I was a spry and sprightly man. Today, I'm darn near a cripple awaiting back surgery.
On a trip to Arizona before T'Giving, I came down with a ruptured disc, an arthritic hip AND Covid. Suffered a blackout from the excruciating pain and was "amberlampsed" to the Mayo Clinic - where they told me all three of the aforementioned. Two months later, after X-rays, CT scans, an MRI, a nerve block injection, physical therapy and multiple consultations, I am awaiting yet another CT scan and then surgery. Eventually, there will be a new hip as well.
In the meantime, I'm on pain meds and have become an irritable codger. I'm scared of going down stairs because my leg collapses without warning, and I am very sure my golfing days are over. I dread the thought that my new bass boat may never see me again.
If I seem changed on the forums, give me a little slack, willya? This is a booger.
Darn Rocky what a wild few months! I’ve dealt with pain several times. It can certainly & understandably change a persons attitude. Give yourself some slack too - we certainly will as well.
I wish you the very best and a complete recovery, Rocky. I can identify with severe back and hip pain. Hopefully, you'll be back in your new bass boat this Spring.
Hope you get better, I’m in hospital bed with six bullet holes in tummy, 3/8 hose coming out my dick. Had prostate work done this am. Hopefully I will be able to pee normally.
I’ve always had a strong back and a weak mind they say. It’s a wonder mine isn’t bad after all 50 years of lifting pipe.
2 months ago today i had a knee replaced. They booted me out of rehab last Tuesday and i needed to find a gym to continue working on further rehab of the knee. I reached the insurance parameters.
I wish you the very best in what ever direction you choose. It appears that you are looking your options over.
I know that i have been provided some instructions on things i can and cannot do for a year. And you probably will be in the same boat. My wife was quick to point out that i had a fishing trip planned in April and that is out now, the boat is considered unsteady and potentially may result in some issues. As it will take a year or longer for all the moving parts to be set. Same for a trip to Africa to do some visiting and hunting. So i am looking forward to 2024 for both of those events to happen.
I will be able to take in my shooting sports, however hiking up and down grades is not recommended. Probably will have to put off my trip to South Dakota for bird hunting this fall. But there are other years to look forward too.
From reading your posts your are a couple years older than me and for the past 12 years or so i have been getting some tuneups. I think i am good now for another 50,000 miles or so. There are still things that you will be able to take in, like my doctors said just in moderation. Another doctor keeps reminding me that i had way too much fun when i was younger as she removes patches that appear to be pre cancerous. The last session i was thinking that she was freezing my brain, my head was so cold when she removed a spot about the size of a silver dollar.
I just know that more planning. Is required now to do things.
Now the individuals who were in my joint replacement class, a hip replacement is easier to rehab than the knee or shoulder. So look at the positives, you are doing the easy one. Whoo hoo.
I had a bulged disc in October. Took til’ the first of December to get halfway back to normal. Sounds as if your condition is much worse unfortunately. That crap is very painful. I will keep you in my prayers.
I feel some of your pain, got out of surgery on last Thursday, got most of bleeding stopped. Hacking up blood. Felt great and couldn't breathe. Hang in there.
Best wishes for you and with your upcoming surgeries. There’s no reason to think that you can’t get back close to what you were before.
This is true. You’ll fish again and you won’t always hurt like you do today. It’s easy to forget that while the situation has you down. Golfing? Wait & see. Golfers aren’t right anyway. Reminds me of ice fishermen. Just not right,
You'll still be able to golf but it'll be 2-3 years before you can do it again. I had S1-L5-L4 fused in 2014 it was 3 years before I could jump off of the tailgate of a pickup, I couldn't run for 1 1/2 years, it just takes time.
My neighbor had L4, L5 fused and he was back to golfing inside of 2 years. the first time he tried it was about a year after surgery, he walked off after his first swing and went back and tried it again about 7 months later, he finished 9 holes and the next time he went he did 18.
My advice is be damn sure of your surgeons capabilities, use a neurosurgeon not an orthopedic surgeon.
Afterwards when trying things if it hurts stop what your doing and try again in 6 months, don't push it for any reason.
Man, you've sure had- am having a bad string right now. I had a tooth pulled and suffered through about 12-15 Novacaine injections while he dug out infected tooth parts while awake, every time he hit the nerve another jab of juice was administered, then a 2 week bad pain event. Sounds like a stubbed toe in comparison.
