Get well soon!

Hernia repairs aren't "too bad" as surgeries go. Take care of that back though - others aren't kidding that back injuries just plain suck.

Back from medical officers. mostly good news...

Back injury not as severe as expected, discs are not quite blasted but the entire lower back is massively inflamed...all the rest of the repairs will heal quick enough, have a small rip in a muscle in my groin area, left side. I will need to do a LOT of core strength work once things are back to a point of functioning though. they also tested for heart attacks and other stuff..just checking because when they did a range of motion test I complained that my chest hurt when the moved my arm about 20º further than I would have liked...I can CAREFULLY move firewood in July, but I think I'll trade some computer repair or web site development for that work this time...at least I can drive the tractor without too much trouble soon enough.

and some wear cute glasses.
Nerd Girl Nurses!!! = WIN

Martin,

Good news on the diagnosis. Best wishes.

One of the back specialists, surgical fellow, at a major hospital told me that he doesn't advocate operating on relatively intact people, as opposed to mangled in a crash and missing pieces, without first getting the swelling down and getting them through a course of physical therapy to see how they function when they aren't traumatized. He claimed that it was just too easy to end up operating on people who could have had a better outcome if less extreme treatments were undertaken first.

He said that it used to be if they saw a displaced disk or other flaws they immediately dove in with the hammer and knives. Only recently have they found that most otherwise normal people have misalignment, bulged discs, and all sorts of apparently serious flaws, and most show no serious symptoms.

The study of outcomes comparing physical therapy versus surgery has shown that most people save money, experience less pain, regain mobility and function faster, and are exposed to far less risk if treated with supportive care and physical therapy. If and when it is shown that the conservative course hasn't worked, it may take six months, then surgery may be the way to go. On the other hand if you get into surgery too soon they typically can't undo the surgery after the fact.

The advice I was given was that moving as well as I could, even if I was in pain, but without overdoing it, was the fastest way to heal.

I hope you heal fast AND heal well, Martin!!

Blast: I never got the hottie nurses! I must be just too darned ugly!!

That sucks you get well martin.

Lee

That is EXACTLY the course of treatment that I'm taking. It hurts but I can tell it's the right way to go.

Glad it's not as bad as you first expected it might be.

I hope you're feeling better soon!

I don't know why all these things happen at the beginning of summer instead of late in fall/winter when you can rest up.

It's nice that you have a good doctor that didn't grab for the knife, hammer and tongs.

There should be enough unemployed people around so you can find someone to do the necessary/heavy work for you.

Take it easy.

Sue