Please feel free to share this with anyone you think might benefit from it.<\/p>\n
Index:<\/p>\n
First Sign of Trouble<\/a> <\/p>\n Aren’t you glad this isn’t you?<\/p><\/div>\n When I tell people I’m going in for surgery to correct\u00a0a major scoliosis deformity the response is invariably “But you look<\/em> so good!”<\/p>\n Well… Thanks for the compliment… (I guess) But that right there is part of the problem. For me. Diagnosed with scoliosis<\/a> at the age of 12 or 13 by a Chiropractor in Crescent City, California, I really had no appreciation for the long-term issues that go along with this deformity. And as a result, I lived my life like there was no tomorrow and did pretty much anything and everything I wanted without regard to the effect on my twisted spine. \u00a0There is a definite up-side to this, such as: the one thing my tombstone will Not<\/em> have on it is…<\/span> A Bucket List<\/span>.<\/p>\n <\/a>First Sign of Trouble<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n As a roadie for The Grateful Dead<\/a> at the age of 18,\u00a0a shot of pain like I had never imagined, \u00a0sliced through the middle of my back. \u00a0Searing, blinding white-hot pain that showed no sign of abating any time soon.<\/p>\n WTF?<\/p>\n The first of many nexus points, that’s WTF…<\/p>\n Damn! \u00a0This was a whole new experience for me. You know how teenagers think they’re bullet-proof? \u00a0Well, I found out I wasn’t in a very educational collision with the side of an Econoline van at the age of 16. Perhaps this sounds familiar:<\/p>\n Street-racing on a Honda 150 (really? \u00a0Yep). \u00a0Coming to an abrupt halt at 50mph is nothing if not educational. And painful. And 6 months on crutches is pretty informative as well…<\/p>\n But I digress…<\/p>\n A little glitch… \u00a0If you don’t see a numeric listing of the rest of the pages in this blog, a “More” button shows up at the end, after the Tags and the Comments. \u00a0Press this so you can see all the pages in this post. \u00a0Still working on figuring this weirdness out.<\/em><\/span> This new<\/em> pain I discovered while screwing the back panels in place on Phil Lesh’s<\/a> bass cabinets was something altogether unpleasant – excruciatingly so. I mean I Know<\/em> I’m not bullet-proof anymore, but how the hell can it be that I cannot haul equipment all day without some kind of physical meltdown? \u00a0You see the disconnect here, I hope.<\/p>\n Seems I had forgotten the oh-so-critical life lesson from 2 years prior…<\/p>\n <\/a>Osteoarthritis<\/strong><\/p>\n Around this same time, I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis<\/a>. \u00a0As with most things in life, there is a yin and yang (a + and – … A good and bad) to this diagnosis. Sure, arthritis is missing a lot of fun<\/em> components (like ALL of them) but it did keep me from being shoved into the jungle with a target on my back somewhere north of Da Nang…<\/p>\n Knowhattamean?<\/p>\n <\/a>Bad Habits<\/strong><\/p>\n Skip ahead a few years past living in LA, working in Production for JBL<\/a> & being a Technical Engineer for Motown Records<\/a>. It’s the Mid-70s and while horsing around with a friend & running half a block, I feel like I’m about to hack up a lung… \u00a0OK. In the interest of full disclosure… BOTH lungs.<\/p>\n Now I’d never been exactly what you’d call an athlete (in point of fact, I’d done everything I could think of to AVOID physical exercise in high school) but it seemed like I should be able to dash half a block without needing an ambulance. Right? \u00a0So this was another nexus point. The exact point in time where I became aware of my lack of fitness. \u00a0More like wimpness, actually. \u00a0And I decided I wanted to get in shape. \u00a0But might this 2-1\/2 pack-a-day habit get in the way? \u00a0Or have something to do with my inability to run across the street?<\/p>\n Nah!<\/p>\n But let’s not rush into anything here, shall we?<\/p>\n So fast-wind ahead about a year to 1976 in Marin County, where we had relocated. \u00a0I walk into a Karate dojo in San Rafael one sunny afternoon and inquire about taking lessons. \u00a0The big burly black belt who’s job it is to turn wimps into welterweights pokes the bulge in my shirt pocket and says “The first thing you have to do is get rid of these.”