Alligatorob's Diary

[Llama]

Thanks Llama, sometimes I do feel like I exaggerate my accomplishments... guess that's just how I am. Do you ever feel that way?

Oh, all the time. Any time people are impressed by anything I tell them about, really.
I think you made the right decision regarding surgery. I assume they'll be doing a laminectomy?

 

[Cate]

Well done, Rob, making the decision to go with the operation. Hopefully, it will happen soon so there's not so much time to worry & the sooner you will be recovering. Doctors never guarantee anything. An anesthetist promised me I would be fine once but he made sure no one else heard him say it.

 

[alligatorob]

Today was a good day, I ate relatively well and got a lot of yardwork done. Feel pretty good tonight.

Next week I am going to Florida and then Louisiana, mostly fishing but the last few days my wife is joining me and we are doing a little tourist thing in Louisiana. A couple of days in St Francisville https://stfrancisville.net/ and finally the Angola Rodeo https://www.explorelouisiana.com/articles/angola-prison-rodeo-wildest-rodeo-south . Visiting friends and family along the way. Hope I can eat reasonably, will try. I leave Thursday.

Aw that's tough Rob. To hate to have to go in for another surgery...and even to have to make the decision one way or another....anyways you've done so well with recovery from the knee surgery and as you say that's a longer recovery, I'm sure you'll do ok.

Thanks Liza, I am told the recovery is much easier than the knees, guess something so close to my spinal cord makes me a bit more nervous...

Those are gorgeous photos of the fall colors! I want to cycle along that road!!

You should! It is the beginning of the Willard Peak Road, a semi-famous trail. Just 10 or 15 minutes from our house. https://utahmountainbiking.com/trails/inspiration/ Come out, you can stay with us!

Oh, all the time. Any time people are impressed by anything I tell them about, really.

A characteristic I think we share...

I think you made the right decision regarding surgery. I assume they'll be doing a laminectomy?

Yep, the one where they go in from the front remove a couple of bad disks, fuse the vertebrae with bone graft and metal. I have looked into all the options and I think its the one that makes most sense for me. They have a pretty good success rate, so I think it will help. Have you done PT for clients after a similar surgery? The doctor told me that strengthening the neck muscles reduces the risk of having to go back for more.

Well done, Rob, making the decision to go with the operation. Hopefully, it will happen soon so there's not so much time to worry & the sooner you will be recovering. Doctors never guarantee anything. An anesthetist promised me I would be fine once but he made sure no one else heard him say it.

Thanks Cate, and of course there are no guarantees. But I think the odds are good.

 

[Llama]

Have you done PT for clients after a similar surgery?

Quite a few and they generally do fine provided they pay attention to their posture. The problem with fusing vertebrae is when the point where the end of the fused section hinges with the still mobile spine tries to pick up the slack for the now immobile part it gets overloaded and can get inflamed and worn out somewhat quickly, leading to the need for further fusion and further loss of mobility. Hence why it's still important to work on your posture and keep your muscles strong. No more head forward posture for you, especially when exercising or otherwise lifting heavy.

 

[liza3]

Good for you with another good day and another fun trip planned! You really seem to make the most of life and have a really good attitude. That would be fun to visit you...you never know....maybe one day! Peach juice, bike rides, making a bit of whiskey...sounds like fun!

 

[Cate]

You are doing well Rob & having fun. Will you take your camper?

 

[Marsia]

Is it like with knee surgery where it's really good you strengthened your muscles as much as possible before the surgery? It's good they caught it before you were going to lose strength permanently.

The trip sounds wonderful. Hope you have a great time!!

 

[Emilyrose]

Sorry to hear about the surgery but I'm sure it will be a success for you Rob. It's awful to be in pain.

Can I visit you in Utah too?

 

[Llama]

Hey Rob, how's the trip (been)?

 

[alligatorob]

Got back very late Tuesday night, Wednesday morning really. Good trip, but not with good eating, to make things worse I binged when I got back... Oh well, at least I got back to the gym yesterday. Will do my best to eat right today.

Pre-op checkup today. Assuming I am well enough for surgery it will be Tuesday, Halloween.

Prison Rodeo was interesting, a one of a kind event.

 

[Marsia]

Glad you had a good trip, and I hope the extra weight comes off fast! You'll be in our thoughts on Halloween, and I hope it goes perfectly for you!! That rodeo looks so intense. I'd be holding my breath for them the whole time.

 

[liza3]

Welcome back Rob! Glad you enjoyed your trip and sounds like your ready to get back on track with healthy eating and exercise now that you're home again. I think it's nice that you could just enjoy the trip without worrying too much about diet stuff.

 

[Emilyrose]

Best of luck with your surgery Rob. I’m sure you are nervous but it will go great.

 

[Cate]

Welcome back, Rob. All the best with surgery. Before you know it you'll be in recovery & starting the healing process.

 

[alligatorob]

Today was a good day, ate kind of well, exercised, and I feel good tonight. A bit sore from being back in the gym though.

Quite a few and they generally do fine provided they pay attention to their posture. The problem with fusing vertebrae is when the point where the end of the fused section hinges with the still mobile spine tries to pick up the slack for the now immobile part it gets overloaded and can get inflamed and worn out somewhat quickly, leading to the need for further fusion and further loss of mobility. Hence why it's still important to work on your posture and keep your muscles strong. No more head forward posture for you, especially when exercising or otherwise lifting heavy.

Thanks Llama, and you said exactly what the doctor said about the other vertebrae. He said neck strengthening would help, do you have any specific exercises you recommend? In your experience how long after surgery do people who get this surgery start PT? Asked the doctor but his answer was vague.

