surgery update

[akelman]

I wanted to drop a quick note to say thanks to all of the people who volunteered their time to PM or talk on the phone with me about their back surgeries. I was reminded by these gestures, by the willingness of people to share their personal medical histories, that this is a remarkable place. That I ended up not calling anyone should not indicate my lack of interest. My surgeon wanted to get me under the knife as quickly as possible and did exactly that, leaving me with much less time than I anticipated to prepare -- and to clear my decks at work.

At any rate, the surgery is now done, and I'm very slowly on the mend (though it sure doesn't feel that way at the moment). The procedure, unfortunately, turned out to be quite a bit more complicated than the MRI suggested it would be. What was to have been a 45 minute surgery turned into 4.5 hours on the table.

Regardless, one of my first thoughts in the recovery room -- after, "oh, I'm alive and very hungry" -- was how much I appreciated everyone here. I hope that my long-term outcome mirrors many of the stories I've heard from you. Either way, I count myself lucky to have such excellent friends. Thank you.

[malcolm]

sounds like an ordeal

Best of luck for a speedy recovery

[dekindy]

45 minutes to 4.5 hours is quite a shock, glad it appears to have gone okay.

[jmeloy]

Damn Ari, take your time and you'll be back good as new!

[Liberace]

Worst part for me was the first #2 - just sayin.


It takes a long time to heal, but things will get much better. Time does heal, so don't rush things.

[thegunner]

ari -- here's wishing you the best on the road to recover :)

on the plus side, more time on the forums eh?

[christian]

Fingers crossed for you, Ari!

[ergott]

Sorry I missed the news the first time around. Good luck on your recovery and make it a speedy one!

Cheers,
:beer:

[akelman]

Thanks, all. You are, as ever, very kind. But you should know that my spirits are pretty high.

Here are some more details that I just wrote to a friend here:

I ended up needing discectomies at L4-L5 and L5-S1. There was a bunch of calcification at L5-S1 that he wasn't expecting. He assumes it was there from an old injury or trauma (skiing, mountain biking, years of basketball or maybe rowing competitively). Regardless, he spent hours chiseling away at it so he could get access to the disc and create room for the nerve root. He thinks, because of what he saw and what he had to do, that I'll be lucky to have any nerve regeneration from where I am (though he's still optimistic that further degeneration has been arrested). He's also concerned that I might end up in even more pain: not from sciatica, but from the fact that he worries the calcification might have served some kind of buffering function.

Regardless, I made it off the table, I'm lucky to have a job in which limited physical abilities aren't going to be a problem (heck, If I look at some of my colleagues, I'm not sure mental abilities matter all that much either), my wife is my best friend in the world, and my kids are healthy (knock wood). I'm not ready to give up on biking just yet, but if that's where I end up, it's not going to be the end of the world.

[akelman]

Also, I still look at the classifieds every day. What's up with that?

[rustychisel]

looking for a motorized scooter. In carbon. With Zipp 404s.

No seriously, best with the mending.

[nighthawk]

I hope you have a swift recovery, akelman... Feel healthier than ever in body and mind... And please don't start riding a recumbent!

[Steve in SLO]

Ari,
Speedy recovery to you.
I will dedicate tomorrow's ride to you, so plan on riding about 35 miles through California vinyards. It should be 68-75 degrees. Dress accordingly.

[texbike]

I hope that you heal fast Ari! Best Wishes from Austin!

Texbike

[choke]

Ari, best wishes for a fast and complete recovery.

[AngryScientist]

Heal up quick. We're always here to listen.

Im no expert, but i think being hungry after surgery is a good sign. My mother always said a good appetite means you're healthy, for whatever that italian wives tale is worth!

[GuyGadois]

Glad everything is OK Ari. Don't rush the recovery.

GG

[Elefantino]

Ari:

Give me a shout when you're feeling up to it. Would love to hear about it. And as others have said, take it slow.

-M

[akelman]

take it slow

As anyone who's ever ridden with me will tell you, taking it slow isn't a problem for me.

[thwart]

Good to hear, Ari.

Also, I still look at the classifieds every day. What's up with that?

As someone said, the classifieds are like crack.

Actually that's probably a good thing... your continued interest there, I mean... ;)

[Z3c]

Ari,

Glad it is behind you, take your time recovering and enjoy the break. You'll be rolling miles again soon!

[rwsaunders]

Also, I still look at the classifieds every day. What's up with that?

That's called forward thinking...best wishes for a solid recovery.

[FlashUNC]

Keep fighting the good fight. Hard lesson I learned with the elbow is it isn't necessarily the day by day progress, but the monthly milestones.

And I still call dibs on the shiny Campy bits.

[bcm119]

Don't skimp on the exercises your PT will prescribe during recovery. "Keep moving" is the best advice. I had a discectomy and I still have pain when sitting or standing for long periods, but I feel fine on the bike. Hope it goes well.

[buldogge]

Glad to hear you made it thru Ari....Here's to quick healing and full recovery!

Being laid up is no excuse to stop hoarding Campy silver...

...on with it.

-Mark in St. Louis

[roguedog]

Ari. I also missed this notice. Heal well!

[akelman]

Here's the original thread. (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=118468) I think it's important that now and again we have a discussion devoted entirely to me.

[Jack Brunk]

take your rehab like Adrian Peterson did of the Vikings. Push yourself beyond what you think your capable of. If you do, you'll kick ass down the road.

PS I'll let the stupid forum anti cussing program edit my words.

[junkfood]

Hope you heal up fast Ari!

Jake

[aoe]

Ari, I've been out of pocket for a bit and just saw this (and your original thread), as well. All the best to you and to your recovery.

[Louis]

Ari, best of luck with the recovery. By next spring (whenever that happens in your part of CA - Feb? ;) ) you'll be all set to go again.

In the meantime, you need to pick up a hobby like wheel building or tubular tire repair.

[henrypretz]

More best wishes for a strong and speedy recovery.

Henry

[akelman]

In the meantime, you need to pick up a hobby...

If only I had a Kirk just lying around waiting to be built up.

[djg]

Glad to know that you are on the mend. Best of luck with a speedy and thorough recovery.

[buldogge]

http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/laughing/pointing-and-laughing.gif

-Mark in St. Louis

If only I had a Kirk just lying around waiting to be built up.

[Hawker]

Had my share of what you had as well. Have patience, do your PT regularly and god's blessings to you.

Steve

[Louis]

If only I had a Kirk just lying around waiting to be built up.

OK, I take back all the nice things I've said about you. :p

[DreaminJohn]

Wind at your back and all that, Ari.

[Steve in SLO]

Ari,
Speedy recovery to you.
I will dedicate tomorrow's ride to you, so plan on riding about 35 miles through California vinyards. It should be 68-75 degrees. Dress accordingly.

Alright,
Here's a pic from today's ride. It was a good one.

[thegunner]

Alright,
Here's a pic from today's ride. It was a good one.

hotness on that vagen. are those still the hed belgiums?

[Steve in SLO]

Thanks!
They are HED Ardennes, and are really nice wheels.