<\/p>\n “What a crock…” I think to myself as I trudge back down the stairs with my tail between my legs.<\/p>\n And this is the third nexus point. \u00a0Where I decide I do need to quit this nasty habit, get rid of the persistent smoker’s cough and improve my chances of surviving past 40. \u00a0So after some false starts, I quit cold turkey and, after being a complete asshole for about 2-3 weeks and gaining 20 pounds seemingly overnight, I’m fairly clean. \u00a0No more cigarettes – and my charcoal-colored lungs are working their way back to a pretty pink.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And back I go to the same dojo as before, where I sign up for some serious abuse. \u00a0Also known as Kyokushinkai<\/a> Karate. \u00a0Where I learn the fine – and not-so-delicate aspects of this martial art + a few more. \u00a0This is where I learn that arthritis is not something I have to succumb to. \u00a0This is where I learn to take control of my health and my world. \u00a0Where I learn how not to be a victim in more ways than one. \u00a0For ten years I learn – and teach several martial arts, from Karate to Kung Fu, Judo, Tai Chi and \u00a0a few more. \u00a0For the entire Summer of 1976, I rode my bike 8 miles to the dojo every day, worked out for 8 hours, biked back 8 miles and did 300 sit-ups plus 300 pushups (every single day). \u00a0At one point I had an 18″ neck, 17″ biceps and 14″ forearms – and a Black Belt. \u00a0I ran 5 miles eery day before dawn and ran a 10k every Saturday up an 1800 foot mountain. \u00a0Great view of the entire Bay Area\u00a0from the top of Mount Burdell<\/a>.<\/p>\n Skiing was something I took up in my 30s, so that our kids could have the opportunity I never had. \u00a0I became a Black Diamond skier in short order and loved tearing down the steepest slopes (also with amazing views – of Lake Tahoe<\/a>) and kept my arthritis in check – rather than it keeping me in check.<\/p>\n SCUBA diving was another activity I’d wanted to try for my entire life and in\u00a01997 I made it another \u00a0achievement realized. \u00a0I found I loved diving and we took advantage of numerous opportunities to dive Tahiti, Monterey and Cozumel. \u00a0Again, keeping my arthritis in check, rather that vice versa. Among my many certifications are Certified Rescue Diver and Master SCUBA Diver (a pretty handy guy to have around in an emergency…)<\/p>\n Skydiving at the age of 50 was a lot of fun, but with my spine in such delicate condition, continuing to jump out of perfectly good planes seemed like a less-than brilliant idea. (dammit) \u00a0The view from 14,000 feet is pretty amazing though. \u00a0Unfortunately, there is no sensation of falling when jumping from a moving platform (plane). \u00a0It feels a lot like flying and it’s fun, but I’m sure I’d enjoy BASE Jumping<\/a> a LOT more. \u00a0If my back didn’t look like a pretzel… \u00a0If you’re in the North Texas area, SkyDiveDallas<\/a> in Whitewright is a great place to get this out of your system, or discover a new expensive hobby.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a>First Sign of Real Trouble<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n In 2001, I started having severe sciatica<\/a> (burning pain shooting down my right leg). \u00a0The pain was so debilitating, I could barely lift my right foot to press the brake on my Harley. \u00a0Did I mention I still ride? \u00a0Right up until today I still ride a motorcycle. \u00a0A Harley of course. \u00a0(There are two kinds of motorcycles. \u00a0Harleys<\/strong> … and everything else.) You’d think my parents would have said something about this, wouldn’t you…<\/p>\n And climbing fir trees in the Northern California forest… \u00a0Did I mention that ?<\/p>\n Life is too uncertain to not<\/em> do the things you love. \u00a0None of us know how much time we have left. \u00a0If you love something and doing it doesn’t hurt anyone else – my approach has been to Just Do It.\u00a0Your Mileage May Vary<\/span><\/p>\n But I digress… \u00a0(again)<\/p>\n So I went to see a local chiropractor I knew. \u00a0When he brought in my full spine x-ray, slapped it on the viewer and flipped the switch, I broke out in a cold sweat. \u00a0It’s one thing to look at someone else’s x-ray of a twisted spine. \u00a0It is quite another thing altogether when it’s your own. Aren’t you glad this isn’t you?