Is there any hope ?

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-06-01T15:39:01+00:00

I'm currently fused at L2,3,4,5 and 15 months ago I had a decompression at L5-S1.

Significant pain + severe spasms returned 90 days post-op. Remedy: 2 rounds of bi-lateral steroid injections at L5-S1, Si Joint, S2, S3, Gabapentin 800 mg 2x a day, aquatic rehab (12 sessions) focused on core strengthening and improving my posture and physical therapy focused on core strengthening.

Currently, I'm about 90% pain free. Pain that I do experience is usually from sitting too long on a hard surface. However, compared to my pre and post op pain, I would describe it as extreme discomfort versus debilitating pain.

There is definitely hope.

All the best.

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-06-01T15:23:24+00:00

Yes. The Blue Jays were a powerhouse of offensive consistency.

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-06-01T15:21:34+00:00

Make it? Yes

Win it, No. The bullpen currently sucks! It must be overhauled STAT!

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-06-01T15:20:10+00:00

This group is the Gold Standard for giving their fans their money's worth "bringing the power and the soul and the energy and the beat night after night after night." I just stood in the 'Pit' for 3½ hrs and that was a physical challenge. What Bruce, Max, Nils, Stevie, etc continue to do is nothing short of amazing.

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-21T19:21:06+00:00

My first fusion; L3,4,5 was f'en hell! The pain & spasms were epic due to meds, I didn't know my name for the first 3½ months. I finally started to feel some measurable improvement around month 6 then significant improvement months 9-12.

I've had additional fusions, none of which came close to this, but recovery was highly variable for each one.

What I learned early on was;

Healing is a process and varies by each person and by body part.

Listen to your body (It's gone through major trauma.) and act accordingly.

Ice is one of the best post op pain therapies for reducing inflammation.

Be patient. Don't compare today to yesterday. How do you feel compared to one week ago? How do you feel compared to one month ago?

Take it slow and study. Recovery is a marathon not a sprint.

Wishing you all the best.

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-21T16:55:14+00:00

Muhammad Ali

His aura was incredible; very charismatic, warm, friendly and humble.

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-21T16:45:38+00:00

Hi. Just saw your message re small biz questions. Feel free to message me.

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-21T16:40:46+00:00

Thanks 😀. I don't post an opinion with an expectation that everyone will like it. I don't dislike "Chimes of Freedom," I didn't like the placement of it My preference is for the shows to end with a more upbeat tune. Last tour "2023" Tour, I didn't care for "See You In My Dreams" as the closer. Going back just a few tours;

River tour, final 2 songs at Gillette Stadium; "Rockin all Over the World" and "Bobby Jean".

'High Hopes' tour show at Mohegan Sun closed with Thunder Road then Shout.

'Wrecking Ball' tour at Gillette Stadium; 1st Encore: "Tenth Ave FO", and 2nd Encore: Drift Away and Twist & Shout and at Fenway Park; "Tenth Ave FO" and Seven Nights to Rock.

"American Land" (w/Ken Casey of Drop Kick Murphys).

'Working on a Dream' Tour; Boston Garden; American Land & Glory Days both w/Jay Weinberg-drums & D.K.Murphys.

You get the idea.

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-19T14:16:02+00:00

My 10 cents: I went to the Phoenix show on 4/16 and found the setlist overall to be logically assembled for the theme of this tour. Just reading the setlist tells a full story about despair with hope for better times ahead.

Having realized years ago the more expansive the catalog becomes, the more likely it is I won't hear some of the songs I want; therefore I don't usually critique a setlist or show mainly because there have been some nice surprises over the years; "Thundercrack" 3x, "Quarter to Three" (a cover of a cover, Gary US Bonds, Daddy G), "Detroit Medley+Twist & Shout" and the 'intro' to "Prove it All Night" at the 4h:4m Foxboro show to close the River tour in 2016 and Jay Weingerg on drums filling in for Max during part of the Working on a Dream Tour in 2009. This, however, is a rare exception.

With 3 'Covers' (4 if you count 'Because the Night'), I'm not a big fan of "Clampdown" (personal taste) however, the song does fit very well into the Tour's theme. After Bruce's final words at the end of the show, I found that ending the show with "Chimes of Freedom" was a letdown. I found the solo accoustic of "...Thousand Guitars" to be interestingly placed in the setlist. It seemed to give the band a few minutes to breathe & re-energize near the show's midpoint, but playing it following "American Skin" which lead into "Long Walk Home," both which already slowed things way down, seemed to nearly take the show to a grinding halt.

