OFF TOPIC Back Surgery question.
 

Thanks Chuck,

BTW don't forget to copy your "resized" pix from the website. I have to
take them down by Saturday or get an "excess server space bill"

If you want to post any more photos, just contact me.

Capt. Frank

Gould 0738 wrote:

Today the doctor informed me I have a 2 herinated discs in my lower
back. They are badly damaged and the doctor surgery is my only viable
option. (this is the third opinion)


Ouch!

Not a back surgery veteran, but pullin' for you anyway. Hope you get
successfully treated and recover completely.

OFF TOPIC Back Surgery question.
 

"Capt. Frank Hopkins" wrote in message
k.net...
Today the doctor informed me I have a 2 herinated discs in my lower
back. They are badly damaged and the doctor surgery is my only viable
option. (this is the third opinion)

Has anyone in the group had a back operation? If so, I would like to
hear about your experience(s), both good and bad.

Thanks,

Capt. Frank
I had surgery for a herniated disk back in 1973. Had some intermittent
problems for about 5 years after that. Back would lock up, muscle spasms,
etc. but then I changed professions from a desk job to that of an appliance
salesman where I was carrying TVs and microwave ovens, etc out to customers
cars. That built up the muscles in my back and I haven't had any problems
for the last 25 years. My son had same surgery a couple of years ago..he's
a truck driver and part time farmer and he seems to be much less bothered
after the surgery than I was. My mother had a herniated disk and because of
her age (65 at the time) she wasn't a candidate for surgery. She was able
to do almost nothing for 6 months and it healed itself. She started by
sleeping on the floor for a while and was gradually able to move to a softer
sleep surface. After six months was back to dancing every Friday night.
She's 82 now and is a lot more limber than I ever was.

OFF TOPIC Back Surgery question.
 

Frank,
I had surgery on December 19 last year. I had a severe bulged disc. It was
constricting my nerve and I had a severe loss of feeling along the right
side of my right leg and along the right side of my foot. The surgery went
well, but because I waited to have the surgery, I am left with some nerve
damage.
If you have the surgery in the winter, you'll be ready for the next boating
season ;-)

Good luck,
Matt


"Capt. Frank Hopkins" wrote in message
hlink.net...
Thanks Noah,
I am told that I am not a "prime candidate" due to my age (51) and blood
pressure. So putting it off can only increase my risk. As much pain as I
am in lately, any relief will be a blessing.

Besides, its difficult to swab the deck and do other general maintenance
to the boats in this condition. hehe

Regards,

Capt. Frank

noah wrote:

On Wed, 15 Oct 2003 00:59:32 GMT, "Capt. Frank Hopkins"
wrote:


Today the doctor informed me I have a 2 herinated discs in my lower
back. They are badly damaged and the doctor surgery is my only viable
option. (this is the third opinion)

Has anyone in the group had a back operation? If so, I would like to
hear about your experience(s), both good and bad.

Thanks,

Capt. Frank


Capt. Frank,

I've been facing the same option for about 10 years now. I've held
off for two reasons:

1.) the normal layup is about 6 weeks. No cheating is allowed. If
you don't follow Dr.'s orders, the warranty is invalid.
2.) I've heard (about 50/50) both success stories, and failure
stories. A good friend had a ruptured disk removed, and was in agony
for weeks. He underwent a second surgery, and came out of it with no
problems, a "new man". The surgeoen you choose is "everything".

I'll have it done one of these days but, being a crumudgeon, I'd
rather bitch about it than have surgery. :o)

Good luck to you.
...carry on.
noah

To email me, please remove the "FISH" from the net.

OFF TOPIC Back Surgery question.
 

Thanks Tom!

It seems exercise is quite the panacea for what ails you.
Now, if I can only convince my wife that sex is a good exercise. grin

Capt. Frank

Tom wrote:

"Capt. Frank Hopkins" wrote in message
k.net...

Today the doctor informed me I have a 2 herinated discs in my lower
back. They are badly damaged and the doctor surgery is my only viable
option. (this is the third opinion)

Has anyone in the group had a back operation? If so, I would like to
hear about your experience(s), both good and bad.

Thanks,

Capt. Frank
I had surgery for a herniated disk back in 1973. Had some intermittent

problems for about 5 years after that. Back would lock up, muscle spasms,
etc. but then I changed professions from a desk job to that of an appliance
salesman where I was carrying TVs and microwave ovens, etc out to customers
cars. That built up the muscles in my back and I haven't had any problems
for the last 25 years. My son had same surgery a couple of years ago..he's
a truck driver and part time farmer and he seems to be much less bothered
after the surgery than I was. My mother had a herniated disk and because of
her age (65 at the time) she wasn't a candidate for surgery. She was able
to do almost nothing for 6 months and it healed itself. She started by
sleeping on the floor for a while and was gradually able to move to a softer
sleep surface. After six months was back to dancing every Friday night.
She's 82 now and is a lot more limber than I ever was.

OFF TOPIC Back Surgery question.
 

Thanks Matt,
Your symptoms come close to matching mine. How long were you "in bed"
recovering? I have 3 business to run and I have to make some kind of
"remote control" arrangements.

Thanks,

Capt. Frank

Matt's Arcade wrote:

Frank,
I had surgery on December 19 last year. I had a severe bulged disc. It was
constricting my nerve and I had a severe loss of feeling along the right
side of my right leg and along the right side of my foot. The surgery went
well, but because I waited to have the surgery, I am left with some nerve
damage.
If you have the surgery in the winter, you'll be ready for the next boating
season ;-)

Good luck,
Matt


"Capt. Frank Hopkins" wrote in message
hlink.net...

