Comments for Technical Happenings http://www.markedgington.com news, views and reviews Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:53:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Comment on Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) – Back Surgery by Scott http://www.markedgington.com/2010/05/29/anterior-lumbar-interbody-fusion-alif-back-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-1450 Scott Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:53:29 +0000 http://www.markedgington.com/?p=668#comment-1450 Just an update. I had my surgery on 12/29/11. I only stayed in the hospital one night. The first week was pretty tough, but I have been steadily recovering ever since. It has been almost three weeks now. I was back at work in 12 days! It has not been easy, but I know it will be worth it. The hardest part has been not picking up my children. I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 6 month old. Hopefully at my next appointment the doctor will up my weight limit so that I can pick up my baby! Thanks again for all the posts. Having read other's experiences really eased my anxiety about the surgery. Like I told the surgeon, I had it easy. All I had to do was sleep! Just an update. I had my surgery on 12/29/11. I only stayed in the hospital one night. The first week was pretty tough, but I have been steadily recovering ever since. It has been almost three weeks now. I was back at work in 12 days! It has not been easy, but I know it will be worth it. The hardest part has been not picking up my children. I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 6 month old. Hopefully at my next appointment the doctor will up my weight limit so that I can pick up my baby!

Thanks again for all the posts. Having read other’s experiences really eased my anxiety about the surgery. Like I told the surgeon, I had it easy. All I had to do was sleep!

]]> Comment on Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) – Back Surgery by admin http://www.markedgington.com/2010/05/29/anterior-lumbar-interbody-fusion-alif-back-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-1420 admin Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:55:31 +0000 http://www.markedgington.com/?p=668#comment-1420 Hi, i hope all has gone well and you are home for new year. Try not to focus on every pain in your back and legs, i sometimes do that even now (its been near 2 years). Keep positive and if you do have any pains set a time a month in the future to re-evaluate, rather than evaluating progress every day; as its obvious things don't change that quick. Hi, i hope all has gone well and you are home for new year. Try not to focus on every pain in your back and legs, i sometimes do that even now (its been near 2 years). Keep positive and if you do have any pains set a time a month in the future to re-evaluate, rather than evaluating progress every day; as its obvious things don’t change that quick.

]]> Comment on Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) – Back Surgery by Scott http://www.markedgington.com/2010/05/29/anterior-lumbar-interbody-fusion-alif-back-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-1419 Scott Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:03:09 +0000 http://www.markedgington.com/?p=668#comment-1419 I really appreciate all the posts. I am going in for surgery tomorrow (L5/S1). I am a little nervous but your posts really help. I will update and let you all know how it went. Currently they say I will only be in the hospital over night! I really appreciate all the posts. I am going in for surgery tomorrow (L5/S1). I am a little nervous but your posts really help. I will update and let you all know how it went. Currently they say I will only be in the hospital over night!

]]> Comment on Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) – Back Surgery by admin http://www.markedgington.com/2010/05/29/anterior-lumbar-interbody-fusion-alif-back-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-1326 admin Sat, 29 Oct 2011 14:02:08 +0000 http://www.markedgington.com/?p=668#comment-1326 Thanks for the post, really glad its going well for you keep on doing all the exercises its been 18 months for me and i still do them all twice a day. Its a bit of a chore, but it keeps the core strength up. Mine always goes through achey phases, but if i keep up the exercise and occasionally take a few days worth of meds i am back to normal. I am thinking of making an update post on the last year soon :) keep on the mend, Mark Thanks for the post, really glad its going well for you keep on doing all the exercises its been 18 months for me and i still do them all twice a day. Its a bit of a chore, but it keeps the core strength up. Mine always goes through achey phases, but if i keep up the exercise and occasionally take a few days worth of meds i am back to normal. I am thinking of making an update post on the last year soon :) keep on the mend, Mark