<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n This was pretty ugly. \u00a0Not only did I have a worsening case of scoliosis, but one vertebrae was rotated about 30 degrees and shifted, creating a pretty scary condition called stenosis<\/a>. \u00a0This is where the space around your spinal cord is restricted, making it possible for your spinal cord to be rubbing against the bone. \u00a0As you might imagine, this is not good.<\/p>\n As a matter of fact, I have stenosis in 3 or 4 places along my spine for several reasons, not the least of which is Degenerative Disc Disease<\/a>. \u00a0It’s not a lot of fun. \u00a0And it’s particularly painful.<\/p>\n Now I’m sure you’ve seen the ads for high-tech disc replacements<\/a>, “minimally invasive surgery” and all kinds of greatly simplified spinal \/ disc repairs and are right now saying to yourself, but surely in 2012, there are really great ways of dealing with this problem, right?<\/p>\n Sounds good. \u00a0But NO. \u00a0Not when you have scoliosis. \u00a0And stop calling me Shirley. <\/p>\n <\/a>Pain Management<\/strong><\/p>\n The first time I heard of Pain Management, a friend with severe pain issues was going in for epidural injections to eliminate excruciating pain and at the time I thought: \u00a0“What shit is this? \u00a0Just fix the problem.” \u00a0The very idea of “managing” pain was abhorrent to me. \u00a0Not just “fixing” the problem – and instead enabling someone to “live with the pain” sounded barbaric. \u00a0But here I am, signing up for exactly that – Pain Management. \u00a0The first time I went to Baylor Dallas for an epidural, my blood pressure was through the roof. \u00a0I had no idea what to expect and I was incredibly apprehensive about having an injection in my spine. But after you’ve done it several dozen times, you look forward to your little Propofol-induced nap (remember Michael Jackson?) and waking up a few minutes later feeling much better. \u00a0This was to be my routine every 2 months for about 10 years.<\/p>\n That and a LOT of narcotics. \u00a0Unfortunately that was my only option after the FDA pulled the Cox2 Inhibitors off the market several years ago. \u00a0I was doing great on Bextra<\/a>. \u00a0No pain. \u00a0No side effects, \u00a0No falling asleep standing up. (I think it was Methodone that had that effect. \u00a0But the Fentanyl patch was similar + headaches…) \u00a0So we had to find pain relief that didn’t either give me headaches, knock me out or piss me off. \u00a0My system is fairly sensitive to these drugs it seems.<\/p>\n For years I got by on Norco, a combination of Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen. \u00a0The problem with large dosages of these, as any Doctor will tell you, is that your liver is going to be fairly pissed off at massive doses of Tylenol collecting in it’s filtering mechanism. \u00a0And if you overwork it enough… It will just up \u00a0and quit. \u00a0Kind of like a pissed-off employee. \u00a0So… \u00a0We eventually went to a time-release Morphine to establish a baseline, plus short-acting Norco as needed throughout the day. \u00a0The problem will all these things is that eventually your receptors become conditioned to the drugs and it’s just not as effective anymore. \u00a0So a few months ago we switched over to the dreaded (dum dum da DUMMMMM)<\/p>\n Oxycontin<\/a><\/p>\n Damn.<\/p>\n I HATE Oxycontin! \u00a0I will NEVER understand why people use this shit recreationally. \u00a0Not that I don’t appreciate the recreational use of pharmaceuticals (and I’m not going to discuss that any further) but this stuff is NASTY. \u00a0It just makes me feel B.A.D. in general. \u00a0For the first 3 weeks I had low-grade headaches – and just generally felt Wrong \u00a0Not right (“He just ain’t raht”). \u00a0And then there are the side-effects of all this stuff coursing through your bloodstream. \u00a0Like constipation.<\/p>\n Swell.