Looks Like I'm Going To Be Out Of Commission For A While

[flash]

No playing with cars and trucks for a while , it looks like I'm going to be spending lots of time in Dr's offices and hospital .I have been having severe back pain for a long time now and finally decided to find a new Chiropractor as I got to get some relief from the pain .I went yesterday and had ex rays taken and met with him today at 5:30 after work ,he wanted to take more ex rays as he did not like something he saw .After reviewing the 2nd set of pics he showed me an area that looks like a broken bone in my lower back in a very dangerous area at my tailbone that could puncher my spinal cord if I had any kind of fall . The pain has been very hard to bear and he recommends me seeing an orthapaedic surgean ASAP .He said no Chiropractor would normally recommend surgery for any reason but it was probably my only hope .I have never had any kind of surgery and dread the thought of it but I'm looking forward to getting some relief hopefully soon .I will keep ya'll posted as I learn more in the near future .I have not felt like playing with any of my toys for a while now but will continue to follow what ya'll are up to on your projects .Sorry for such a long post but had to tell someone and ya'll are all I got .

[RBeckman]

Prayers for you Job he and hope all goes well and you get rid of the back pain.

[chevymaher]

Hope it goes well. Nothing worse than back pain. I know all about that.

[Hank70SS]

Wow, sorry to hear that John. Hope the surgery goes well and gives you some relief. We'll be thinking of you and praying for the best.

[BillsCamino]

Wow John...very sorry to hear this.
If you need a recommendation of an Ortho Surgeon let me know...Anne's having a similar surgery soon.
In fact, she just saw Dr Kelly last Wed...he does all the Pro Sports teams here in town.

[flash]

Bill,that is who Im going to see on Wednesday .Thanks for all the support guys .

[Ken Hayes]

Good luck John..........you'll do just fine........oh, tell the wife NO MORE KICK IN THE PANTS..........................J/K. We'll see you in Aug.

[Quadracer392]

Oh dang John! Hopefully you get some relief soon and everything heals quickly. Your toys are going to miss you!

[shadowgray396]

Wow, sorry to hear that John. Hope they can get this corrected soon so you can have some relief.

[carpoor]

Get well soon John, your cars/projects will be there when you are ready for them.

[flash]

Thanks guys ,I saw the surgeon yesterday and will be having an MRI as soon as insurance approves it .He had a batch of x rays done and said he could help me but will decide which way to proceed after the MRI is done .He did say he might be able to give me cortisone shots instead of surgery depending on how bad things are.

[flash]

Last week I had x rays done and they did not like what they saw .They have me set up for an MRI tomorrow afternoon and then I see Dr. Kelley again on Thursday to see what happens next .I have been trying to get my yardwork slowly done before he tells me I cant do that for a while .

[FlintTony]

Man, that is a kick in the nuts John! I sure hope they can get you feeling better and fixed permantly. If I were closer to you, I'd be more than willing to help any way I could.

[shadowgray396]

Hope they can give you some positive news when you see the doctor.

[flash]

Got the MRI done ,boy that sucked big time ,very loud . I see the Dr. tomorrow to see what the next step is.

[Hank70SS]

Had an MRI on my shoulder several years ago, it is loud. If you have access to a tractor ask Tony how you can fix your back with it, he's fixed his a couple of times.

Seriously, I hope they fix you up like new. I've had kidney stones and a fractured pelvis but I know back pain is the worst so I can only imagine. Good luck John.

[BillsCamino]

Good luck with Doc Kelley tomorrow John...hoping for an easy fix.
He's one of the best around here according to our research. Anne sees him again next week, I think.

[flash]

Bill ,I really like him and had heard good things about him before my first visit . I look forward to getting my back pain eased off .

[flash]

Well I got my answer on my back situation today and it does not come as a big surprise .I need spinal fusion and he had an opening on May 3rd and I took it .I go back in next wednesday for all the pre op stuff and we go from there ,Im ready .

[chevymaher]

Good luck I wish you the best.

[flash]

Thanks ,Im ready for the next step.

[FlintTony]

Best of luck John. Hope the recovery is fast.

[paulywood]

Good luck. I had back surgery 6 years ago to fix a ruptured disc. I was able to avoid fusion surgery so far and just had a discectomy. I have been much better since the surgery and hope you will be too.

[shadowgray396]

Good luck John. Hope your recovery is a short one. Just don't try to over do it to quickly.

[flash]

I have been fighting a cold since Friday ,called in sick today and Dr called me in some meds to help me get over this crap .Go tomorrow to Atlanta Piedmont Hospital for Pre Op ,whatever that involves .Then the surgery happens on next Tuesday and Im sure they will tell me what approx time it will happen.

[mestorod70]

Pre opp normaly is blood work...EKG...and chest xray.
You may be given surgical soap to use for a few days to kill any staph on the body.
Hope all goes well for you and gets you back up and running.
Please keep us updated.
ATB mick.

