Weight limits

[cozmik_cowboy]

Caught her in the AM today; got in ~40 minutes (my limit on sitting in one stretch right now).  My fingers hurt - boy, does it feel good!
Thanks for the good wishes, all.
 
Peter

[poor_nigel]

Hey Peter.  I really feel for you and do hope you get all your back troubles behind you.  We're really lucky they've made such advancements in technology, so we do get worked on and healed up, so we can get back to doing the important things in our lives.  Today will be my first day getting back to picking up a bass to play it in over a month.  Thankfully, alluses come and go.  Wishing you a full recovery and lots of great play time in the future.

[garth4664]

On the bright side, in ten years time if the current trend continues you will be able to lift 500 lbs. Apology for the tasteless joke - hope you get better soon

[cozmik_cowboy]

Went to the Dr. today expecting him raise my limit from 1 to 2 lbs, but he didn't - he made it 5!  I can pick up a guitar!!!  Sorry, Nick, the Mrs. went weird over the image thing; I'll see what I can do later.
 
Peter

[afrobeat_fool]

No worries, Peter. I have lots of images and the cadaver lab. I am going there today! They always pull the most interesting ones out for us. Get better and play some guitar!
 
 
Nick

[David Houck]

Wow Peter; was this something sudden?  Glad the surgery was a success and that you are on the mend.

[cozmik_cowboy]

It came on late last year & was diagonosed ~3-4 weeks ago, Dave.  It was not there on an MRI 2.5 years ago.  Pain started ~July, thought it was a recurrence of something else.  Another MRI last month showed it - it was ~pinkie-finger size - which didn't leave a lot of room for spinal cord.  Should be out of the back brace in a few weeks, no restrictions within 6 months except, lifetime, no more heavy labor (done that, I'm fine with no more) & no high impact, a ala football or skydiving (did football - that was part of the problem - but that was 40 years ago, so no loss. Skydiving?  Always wanted to, guess I won't.  A lesson for you youngsters - whatever it is, do it NOW!)
 
Peter

[hammer]

Hope you're feeling better and will be following your progress. Scheduled to have a similar procedure done in the next two weeks.  Only difference is that my problem is between T1 and C7 with the pinching occuring at the nerve that exits the SC between these two vertebra. They're supposed to remove two cysts and do some bone shaving since there's some arthritic process back there too. Biggest difficulty right now(besides the pain) is that its restricting me to playing with a pick since the pinching affects every finger other than my thumb and forefinger. I've always been a non-impact sports guy so mine isn't from football.  I hope it's not a result of 10 lb basses hanging off my shoulder all these years.

[cozmik_cowboy]

You won't regret it, Brian; it was so bad that any movement or pressure from waist to knees was excruciating, and it was progressing so rapidly that I'm pretty sure if hadn't done the surgery 2 weeks ago, I wouldn't be walking now.  When I woke up post-op, I was in a world of hurt - but none of it was in the same places, and it's already almost gone.  My biggest problem now is that I hate the back brace, and still have a few more weeks of it.  Let us know how yours goes, and hang in there until.  For now, I just back from work (yeah, back in the classroom 2 weeks to the day from the surgery) & started PT yesterday, so I need to go do my exercises (any excuse to lose the brace....)
 
Peter

[afrobeat_fool]

Brian. First thing, I am not a doctor! What I am is a strutural integration therapist working on my Masters/DR in Physical therapy. If I may offer some advice? Before the surgery, find a Rolfer or certified structural integration therapist and have a few sessions. I am not familiar with you or your condition, but it is worth doing and may alliviate your problems. just my 2 cents. This therapy has kept me moving for years with no/little pain. I have moderate/advanced degeneration in all my thoracic and cervical vertebrae, scoliosis of spine. I rode bronks for years worked as an arborist for 12 years, toured as a bassist for years and ride bikes/skibikes,quads,and parachute jumping. By all rights I should be a cripple or dead, but here I am still enjoying life and moving on to a new career at 42. Good luck and all the best!  Sorry about the hijack, Peter.
 
 
Nick

[hammer]

Thanks for the encouragement guys!
I haven't been to a Rolfer, but did go the PT route first and then to a postural restoration specialist. I didn't get much relief from either intervention.  Apparently the cysts are rather large. In addition, years ago I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis. The openings between two adjacent vertebra, that allow the nerve fibers to exit the spinal canal are just not large enough. So any inflammation back there leads to pain.  My condition hasn't been helped given that I'm a Nordic ski coach and avid cyclist who has raced for years and both activities I've been told pace a lot of stress on T1/C7.  After two nights of absolutely no sleep, they are trying me on prednisone to try to knock down some of the inflammation/nerve irritation which has been a lot worse since I got a steroid injection last week. Hopefully this will get me through til surgery.  
 
By the way, my doc loves the idea of postural restoration therapy and has encouraged me to go back following surgery to hopefully limit the probability of this occurring in the future.  Nick, I?m not sure as to the differences between structural integration therapy and postural restoration, but?from what I?ve learned after a quick internet search for the former, both would probably lessen the probability of recurrence whether the problem is lumbar as is Peter?s or cervical-thoracic like mine.

[afrobeat_fool]

Wow, Brian. That's some stuff to deal with. Best of luck with the surgery. The work I do is myofascial, tendonous attachment,muscle retraining, holisticly based. Seeing the body that works efficiently, works best. That and pain management are my primary goals. I do hope to be a Rolfer....someday.  
 
 
Nick

[hammer]

So after an iniital cancellation and a wait of another three weeks, I finally had my T1-C7 synovial cyst removal surgery last Friday.  The good news is that because they were able to do it using minimally invasive techniques, recovery should not be that long and there are no limitations on activities (other than to not do anything that will rip out the stitches).  I was able to play again, sitting down of course, two days after going under. No real problem with pain BUT...I still have weakness and numbness in my right fingers so while I can use a pick fairly effectively the fingers are still not working the way they are intended.  
 
When I contacted the neurosurgeon, all I got was information that the surgery went very well and there should be nothing impinging on the nerves that run down to those fingers anymore, in addition to a script for a corticosteriod which really hasn't helped.  
 
Has anyone who has had this type of spinal procedure experienced a delay in symptom relief or a need to go to a PT/OT because of muscle atrophy.  I hate to be limited to using a pick for the rest of my life, but at this point, the strength and dexterity I once had in those fingers is just not there.

[David Houck]

Brian; I have no idea, but I do hope that it's nothing more than just a matter of time, healing, and exercise.  Hoping for the best.

[cozmik_cowboy]

My movement was severely limited by pain for 6-7 months pre-op.  Going on 2 months post-op I have had almost no real pain (just the back feeling different, I guess I'd say), but my legs are a bit weak, & tire easily.  I'm still doing PT twice a week, & will be for a while; hope time & exercise will do both of us.
 
Peter