Back Problems

[Mark Olson]

Randy,

sounds like you got it all planned out, good luck on the procedure .

If you do drop by the rally we got ya covered on food and drink.

should go nicely with your meds.

[jvb_ca]

Pulling for you Randy.
Keep the spirits up. Good things happen to good people.

Cheers...Jake

[markmartin]

Good luck Randy.  I've never been in the predicament that you're in, but have gone from feeling like I could kick the world''s ass (as much as you can kick the world's ass in your late 40's) to having to roll out of bed on all fours to be able to stand up and hobble over to the can to take a leak because of back trouble.  Hope you're feeling better soon.

Mark

[carsick]

 Randy, may the Kookaloo be with you. What goes around comes around, and from what I have seen you have sent out a tremendous amount of good. I have been hit by the lightning bolt in the lower back before, no fun crawling around for days, no surgery for me but ten years later I still know something's amiss if I twist too quickly. I am impressed by your determination to research all options and be your own advocate despite the pain, this will definitely pay great dividends. We're all rooting for ya!
Doug

[racerrad8]

Well,

I am home and resting following my back surgery yesterday. First off I have to say....    KOOKALOO 

Went on the table at 9:00 am yesterday morning. Surgery was to take 1 - 1.5 hours; Actually time was 2 1/2 hours. He told me when he got in there the disc had been ruptured sometime before this latest injury. The scar tissue from the rupture had grown to and attached the nerve to the ruptured portion of the disc. The injury I received on 4/3 was the fragmenting of a piece of the rupture, which then had no place to go but behind the sciatic nerve. This in turn was causing the compression for the nerve and all of the left leg/foot pain. The fragmented piece measured 2.3cm.

He said after clearing of the fragmented piece and the removal of the rupture portion I again have the proper space and movement of the nerve. When I awoke at about 12:30, I noticed I was pain free except for the surgery site. No more leg or foot pain. I can again move my leg & foot without the shooting sciatic nerve pain. By 4:00 a PT nurse was trying to get me up & moving. I explained the Dr's direction to me about being immobile for 24 hours. She then showed me his notes telling PT staff to get me up & walking as quickly as possible.

I was up and walking around the recovery wing hallways and all I could think about was how great it felt to be pain free; KOOKALOO 

Dr. came in this morning at about 7:00 and I was coming out of the bathroom and the look of surprise on his face that I was up and about so effortlessly, and he was thinking "KOOKALOO". He checked me over, took a lap around the wing with me, had me walk up some therapy stairs and said, "You can go home if you like". 

He checked the left foot strength and said it had improved by well over 75% already and my drop foot appeared to be almost gone. Originally he told me I would be back to work in a light duty status in 2-3 weeks. But, he told me when he got everything cut out and removed the is now an open hole in the disc. The hole will have to heel over by scar tissue. He said with this hole, he would be keeping of work until August 3rd and I am still only to walk and lifting nothing more than a glass of water until I go see him for my followup on the 15Th.

He told me the surgery was challenging due to the scar tissue and he had never seen an occurrence that heavy before, and his only concern now is getting the hole to scar over after that it will be back to normal. He said he would be leaving me off of work until August when he can do another MRI to check the injury/hole.

I will be staying pretty immobile through the weekend with the exception of taking my walks. I am hoping to feel good enough to get to the shop early next just to hold down my chair and be there for anyone that might need my assistance.

As I said before, THANK YOU to all that have offered advised, words of encouragement and care, and listening/reading my ramblings it has really helped this process along for me. The acute injury I received and the quick time frame of getting something done has been a whirlwind of exactly two months. I was injured on 4/3, surgery on 6/3 and hopefully be back to work by 8/3.

Plus, If I get back to work in August I can still get the FJ's out for a few late summer rides.

Thanks again to everyone, and I will post updates on how my recovery is going.

Randy - RPM 

[weymouth399]

Really glad to here that your doing better
Bob

[andyb]

Awesome man!  Now be a good kid and FOLLOW THE BLOODY DIRECTIONS... means no rough screwin, no "just this one thing" getting moved, no picking up the kids/pets, etc! 

May be wanting to get a back brace thing.  They don't work, of course, but they help remind you not to do stuff.

[jvb_ca]

Great news Randy. At least you can at least lift a glass (water?).... ..

Cheers...Jake

[rktmanfj]

 

Randy T
Indy

[Yamifj1200]

Well alright Randy, Thats great news... sounds like you will be doing even better in the next couple months. Keep up the recovery and you may be enjoying some nice fall riding before long....

Eric M

[Pat Conlon]

Good job Randy!
Your careful investigation of your options paid off. Congrats to you and your medical team (it takes two)
Andy is absolutely right on. Follow all the recovery/rehab directions to the T.

Sending good thoughts your way.

[racerman_27410]

i knew it was going to work out for ya.... i had a good feeling about the situation.

a good nights sleep (for a change) does wonders for your morale doesn't it ?

Kookaloo my friend! (but not too soon) 


Frank

[Arnie]

Your report is the best news of the day. :-)

Carry on,

Arnie

[fj1289]

Excellent news Randy!  Glad you were able to get the treatment you needed and it went well.  Good luck on a full recovery!

[carsick]

Just what I was hoping to hear! Isn't it great when you open something up and find an obvious problem that can be fixed? You know exactly what I mean Randy, good to know surgeons have those days too- keep up the good work!
Doug