Pauline's Activ-L

[mmglobal]

Please lend your thoughts and prayers to Pauline... it's Thursday night in Munich... Friday morning, she'll get an Activ-L at L5-S1 from Dr. Zeegers. She's had pretty serious low back pain for many years and has finally had enough. She looks like an excellent candidate and I look forward to hearing of her success.

I'm certain that they will be the worlds first 3-Charite, 2-Mobi-C, 1-Activ-L couple in the world. (Although 3 AlphaKlniik surgeries on a couple won't be a record... Jim and Laura / annapurna have 4 knee surgeries and a spine surgery at the AK!)

All kidding aside, I've known Jeff and Pauline for about 2.5 years now and they are among the kindest, most compassionate people I know. All the best to Jeff and Pauline... I look forward to seeing them back in California in a couple of weeks. (Maybe they can come to Tahoe?)

Mark

[Alastair]

Well folks, I spoke with Jeff and Pauline deal this evening across in Munich. Very few people knew this, but following Jeff having his two-level cervical surgery, there has for many years been a problem with Paulines lumbar area. Whilst they are across in Munich, I have been lending moral support to them both.

Things have simply sorted themselves out, and after x-rays and a thorough medical examination with Dr Zeegers at the AlphaKlinik, Pauline is having surgery at L5/S1 tomorrow after 12 noon.

I'm sure we all wish her Godspeed and a successful surgery.Jeff is doing well with his surgery post op. and still has this troublesome virus/flu thing but its slowly getting better.
Best,
Alastair

[mmglobal]

Alastair... I merged your post with the thread that already existed about Pauline's surgery.

Talk to you soon, all the best

Mark

[Poncho]

Sending prayers from abroad.

One of the things that I learned about marriage or being a couple is that although this can be stressful - you are there to hold each other up literally.

Praying for healing Pauline & Jeff,

Poncho

[mmglobal]

Email from Jeff... surgery is done... all went well.

more later.

[Maria]

Pauline,
I don't know you but I know what it's like to have years of low back pain/chronic condition~ and I'm sending my prayers for an uneventful recovery (steady) that leads you back to a life of activity and physical wellness/happiness!
take good care and am looking forward to any updates! Maria

[Alastair]

I spoke with Pauline a few minutes ago (yes I support EU Patients) and she is tired and sore - -- as expected. She is starting into the soups and other liquids, so it sounds as if she is doing OK.

I sent our "Best" from this Board to her and she sends her thanks

Alastair

[Alastair]

I spoke to Pauline a few moments ago, and she's much better and really chipper. Jeff was with her in the hospital and I spoke to him also, and his nasty cold/flu seems almost better.

Pauline did the classic walk round the AlphaKlinik block (outside) and Jeff says he got the classic picture of her underneath the AlphaKlinik sign.

I'm sure the thoughts and prayers of all the people here, are helping her recovery and Jeff after this nasty virus infection that he has had.
Best,
Alastair

[mmglobal]

I just spoke to Pauline... she's doing great.

She's taken ZERO narcotics since the surgery... not even for post-op pain... only tylenol. After the surgery, she could immediately tell that her pain generators had been addressed. While she still has some incision pain and is quite sore... only 3 days post-op, she can lay in positions that she could not... she can make movements that she could not... she says thing like, "I used to prepare myself for the pain when I'd move certain ways... now it's gone!" Wonderful news!

Jeff's flu us over and he's doing much better. His surgery also brought very dramatic improvements. He's working while he's there in Munich... all in all things sound like it's going very well for both of them.

Zeegers sent me a picture and Pauline says it's OK to share. We should have a contest to see who can create the best caption for the picture.


Pauline - Activ-L, Jeff Mobi-C (2), Charite' (3)

[Alastair]

You can't see the soles of my feet because I'm really healed

Embrace my brace

Cosset my corset ?

[mmglobal]

Great caption Alastair....

How about, "The family that gets filleted together, stays together!"

[JeffreyD]

The winner of the caption contest gets my neck brace when I'm done with it,
and one of Pauline's anti-thrombosis stockings as well.

Jeff

[Alastair]

I spoke with Jeff and Pauline last night, and Pauline had had some really bad pain the day before after her first session in the gymnasium. Things were better last night, and settling down, Jeff had been doing some shopping at the supermarket for their evening meal and it sounded as if things were going really well both of them
Best,
Alastair

[mmglobal]

Jeff... time for an update on Pauline... or did you leave her in Munich?

Mark

[JeffreyD]

Pauline is right here with me back at the homestead.
We flew back home late Tuesday......man, those 12 hour flights are rough right after surgery. Pauline did pretty well, as she was motivated to get up and stand and walk around quite a bit. The Lufthansa crew was a huge help to us, making sure we were as confortable and taken care of as possible (as much as can be done in Economy Class!).
The first 2 days back home were rough for Pauline, as she did push the envelope during the last few days in Munich. We even took the train to Salzberg last Sunday and walked all around the town. Pretty good for a little over one week post-op! I literally could hardly keep up with her. The over-doing it caught up with her a bit once we got home.
Right now, she has some bothersome distraction pain (the usual left leg nerve weirdness), and some incision area discomfort, though she is improving daily.
She is taking Tylenol for the pain, and a Neurontin at bedtime.
Her pre-surgery pain is still long gone.
Just like I experienced with my lumbar ADR, she has sudden onset of nerve pain in her left leg every evening. This lasted about 7 weeks post-op in my case; I don't expect hers to last as long.
I'll keep you posted.

Thanks for all of the kind support,
Jeff

[mmglobal]

I didn't know that distraction pain ran in families? Is it catchy?

It sounds like she's doing great. She told me that when you went to Salsburg, she broke into a slight run when crossing the street... not even realizing that she was doing it!

I really hope that the new leg pain fades very fast... all the best.

Mark

[JeffreyD]

Thought I would post an update on my wife Pauline's progress after her one level Activ-L surgery with Dr. Zeegers.
She is now just over 7 weeks post-op. She is actually away on a work related trip to San Francisco right now, and I have been amazed at how well she is recovering. Her only complaints last week involved recovery from the abdominal part of the surgery. I know she is still fighting a bit with distraction pain in one leg, and discomfort in her low-back and butt, but she is experiencing very little of her pre-op pain symptoms, and it appears that this is getting better week by week.
We were at a family gathering last weekend, and she was basically sitting on the floor, playing with our niece. When she got up, she was a little creaky, but had no pain! I was astonished. She could not have done that before the surgery.
We are both very pleased that she chose to have the surgery. Dr. Zeegers is amazing.

God Bless,
Jeff

[mmglobal]

Jeff.... what good news for both you and Pauline... I look forward dealing with you both as ex-spineys!

Talk to you soon.

Mark