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Battling this little problem for several years makes you an expert on the topic. \u00a0Problem is, when you change your dosage of painkillers (more on bad days – less on good days) your requirements for Fiber Supplements<\/a> \/ Magnesium<\/a> \/ Stool Softeners<\/a> \/ Enemas<\/a> \/ Gerbils<\/a>\u00a0 and Small Explosives vary as well. \u00a0You can imagine the results of a mis-calculation in either direction for any of these solutions, right? \u00a0And you can also tell I am NOT<\/strong><\/em> suggesting explosives of any kind<\/span> as a solution for constipation, right?<\/p>\n My recommendation is to write in a journal every single day and keep track of:<\/p>\n I think that’s about enough on this topic… I think my daughter, who’s a teacher in her mid-30s and living with a similar spinal condition to mine, \u00a0put it best. \u00a0She put forth that when you’re dealing with chronic pain, it takes a great deal of mental \/ emotional power to keep your reactions in check. \u00a0When you’re processing daily pain that in most cases never lets up, it takes a lot of concentration. \u00a0And unfortunately, any one<\/span> extra thing<\/em> that comes along and adds itself to the top of the heap is just that much too<\/em><\/strong> much and you lash out at whatever (usually whomever) \u00a0caused that extra level of stress.<\/p>\n Make no mistake, it’s hard as hell living with chronic pain and the mood-altering effects of painkillers. \u00a0It’s miserable and it changes you. \u00a0Completely.<\/p>\n Your mate will have a hard time understanding why you are lashing out at them when they are doing everything they know to help you. \u00a0When your mate is asking you a simple question or trying to clarify some point of conversation and you snap at them. \u00a0Their response may be to withdraw – or leave for awhile – or snap back – or just add this to the long list of things you’ve done to hurt them and continue on.<\/p>\n You know how when you’re processing pain and that one last thing causes you to snap?<\/p>\n Think about your mate living with an unstable substance (nitroglycerin comes to mind) like you. \u00a0Someday you will snap at them one time too many and that will be the end of it. Are you willing to risk this? \u00a0I’m going to assume it’s a lot to lose or you wouldn’t be with them.<\/p>\n Now we will add another level of instability to the mix. \u00a0Most of us in chronic pain are also using significant quantities of painkillers. \u00a0Narcotics, as a rule. \u00a0We use narcotics \u00a0because they are effective at blocking pain. \u00a0Unfortunately, there are a lot of physical and emotional side-effects that go along with this regimen.<\/p>\n Remember:\u00a0Your Mileage May Vary<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Painkillers that can ruin your life<\/p><\/div>\n Norco<\/strong> (Hydrocodone combined with Acetaminophen) Vicodin<\/strong> (very similar to the above) Oxycodone<\/strong> \u00a0\/ Oxycontin<\/strong> is an opiate in either short-acting or time-release dosages from 5 – 80 mg and designed to provide around-the-clock pain relief. The time-release is frequently combined with short-acting Oxycontin to handle extreme pain. \u00a0Effective, but just made me feel B.A.D. \u00a0I Hated Oxy.<\/em><\/p>\n Morphine<\/strong>\u00a0 (and MS-Contin<\/strong>)-\u00a0available in dosages from 15-200 mg\u00a0– also available in both short-acting and time-release, probably the best-known of the opiate painkillers. and perhaps the most addicting. \u00a0It is very effective at blocking pain. \u00a0This was a very effective time-release product for me, combined with Norco.<\/em><\/p>\n Note: \u00a0NEVER<\/strong><\/span> cut time-release medications in half to get a reduced dose. \u00a0This will release far too much narcotic into your system at once and it can have toxic \/ fatal results. \u00a0Always discuss changes in your medications with your Prescribing Physician<\/em> before making any changes. \u00a0Drugs that can be cut in half to reduce their strength generally<\/em> are scored across the middle to simplify this process. \u00a0However… \u00a0Check with your Doctor First.