Hang tuff, and best wishes to full recovery, golfing and catching bass come springtime.
Tough spot Rocky. Easy to give in. Don’t! Keep going and look forward to each hour, day, week, month, etc…. .
I’ve experienced similar “tough spots”. Although likely much younger than you at present I can relate to the feelings of doom. Do what you can each day and revel in the accomplishments.
Careful with the opioids, easy to get a false sense of well being. Don’t get me wrong, they are helpful and necessary in situations. Just recognize when their use is counterproductive. Fine line.
Wish you well and hope to continue reading your posts here for many years to come.
Hang in there. That which does not kill you will make you stronger. I’m living proof of that. “They” say pain is God’s way of letting you know you are still alive. If I knew I was gonna live this long, I would have taken better care of myself. I’m presently recuperating from Covid caught in Oct 2020. Wound up with Covid pneumonia, Covid heel and toes, trach, stage 4 sacral wound big enuff to put my fist in, colostomy, about 10 operations and abradments. Was on a ventilator and 3 of us survived. Woke up and could only move my thumbs and speak with trach button. Wound up amputating toes and heel and eventually the left leg. Woke up in a foreign land run by socialists in the highest office. Spent 14 months away from home in specialty hospitals and nursing homes. Caught pneumonia about 6 X, numerous UTIs, Foley catheter for 7.5 MONTHS and intermittently for non flo and operations. Also had breathing meds to react to heart meds. FaceTimed wife goodbye on a borrowed cell phone. Sons planned my funeral for 3 weeks couldn’t find my flash drive with my plans. Feel like Lazarus - shouldn’t be here above ground. Only prayers, providence, and a good wife brought me thru this. You have a soul and will live somewhere forever and you have a choice as to where. When you are totally dependent upon others for your care and well being, it humbles you. You appreciate each and every little thing. I know about pain too and often wondered how Christ willingly bore the pain of the cross. Another thing, phantom pain is very much real. Often have bouts of it in nonexistent leg. On the mend at home now. Driving and moving about in wheelchair, Walker and some with cane. Working on my main most job of spoiling grandkids, mentoring young people, cooking and shooting pistols and rifles. Still have problems sleeping and flashbacks. Wife too. Hope you get well soon.
If you get lucky you'll be playing golf and fishing. My back surgery didn't come out nearly as well as my neck surgery. But I got my life back and hopefully you will also. I totally believe that a persons brain can only handle a certain amount of pain. Your pain just got to be more than the mind can handle.
Despite the crappy luck, good will eventually come out of it. You will find ways to make it work if you are willing to do things differently and not give up.
The hip replacement is really not that bad. Had my left hip replaced 7 years ago and it's very nearly good as it's ever been. Essentially no pain after about 6 months. I wish I had done it years earlier than I did. About the only thing I've had to change is that running is to be avoided...my doctors words were to absolutely avoid it.
Can't speak to the ruptured disc. That's something I've never had to deal with....and pray I never do.
Hang in there, there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
Rocky, I don't know you personally so vicarious will do. You can do this. I have much faith in Mayo Clinics.
Pick out something reasonably attainable that you really want do in a reasonable amount of time after the Docs are done with you and keep your eyes on the prize. It can help you through some tough times which you will have, sad but true. When you get down to it and tough is all you've got, remember tough is enough.
Been there. Done that. You will prevail, but be smart.
Thanks for all the kind words and wishes. Not looking for sympathy (well, not much) but just 'splainin' why I might be a bit cranky at times here.
I enjoyed golf for 50 years but was never very good at it. The last shot I took back in October was a beauty, though. Stuck a 9-iron from 110 yards for a kick-in. If that was the last shot I ever make, it'll be a great memory. I was still walking the course in under three hours and feeling great but wondering when I'd have to transition to using a cart. Knew that time was coming, but I truly hate cart golf except on courses where it's mandatory. Now I won't have to, which I consider a good thing.
Fishing on the other hand will be a terrific blow if I can't do that. I bought my boat two years ago and didn't get to use it a lot last year because all our lakes are so low that launching was risky. I may have to find somebody willing to go with me to help launch and load once the Doc says I can fish again. Hope that will be by Autumn.
In the meantime, I'll post to let anyone else in this boat (joke intended) what to expect.
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