Guest guest Posted February 15, 2007 Report Share Posted February 15, 2007 Hi Cena, Happy 3 month anniversary. I think it is completely normal to worry about what could be going wrong at your stage of recovery...and I agree that it is awhile until you get to a point where you think it has all been worth it....I guess for most of that it has been somewhere between 1 and 1-1/2 years...but most of us are older than you...you probably heal a bit faster. Did your doctor release you for PT or did he just give you the go ahead to start a specific exercise program? Remember to take it slow...you don't want to underdo...but you don't want to overdo either! As to further surgery down the road....it could be a long way off...so don't let it worry you too much. I lived most of my adult life with just L5 open...so you could have a number of years if you get lucky! Take Care, Cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2007 Report Share Posted February 15, 2007 thanks Cam! He said that I can go to PT now for the back (I was doing some light stuff earlier b/c of my neck - compensatory curve didn't really like all the laying around!), but he really wants me to get into the pool. I will, but hesitant b/c, for one, I can't shave my legs myself! My hubbie has done it once, but grumbled ) . I will go, and the local pool has an aqua therapy program. He also recommended massage b/c of the lumpy tissue (so glad it's not the rods I feel!) One question I have though is whether anyone has a formal letter or medic alert bracelet b/c of the rods, etc.? Is it true that MRIs can't be done with some implants? ...and what about for safety reasons like an accident where you couldn't give your info? ________________________________ > > From: cammaltby@... > Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2007 01:16:46 +0000 > Subject: [ ] Re: 3 month follow-up > > Hi Cena, > Happy 3 month anniversary. I think it is completely normal to worry > about what could be going wrong at your stage of recovery...and I > agree that it is awhile until you get to a point where you think it > has all been worth it....I guess for most of that it has been > somewhere between 1 and 1-1/2 years...but most of us are older than > you...you probably heal a bit faster. > Did your doctor release you for PT or did he just give you the go > ahead to start a specific exercise program? Remember to take it > slow...you don't want to underdo...but you don't want to overdo > either! > As to further surgery down the road....it could be a long way > off...so don't let it worry you too much. I lived most of my adult > life with just L5 open...so you could have a number of years if you > get lucky! > Take Care, Cam > _________________________________________________________________ Personalize your Live.com homepage with the news, weather, and photos you care about. http://www.live.com/getstarted.aspx?icid=T001MSN30A0701 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2007 Report Share Posted February 15, 2007 Hi Cena... Nope, that’s not true. The metal from stainless steel rods can make MRIs difficult to read, but there is no danger to the patient. Most surgeons will give you a letter stating that you have implants if you ask, but I’ve honestly never heard of anyone actually needing one. I also can’t think of any situation where it would be important for an ER doctor to know that you have spinal implants. If you had a spinal injury, they would almost certainly do an xray, and would be able to “see” the implants. Regards, On 2/15/07 8:38 PM, " C M " <turtle_one@...> wrote: One question I have though is whether anyone has a formal letter or medic alert bracelet b/c of the rods, etc.? Is it true that MRIs can't be done with some implants? ...and what about for safety reasons like an accident where you couldn't give your info? ________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2007 Report Share Posted February 16, 2007 Dear Cena, I have a card ( saying I have surgically implanted metal, and it has been necessary at the airport twice when I set everything off, sure helped explain things to the scanning people) and letter saying what and where my fusions are, keep that in my purse. I think( know) that I could be hurt if picked up unproperly in an accident, all medical workers should be made aware of my fusions T-1 to the sacrum and handle me accordingly. I'm really considering getting a braclet, couldn't hurt. Re: [ ] Re: 3 month follow-up Hi Cena...Nope, that’s not true. The metal from stainless steel rods can make MRIs difficult to read, but there is no danger to the patient. Most surgeons will give you a letter stating that you have implants if you ask, but I’ve honestly never heard of anyone actually needing one. I also can’t think of any situation where it would be important for an ER doctor to know that you have spinal implants. If you had a spinal injury, they would almost certainly do an xray, and would be able to “see” the implants.Regards,On 2/15/07 8:38 PM, "C M" <turtle_onehotmail> wrote: One question I have though is whether anyone has a formal letter or medic alert bracelet b/c of the rods, etc.? Is it true that MRIs can't be done with some implants? ...and what about for safety reasons like an accident where you couldn't give your info? ________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2007 Report Share Posted February 16, 2007 Cena, Okay....I am not going to let you off the hook because of hairy legs....get thee butt to the pool!! And here are three tried (by me!) and true methods of dealing with the dreaded folicles: 1) Go to any decent salon and have your lower legs waxed. Even on Nantucket this is not a very costly procedure...and