Low grade spinal cord injury

bikewanker

Well-known member
Health insurance was a damn good investment for you. I’m guessing your insurance company payed less than $40k
 

afm199

Well-known member
Health insurance was a damn good investment for you. I’m guessing your insurance company payed less than $40k

I suspect it was around that. The research I did would indicate that. The bill included $10k for two fucking nights in a "semi private" room, which I was glad for, only me there, but I considered maybe a bit pricey, lol. And over $1000 for "occupational and physical therapy," which was a total of twenty minutes with a tech who watched me climb up a set of stairs twice.
 

DrSwade

...for limited time...
Again, just staggered back onto this thread in the forum. I was just about to ask Beau if he heard how you are doing.
Glad to hear you are doing well. Being fit cannot be underestimated when it comes to recovery from surgery. I still credit being healthy and fit to my ability to walk still.

Speaking of, I am having all that crap removed from my foot and ankle that I was gifted by that track day almost 10 years ago. They are removing it almost exactly 10 years after it was installed.

Maybe in the Spring you should come for a nice visit to Cabo?
 

budman

General Menace
Staff member
Hey Ernie.

Been a week since your last update.

How goes it??


Rob
Good luck with the metal removal. Hope that goes smooth and easy.
 

afm199

Well-known member
Progress continues. Good to hear from you both, Rob and Dennis.

Pain levels continue to drop, haven't used codeine in a week and don't see that I will be.

Doing some light exercise on a fixed bicycle trainer, just spinning to keep moving for an hour or so 4-5 times a week. That's got me happy.

Doing some really light weights, I mean nothing. 40 pound bench press, probably will move that down, easy enough to lift but the neck says not to. 20 pound curls. Probably won't go beyond these levels for weeks, apparently it's going to be another two months before the bone is well knit and the implants well anchored.

Mood is good, I am glad to have gotten through that experience in one piece more or less.

Rob, I can't believe it's been ten years. Seems like yesterday and thirty years ago simultaneously. Thanks for the invite, brother.
 

DrSwade

...for limited time...
Ernie, don't be stubborn. I know that might be a tall order but please don't push it. My first spine fusion failed and I might be able to attribute it to my propensity to constantly challenge myself. I would HATE to see you need to do a redo also.
Same thing happened to my pelvis. Over did it. (From the wheelchair! How does that even happen?) Had to get it redone.

I sincerely hope for the absolute finest outcome for you.

All the best my friend!
 

afm199

Well-known member
Ernie, don't be stubborn. I know that might be a tall order but please don't push it. My first spine fusion failed and I might be able to attribute it to my propensity to constantly challenge myself. I would HATE to see you need to do a redo also.
Same thing happened to my pelvis. Over did it. (From the wheelchair! How does that even happen?) Had to get it redone.

I sincerely hope for the absolute finest outcome for you.

All the best my friend!

Yeah and thanks. I'm really wanting to push it but everyone is telling me not to , and even a little push ( bench 40 pounds x 30 ) ends up with a sore neck, so I am really striving to keep the weights light, the reps low, and be patient. It's hard for me. I'm the guy who drove home with a broken neck after he was completely paralyzed for five minutes and in in intense pain.

And yeah thanks again for reminding me I am not the only stubborn asshole around.
 

afm199

Well-known member
LMAO at this thread. Not even two weeks later and I want to start pushing it. Peggy told me, from Humboldt, to write down a three month exercise schedule that includes only very small increases in weight and no increases in reps.

And I am taking it easy. One pushup yesterday. FACK. Could not complete it. I was doing thirty two months ago. I think it's just that the neck muscle got so hacked up that it's not cooperating. Anyway, still taking it easy.
 

ctwo

Merely Rhetorical
Hey, it looks like we're on a level field. Maybe you could post your 3-month plan to recovery and I'll try to keep up...
 

afm199

Well-known member
Hey, it looks like we're on a level field. Maybe you could post your 3-month plan to recovery and I'll try to keep up...

Check with your Doc and ask for a physical therapy program. They set me up with a series of exercises to follow ( illustrated with vids and diagrams) that was tailored for my problem.
 

afm199

Well-known member
Well, a month later and improvement continues. By now most of the bone healing is done, hopefully. My exercise program continues to expand slowly, and lots of biking on the trainer, typically 1 to 1.5 hours.

Big smiles because yesterday I did a pushup and it wasn't that hard. A month ago I couldn't budge one. Based on my last rehab that should pick up quickly, though I won't be pushing it. Too much leaves me with a neck ache that lasts for days.

All in all I'm upbeat about the recovery.
 

ctwo

Merely Rhetorical
Big smiles because yesterday I did a pushup and it wasn't that hard.

Benchmark set.

I laid down on the floor and was able to push one up to the top and slowly back down. I could not break the surface tension on the second try, so I just got up, got dizzy on the way back to my chair but made it. It only took a few seconds after that for the peripheral darkness to subside, but now I kind of have a headache and my shoulder hurts.
 

tzrider

Write Only User
Staff member
Well, a month later and improvement continues. By now most of the bone healing is done, hopefully. My exercise program continues to expand slowly, and lots of biking on the trainer, typically 1 to 1.5 hours.

Big smiles because yesterday I did a pushup and it wasn't that hard. A month ago I couldn't budge one. Based on my last rehab that should pick up quickly, though I won't be pushing it. Too much leaves me with a neck ache that lasts for days.

All in all I'm upbeat about the recovery.

Sounds like your approach is spot on. Pain that persists more than a day is a sign that you're hurting yourself. You're probably right that improvement will accelerate.
 

afm199

Well-known member
Benchmark set.

I laid down on the floor and was able to push one up to the top and slowly back down. I could not break the surface tension on the second try, so I just got up, got dizzy on the way back to my chair but made it. It only took a few seconds after that for the peripheral darkness to subside, but now I kind of have a headache and my shoulder hurts.

My physical therapist told me to start out with modified pushups, from the knee, or even against the wall, until the wound and nerves get accustomed to the strain.

It's such a weird feeling when you are trying so hard to do one pushup and nothing happens.
 
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