Not all doom and gloom - life after discectomy

[Sasafras]

Hi all

There seem to be a very interesting helpful collection of threads here. I could have added this to any of them I guess, but as it was a difficult choice I have started a new thread.

I am male, 56, slightly overweight with a fairly sedentary work type, office and computer based. I have though peviously been in situations where I have lifted barrels of beer, done a lot of cycling, motorcycling and lifted heavy tree parts!

This has probably caused the wear and tear on the discs in my neck so that before Christmas last year (2008) I began to have much difficulty with walking, loss of sensation and numbness in fingers, left side of chest, groin and outer parts of legs and left foot, loss of some coordination. Pyhsical and sexual pursuits became impossible.

An MRI in February confirmed nerve compression in c3 through to c6 so I had an op to remove the disc at c4-c5 with a plastic cage fitted instead, although before the op I was told I might need metal plating too.

Recovery has been a long and slow process, with 5 months before I got back to work, but gradually with some basic physiotherapy and exercise through short walks, I am now a lot lot better and can hope for a slowly improving future.

I think things have been helped by taking just 2 Diclofenac and one Amitrypteline at night. The former help with reducing inflamation and pressures around the nerves and the latter has helped with getting sleep at night, stopping the frequent visits to the loo and reducing nerve spasms on getting up in the morning. Clonus in left calf is still a problem when under exercise, etc but hopefully is getting less pronounced.

The good news is I can now walk a few miles again, but not as fast, I can ride a cycle reasonable distances, but not as fast, I can do things around the garden with spade and saw as long as I pace myself and have breaks. This is more than I hoped for - not back on motorbike yet - will probably get some neck brace and protection before I do. Loss of sensation in finger tips is still there, but I can manage to type - doing up a tight top shirt button is a problem but overall I am quite pleased with how things are - I hope others can have faith in improving - a bit at a time.

 

[bizgot]

Welcome! We are all so glad that you are doing well.

Tell me, just as an aside, from between 0-100%, how much of your pre-problem fittnes levels would you say you have regained?

All the best and keep up the rehab!


SPINELF

 

[WilSanueae]

It's nice to read a happier thread Sometimes I can't find the strength to read all the doom and gloom posts