UKC Forums (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/index.php)
- UKC Coonhounds (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=4)
-- Guess I'm done for a while (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/showthread.php?threadid=321403)

Guess I'm done for a while

Looks like I'm done hunting for a while. My back has been hurting for years, and all the sawbones I've been to see couldn't find anything wrong. I was beginning to think it was just in my head. I finally went to Vanderbilt, and the surgeon there said, ''Well, here's the problem. Your L-5 is broke in half. You have arthritis all around it, and it has moved into your right hip. We can go in and do a lumbar fusion, where we put the bones back where they are supposed to be and then put about 4 screws in it.'' So, I'm going in Wed the 30th for this. The first month, he said no lifting anything over 5 lbs., I have to wear a brace 24/7, unless showering, & no bending, stooping or twisting. After the first month, intense therapy for about 2 1/2 months. I hope to be able to go back to work by the end of April, but he gave me a list of approximate time frames for different activities. Coon hunting ain't on it, but horseback riding is 1 year for example. Horseback riding is easier than a lot of my hunts!! So I don't know how long it'll be. I'll talk to him and try to explain it and see what he says..I'm sure it won't be what I want to hear..I ain't never been put under for anything before, so I don't mind tellin' ya, I'm as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rockin' chairs...
Sorry for the long rant, I guess I just needed to get it off my chest. Anyone else on here ever had this done? Good or not?
Thanks for letting me get this out. I feel better just by posting about it. Thanks, Greg

__________________
Big Rock Kennels

Home Of:
Greg's Big Rock Hawk
Nikki's Big Rock Doc
Tequila Wam

Sam had the whole titanium pins and rods thing done about 4 years ago. Same thing, had a old, old, broke back injury that he knew nothing about. It finally started messing with the siatic(spelling) nerve. It got so bad, he could not feel his right side sometimes.

Anyway, after many trips to the ER, doctors visits, crazy misdiagnosises, he finally went to a chiropracter that had been referred to him. This fella is the one that found the old injury in his lower back. From there, he kept Sam on his feet for about a year. He told Sam from the beginning that he could only help him deal with the pain for a while, but that Sam was going to have to decide what quality of life he wanted for the future.

Then he went through a series of theropy, shots, pain meds, all that good stuff with a back specialist. He could keep him pain free for about a week at a time at first, then was no help at all. I guess this went on about 6 months maybe.

We had to quit doing everything we loved doing. Horse back riding, 4-wheeler riding, even boating and camping. All hunting was totally out as well.

His surgery went great. The recovery was a little slower than what we would have liked. Even slower than some others he has talked to. But, he says the surgery was the best thing he could have had done. He says he is pain free. I am not sure sometimes though, but it's not my pain...LOL...I just know that he still aches alot. He says that is just from being stooped over machinery at his work all day long. He says that the pain is a different, tolerable pain now.

He still is scared to death of reinjuring himself though. That has been the biggest hurdle so far. He still will not get on his horse. We went camping with the horses and hounds on Thanksgiving weekend for the purpose of getting in some long over due riding. Our boys had been riding the hair off the horses the month before to get them ready for us, after not being rode in over 5 years. He just couldn't muster up the courage to mount up. I am not sure he ever will. That really saddens me. But, I understand. Horses just used to be my life. It's been real hard letting it all go. I know I could still ride, but, he and I are truely best friends and we just firgure out other avenues of interest to stay active and busy together. That is where the hounds have come in. We do pleasure hunt, but with just very few folks. He has to be able to do it at his own pace. Competition night hunts are something that we have not ventured into yet, but we have to very soon to continue to promote our triple grand champion Redbone, Tracker. I am still not convinced that Sam will be able to do it though. We are just not sure how things are going to play out on that.

I can speak for him and say that this surgery was very successful as far as fixing his back. I am truely glad he had it done and very thankful that it was a success. I just wished he could be more confident in what he thinks he can and can't do. I think he holds himself back to the point of missing out on a lot of fun life experiences. But, that's in his head, not his back..LOL

BEST WISHES FOR A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME AND BRAND NEW FEELING BACK!! I hope it gives you and your loved ones your life back. I know how the pain can sure take that all away.

Sabrina

Greg,

I fractured my L5 back in 2001 in a work-related accident.I too had to have a spinal fusion performed.I've got 2 rods and eight screws in my back.It isn't easy on a man,that's for sure.But,I have more problems out of my left leg than I do my back due to nerve damage.You're definitely gonna be down for a while,but you will find that the sooner you get up and start walking,you will recover that much more quickly.If you got someone to hunt your dog or dogs for ya for a few months,that would be great.Just push yourself as far as reasonable by walking and you will find you'll be back out there walkin' to a tree before you know it.Good luck and keep me posted buddy.
Rob Gregory

__________________
High Lonesome English Kennels
Robert Gregory
Williamsville,Virginia
home#- 540-925-4437
cell#-757-339-3454
Home of:
"PR"High Lonesome Hannah. Nt.Ch. Hardtime Miss Kitty's Cat

Good Luck!