]]> Comment on Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) – Back Surgery by ZM - http://www.markedgington.com/2010/05/29/anterior-lumbar-interbody-fusion-alif-back-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-1325 ZM - Sat, 29 Oct 2011 13:42:24 +0000 http://www.markedgington.com/?p=668#comment-1325 Wanted to give you all an update. It is just over 2 weeks since I had the surgery and I feel really good. The first day was spent in ICU with a 24hr nurse and I was attached to many drips/drains/pipes - not exactly sure what. I also had a cathetar and Morphine drip which I didn't even use that much. 24 hours after surgery the Physio took me off the bed and that was a bit difficult, but managable. A few hours later I was moved to a private room and the cathetar was removed. I had a drip and was drinking quite a lot as my mouth was very dry. I felt I was going to the toilet every hour or two, till they eventually removed the drip after the 2nd day. My mouth was very dry for a few days and my lungs had collapsed a bit from the tubes I had during surgery, but really wasn't too bad. I had a pain machine in my stomach when I came out of surgery and hardly felt my cut except when I needed to cough or sneeze. I was given a rolled up towel to hold on my stomach and that helped. Over the next few days I started eating, although very small portions, and thankfully my stomach worked fine after about 3 days. I have had some numbness in my lower back, but no-one seems worried about it. I have been home for over a week now, and try be upright as much as I can. I go for short walks up and down the street but find that I also sleep a lot. I haven't really done much around the house but will start doing a bit more in the next few days. Hard to tell how much relief I have from the surgery because I am still resting a lot, but I definately don't have the clicking pain every time I sit or lean forwards etc. so at least I know some of my pain is gone. I was so worried about the surgery and relieved that it is behind me, and in retrospect, it wasn't quite as bad as I thought it would be. In about a week I am allowed to drive short distances, and then in 2 weeks time, I see my surgeon again, and he will then send me for physiotherapy. At this point, he only wants me to walk. Good luck if you are planning on having this surgery. It has been amazing for me, and I hope you have as good a recovery. Wanted to give you all an update. It is just over 2 weeks since I had the surgery and I feel really good.
The first day was spent in ICU with a 24hr nurse and I was attached to many drips/drains/pipes – not exactly sure what. I also had a cathetar and Morphine drip which I didn’t even use that much.
24 hours after surgery the Physio took me off the bed and that was a bit difficult, but managable. A few hours later I was moved to a private room and the cathetar was removed. I had a drip and was drinking quite a lot as my mouth was very dry. I felt I was going to the toilet every hour or two, till they eventually removed the drip after the 2nd day. My mouth was very dry for a few days and my lungs had collapsed a bit from the tubes I had during surgery, but really wasn’t too bad. I had a pain machine in my stomach when I came out of surgery and hardly felt my cut except when I needed to cough or sneeze. I was given a rolled up towel to hold on my stomach and that helped. Over the next few days I started eating, although very small portions, and thankfully my stomach worked fine after about 3 days. I have had some numbness in my lower back, but no-one seems worried about it.
I have been home for over a week now, and try be upright as much as I can. I go for short walks up and down the street but find that I also sleep a lot. I haven’t really done much around the house but will start doing a bit more in the next few days.
Hard to tell how much relief I have from the surgery because I am still resting a lot, but I definately don’t have the clicking pain every time I sit or lean forwards etc. so at least I know some of my pain is gone. I was so worried about the surgery and relieved that it is behind me, and in retrospect, it wasn’t quite as bad as I thought it would be.
In about a week I am allowed to drive short distances, and then in 2 weeks time, I see my surgeon again, and he will then send me for physiotherapy. At this point, he only wants me to walk.
Good luck if you are planning on having this surgery. It has been amazing for me, and I hope you have as good a recovery.

]]> Comment on Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) – Back Surgery by ZM - http://www.markedgington.com/2010/05/29/anterior-lumbar-interbody-fusion-alif-back-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-1252 ZM - Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:58:36 +0000 http://www.markedgington.com/?p=668#comment-1252 Thanks for your posts. I am going in for ALIF on Thursday 13 Oct and feeling quite nervous about the procedure. Have been suffering for several years, and had many steroid and epidural injections with basically no relief. Had a cyst on the nerve removed last year, but still struggling with daily activities. Have also tried accupuncture and various meds. Been very active with physiotherapy and doing 2 classes a week and more at home to build up my core strength but still can't do much that requires any physical effort. Have to lie down for several hours during the day to be able to cope with evenings. At this stage, want the surgery behind me - what ever pain I have after the surgery, my hope is that it will eventually reduce and allow me to function semi normally. At the moment I have pain and no end in sight. Thanks again for your posts - it has helped me to feel a bit positive about what awaits in the next few weeks! p.s. I am in Sydney Australia - anyone else from our end of the world? Thanks for your posts. I am going in for ALIF on Thursday 13 Oct and feeling quite nervous about the procedure. Have been suffering for several years, and had many steroid and epidural injections with basically no relief. Had a cyst on the nerve removed last year, but still struggling with daily activities. Have also tried accupuncture and various meds. Been very active with physiotherapy and doing 2 classes a week and more at home to build up my core strength but still can’t do much that requires any physical effort. Have to lie down for several hours during the day to be able to cope with evenings.
At this stage, want the surgery behind me – what ever pain I have after the surgery, my hope is that it will eventually reduce and allow me to function semi normally. At the moment I have pain and no end in sight.
Thanks again for your posts – it has helped me to feel a bit positive about what awaits in the next few weeks!
p.s. I am in Sydney Australia – anyone else from our end of the world?