[flash]

I will keep you updated as things progress .

[BillsCamino]

Good luck John.
Any thoughts about attending the Peach State show this weekend??
I may go on Saturday if the weather is good.

[RBeckman]

Good luck John

[flash]

Wont be able to make the PeachState show this time Bill ,trying to stay close to home to get a few things done while I still can .

Got all my bloodwork done today as well as met with the surgeon and got all the check in stuff taken care of .I have to be there at 5:30 AM tuesday for them to get me prepped and go in the OR soon there after.

[Hank70SS]

Good luck John. Hope you're good as new come Wednesday or soon after.

[flash]

Tomorrow is my last day of freedom for a while ,check in to hospital at 5:30 AM Tuesday to get prepped for surgery .I dread it and look forward to it at the same time .I will check in when Im up to it though .
John

[FlintTony]

Here's hoping it goes smooooooth for you John. Just be sure and follow the instructions they give you for a speedy recovery.

[flash]

It's 4:30 AM and I am sitting in the surgery waiting area for the next hour waiting to get this started ,talk to you guys soon.

[chevymaher]

Good luck and quick healing.

[BillsCamino]

Hope things went well this morning John.

[BillsCamino]

I just got a call from Joan...

John's surgery went very well...he's in recovery right now and if all goes as planned, he should be released from the hospital on Friday.
Good news!!

[RBeckman]

Great news on John, now let the healing begin and for a pain free summer.

[Hank70SS]

Thanks Bill, glad to hear things went well. All the best John, we're all thinking of you.

[flash]

Guy's ,Im really shocked at how good my back feels after the surgey .Im sore from the surgery but the old pain and the pain in my legs is gone .Many prayers were answered today and Im very thankful .
John

[Hank70SS]

Sounds like you're on the mend John, great news.

[Ms Grumpy]

I called Joan this evening and all she had was good news. Today they took him off of all his IV's and he is only on oral medication. He was up 3 times today walking around and is in great spirits. Joan has taken the next two weeks to care for John at home.

And if all goes well in the morning he may be home tomorrow and it should be about a 6 week recovery time.

I don't know how many of you have ever had the opportunity to talk to Joan but she is just the sweetest person and I don't think that she has one negative bone in her body. Tonight she was so upbeat about everything, other than they won't be able to have a tomato garden this year because neither of them is in any shape to care for it.

Joan told me that Johns surgery was scheduled for 2 hours but it took 3 and she was a little nervous when the surgeon sent someone out and told her that the surgeon wanted to see her. When she talked to him he stated that everything went well but that he needed to do more repairs to the nerves than he originally thought he would have to. She went right back to recovery and there was John, sitting up, eating ice chips and told her that he felt great and that the pain was gone.

John spent 2 hours last night reading all the e-mails that people had sent to him and Joan suspected that he responded to each and every one of them.

Joan asked if for the next 6 weeks we could keep John busy with posting on Chevelleforum so that he doesn't do anything that he isn't supposed to do. Especially when she goes back to work in 2 weeks. I am sure that we can keep him busy, besides he likes to have a high post count.

Get better soon flash...

[flash]

Ms Grumpy
We got to come home today and about 3 PM we were pulling in the driveway .I needed a good power nap after that but Im doing good .And yes I did respond to all those emails the other evening and enjoyed it .I see painfree days ahead very soon ,just got to be patient .I will miss my tomato garden this year but there is next year .

Thanks everyone .

[BillsCamino]

Good news John...welcome home!!
If y'all need ANYTHING...holler!!

[flash]

Will do Bill ,its good to be home.

[FlintTony]

Great news John. I'll send you a few tomatoes from my patch if you want.

[Ken Hayes]

Glad your home brother. Now just follow the Doctors orders and take it easy. Hey Joan, no kickin in the pants when he gets too idle........:-)

[Hank70SS]

Okay, it's been a week, how about an update. Sure hope things are improving daily.

[flash]

I am improving daily ,the new pain is minimal ,taking very little pain meds .Im walking short distances 3 times daily ,a little longer daily .I still get tired very quickly so Im not pushing my limits just going slowly forward . I think I am still doing better than expected but dont want to over doit .The very worst part of the recovery is not being able to do anything .Thanks for checking in on me as I forgot to update this thread .

[chevymaher]

Glad to hear it. Hoping for a full quick recovery.

[Hank70SS]

Sounds encouraging John. Just keep doing what you're doing and you'll get there. Remember it's only been a little over a week.

[flash]

I am getting antsy not being able to do anything but Im trying to get used to it and just walk several times a day .I want to go out to my shop and organize it some but I know better .
Got to behave myself.

[Hank70SS]

I'm sure it's tough but there's 2 options. Behave yourself so you can do that stuff in the future or mess up and never be able to do it.

[RBeckman]

I'm sure it's tough but there's 2 options. Behave yourself so you can do that stuff in the future or mess up and never be able to do it.