Have not had it done myself but one of my bestfriends has had it done 2 X now. Her spine will continue to have issues due to a genetic thing... So it has been in different areas for hers(she is now awaiting a neck surgery)... VERY successful and got her back to being highly competitive in the equine world. Long recovery, worth it, do everything the Drs say and it should turn out fine. Be sure to stay in shape ALWAYS!
I just recently learned about the effect a weakened spine can have... after a few months of PT to support my poor old cracked spine... It will be a rare day that I wont exercise. I am just about ready to hike thru the woods again following someone elses hounds... and I'm excited. I will send thoughts and prayers(as will Bob) to help you get thru the time you wont get to go to the woods!

Best Wishes!!!! Heather and bob William

__________________
Home of the BIGCASTLEDAWGS
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/BIGCASTLEDAWGS/Websters%20First%20coon/IMG_0045.jpg

Greg,
You wll be in our thoughts and prayers. Lance has had three back surgeries. The last was a fusion. Unfortunately for Lance two of his five damaged disks are inoperable. The doctors told him that he's not a candidate for any other back surgeries. So, he's on permanent disability. The fusion was a success for Lance. He can now walk without a cane. Doctors are even more advanced now than when he had surgery. Hopefully you will be back up and hunting before long. Just take your time and concentrate on getting better. Now would be a great time for you to write your memoirs, catch up on your reading, and enjoy being with family. Keep your chin up and remember you have lots of folks wishing you well. Amy Myrick

__________________
"The scientific name for an animal that refuses to run from or fight its enemies is lunch." Michael Friedman

Don't know anything about it, but I hope for a speedy recovery for ya. I'd be getting me a young buck that wanted to get into coonhunting. Send him into those trees, staying at the truck listening ain't the same but it sure beats sitting at home thinking about it. Good luck again.

__________________
989-529-8563

L4-L5 fusion done about 10 yrs ago. Mine was successful, I still have back pain but not near as bad as before and I can do pretty much whatever I want. I've had numerous surgeries was the most painful and recovery is SLOW, but in my case it was worth it. If your Dr. tells you he wants to get marrow from your hip for insertion in the spine find another Dr., that is an OLD method and many people develop hip problems as a result. My Dr. refused to take marrow and used a substitue that works just as well.

Recovery time varies, my Dr told me NO hunting for 6mos, he said thats how long it takes for the bone graft to set, and one bad step could land you in a wheelchair. I lasted about 6wks and began walking to trees on flat ground with easy walking and never looked back.

When you live in constant pain, you get desperate for relief. I have lived with constant pain since 1994. If I knew of a surgical process that could give me relief I would do it.

Just make like a loose tooth, and hang in there. There are two things that always bounce back: A bad check, and a good man. You're bound to fit in there somewhere.

__________________
Phone (336) 648-3210

Home of Mayberry Blueticks
Jhn. 3:30, "He must increase, but I must decrease."

I have had several customers over the years have fussions and no bad results. They have all done well. Some faster than others. The PT is the key to it all. When it comes to that the ole no pain no gain is pretty accruate. Sorry you are haveing to go threw it but glad you are able to get it fixed.

__________________
UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL
Grady Jarvis
808 N. Main St.
Tonkawa Okla. 74653
580-628-0507
CH 'PR' Grady's Dark Woods Waylon -Bluetic

NITECH 'PR' Grady's Insane Tinker Bell (Tink) - Treeing walker --Okla. State Hunt open redg. winner

'PR' Grady's Barley - Treeing Walker

Thanks everybody for the support. That means a lot. I'm still dreading it, but maybe not as much now after reading what you all have wrote. I'm gonna try to do exactly like the doc says to do. I have a 5 year old girl and a 10 month old girl that needs their old 42 year old dad! They go hunting with me everytime their mom will go!! They are my world, and I sure want to try and be able to do things with them. Gotta be in Nashville at 9am Wed. morning, surgery at 11...Thanks again everybody for the support and encouragement!!!

__________________
Big Rock Kennels

Home Of:
Greg's Big Rock Hawk
Nikki's Big Rock Doc
Tequila Wam

Good Luck!!!! I had neck surgery 17 months ago and I am fully recovered and Thankful for the releif it brought.

Follow your doctor's advice, he knows what he's talking about. It only takes a misstep to mess your back up before it gets healed.
You will get to do more as you heal. Again, BEST WISHES!!!

__________________
Bill Harper
Washington, NC
252-944-5592

i have had two fusions one in 04 and one in 08 both went good. i was hunting within a month of both of them. and have actually been riding horses again this summer. hang in there and good luck.

Thanks again, everybody. I'll be leaving in the morning. I'll try to let ya'll know how it went as soon as I feel like it.

__________________
Big Rock Kennels

Home Of:
Greg's Big Rock Hawk
Nikki's Big Rock Doc
Tequila Wam

Praying for you!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Greg B
Thanks again, everybody. I'll be leaving in the morning. I'll try to let ya'll know how it went as soon as I feel like it.

---

__________________
Home of the BIGCASTLEDAWGS
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/BIGCASTLEDAWGS/Websters%20First%20coon/IMG_0045.jpg