Marc,
Good move avoiding the fusion. I had the laminectomy of the same discs 15
years ago. At the time, I was unable to walk for 6 months and spent a month
in traction (that didn't help). After the surgery, it took a while to get
back to normal activity, but I've never felt better. I hurt my back playing
football in college, and from the time I was 19 until I reached 35, I had
regular "down" times where I would be unable to work or even walk for a week
or two. That hasn't happened since the surgery (knocking on wood!). My right
leg had visibly atrophied and some of the nerve damage is permanent (I also
waited too long), but life goes on and as the ancient Greeks would say, it's
impossible to suffer without learning, and impossible to learn without
suffering (well, something like that). The sciatica was damned painful, so
that should've been a great lesson (I treat my back with a lot more respect
these days).
Good luck with the rehab, swimming and walking was a great start for me.
About 5 years after the surgery, I was able to get back into weight lifting
and the leg muscle came back with a lot of work.
Scout


"Marc" wrote in message
news
Yes it was gradual. Found my self having difficulty climbing from the
deck th the cabin top. progressed to nunbness around the knee and
sciatica. Diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis.Had injections which cured
the sciatica but caused extreme pain and total collapse of the leg.
Rejected that surgeon's suggestion of a total lamenectomy and fusion
of the L1-L5 vertebrea and consulted a surgeon at Columbia
Presbyterian. Had a partial laminectomy, left side , L3-L4, L4-L5.
This guy saved my life. Now, heavy rehab, physical therapy and nerve
drugs. Moral: don't wait to see the doctor.


On Mon, 29 May 2006 17:50:10 -0600, "Bob Crantz"
wrote:

Marc,

Glad to hear about your recovery. Was the nerve compression a gradual or
sudden thing?

Did it start with numbness of the skin?

Hope your recovery is swift and complete.

Bob