Listen to Him Flash, Hank may not be a Doctor, but he does play one on Chevelle Forums after a few beers.

[flash]

Im going to take option # 1 ,Im doing pretty good so far .I hope on the 26th the Dr lets me go back to work on light duty .

[Hank70SS]

Listen to Him Flash, Hank may not be a Doctor, but he does play one on Chevelle Forums after a few beers.

Hey, I hadn't even had any beers when I posted that. But now that I have, well, never mind. Johns pretty smart, he already chose the best option. I'm sure he'll do fine. Best of luck John, take 2 aspirins and call me in the morning.

[flash]

Well guys and gals ,today is 2 weeks out since my surgery and I am doing well ,off all pain meds and can now drive .I have a little tightness in my surgery area but NO PAIN in my back or legs .Im driving to a nearby park as well as my work to walk laps on flat areas .I hired a guy to mow and weedeat my yard and that is very hard for me to watch someone else do my chores .

[shadowgray396]

More important to get well, then chores. Don't go try doing anything to soon, it will dictate how you live the rest of your life. Glad you are doing better.

[flash]

It appears Im pretty good at doing very little ,thanks guys .

[chevymaher]

I am happy it all went well. Congrats.

[flash]

Thanks ,Im better and stronger daily and still taking care of myself and walking a little more each day .My biggest problem right now is getting enough sleep ,night before last I didnt get to sleep til after 4AM and that was with my sleep meds taken at 9PM prior .I did sleep good last night but Im out of my normal sleep routine ,that stinks .I manage to stay busy doing basically nothing most days though .

[flash]

Im still recovering very well but getting antsy to do something ,ANYTHING .i HAD Joan call my Dr and ask if I could do light housework and they said No .All I can do is walk and Im doing that ,a lot .I go back to the Dr on thursday for my first examination after surgery ,hopefully he will let me start doing little things .The last three weeks have gone by pretty fast considering I can only stand so much TV ,Internet ,magazines and books .I went to Walmart today to get some model car glue only to be told they dont sell it here anymore .

[flash]

Update time : My Dr's were real pleased with my recovery so far ,they removed the stiches ,changed my sleeping meds per my request,I hope they work.They lifted some of my restrictions,I can now walk inclines even on gravel(my driveway about 600 ft),can wash my cars and trucks with restrictions ,I can do some outside painting with restrictions,can organize in my shop,no heavy lifting ,can do light work under the hood of car or truck with restrictions ,can spray weed killer around my place ,still no mowing grass,no going back to work for at least 3 weeks. I am pleased and thankful for everything that has happened during this time of surgery and now the healing .I am not pushing myself but I am walking 2 1/2 to 3 miles daily and will continue that with more distance added. I have lost a little weight and hopefully more to come .Thanks for all the support guys ,you dont know how much it helps .
John

[RBeckman]

Great update Flash, glad you are not pushing yourself and following the Doctors advice.

[Hank70SS]

Good to hear that John. Glad you're doing well and improving daily.

[FlintTony]

Great news John. Is all the pain gone from before the operation?

[flash]

Yes ,all the pain from before surgery is gone ,I still cant believe how good it is to be free from all that .Best thing I have ever done for myself and very happy .

[flash]

Time for another update ,Dr. says Im way ahead of where they expected me to be ,everything is looking good.The bone graft is growing in well and my muscles in back are healing very well .I start Physical Therapy next week2 times a week for about 6 weeks ,maybe less.I can go back to work on light duty in 3 weeks and can start doing my own lawn mowing in 5 or 6 weeks .Needless to say I am very happy with the news and ready to get back to a regular routine although I have enjoyed driving the new 72 Chevy truck all this time I have been off .

[chevymaher]

Good to hear. I wish you even more speedy recovery.

[FlintTony]

Great news John! So glad it is working out for you.

[flash]

Thanks guys ,Im so glad to be free of the pain ,I'm going to be able to accomplish so much more when fully recovered ,I just have to be real cautious about re injuring myself.

[Hank70SS]

So glad you're feeling better John. PLEASE don't re-injury yourself. Not sure how old you are but us older guys would like to do what we did before. Not always the best idea though. Be well.

[flash]

Hank ,I am 53 and I promise I am going to take good care of my back from now on ,done some really stupid stuff in my younger days of pipeline construction. If I do any heavy lifting after the Dr's give the go ahead I will seek help .

[shadowgray396]

Glad to hear you are healing. Still take care of yourself and don't rush it.

[Ms Grumpy]

So glad to hear you are doing better John. Can't wait to see you and Joan.

[flash]

We cant wait to see what Ohio has to offer this year .

[flash]

I go back to see my back surgeon next month for a check up and I think he will be pleased as I am still mostly pain free unless I overdo it .Have not needed any pain meds at all for a good while ,very happy about that ,I dont do pain meds good .