<\/p>\n Methadone<\/strong> – \u00a0– originally developed to wean heroin addicts off the illegal drug. \u00a0It has a similar effect to a standard narcotic – and is an effective painkiller. \u00a0I’m pretty sure this is the one that made me fall asleep while standing up having a conversation with my daughter…<\/em><\/p>\n Duragesic Patch<\/strong> is a skin patch that delivers a pre-measured dosage of Fentanyl<\/strong> into the bloodstream. \u00a0Very effective for some. \u00a0This gave me headaches. \u00a0And not the kind I can tolerate.<\/em><\/p>\n With all of these products, the list of potential side-effects is staggering. \u00a0All of them are capable of causing mood disorders, plus a very long list of other not-so-amusing alterations in your life. \u00a0The short list:<\/p>\n Go to This Site<\/a> for more information than you ever knew existed on this topic.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One of my favorite sayings is: \u00a0“It is often difficult to remember your original objective was to drain the swamp when you’re up to your ass in alligators.”<\/p>\n By the time one or more of these opiate-based painkillers has a firm grip on your Central Nervous System (CNC) and<\/em> your psyche – it’s mighty difficult to cut through the haze and realize You<\/em> are now the cause<\/em> of your own problems. \u00a0A little hint here (from personal experience): \u00a0When you start thinking everyone else is an asshole who’s just trying to bring you down… \u00a0It’s YOU that’s the asshole. \u00a0Always. \u00a0The entire world is not going to turn into a bunch of raving lunatics overnight – and you didn’t either. \u00a0It took you awhile to make the leap from user – to dependent – to addict – to asshole.<\/p>\n This is a nexus point for you. \u00a0A place to realize You<\/strong><\/em> are the problem and You<\/em> hold the key to the cure.<\/p>\n Why to I say this here? \u00a0It’s easy to go from needing<\/em> painkillers – to using<\/em> drugs – to abusing<\/em> drugs – to being an addict<\/em><\/span>. \u00a0By the time you’re an addict, it’s pretty hard to see that you are. \u00a0Opiates and the like do\u00a0Not<\/em>\u00a0make you\u00a0high<\/em>\u00a0if you are truly in pain. \u00a0It’s \u00a0a very interesting function. \u00a0Morphine I find to be like magic for me. \u00a0The pain is gone, I don’t feel loopy and I’m fully functional.<\/p>\n The serious painkillers actually block the sensation of pain from reaching your brain.<\/p>\n Not everyone becomes an addict and you don’t have to be in pain because you’re worried about becoming one. \u00a0Just be honest with yourself about what you need<\/em> and why<\/span>. \u00a0And have someone else you can count on to tell you the truth and be your daily “Sanity Check”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a>Magic!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The one thing I did find to be a saving grace in terms of pain management is the CieAura PureRelief holographic disc. \u00a0This is like f#%&*^g magic!<\/strong> Well… It actually worked!<\/strong> \u00a0I felt better immediately. \u00a0Each disc is good for about 3 days. Then you replace it with another. \u00a0It’s like new-age acupuncture. \u00a0Amazing! \u00a0Seriously.<\/p>\n If you want to check it out: \u00a0http:\/\/warrenpaulharris.cieaura.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Inversion Traction<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Another godsend in terms of back pain relief: \u00a0Sometime in the early 80s I invested about $300 of my hard-earned<\/p>\n Orthopod<\/p><\/div>\n money in an OrthoPod, (which is no longer made). \u00a0It’s a compact inversion traction platform that folds up and stashes in your closet when you’re not using it. \u00a0This has been invaluable when I’m in a lot of pain. \u00a0The concept is simple enough. \u00a0You hang upside down like a bat for a few minutes and it relieves pressure on the nerves being crushed by your discs and vertebrae that have compressed and failed over the years. \u00a0I don’t know what I would have done without it. <\/a>The Waiting Game<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n For 3 years we waited for the Maverick Disc Replacement<\/a> to be approved by the FDA. \u00a0This was the one solution to my problem that did not involve 3 feet of steel rods and a couple of fist-fulls of bolts to hold my spine in place. \u00a0If I’d had a couple of hundred grand to spend, we could have spent several months in France or Germany and had these disc replacements – along with several fusions – done there. \u00a0After waiting years for the Maverick, it became clear it was never going to be approved and the only option for me was multi-level fusion with steel rods and bolts to hold my spine in place. \u00a0My range of motion would be greatly reduced\u00a0and I would likely never get on any<\/em>\u00a0commercial flight again without some really personal<\/em> attention from the perverts at TSA.