@Mark Boyce posted:Thank you Pete, Bob, Steve, and Mike.
I thought my own topic is the best place to say anything about it. I started noticing problems almost 3 years ago. For a while PT, chiropractic visits, medication, and steroid injections sort of held it at bay. Arthritis had bulged the disks and pinched the nerves around L3, L4, L5, and pushed L4 forward and it was stuck there. So Monday of this week I spent 5 1/2 hours in the operating room while a great group right here in Butler gave me L3-L4 and L4-L5 fusions. Now I am even carrying more metal to set of metal detectors. LOL
I was so glad I got my 3-engine coal train running before surgery. It was a fitting time to pause work on the layout. Once I am able to, I’ll work on a kit or two. Right now I don’t do anything until I go back to the orthopedic on Jun 10th.
Slow and steady, Mark... take your time and follow your doctors and physical therapist’s instructions. My brother had 2 spinal fusions, and the lumbar was far and away the easier recovery (the other was cervical - hopefully you will never have that experience). After his lumbar, I spent 2 months helping him out. By now, I’m sure you’ve been told you can’t lift more that a gallon of milk (or something similar), can’t bend over, couldn’t drive... etc. But by 3 months post surgery, he was pretty much back to normal activity. Best wishes on a speedy and total recovery.
