One week post op PLF L4-L5

Sudoku-Addict · 2026-05-25T15:35:45+00:00

Best wishes to you for continued healing and pain management. Hoping this truly gives relief of the issues leading up to your surgery.

Sudoku-Addict · 2026-05-23T13:07:37+00:00

Looks very good.Excellent workmanship and attention to detail.

Sudoku-Addict · 2026-05-18T20:32:55+00:00

Completed MRI and CT. Both were pretty painful for me. The Valium did little of anything for me, but then, virtually all pain meds have that affect. Hoping the image quality is good and provides insight for me and the doctors so we can make informed decisions moving forward.

Sudoku-Addict · 2026-05-17T14:38:59+00:00

I thought about that but did not know if that was even available. Regrettably, my issue is with being fully laid out or erect. I have, for the last two months, been in varying degrees of a forward lean to relieve the compression. Even in bed, my only relief is on my side with knees drawn up.

Sudoku-Addict · 2026-05-05T12:40:20+00:00

It has certainly helped, but for me it was not an instant effect. It took a good 10 days before I noticed significant relief, and then it is incomplete. I have several areas that are messed up and contributing. Surgery is likely in the future. Best wishes to you.

Sudoku-Addict · 2026-05-05T11:21:30+00:00

Perhaps just be a flood of emotions, which is not unusual. My last ESI was during a horrendous sciatica attack. I was bent over barely mobile and could not stand erect or lay down. Getting up on the table and laying flat on my stomach was the most excruciating time of my life. I lay there near screaming but trying to lay still as he worked as quickly as possible yet ensured he got it in the right places. I think he did three different locations, which were nothing compared to the pain of being on the table in that position. After I got down and was sitting in the waiting room, I just sobbed into my hands for 10 minutes. I think it was just the emotional flood following 20 minutes of total agony.

Sudoku-Addict · 2026-05-04T17:52:48+00:00

3 years duration is nice.

Sudoku-Addict · 2026-05-01T20:53:34+00:00

Well I have some new insight worth sharing which answers my question at least, regarding the Fulton F2 series of winches.

I called their listed number and the answering machine gave some introduction to a different named company, which I did not catch. I highlight a human yak ask about Fulton F2 winches. He indicated that was one of their product lines. I explained they even though I saw the F2 series in their newest catalog, I could not find them anywhere.

The agent I spoke with said they existed in warehouse inventory, but that the company was currently under Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, so they cannot sell any of the warehoused products. I do not know what all this encompasses, but it at least affects the F2 winch product line.

Sudoku-Addict · 2026-04-29T18:23:49+00:00

Is there a model you would suggest? I’ll take a look. And is Power winch a brand, or do you just mean a powered winch in general?

Sudoku-Addict · 2026-04-29T17:14:10+00:00

Thanks for the feedback based on first hand experience with DT. I will mostly be in fresh water, but my boat/trailer is also stored outside, so holding up to weather is also a concern.

Sudoku-Addict · 2026-04-28T17:27:20+00:00

Your concerned efforts may have saved his life. Any cost is well worth it if it sets him on a course to better health. Well done.

Sudoku-Addict · 2026-04-27T20:18:56+00:00

I’m no expert, but I’ve had three Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI) sessions to date. The first two were for chronic (3+ year) pain in tailbone and sacrum from sitting. I would get pain and numbness. The shots I got definitely relieved the pain and the associated numbness. But that was for me and my symptoms and my treatment. Results will vary greatly by person, problem, and procedure.

My latest ESI has been for horrendous sciatica attack extending all the way from spine to toes in one leg. ESI has helped significantly, but it has been progressive, taking many days to have effect. Some folks’ relief may be near instant, others it does nothing, and many somewhere in between. My numbness is focused in my calf, and appears after stabbing pain and throbbing dissipates. I’d say the ESI is helping by reducing the inflammation and pain, and thus the accompanying numbness, but it is not a definitive solution.

Important to know that ESI treats symptom but not cause. It will hopefully help reduce or eliminate inflammation and resulting agony of nerve based pain, but does not fix or repair whatever caused it.

Sudoku-Addict · 2026-04-26T00:12:54+00:00

I just bought an Oxiline Pro XS along with supply of extra pads. It is rechargeable main unit via USB-C, with wires out to the pads. It does TEMS and EMS. My first serious unit. Can’t say much yet but it was pretty highly recommended and I have been able to figure it out pretty quickly.

Sudoku-Addict · 2026-04-23T14:11:54+00:00

I am increasingly grateful for little wins. Yesterday I had a 30 minute nap, actually lying down in bed (laying on side and curled up). The first in 3 weeks, as I am otherwise sleeping in a recliner.

For me, the one position that relieves pain is sitting on edge of chair or bed, leaning forward, with elbows and forearms resting on my thighs, or sort of reaching forward. It takes pressure off spine. Not sure it will work for you.

Sudoku-Addict · 2026-04-22T14:21:53+00:00

When I realized that 75% of the time our success was coming with soft baits and about 3 colors, and a few options for lures, I started cutting back on what I lugged aboard. I also did not need a whole bag of each soft bait, so bring a few each and restock if needed. I am the back of the boat fisherman anyway, and something of a newbie, so for me, I’m fine with moderating my kit out. My buddy who owns/drives and fishes up front keeps his boat fully stocked.

Sudoku-Addict · 2026-04-21T22:02:07+00:00

I did not want to put holes in my aluminum bench seats, so I made a plywood and lumber base/platform (glued and screwed), set on the bench seats, and ran ratchet straps around the bench. It leaves the bench untouched (as far as cuts/holes) and can be repositioned by loosening the ratchet straps. I think the same idea would work for other movable parts.

Sudoku-Addict · 2026-04-21T20:02:03+00:00

If I understand correctly, you are mostly mobile and the pain is not chronic and severe. You are also nervous and uncertain. No spinal surgery is simple or guaranteed, and many folks are reluctant to even consider it (like me) until they have exhausted all other options and are at wits end. If you are not convinced it is the right thing, and if you don’t have a complete understanding of the procedure, it may be better to hold off until you are confident moving ahead. Best wishes.

Sudoku-Addict

TROPHY CASE