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a>Running Out of Time<\/strong><\/p>\n So we continued to buy time with epidurals and painkillers. \u00a0And this worked pretty well up until the Summer of 2011, when one injection had absolutely NO effect. \u00a0This is not<\/em> good. \u00a0I knew immediately we had run out of options, but we started interviewing surgeons and getting opinions, 2nd opinions and 3rd opinions. \u00a0Finally, the surgeon we liked the best, Dr.Hostin at the Baylor Scoliosis Center<\/a>, suggested I try Pilates first to build up my core strength and hopefully buy time. \u00a0I found I liked Pilates, implemented their approach into my daily stretching regimen and found some improvement. \u00a0That, along with a radical change in how we were doing the epidurals, bought me several more months.<\/p>\n Until I went numb from my left hip to my pubic bone.<\/p>\n Shit.<\/p>\n Seriously?<\/p>\n Shit!<\/p>\n I could tell immediately the jig was up. \u00a0We had no choice but to work toward the earliest possible surgery date. \u00a0And we started the process immediately. \u00a0Lots of appointments, tests, new doctors, more tests and meetings spanned several months. \u00a0During this time, somehing new cropped up. \u00a0My thumb and forefinger on my right hand went suddenly numb. Shit.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I knew exactly what that meant. \u00a0Back in 2003, I had neck surgery to clear out some chunks of disc material that were crushing a nerve root at C6\/C7. \u00a0This was causing my middle finger to go numb. \u00a0So now we had a new problem to deal with. \u00a0Which complicates \u00a0things considerably. \u00a0What are the options now?<\/p>\n Behind Curtain # 1<\/span>: \u00a0is a surgical team ready to fix my neck and keep me from losing the use of my right hand. \u00a0Yay! Shit<\/p>\n Behind Curtain # 2<\/span>: Is an even larger surgical team ready to re-align my spine with a bunch of steel rod and bolts. \u00a0Yippee! \u00a0Ow! \u00a0Yippee! \u00a0Ow!… Shit<\/p>\n Neither option by itself is without it’s, now is it?<\/p>\n So… Behind Curtain #3<\/span>: is a week of hospitalization and a surgical team reserved to do both surgeries over a span of 4 days.<\/p>\n Ding!\u00a0Ding!\u00a0Ding!\u00a0Ding!\u00a0Ding!\u00a0Ding!\u00a0Ding! \u00a0 \u00a0We have a Winner!<\/p>\n What we decided was to do my spine – a 6 hour surgery on Monday and go back in to do my neck on Thursday, giving me a few days to start recovery after the Big Surgery. \u00a0This way we don’t even extend the hospital stay. \u00a0And if, after a couple of days past the surgery, I feel like I’ve been ridden hard and put up wet, we delay the 2nd surgery a couple of days and extend the overall hospital stay. \u00a0Not really a big deal (except maybe to my insurance carrier…)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Just to save you the grief I went through…<\/p>\n Aside from no food or liquids past midnight (insert theme from Gremlins<\/em> here) they also wanted a laxative treatment 2 days before surgery. \u00a0Their approach is 60 ml (1\/4 cup to save you some work) of Magnesium Citrate in about 8 oz of water. \u00a0If you get no results in 3 hours >> Repeat. \u00a0Since for me this was on a Saturday and we had the entire extended family over, I decided to postpone the fun and games until they left.<\/p>\n So at 8 pm I took the 1st dose.<\/p>\n Nada. Zip. Nothing…<\/p>\n 11 pm \u00a0Rinse and repeat. – and go to bed.<\/p>\n Next morning – No Change.<\/p>\n Drink the rest of the bottle quick around 4 am.<\/p>\n NOW we’re getting somewhere.<\/p>\n And my guts continue to gurgle the entire day – and the next day all the way to the hospital.<\/p>\n I don’t think that was the best approach and I’m not recommending it to you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Continue to The Big Day (Surgery)<\/a><\/p>\n So June 4, 2012 is the Big Day<\/a>. \u00a0Follow My Progress<\/a><\/p>\n
