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Keith, I had a ruptured L4/L5 13 years ago, and the pain was phenomenal. But when I woke up after surgery, it was 90% gone. Its not minimally invasive and I was in for 3 days, but when I walked out, I would say by that point I was 95% pain free and VERY happy I had gone in! I had about 10 weeks of physical therapy afterword, which was mainly walking (Luckily it was summer) and working weights with my legs. Good luck with surgery.



I have had no prior back problems.

From what I understand (and I have yet to sit down for a consultation), if I have a Neurosurgeon do the microdiskectomy procedure, the incision is minimal (1"?), and the pain is eliminated because the nerve is no longer being aggravated....Since Monday morning I have been trying to set up appointments with several good neurosurgeons in town that have been recommended to me by friends and family.

I had MRI's done last Tuesday by probably the best Spinal Orthopaedic surgeon in town, and did not discuss surgical options with him, even though he can do this procedure. I have a brother-in-law that has had multiple surgeries by this doctor, and frankly, what he has been through scares the ****** out of me. My riding days would be surely over.

I walked my dog six miles Sunday before last at a local park. It took an hour and a half walking off-road (I walk the park from end-to-end as a crow flies, avoiding the hike and bike trails and traffic) up grades and down. I did that all Summer, normally 4 miles in a solid hour, after work, doing the second loop when time allowed, losing 15-18 lbs. in the process....I'm not as fit as I could be, but a lot more fit than I could be, too. I ride quite a bit, and I work 11 hour days, with the walking too, getting maybe 4-5 hours of sleep at night - that's been my whole life, 4-5 hours sleep/night. My adult low weight was 170 lbs, about 12 years ago, but I've never been over 220, weighing now about 203. I had intended to start entering the fun runs and walks this year.

I intend to get my life back to normal within the next week, but at the rate these doctors are calling me, and the appointment times I am getting, it may be the week of the 17th before I can see a surgeon for a consultation. My luck (or good fortune) is the timing of this in the middle of the Holidays. I have seen every Bowl game, and more!

But it's the New Year now, so let's get 'r done.

I'm tired of laying about the house!


Keith
Houston
Ridin'Texas
'04 Speedmaster
AI removed, Pingle, UNI Filter, 1 shim, straight-through slash-cut TORs, Stage 1 DynaJet, 140 mains, 3 turns, 16/42 final drive, 115K
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