said she was going to register with SPS so she can keep everyone posted about my surgery when I'm not able to. I LOVE HER SO MUCH!

Glad to hear your doing ok Carmen....I hadnt heard from you in a bit and was getting a little worried.....Take care!

**ajj1001** · 06-05-2010, 03:21 AM

Originally Posted by Greg

I will have my laptop at the hospital with me and Joanna said she was going to register with SPS so she can keep everyone posted about my surgery when I'm not able to. I LOVE HER SO MUCH!

Thats good, look forward to saying hi to her, she sounds lovely. Are you super prepared for your post op recovery time?

**linda** · 06-05-2010, 02:31 PM

Greg,
I understand your concern for the sacro issues. It seems like everytime I go see Dr. D. he tells me something different.
Appt. before last when I went in there talking fusion he said he would problably go in from the front since I am so small. A few weeks ago we looked at my MRI on his screen from a different angle and he showed me all this fluid that was not from the almost completely degenerated disc but was from the facet joints...There is also inflamation and arthritis as well as a little white nerve you could see sticking out. I was kind of shocked. He said if he went thru the back he could clean all that up whereas he couldn't as much if he went thru the front. Recovery is longer this way. It might pay to call him this week and see what he says. I just feel like that if I go thru surgery and go thru the front with ADR or fusion and my pain does not get better I will not be a happy camper to put it lightly. I wish you much luck and I don't mean to dissuade you in any way. Have a nice day!
Linda

**Cindylou** · 06-06-2010, 10:35 AM

Greg, although my SI Joint Fusion really cleared up my nerve pain in my leg, I am still having some issues with it fusing, and pain at the incision site, which seems way too long, since surgery was 15 months ago for it. I wish you the best in all your decision making and countdown to surgery. :thumpup:

**Carmen** · 06-14-2010, 04:19 AM

Dear Greg,

You are very close to your surgery date. I am holding my breath and will breathe again when I hear from Joanna. The date just came up so fast. You will be fine. You have a lot of support both here and at home. Take care and some prayers always help. You are young so you will heal Just don't get up and start running or something else
that will bring havoc to yourself. Lately I have been having trouble sleeping. It could be anxiety.

Carmen