\nOsteoarthritis<\/a>
\nBad Habits<\/a>
\nPhysical Conditioning<\/a>
\nFirst Sign of Real Trouble<\/a>
\nPain Management<\/a>
\nOxycontin<\/a>
\nConstipation<\/a>
\nPsychological Impact of Chronic Pain \/ Painkillers<\/a>
\nA Partial List of painkillers<\/a>
\nUser, Abuser or Addict<\/a>
\nMagic – Some Things That Actually Work<\/a>
\nThe Waiting Game<\/a>
\nRunning Out of Time<\/a>
\nA Little Prep Work<\/a>
\nWhat Else Can They Do to You?<\/a>
\nPain, Painkillers, Erectile Dysfunction and You<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Warren's](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Warrens-Spine-6-2007.jpg?resize=241%2C300&ssl=1\" "\\"Warren's")
<\/a>\n
\n<\/p>\n<\/a>Physical Conditioning<\/h4>\n
\nAnd did I mention I used to jump off the roof of our house as a child (9 \u00a0or 10)? (repeatedly) \u00a0I’d bike over to the local Piggly Wiggly a few blocks away and collect cardboard boxes all day. \u00a0From this I’b build about a 4 foot high mound in the back yard. \u00a0Then I’d climb up on the roof and jump off into them. \u00a0Re-arrange the crushed boxes. \u00a0Rinse and repeat until there were no more boxes with any shock-absorbing quality.<\/p>\n
\n(this is from 2001. \u00a0It’s much worse now.)<\/p>\n<\/a>
\n<rimshot>
\nTo simplify: With scoliosis pushing your spine in 3 different directions, the forces exerted on your spine make any disc replacement or minimally invasive approach out of the question. \u00a0Your spine has to be fairly straight to use these techniques. \u00a0I’ve got a list of people who are always alerting me to the newest “easy” way of fixing messed up spines. \u00a0They mean well, but it’s just never going to happen for people like me. \u00a0And there are plenty of people who are in much worse condition than I am. \u00a0People who are permanently bent over at a 90 degree angle. \u00a0People who are in wheelchairs. \u00a0Long-suffering individuals for whom there is simply no relief. \u00a0It could be a LOT worse.<\/p>\n<\/a>Constipation<\/h4>\n
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\n<\/p>\n<\/a>Psychological Impact of Chronic Pain \/ Painkillers<\/h4>\n
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![\"Painkillers](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Multi-Meds.jpg?resize=196%2C300&ssl=1\" "\\"Painkillers")
<\/a><\/a>A Partial \u00a0List of painkillers utilized \u00a0to help with back pain include:<\/h4>\n
\nComes in 5\/325, 7.5\/325, 10\/325 \u00a0 I found I liked Norco under the right conditions. \u00a0It’s effective for me and doesn’t make me feel stupid.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nComes in 5\/500 , Vicodin ES7.5\/750, and Vicodin HP 10\/660.<\/p>\n\n
<\/a>User, Abuser or Addict<\/h4>\n
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\nI was skeptical when someone gave me a sample of this little disc that you just stick to the area that hurts and voila! (insert goofy French accent here) you feel better immediately. \u00a0Oh sure…<\/p>\n![\"Orthopod\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/orthopod2.jpg?resize=224%2C300&ssl=1\" "\\"orthopod\\"")
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\nNow I’m going to have one for sale!<\/em><\/p>\n
\n(insert David Gilmour guitar solo from Pink Floyd’s\u00a0“Comfortably Numb” here)<\/p>\n
\nBut just a danged minit there, Speedy! \u00a0If I let my back wait while they fix my neck and I recover, I could lose the use of my left leg. Right? \u00a0 It’s already got a permanent cramp in the thigh muscle and tingling going from my knee to my foot on a lot of occasions. \u00a0This is indicative of increasing pressure on the nerve causing the numbness on my left side. \u00a0Left unattended, I could lose the use of my left leg entirely.<\/p>\n
\nNot to be the fly in the Margarita or nothin’… But if I do this spinal surgery and let my neck wait, I could lose the use of the fingers on my right hand. Right? \u00a0And then how’m ah gonna pick mah nose? \u00a0Tell me that!<\/p>\n<\/a>A Little Prep Work<\/h4>\n