it lasts longer than a shave. I waxed until about 4 months post op. The I got adventurous. (By the way I highly recommend anyone getting ready for surgery do this before they go to the hospital. Someone had warned me, and they were right, that after surgery they will put pressure hose on and leg cuffs. This can create a noticable pulling of leg hair! Well, I noticed a little after the 2nd day of surgery which was probably 3 weeks after the waxing. Right you say...you have just had your back ripped open and you were noticing the hair being pulled out of your legs....well..err...yes!!) 2.) Next I graduated to using NAIR. I used the wide roller stuff...actually was able to use the locking feature of my Arc-Mate Grabber (another shameless promotion!). I liked the mens product better...it seemed stronger and worked faster. The stuff is smelly...but I liked being able to manage my legs often as the summer came on...what with shorts and the beach and all. 3.) When I got past the 6 months mark I implemented the extended razor handle. You can buy them...but just as easy and effective..get a pack of disposable razors that have a nice flat underside to them. Purchase or take a kids rulers and get a roll of duct tape. Using the duct tape attach the plastic razor handle to the ruler as tightly as possible and voila'....you can get all of your legs with little stretch or reach! The thing my doctor impressed on me was that the water was just the safest medium to be in post surgery because it would be very difficult to hurt myself there. If you push or try to rotate too much the water will not resist you so you can't torque or injure a fragile fusion. You do have to be extra cautious on the pool deck however....and I was told I could onlyl enter the water with a staircase...no ladders. You are really lucky if your pool has a good aquatherapy program. Do you know if there is a separate therapy pool that has a higher temp in it? I would have loved that. Best I could find was a local hotel that allowed people to come in and use the pool/hottub for a fee...For the first 4-5 months home, in addition to my regular pool workouts, I would go to the hotel a few times a week and sit in the hot tub and do a little easy stretching. It was heaven for those sore, sore ,tramatized and tired muscles! Good luck! Cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2007 Report Share Posted February 16, 2007 Cam, thanks for keeping me accountable! I got my legs waxed before my surgery and it was the best decision! It didn't hurt that much either - just stung. Okay, I'll try and get to the pool this week! Cena ________________________________ > > From: cammaltby@... > Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2007 19:15:00 +0000 > Subject: [ ] Re: 3 month follow-up > > Cena, > Okay....I am not going to let you off the hook because of hairy > legs....get thee butt to the pool!! > And here are three tried (by me!) and true methods of dealing with > the dreaded folicles: > 1) Go to any decent salon and have your lower legs waxed. Even on > Nantucket this is not a very costly procedure...and it lasts longer > than a shave. I waxed until about 4 months post op. The I got > adventurous. (By the way I highly recommend anyone getting ready for > surgery do this before they go to the hospital. Someone had warned > me, and they were right, that after surgery they will put pressure > hose on and leg cuffs. This can create a noticable pulling of leg > hair! Well, I noticed a little after the 2nd day of surgery which was > probably 3 weeks after the waxing. Right you say...you have just had > your back ripped open and you were noticing the hair being pulled out > of your legs....well..err...yes!!) > 2.) Next I graduated to using NAIR. I used the wide roller > stuff...actually was able to use the locking feature of my Arc-Mate > Grabber (another shameless promotion!). I liked the mens product > better...it seemed stronger and worked faster. The stuff is > smelly...but I liked being able to manage my legs often as the summer > came on...what with shorts and the beach and all. > 3.) When I got past the 6 months mark I implemented the extended > razor handle. You can buy them...but just as easy and effective..get > a pack of disposable razors that have a nice flat underside to them. > Purchase or take a kids rulers and get a roll of duct tape. Using the > duct tape attach the plastic razor handle to the ruler as tightly as > possible and voila'....you can get all of your legs with little > stretch or reach! > The thing my doctor impressed on me was that the water was just the > safest medium to be in post surgery because it would be very > difficult to hurt myself there. If you push or try to rotate too much > the water will not resist you so you can't torque or injure a fragile > fusion. You do have to be extra cautious on the pool deck > however....and I was told I could onlyl enter the water with a > staircase...no ladders. > You are really lucky if your pool has a good aquatherapy program. Do > you know if there is a separate therapy pool that has a higher temp > in it? I would have loved that. Best I could find was a local hotel > that allowed people to come in and use the pool/hottub for a > fee...For the first 4-5 months home, in addition to my regular pool > workouts, I would go to the hotel a few times a week and sit in the > hot tub and do a little easy stretching. It was heaven for those > sore, sore ,tramatized and tired muscles! > Good luck! > Cam > _________________________________________________________________ Live Search: Better results, fast http://get.live.com/search/overview Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.