]]> Comment on Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) – Back Surgery by Matleena http://www.markedgington.com/2010/05/29/anterior-lumbar-interbody-fusion-alif-back-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-1072 Matleena Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:23:39 +0000 http://www.markedgington.com/?p=668#comment-1072 Oh and morphine - yes it's wonderful. I had a discography test in April to find out more about the problem and after the procedure I was experiencing pretty severe pain, but was given morphine --- and so I was dancing with jelly babies on cotton wool clouds.... :) (Hard to imagine anything else would ease the pain post-op as I am already using Co-dydramol and Diclofenac on my worst days/to get some sleep at nights and like today, they don't seem to work at all...) Oh and morphine – yes it’s wonderful. I had a discography test in April to find out more about the problem and after the procedure I was experiencing pretty severe pain, but was given morphine — and so I was dancing with jelly babies on cotton wool clouds…. :)
(Hard to imagine anything else would ease the pain post-op as I am already using Co-dydramol and Diclofenac on my worst days/to get some sleep at nights and like today, they don’t seem to work at all…)

]]> Comment on Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) – Back Surgery by Matleena http://www.markedgington.com/2010/05/29/anterior-lumbar-interbody-fusion-alif-back-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-1071 Matleena Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:14:37 +0000 http://www.markedgington.com/?p=668#comment-1071 Hi Mark! I've been Googling for testimonials and stories, I guess I have been looking for a virtual "support group" to ease my worries about my up and coming double surgery...;) I just got my admission date today, it's 12th Oct. It will be less than 4 months since the initial consultation with surgeon so hooray - he wasn't lying when he said it will be quick! I'm 36 yrs old and guessing you are not that much older yourself...? Been suffering for 3 years and will be having an artificial disc replacement for the L5/4 and ALIF for S1/L5. So feeling nervous. But also relieved because the last 6 months have been extremely difficult, and currently I can work just about 3 days a week because of the pain. I have of course been through years of physio, am very active and fit and have always eaten healthily. I have also tried chiro, acupunture, ostheopath et al.. so obviously, like anyone in a similar situation, surgery truly is the last resort. One thing I would say though; Pilates is the BEST thing for anyone suffering from similar chronical back pain. I do it every day, twice a week go to classes and rest of the days just at home. Sometimes I cry because of the pain (and stop there of course) but once I learned the "language" of Pilates I am sure it has strengthen my core and helped me to understand the complexity of my body and my problem. It was good to read your story and about the days and months in recovery! Great to hear you are doing so much better now, and feel that you have got a great part of your life back. Do you think you could tell me who operated you...? You can use my e-mail for that, and it's fine of course if you don't want to share it. I will send an up date post-op, fingers crossed all goes well! Best, Matleena Hi Mark!
I’ve been Googling for testimonials and stories, I guess I have been looking for a virtual “support group” to ease my worries about my up and coming double surgery…;) I just got my admission date today, it’s 12th Oct. It will be less than 4 months since the initial consultation with surgeon so hooray – he wasn’t lying when he said it will be quick!
I’m 36 yrs old and guessing you are not that much older yourself…? Been suffering for 3 years and will be having an artificial disc replacement for the L5/4 and ALIF for S1/L5. So feeling nervous. But also relieved because the last 6 months have been extremely difficult, and currently I can work just about 3 days a week because of the pain. I have of course been through years of physio, am very active and fit and have always eaten healthily. I have also tried chiro, acupunture, ostheopath et al.. so obviously, like anyone in a similar situation, surgery truly is the last resort.
One thing I would say though; Pilates is the BEST thing for anyone suffering from similar chronical back pain. I do it every day, twice a week go to classes and rest of the days just at home. Sometimes I cry because of the pain (and stop there of course) but once I learned the “language” of Pilates I am sure it has strengthen my core and helped me to understand the complexity of my body and my problem.
It was good to read your story and about the days and months in recovery! Great to hear you are doing so much better now, and feel that you have got a great part of your life back. Do you think you could tell me who operated you…? You can use my e-mail for that, and it’s fine of course if you don’t want to share it.
I will send an up date post-op, fingers crossed all goes well! Best, Matleena

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]]> Comment on Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) – Back Surgery by admin http://www.markedgington.com/2010/05/29/anterior-lumbar-interbody-fusion-alif-back-surgery/comment-page-1/#comment-898 admin Sat, 23 Apr 2011 21:03:07 +0000 http://www.markedgington.com/?p=668#comment-898 I started to work from home for some half days. Then half days at home mixed with half days in the office (i had to travel over an hour to work). This worked well for me and gave me confidence as i pushed the limits; as you do tend to worry about every twinge for a while :) all the best, Mark I started to work from home for some half days. Then half days at home mixed with half days in the office (i had to travel over an hour to work). This worked well for me and gave me confidence as i pushed the limits; as you do tend to worry about every twinge for a while :) all the best, Mark

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