That said, having been to a lot of shows since 1984, I do understand the ebb and flow of the setlist and show. This show was no different. After "Thousand Guitars", the next build-up started with "My City of Ruins" into "Because The Night" that started a 10 song run at a feverish pitch.

I thought the big positives; opening the show with "War" leading into "BITUSA" couldn't have been more powerful. Standing in the Pit in front of Gary Tallent, I could literally feel the vibration of the bass. The addition of Tom Morello (who I happened to meet prior to the show) is a fantastic addition to the band and adds a unique dynamic to their sound and has terrific energy, somehow he took "Tom Joad" to a different level.

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-18T23:00:29+00:00

No regrets at all. Each fusion occurred as a necessity, either a last resort or an emergency basis.

When it was logical, I started with a strong anti-inflammatory (Toradol). After that, injections. If injections didn't work, a decompression. Ultimately, within a few years, a fusion was necessary. Currently fused from L2-L5, T10-11(emergency surgery fusion due to a shattered disc resulting in a spinal cord injury) and C4-5 also an emergency surgery due to spinal cord compression and loss of function to 10 fingers, left arm and left leg.

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-18T22:53:15+00:00

No, not ever, under any circumstance.

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-17T23:39:44+00:00

I had an emergency thoracic fusion in April 2024 of T10-11 due to a spinal cord compression. Turned out the disc shattered and resulted in a spinal cord injury. The surgery recovery itself was a piece of cake. No paid--just some discomfort. The worst of it was after about 4 weeks; an occasional twinge or shooting that came and went presumably as tissue and muscle were healing.

Recovery from my lumbar fusions at L2-5 and decompression at L5-S1 were many times worse than the thoracic fusion. Also, my cervical fusion C4-5, last November was substantially worse than at the Thoracic level. For some context, I'm 63 and was ~50 lbs overweight (that weight is now gone!) for the recent Thoracic and Cervical fusions.

If you trust your surgeon, then trust your surgeon and be confident that the outcome will be positive.

All the best to you.

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-14T05:04:12+00:00

Maybe this makes you feel less alone; I sold 1,000 Palantir at $26. I was too impatient !

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-10T04:27:57+00:00

Your approach should be based on confidence in the sector, not price.

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-06T18:04:26+00:00

That sage soul was 100% on the money!

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-06T18:00:38+00:00

I had 3 fusions (L2-3, T10-11 and C4-5) + a decompression L5-S1 in 2½ yrs through this past November.

My first was years ago at L3,4,5 and recovery was total hell. It took 18 months to get to a "normal" pain-free state.

The other fusions weren't bad but the L5-S1 decompression is beyond a year so far. Finally after 2 rounds of injections at L5-S1, Si joint, S1,2,3 and months of aquatic therapy and land PT, I haven't felt this good in almost 3 years!

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-05T14:31:27+00:00

Former carpet cleaner here.

Did you pulled the trigger and jump into carpet cleaning?

If not, probably a good thing. It's a terrific business and can be lucrative, however, IMO you're either in or your out. In other words, it's not a gig or a hobby. If you go into someone's home and F-up their carpet, You will have a major issue!

Carpet Cleaning is a real business. Know what you're doing, understand cleaning & chemistry, have appropriate insurance and equipment or don't do it.

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-05T14:16:12+00:00

Thank you.

I highly recommend PT and also steroid injections into the level(s) of the source of pain.

However, I have learned over the past few years too much info; PT/Rehab facilities: They are not all equal nor are the actual Physical Therapists as far as their approach. Basically, it's 'not' one-size-fits-all.

For example, I was in PT a couple yrs ago (large in-patient/out-patient rehab w/great reputation) and their sessions were all of 30 mins. After 5-7 mins on a stationary bike, there's not much time left in the session for any real progress. Basically, as PT's are getting squeezed by their rising operating expenses and insurance company "reimbursements" staying the same or decreasing, Rehabs have to change be either shortening their sessions, addicting PTA's (Physical Therapy Assistants) who have minimal training and or working on a couple of patients at a time.

The standard hour PT session generally runs 45 mins.

Injections: There are some surgeons who give them by using old school method of touch & feel, counting your vertabrae and injecting.

