noah76
Junior Member
Posts: 80
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Post by noah76 on Apr 18, 2011 0:08:42 GMT -5
Well my friends things look grim for the next 6 or so months. I am having Lumbar Spine Fusion for Degenerative Disc Disease.  No more playing guitar and using my kick ass Compy. |
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Post by Lewis on Apr 18, 2011 7:07:35 GMT -5
Sorry to hear that, I wish you a speedy recovery
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Post by Ayton(e) on Apr 18, 2011 9:24:25 GMT -5
That doesn't sound like a barrel of fun, Noah. Why can't you play guitar, though?
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noah76
Junior Member
Posts: 80
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Post by noah76 on Apr 18, 2011 12:24:39 GMT -5
Hey Ayton, I was told sitting to play guitar was going to be hard. So I guess I'm going to be laying down in bed for some time. But who knows maybe it may not hurt so much sitting.
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Post by guitareden on Apr 18, 2011 19:02:07 GMT -5
Noah, I give anesthesia for those types of surgeries and it seems like people feel best standing.
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noah76
Junior Member
Posts: 80
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Post by noah76 on Apr 19, 2011 0:17:05 GMT -5
guitareden, if you don't mind could you tell me what i'm in for? How much pain? thanks .
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Post by Ayton(e) on Apr 19, 2011 13:35:13 GMT -5
If standing feels best, maybe you can get something lightweight, or put together a very light partscaster. No 12 pound Les Pauls, that's for sure! I would have to come up with something; no way I could go six months with no widdly.
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Post by jcortez on Apr 19, 2011 18:58:27 GMT -5
I'm a Physical therapist and I treat patients with lumbar and cervical spinal fusions,microdiscectomies and all types of spinal conditions. You just need to give it a few weeks of recovery and you should be alright. You probably can't sit for hours but, you can play for 15-20 minutes 3-4 x/day if you use good posture and learn to tighten your stomach muscles while you are playing to protect your back. You can even alternate between sitting and standing with one foot on a stool and the other on the floor to unload the lumbar spine. You can expect some soreness and general pain from the surgery but, not near the level of pain that caused you to have to consider the fusion in the first place. 3-4 months 50-75% recovery up to a year for full recovery if you go through physical therapy and actually follow their advice. Good luck man!
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noah76
Junior Member
Posts: 80
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Post by noah76 on Apr 20, 2011 1:31:34 GMT -5
oh great news man thanks. i was going to go nuts if i couldn't play for that long.
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Post by sasquatch on Apr 22, 2011 9:56:26 GMT -5
If standing feels best, maybe you can get something lightweight, or put together a very light partscaster. No 12 pound Les Pauls, that's for sure! I would have to come up with something; no way I could go six months with no widdly. There's a guitar strap that's been out on the market for quite some time now that crosses over both shoulders and distributes the weight more evenly as opposed to having it all on one shoulder. That might be something to consider too. Might help you maintain better posture and prevent back stress. |
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noah76
Junior Member
Posts: 80
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Post by noah76 on Apr 25, 2011 23:39:23 GMT -5
Yea I saw that strap.Looks Cool.
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noah76
Junior Member
Posts: 80
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Post by noah76 on May 1, 2011 7:08:49 GMT -5
good news no surgery needed now. Went to a really good Doc and was told the shots,pt and pain pills is the best way to go for now.
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Post by sasquatch on May 1, 2011 10:55:41 GMT -5
Cool... glad to hear it! Back surgery can often be like rolling the dice. Either it turns out to be the best thing you ever did, the worst thing you ever did, or it's no better than before.
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Post by bloodrose on May 5, 2011 23:39:45 GMT -5
Glad you dodged the bullet bro! I have degenerative disc disease too.. I had 3 level fusion (lower back) about 10 years ago. I was 32. I was working 3 jobs up to that point and could barely walk. Ins co by day, waiting tables some nights and unloading trucks/putting up milk for a grocery store other nights and days off from job 1. Anywho, they made a 10" incision on my belly. Navel to just above Mr johnson. they removed 3 discs and put bone in from a bone bank, held in place with 3 stainless washers and screws. (1 for each disc). Then they rolled me over and made a 12 inch cut on the back. made a 6 inch cut on my hip and took bone graphs which were laid accross the vertabrae and held in place by 8 stainless bolts and 4 rods. The bolts were screwed into the bone "wings". And they implanted a bone growth stimulator. (about the size of a silver dollar) 2 of the 3 levels didnt heal and they redid more graphs and the other 2 levels a year later.
The first surg was a bear. Cut so much muscle doing front and back, its alot to recover from. Was on a walker for a couple of weeks and had a brace for about a month I think. I was in bed for about a week, (but got up to go to bathroom and all with assistance) but since my wife was getting frazzled taking care of the kids and all, I started getting out of bed myself and going to the bathroom after about 4 days..VERY hard. I used to fold clothes laying in bed and when I could talk my kids into getting my guitar out, Id lay and play too.. IIRC, I think I was sitting up and playing in a couple of weeks. Had to avoid playing one standing for probably a month or 3. My back is still bad (need another surg) so it hurts me if I play my Burny LP too long. 11 lbs of sustaining monster!!!
But, after the misery of the recovery, I did feel better after.. One word of advice.. Dont let them put you on Oxycontin.. that stuff is harder to kick than heroin. Im having a pain pump put in soon and I went ahead and took myself off the oxy. I didnt sleep for 2 weeks, had terrible hot and cold spells and terrible case of feeling like I was going insane. plus, I still had to work every day.. Just my .02.
Hope you stay healthy Bro!
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Post by Ayton(e) on May 6, 2011 12:06:57 GMT -5
Bloodrose... jeez.  You get today's mojo (and today's make Ayton queasy award.) |
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No more playing guitar and using my kick ass Compy.
