Well... Had my meeting with the Doc. He checked the latest MRI out, and seems the majority of my pain is coming from the degeneration of the bone to the rear and above the bad lower disc. He recommended the ALIF, and advised he has had a lot of success with this procedure, and that, by the time it affects any other disc, there will be new stuff available. (I went to Bajwa in Johnson City NY, if anyone here knows him.) Seems he's a pretty good Doc, and has done the actual disc replacements, and is on the cutting edge with the new techniques. He says hospital stay is 2-7 days, with a 8 week "gimp" time, then a 6-12 month to full recovery time. He gave me a book on the surgery, and... Well... None of it looks all too pleasant. Apparently, they gotta hook all sorts of hoses, and whatnot, to keep the engine running (or something) then I have the option of using my own stored blood, in case I need a transfusion, or someone elses... Never donated outside the military. Then I have the option of using some sort of bone protein for the graft, or having them take bone outta my arse. So, if I go with that option, I will have a sore back, front, and arse.
Good lord...
For the bad part... I have 5 months to retirement, the Doc recommends the operation soon, as my present condition is a little better than being hit by a truck every day, I have only two months of sick leave left, and a triple homicide trial coming up in July... I hate to let the guys I work with down, but I really have to get this thing taken care of. Every day is like a new experiment in the pain category. (Doc says most of the pain is from the bones that surround L5 grating against each other... Yes, it is painful)
I have a pretty high pain tolerance (once stood at attention on a fire ant hill, and paid for it later, and also ran a 5 mile run with a sprained ankle) so I'm used to dealing with pain. Major problem I have is... Being put unconscious, in a hospital, and being out of control. Funny as that may sound to some, it concerns me greatly. It's the reason I avoid alcohol, and avoided drugs all my life, until this back thing came around. I guess I'm also concerned about not being in control of my future too. The doc went over the possible "boo-boo's" and I'm hoping I don't end up on his blooper reel and have to lay in a bed for the rest of my life. Guess it's pretty scary stuff... I have to schedule the surgery on Monday, and he said they can get me in, in two or three weeks. (Another summer, shot in the keister)
Any advice from the brotherhood on dealing with pre-operative whatnot?
Thanks in advance, and yes I know...
Sucks to be me...