Hi All,

Well had my x-ray done and yes the good news is fusion is taking place nicely and everything is in place (nuts and bolts !!!).

The questions I had was this knot/pressure I was feeling why is it ? Why cant I stay up longer than I can............ etc (all what I have been moaning about really here on the board). So basically I was told very early still (arggggggghhhh) progress is slow, and it could just be the mechanics of my back that will still cause this pain......... Then I am wondering why have I improved over the past few months, if it was mechanical......... and will it continue to improve if it is mechanical....... the answer we dont know !.
Told improvment with spinal fusion records show that you continue to improve and can take 2 years in some cases............ I would love if someone told me yes in six months time you will be able to stay up all day, you will function NORMAL....... I was pleased with my visit and while I was sitting there I just thought please god the next appointment I will be a whole load better. Then said well your last visit here you had to be driven, this time I drove myself and went for a coffee afterwards........... but sore !!!
So Justoneofus and chatterboxsd, diet, moldova, Roy, and all the others, was told to get more physio and harder exercises, the *****footing days are over !!! so hopefully now i will get more flexible and back to the swimming aswell........

So guess you are all celebrating thanksgiving over there, well for us its just another day and i wouldnt know about thanksgiving only for the board so GUYS happy thanksgiving to you. Night.

Don't lose hope, sweetie! I'm sooooo much better off at a year than I was at 6 months! Some people do take longer than others. I'm sorry you're still hurting so much, but it sounds like your doctor is satisified so far, and the fantastic news is that you're fusing! Yahoo!!!! Congratulations, and break out the sparkling water (sorry, no alcohol on pain meds. :)). Keep following orders, keep walking and exercising, and -- the hard part -- wait and see how it goes. I hope you'll be back saying how much improvement you see as the months continue to go by.

Keep in touch!
Emily

:bouncing: I am so excited for you. You have won 1/2 the battle. To be showing fusion at 6 months is just plain FANTASTIC NEWS!!! :bouncing: You are ahead of me and I am 10 months out from surgery and have zip fusion.

I am sorry you are still fighting the pain battle and we will pray that in another couple weeks you will be doing better. Just remember to continue not to bend, twist or lift. Take care and remember that we are here for you. ((((((Hugs)))))))))

I think that was a great doctor visit, even though you heard that he just isn't certain what is causing your continued pain right now. You just have to be patient and see where you go from here. And as you said.. look where you were before the last visit to where you are now! Vast improvement.

Round one,

I would say that you are doing very well; I am just one of the fortunate ones and you are joining me soon. I am having some pain in the front where the incision was made. I had a colon check / filming and it is perfectly fine.

LOL.... There is not much of me that is not on film anymore; pretty much from head to foot at this point in life...

I would like to find out if this is just scare tissue or what; they did urine and 4 viles of blood and said that all the tests that they could run possible came back that there is no problem that they can find. So why this pain in the frontal area? I have read and posted about this and it seems to be a common thing after this surgery for guys... I guess it gives the wifes a break in the bedroom scene and we all get more sleep this way.

I take to 800 milo grams of motrin and go about my day; the cold NEBRASKA weather is not kind to the back at all; it is rather sore and I think that it is just going to be that way. It sounds like you are doing great....


Happy holidays and please all take care and enjoy family this holiday season
roy48:wave::wave::wave:

Thanks all for your responses and giving me some more hope! I was happy after my consultants visit but then kind of went down hill and thought..... well still no answers and still not able to do much.......... But picked myself up the day after and said right you have battled this so far, do not throw in the towel now. Roy you seem to be doing very well thank god, hope you see emilys post re the scar tissue. My surgery was done all from the back, and the bone from the hip back as well. Actually I didnt even know they took it from the hip as there was no mark at all, and thankfully no pain in the area either. So hopefully as another month will go by things will improve for us all.

Regards
Round 1

Round1, I think I can relate - you like thing to move quickly! From far away, it sounds like you're making progress at a measurable rate. I can imagine just not quickly enough for YOU! I would be just the same way! I don't know what to say to make it better other than to hang in there and keep posting. It's OK to have your ups and downs. Please try to enjoy those moments when you can drive yourself or enjoy sitting for a cup of coffee, though. Those are signs of getting your quality of life back. When I encourage you to persevere with your physio, it's just to keep going. I hope it's not perceived as preaching to you. I really hope your progress continues. We all here pulling for you! Even though you didn't have Thanksgiving as an official holiday yesterday, we are thankful for you! I know I was thankful for everyone on this board yesterday and each and every day!

Chin up, my friend. You're doing great with that fusion! I'm a little jealous of you.... ;)

- Margaret