[Artificial Disc Replacement / Lumbar] WPKat's Journey to Stenum (Artificial Disc Replacement L3-L4 & L4-L5)

[WPKat]

12 Weeks Post Op

My 3 month lumbar x-ray's were taken yesterday and it all looks good! I have to admit that even though I believed that my artificial discs had not migrated or subsided, I was relieved to have it confirmed. They will be scanning in the x-rays that were done in Germany for comparison purposes and it will be nice to have them in digital form. All the necessary bloodwork was done, but I won't hear from them unless the numbers are off.

During my "mild" physical therapy exercises, I am using 3 lb ankle and 2 lb wrist weights along with 3 lb dumb bells (afterall, there is nothing wrong with my arms). On my Treadmill, I have worked up to 2.6 mph with a 2.5 incline for 35 minutes a day. This past week, I also started light strength training on my Bowflex; adding one exercise and one set at a time to be on the safe side and so far ... so good. I feel good about making some real progress with my fitness program.

My pain specialist put in a referral for physical therapy; the next level up from what I am doing. I am not exactly sure what that will entail, but will enjoy getting out of the house more often.

I asked about using my Elliptical, and after looking at my lumbar x-rays, my pain specialist gave me the go ahead. I am a bit leary, however, and will probably wait on it until I have successfully increased my speed on the Treadmill. I really suck at running so I have no intention of using my Treadmill in that way. The Elliptical was easy on my old knees and I once really enjoyed using it. As soon as I feel "ready," I will dust it off and put it to good use again.

Pain wise ... the mornings are still sluggish and often painful. Once I get into doing my PT and exercise program, I start feeling a lot better. I often have long blocks of time in the afternoon where I feel pretty darn good with little to no pain until late afternoon. I am usually exhausted by the evening hours, but I am also a lot more active during the day. Of course, I still have bad days. Last night, I woke up in pain and resorted to taking a Gabapentin and half a Vicodin so I could fall back to sleep ... but those nights are happening less often and a lot farther apart.

Sitting is still painful; I don't know where that poker came from but I wish it would get out of my bum when I sit ... dang, it smarts!



I asked my pain specialist to prescribe a lower dose of Vicodin; on average, I am taking around 15 mg or less a day (of course, a bit more on a bad day). I will celebrate the day when I am finally able to free myself from it!

I am doing really well, especially when compared to before ADR surgery. Being impatient, I would like to be 100% already, but I know that it's not the least bit realistic. The most important thing is that I am so much better off than before.

[Susanna]

It sounds to me like you are doing really really well! Stay patient and don't over do it. Did you ask the doctor about the sitting pain? Perhaps that will diminish with healing. I am having my fusion hopefully in the next week or two, just waiting for the insurance company to get their act together!

I have horrible pain sitting, but mine is an impinged nerve. I'm sure yours is nothing like that.

Keep up the great healing!:thumpup:

[trkdoc714]

You "sound" great! It sounds like you backed off a bit after your initial pain flare up. Enjoy your recovery!

If I remember correctly, I started back to work at my 12 week anniversary. I had infrequent pain for nearly 7 or 8 months post op, but you're right in anticipating that last pain killer. It was a tremendous rush when I realized I hadn't had a Percocet for a few weeks.

Bob

[KBear]

You do sound like you are doing great. I know we all want to be healed last week, patience is definitely a virtue when healing. So much easier said than done though.

[WPKat]

It sounds to me like you are doing really really well! Stay patient and don't over do it. Did you ask the doctor about the sitting pain? Perhaps that will diminish with healing. I am having my fusion hopefully in the next week or two, just waiting for the insurance company to get their act together!

I have horrible pain sitting, but mine is an impinged nerve. I'm sure yours is nothing like that.

Keep up the great healing!:thumpup:

Susanna,

Yes, my pain specialist said that there is a lot more pressure put on the lower spine when sitting, mine is in still in the process of healing and she expects that the pain I experience while sitting will improve in time.

I believe I read somewhere else that you were having your fusion done on Monday ... today? I wish you the very best!!



K

[Carson]

Keep up the Bowflex, Kat. Keep it very light and be acutely aware of your spine while exercising still well under one year from surgery but keep at it! I believe exercising -- the proper form of it specifically for spine patients -- is what has kept me off the surgery table for the time being. I can't express how helpful my walking and glide-workouts have been for body, mind and spirit. Keep moving -- gently.

[JK2234]

How does it feel when you stretch with the M6 disc in your back? Natural? Touch your toes?