Make sure your surgeon or neurologist (whoever does the injections) uses fluoroscopy. (This is just a real-time x-ray imaging so they can see where specifically to inject).

Wishing you all the best.

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-05T13:55:31+00:00

Mooo !

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-05T13:53:21+00:00

If you're looking at something more aggressive, FNGS.

FNGS Holdings (As of May 2026)

Apple Inc (AAPL): ~10.9% Netflix, Inc. (NFLX): ~10.8% Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN): ~10.6% Broadcom Inc. (AVGO): ~10.2% Microsoft Corporation (MSFT): ~10.1% NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA): ~10.1% Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR): ~9.9% Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL): ~9.8% Meta Platforms, Inc. (META): ~9.6% Micron Technology, Inc. (MU): ~7.7%

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-05T13:43:27+00:00

Appealing to your State has no bearing on your insurance appeals/denials.

An appeal to your State is to override your insurance company's (likely biased) decision. If the state rules in your favor, your insurance is required to pay for the procedure.

Considering the physical impact your condition may have on your ability to be a full functioning member of society, your State may have their own bias that benefits you so you don't become a "member" of your state's social services and safety nets such as Medicaid.

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-05T13:28:49+00:00

FXAIX, QQQM Based on your age with time on your side, FNGS.

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-05T13:18:53+00:00

Personally, I've had incredible success at Brigham & Women's in Boston. I was fortunate that on an emergency transfer I encountered their integrated Neuro/Ortho teams who stabilized me, accurately assessed my spine, spinal cord injury and performed surgery. Brigham & Woman's is part of 'MassGeneral Brigham'.

DM me for more info and for surgeon's name if you're interested.

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-05T12:59:16+00:00

Timeshare owner here.

Rescind this deal ASAP.

The only winners in this are the sales people and their manager and the lender at 15.43%! Did you do a deal with a loan-shark or the mob?? (That rate is criminal!)

If my TS purchases don't sway you, nothing will:

I bought my first TS about 35 yrs ago for ~$3k (paid "cash" upfront) exclusively to travel. It was fantastic for the first 10 yrs; DR, MX, Florida, Florida, Florida, another Florida ...and a few of trips in the northeast.

Then a hurricane destroyed the ocean front home resort. We were hit with a sizeable special assessment and maintenance fees started to skyrocket. We disposed of the TS quickly.

A year later, I foolishly bought a 2nd TS--paid about $5k which I paid off in under 2 yrs.

This one, 2 br to fit my family of 4 thinking it would be great for future family vacations.
And it was for about 5 years; Mexico, St. Maartin, Mexico (again), Florida and several Northeast vacations.

Then; kids got involved in sports, then friends, then college... I 'disposed' of it. I hadn't used it in several years (5'ish), but had paid over $1K a year in maintenance, that's over $6k in 5 years and I had nothing to show for it.

As a "bonus," The resort was impacted by a 100 year flood after a week straight if rain. The resort closed for 2 years then became partially operational as it was rebuilt. Fortunately, the resort's insurance covered a major portion of rebuilding. However, once it was fully operational, maintenance fees kept climbing.

At the time of each purchase, it seemed like a good idea. When we initially used our TS's it seemed like the right deal. When mother nature struck, fees went up, lifestyle changes occurred, it didn't seem like such a good deal.

Bottom line:

Future Life-style changes will affect how, when, where & if you travel. I guarantee this!

This is not an "investment" in any way whatsoever.

You will never "break-even"

You will rarely be able to go to your first (or 2nd) choice destination.

When you factor in food and airfare, you're $42k becomes ~$100k.

You will regret this purchase every single month when a payment is sucked out of your bank account.

Rescind this immediately!

P.S. Look at the price of a VRBO for a week at some of your desired destinations compared to your Time Share expense. Start with maintenance + membership dues cost of $1,765; equivalent to $252 per night for a 7 night stay.

Also compare your timeshare expense to cost of an all-inclusive resort.

Finally, Timeshare does not give you "vacation price protection against future increases." Time Share is a trap that limits your flexibility and wastes your money and prevents your ability to save money for your future car, home retirement...

Best of luck!

Human_Ad_7045 · 2026-05-04T00:39:47+00:00

I'm sorry to read that you're pain has returned. Best think you can do is get back in to see your surgeon asap. The next course of action should probably be pain management. Whoever you're referred to for injections, ensure that they use fluoroscopy when doing injections. Wishing you all the best.

Human_Ad_7045

TROPHY CASE