Thanks Noah,
I am told that I am not a "prime candidate" due to my age (51) and blood
pressure. So putting it off can only increase my risk. As much pain as I
am in lately, any relief will be a blessing.

Besides, its difficult to swab the deck and do other general maintenance
to the boats in this condition. hehe

Regards,

Capt. Frank

noah wrote:


On Wed, 15 Oct 2003 00:59:32 GMT, "Capt. Frank Hopkins"
wrote:



Today the doctor informed me I have a 2 herinated discs in my lower
back. They are badly damaged and the doctor surgery is my only viable
option. (this is the third opinion)

Has anyone in the group had a back operation? If so, I would like to
hear about your experience(s), both good and bad.

Thanks,

Capt. Frank


Capt. Frank,

I've been facing the same option for about 10 years now. I've held
off for two reasons:

1.) the normal layup is about 6 weeks. No cheating is allowed. If
you don't follow Dr.'s orders, the warranty is invalid.
2.) I've heard (about 50/50) both success stories, and failure
stories. A good friend had a ruptured disk removed, and was in agony
for weeks. He underwent a second surgery, and came out of it with no
problems, a "new man". The surgeoen you choose is "everything".

I'll have it done one of these days but, being a crumudgeon, I'd
rather bitch about it than have surgery. :o)

Good luck to you.
...carry on.
noah

To email me, please remove the "FISH" from the net.

OFF TOPIC Back Surgery question.
 

On Wed, 15 Oct 2003 03:33:25 GMT, "Capt. Frank Hopkins"
wrote:

Thanks Noah,
I am told that I am not a "prime candidate" due to my age (51) and blood
pressure. So putting it off can only increase my risk. As much pain as I
am in lately, any relief will be a blessing.

Besides, its difficult to swab the deck and do other general maintenance
to the boats in this condition. hehe

Regards,

Capt. Frank


I do know what you mean.
There is a new procedure that replaces the disk with silicone bits,
but I haven't heard too much about it. Also not sure if I'd want to
be buried with "silicone implants". :o)

Good luck to you.

....carry on.
noah

To email me, please remove the "FISH" from the net.

OFF TOPIC Back Surgery question.
 

"Capt. Frank Hopkins" wrote in message
nk.net...
Hi Del,
This is the third doctor that has told me this. He is one of the most
renowned orthopedists in North FLorida.
But thanks,

C.F.

sounds like you have it covered. I think the operation where they just
clean stuff up is a Laminectomy. (I am sure that is spelled wrong) I hope
everything goes well. You sounded a little uncertain.

The Mayo Clinic has a branch in Jacksonville. :-)
No, I don't get a commission. :-(

del

OFF TOPIC Back Surgery question.
 

Truly, A gruesome appellation. G I plan to be cremated and have my
ashes scattered in my lovely St. Johns River. I can't think of a better
place to spend eternity.

Capt. Frank

noah wrote:
On Wed, 15 Oct 2003 03:33:25 GMT, "Capt. Frank Hopkins"
wrote:


Thanks Noah,
I am told that I am not a "prime candidate" due to my age (51) and blood
pressure. So putting it off can only increase my risk. As much pain as I
am in lately, any relief will be a blessing.

Besides, its difficult to swab the deck and do other general maintenance
to the boats in this condition. hehe

Regards,

Capt. Frank



I do know what you mean.
There is a new procedure that replaces the disk with silicone bits,
but I haven't heard too much about it. Also not sure if I'd want to
be buried with "silicone implants". :o)

Good luck to you.

...carry on.
noah

To email me, please remove the "FISH" from the net.

OFF TOPIC Back Surgery question.
 

A little worried to be sure. The thing that really bothers me is not
waking up from the operation The doctor hinted at this possibility, with
his "not a prime candidate" remark. Oh well, I suppose I will have to go
through it.

Damn the Sea Cows, Full speed ahead!

Capt. Frank

Del Cecchi wrote:

"Capt. Frank Hopkins" wrote in message
nk.net...

Hi Del,
This is the third doctor that has told me this. He is one of the most
renowned orthopedists in North FLorida.
But thanks,

C.F.


sounds like you have it covered. I think the operation where they just
clean stuff up is a Laminectomy. (I am sure that is spelled wrong) I hope
everything goes well. You sounded a little uncertain.

The Mayo Clinic has a branch in Jacksonville. :-)
No, I don't get a commission. :-(

del

OFF TOPIC Back Surgery question.
 

Thanks Ed.
Lately I have been wishing for some sort of "magic button" to make the
pain go away.

Regards,

Capt. Frank

The Count wrote:

Capt. Frank Hopkins:

I had a laminectomy(?) about 5 years ago. There were complications in
that the injury was quite old and had attached itself to the spinal cord
membrane which necessitated some added cutting and stitching. Net net,
I went in on Saturday morning, had the surgery and was home Monday. I
would have been able to on Sunday had it not been for the added stuff.

It was uncomfortable as you have to lay flat on your back (strapped down
the first day) BUT - the little push button they give you to give a shot
of some marvelous drugs keeps you aware but in a state you could care
less.

Hope this helps - by the way, I was stooped over due to the pain.
Sunday morning when the doc said "stand up", I stood straight for the
first time in almost a year.

Best of luck in your surgery.

Cheers,
Ed