I was wondering if a fusion success thread like the surgery tips one would be good to have. Many people with success stories leave b/c they don't have reasons to continue posting, and new folks don't get to see how surgery has helped people. Anyone else think this may be a good idea?
I would also like input from us micro-d folks that are success stories. Maybe that should be two seperate threads? While I think we all believe surgery is the last resort, it can help alot of people and our stories should be heard.
oh goodness, I sure didn't mean to leave micro-d's out! I thing any surgery success stories are good ones. Just goes to show that not all surgeries are bad. But, we have to re-iterate the importance of surgery being a personal decision. AND, just b/c so many of us had good outcomes, doesn't mean everyone will as it is different for each person.
I noticed the need for this 3+ months ago, when I starting doing research about disectomies. I found so many painful tragic stories of terrifying complications...!
I searched over and over again for success stories, as all I wanted was reassurance that my surgery could be fine. I found some, but not much. I assumed the people who were part of the 80%-95% success rate quoted for discectomies had just all gone on with their lives and stopped posting.
BTW, I´m pretty sure I´m a success story - I had a disectomy/laminectomy Nov 13. After the first few weeks of pain, the pain went away, and it´s been a smooth ride ever since. (Thank God!) I´m pretty surprised myself.
now 3.5 months post fusion l5-s1 with 5"screws, i'm a big guy, not fat, big.
anyhow, i have been back at work three weeks, wrapped up my physical therapy and today is the first time i hav been back on my bike. It felt good, and the tired feeling i got was from fatigue, not from the old chronic pain from the nerves.
I look back and se how far i have come,and look foward to the future. I plan on being back in the spin and racing again (mountain bike) if my body will let me. I never thought i would make it this far looking back, but relive every moment of it with anyone who asks me,and i got a cool scar to show that letsme remember who i was, and who i am now.
Glad you are doing well Islebe! I have two new cool scars too! Happy to hear you are on your way back to a "normal" life. Best of wishes especially with the biking stuff!
Mel,
I read somewhere, if you want to contact the moderator, you can either click on the bad post option on the top right of your reply, or at the very bottom right corner on the post title page (or whatever it's called), you can click on moderator to email them. What I read did say to only send your question once that it may take a while for them to get back to you, but they would.
I think it's a GREAT idea! 
