2 Years Post-Op

I wasn’t sure if I should do another update as everything is going well(knock on wood), but I figured 2 years is another milestone.  My life is hectic and pretty much as normal as any other father of a young family!

photo

I’m still playing hockey multiple times a week, practicing yoga, walking/hiking and ALWAYS working my core.  I’m going to try returning to skiing this winter… a sport I haven’t tried since my original back injury.  I grew up on ski hills, so I hope it will be like riding a bike.  Fingers crossed as I have to teach Nora how to ski this year! 😉

Xrays are ordered and I should have them done for Mr. Dare to view next week.

IMG_20130712_004940.JPGI was getting a sore tailbone for a while if I sat in one position for too long, but that seems to have almost totally subsided as well.  That happened gradually over the past 6 months I think.

Everything feels pretty good in there still.  I can certainly tell when I’ve worked it too hard and need to rest, but I’m pretty sure that is normal.  Nothing else really new to report and I hope you are all doing well!

 

Cheers,

-Brett

EDIT: I just heard back from Mr. Dare and I got the all clear on my 2 year x-rays.

6 thoughts on “2 Years Post-Op

  1. Thanks for the update, it’s great to hear you are doing well. I follow your blog and a few others written by M6-L recipients, b/c I had a bad low back for years. One thing I can’t seem to find a lot of info on is how the disc is supposed to adjust to the slow, natural, degradation of the body over time. I’m concerned what might happen when one gets into his 80s or 90s, as the rest of the spine starts to shrink, but the artificial disc doesn’t. Have you been able to find out anything along those lines? What do you anticipate happening in your case in the longer term? Btw, nice pic of the child on your shoulders. I could never carry my kids like that after my disc blew out. I miss that.

    • Hi Ray,

      I don’t think anyone really knows how it will end up with our aging backs! No one is even sure if these things will last as long as we will… it’s all really just a guess when it comes down to it.

      Having said that I took solace in two things:

      1) the lab testing on the M6L showed that it more or less functioned and lost height similar to a healthy disk with creep loading over time.

      2) by the time any issues rear their ugly heads, most of us hope there will be something to “fix” these devices that are either worn out, or wearing out everything else back there! Conservative estimates on the M6-L are around the 10 year mark and liberal estimates are a 20 year lifespan(based on my layman’s reading!). We’ll see.

      There’s not much else I can say except that I am sure to make the best of every day with my family and live life as much as possible. You never know what’s going to happen tomorrow. 😉

  2. Thanks Brett, I appreciate the honesty. Do you happen to know any site that lists/inventories blogs like yours? I feel I get the best sense of what ADR is all about when I get to read case study-styled blogs like yours, Tim’s, Joey Sues, and Mikes. For some reason, I find the “boards” like Spine Patient Society difficult to navigate and retain info from. You have a great blog!

    • Thanks Ray! Sorry, I’ve linked out everything I ever found important from my links section… that’s as good as I could get it. I’m sure it could be a full time job, keeping up to date on stuff like this!

      Cheers,

      -Brett

  3. Glad to hear you are doing well too. Though this post was from the summer, I’m sure you are still fine! I’ve been remiss in attending to my blog as well! Not as much on my mind anymore… that’s a good thing!
    Enjoy those little ones and happy skiing this winter! I’m sure you’ll be fine since you have the muscle memory to avoid crazy falls. That’s how I’ve felt about the water – there isn’t anything there that is going to hurt me when I know how to fall and know my limits.
    Happy Holidays! We have much to be thankful for!

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