[WPKat]

4+ Months Post-Op

I have had some very good days where I truly believe I am on the road to a full recovery, but it seems that whenever I am bold enough to articulate my enthusiasm to others, I enevitably jinx my progress and I am hit with a disappointing setback. I now hesitate to talk about it; somewhat superstitious that it will stunt my progress (haha).

A couple of weeks ago, I was on a roll and doing very well. But then I was slammed by a particularily nasty bladder infection that set me back bigtime. I was surprised by how long it took me to get back to where I was before. During the same time, I experienced 3 separate family drama incidents in a row that really stressed me out. It was a reminder that my back is definitely still in recovery and that I need to keep the stress in my life down as much as humanly possible. Stress is simply just not conducive to recovery.



I am having trouble with the levels directly above my lumbar. Generally, whenever I have done too much, my mid-back yelps out in pain.



My pain specialist believes that my mid-back muscles are spasming due to my being "decommissioned" during the time when I was unable to stand up straight or for very long (well over 16 months). In essence, my back muscles are wimpy. If so, it should stop happening over time as long as I work at strengthening my back muscles. She also believes that my degenerative facet joints are causing some of my residual pain.



Most days, I spend about 50 minutes doing physical therapy, which mainly consists of a number of exercises designed to stretch my back muscles. I then spend 40 minutes walking on my treadmill (increasing speed and time slowly). I still use my bowflex for strength training (adding exercise type and repititions slowly), but my main focus right now is on walking. An article I read yesterday stated that your target walking speed should be 3 to 3.5 mph, which quite annoyed me as I thought I was doing pretty good at 2.8 mph. It didn't address the incline, which affects the intensity of the walk since you are essentially walking uphill. I currently alternate between a 2.5 and 3 incline. Even still, I am trying to improve my fitness level so I walked 2.9 mph today. My treadmill showed that I was at the "fat burning" workout level for the entire 41 minutes (YEE HAH)!



My goal is 45 minutes at 3 mph, alternating inclines to at least 5. I have no interest in joggng or running so once I reach my walking goal on the treadmill, I plan on incorporating the elliptical.

After my workout, I have the "all exciting" household chores to get done; some of which can be quite taxing on my back, especially vacumming or mopping the floor. I still need to break it down into managable segments or my mid-back yelps and my pain level increases.

There are days that I push too hard and pay dearly for it in the afternoon and then there are days where I just need to take a break due to exhaustion, high pain day, etc. The good news, however, is that I am recovering from it a lot faster; almost always by the next day instead of several days like before.

My pain level varies and is dependent upon, among other things, my activity level and sleep habits. On average, I am taking around 12.5 mg of Vicodiin; sometimes even less. I am not on a schedule. I cut my pills in half and take the least amount possible. It's not a perfect science though and at times I end up in tears, "chasing the pain," but I do my best to balance it out so that doesn't happen. I also cut my Gabapentin down from 1500 mg to 1200 mg with no ill affect.

By the way, the left knee pain I experienced when I first started walking after ADR surgery completely went away!

I still spend way too much time at home so I am trying to find ways to venture out (ideals welcomed). I became quite the hermit and find it hard to find an excuse to do something outside of my home. Although it's a challenge, I am able to go to wholesale grocery store on my own now, but I need to go more often to keep the cart from becomming too full and/or heavy. I went to a regular grocery store the other day to pick up a few items just to get out of the house. But going every day would be cost prohibitive and could potentially endanger my wasteline. I seriously need other things to do outside of the house that doesn't involve food or lots of money.



I am still not 100 percent, but I feel that I am on my way ... I am just not exactly sure when I will get there.



K

[WPKat]

How does it feel when you stretch with the M6 disc in your back? Natural? Touch your toes?

My back feels a lot more normal now with the M6's than it did before without them.

Just because you asked, I tried it ... and yes, I can touch my toes!

[KBear]

You really seem to be doing good for 4 months post op. It is very up and down on the healing. I was just commenting on another thread that my recovery sounds like I'm bi-polar from all the up and down of it. It takes time, but you will get there. I was just able to quit the last of my medication last week and be pain free and I'm over 18 months out. For some it happens sooner, others longer. You really are doing great with all the exercising, I think at 4 months out, I was still glued to my couch and heating pad. I completely get the being a hermit, I went from always on the go (literally I never stayed home) to never leaving my house. I think a lot of it for me is breaking the mindset we had to have when in back pain. We had to think about the what if I get out and hurt, what if I hurt more because of doing this and so on and that led us to stay home. Now that you are on the road to recovery, you just have to commit to doing something, maybe once a week first, then do it. I made myself make a coffee date with a friend, or go visit someone, just anything to get out. I know I still find myself thinking about will I be in pain, then have to realize that I don't have to worry about that anymore.