Is it like with knee surgery where it's really good you strengthened your muscles as much as possible before the surgery?

Maybe, I have been doing a number of neck strengthening and neck stretching exercises, hope they help.

Can I visit you in Utah too?

Absolutely!! It would be a delight to have your visit, come anytime.

You'll be in our thoughts on Halloween, and I hope it goes perfectly for you!!

Thanks Marsia, I am optimistic, but a bit worried. Will be glad when it's over...

That rodeo looks so intense. I'd be holding my breath for them the whole time.

It was intense, very fast paced. I was always worried one of the convict/cowboys would get hurt. Fortunately none did.

Welcome back Rob! Glad you enjoyed your trip and sounds like your ready to get back on track with healthy eating and exercise now that you're home again. I think it's nice that you could just enjoy the trip without worrying too much about diet stuff.

Thanks Liza, it is good to be back, and hopefully back to better eating.

Best of luck with your surgery Rob. I’m sure you are nervous but it will go great.

Thanks Emily, and you are right I am a bit nervous. Hope you are right about how it goes.

Welcome back, Rob. All the best with surgery. Before you know it you'll be in recovery & starting the healing process.

Thanks Cate, I know the recovery will not be so long as the knees, I am looking forward to it being done...

 

[Llama]

I don't generally see people fresh from surgery anymore but when I did (...20 years ago...) it was 6 weeks of no heavy lifting (which is a max of 1-2 kg, not only filling up the feed and water buckets halfway like my uncle did while still in a halo frame after breaking his neck) and no mobilizing/stretching. What you could do was stuff to loosen up the shoulders (rolling them backwards, pulling the shoulder blades back and down) and stability stuff for the neck: like tucking your chin without allowing your nose to point up or down, then maybe apply gentle pressure to your forehead, chin, or the sides or back of your head without moving your head. Only gentle pressure because you don't want to activate the big, fast action muscle groups, just the small stabilizing ones that can keep going for hours. Also: go for a walk while focusing on keeping your head upright and your back and shoulders loose.

When I was at the neurosurgery ward we used to have brochures for people to take home detailing the exact restrictions they'd have to keep in mind. But then it was a huge university hospital; I've never seen written post-surgery instructions here in AT. If you don't get anything on paper ask your surgeon and/or therapist to be as specific as they can be and write down what they say. The more you know, the easier it is to adapt in daily life.

 

[alligatorob]

Today was a good day, I ate well and got in a lot of exercise. About 4 hours in the gym, getting ready for no gym for a while, it felt good, not too tired.

Been thinking about the rodeo, so I watched Dead Man Walking (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Man_Walking_(film)). It is an excellent movie, set and filmed in Angola, the rodeo prison. Based on a true story. Angola is really a plantation of almost 20,000 acres, got its name from the origin of the slaves that worked it before the Civil War. Now it's Louisiana's maximum security prison, the largest one in the US (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_State_Penitentiary). About 70% of the prisoners are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole, the average prisoner spends 58 years there, very few get out alive. Seeing all those people was sad, thinking that they looked and acted (when I saw them) like normal people... Most are murderers. Angola has really reformed into a safe, but strict place. The rodeo is a part of that.

I don't generally see people fresh from surgery anymore but when I did (...20 years ago...) it was 6 weeks of no heavy lifting (which is a max of 1-2 kg, not only filling up the feed and water buckets halfway like my uncle did while still in a halo frame after breaking his neck) and no mobilizing/stretching. What you could do was stuff to loosen up the shoulders (rolling them backwards, pulling the shoulder blades back and down) and stability stuff for the neck: like tucking your chin without allowing your nose to point up or down, then maybe apply gentle pressure to your forehead, chin, or the sides or back of your head without moving your head. Only gentle pressure because you don't want to activate the big, fast action muscle groups, just the small stabilizing ones that can keep going for hours. Also: go for a walk while focusing on keeping your head upright and your back and shoulders loose.

When I was at the neurosurgery ward we used to have brochures for people to take home detailing the exact restrictions they'd have to keep in mind. But then it was a huge university hospital; I've never seen written post-surgery instructions here in AT. If you don't get anything on paper ask your surgeon and/or therapist to be as specific as they can be and write down what they say. The more you know, the easier it is to adapt in daily life.

Thanks Llama, your views are always helpful. I am just trying to figure out when I can get back to the gym and what I can do. And more importantly what exercises will reduce my risk of needing future surgeries.

 

[Cate]

I think you're doing really well, trying to make sure that you are as healthy & as fit as you can be. LLama has given you some excellent advice & I agree that asking for specific instructions as to what you should/could or shouldn't do afterwards is a great idea. I am more aware of looking ahead, rather than down, when I walk Archie, as Llama suggested to you which has helped my neck & shoulders.
Four hours at the gym is amazing, Rob!

 

[Marsia]

The video you posted is amazing. I really want to watch Dead Man Walking now. I am reading a book called No Bad Parts from a psychologist author who (among other things) went into prisons and helped people who had been murders see that they were over-defensive and over-protective of themselves and what that caused, and that those parts that made them murder can indeed be reformed. I really respect people who work with prisoners to find redemption. I agree with Cate, so good you are making sure you are healthy. I am going to watch my posture, too.

 

[liza3]

That is an excellent and very thought-provoking video about the prison. I watched Dead Man Walking years ago and remember it having an impact but can't really remember details--maybe worth a re-watch....But yeah such a good point in the video about all that help (vocation training, anger-management training,mental health help etc) coming after the crime was committed--it would be nice to see more helpful things in place before a person ends up in prison! But nice to see the prison reforms as well for sure.

Thanks for sharing that. You seem to be such a thoughtful person where even this little trip away leads you down such a thoughtful journey.