Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: How many of us are there? Owners of Dodge based RV's?

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Topic: How many of us are there? Owners of Dodge based RV's?

Posted By: oldtrucker63 on 03/07/11 07:04am

Trish Davis wrote:

hey, Oldtrucker--

Your rig is coming. Like the new digs, too.
But i gotta now how your sister could tolerate 3 of those operations.

Yah, I know what it feels like and I feel like I'd do about anything to make it not hurt.

What did I do? Fell on a restaurant wet floor. Truth.
Slipped wearing my new nifty Harley-D boots with the non-skid urethane soles.

Right away, I knew it was bad because my legs were numb(ish).
ER doc /ER idiot said I "pulled a muscle." Medical fool.

That was April, 1990. April '91, I started working out like I meant it to keep the muscles strong enough to hold me up. Worked for a long time.

The last 2 1/2 years have been rough on my back; either had jobs sitting or constantly bending and, alas, I am no longer young.

So here I am. Back's killing me, I can't walk, the yard is screaming for attention.
So's the Merc. So's the Travco. H$ll, I can't even lift my cat.

But I welcome advice from Oldtrucker --or anyone else who's been through this. Mine're L5 - S1.

Myself I just don't know how she had the nerve to go and get it the 2ed time Let alone the 3rd, The only advice a can really give would be to get you one of them mouth pieces Ya know like the football and hockey players use,...Really if it hurts like mine this really helps when you go to grinding your teeth from the pain, My teeth is worn down like a 75 year old caveman from the grinding.

Without Trucks,....America Stop's

Posted By: Jer&Ger on 03/10/11 06:54pm

Trish, I've had 9 back and neck surgeries (C2-C4,T10-S1) and my best advise is to get a good surgeon the first time. My first surgery was by an idiot. He did L2-S1 & didn't fuse me in the proper position back in 1986. Then I had to have my neck done in 2002 (not related). Then I moved here to Idaho after years of back problems that weren't fixed. In 2004, They had to break out ALL of the first DR's. work, put my back into the proper position, and useing Titanium rods,spacers and clamps on both sides, from T10-S1 this time. So far, X my fingers, they seem to have done it right. One thing they told me though is that the more surgeries you have, the less bang you get from it. I guess they mean that the more work is done, the more likely you are going to have to have more done and not get as much relief each time. Does that make sense, hope so....Jerry

P.S. I just broke my left knee partly as a result of those surgeries and injuries that happened during rehab.

Jerry & Gerry, our pets (dogs), Byron, Coco
1976 Monaco, 440 ci. Dodge Sportsman chassis

Posted By: Trish Davis on 03/11/11 03:18pm

Good Lord. This stuff is why I never wanted surgery.
Now, my back is so bad, I have no choice.

So how to determine a good doc from a bad one?
I am not into being crippled.

Posted By: Jer&Ger on 03/11/11 06:22pm

TrishDavis wrote:

Good Lord. This stuff is why I never wanted surgery.
Now, my back is so bad, I have no choice.

So how to determine a good doc from a bad one?
I am not into being crippled.

Trish, I would start by going to the largest Back Specialty Facility is you area. My first mistake was to go to a small office "Back Dr." who it turned out hadn't been in the office long (I found out too late).

Also, like you, I waited because I "KNEW" I was going to need surgery. He stopped the pain, but didn't do it properly. Years later, the pain came back and I found why.

Of coarse, I didn't take the best care of my back even after the first time around.

I hope you have good luck with yours, and by the way, they have come a long way since my first one....Jerry

Posted By: Trish Davis on 03/12/11 04:18pm

Jer&Ger wrote:

TrishDavis wrote:

So how to determine a good doc from a bad one?

Trish, I would start by going to the largest Back Specialty Facility is you area.

Also, like you, I waited because I "KNEW" I was going to need surgery. He stopped the pain, but didn't do it properly. Years later, the pain came back and I found why.

Of coarse, I didn't take the best care of my back even after the first time around.

I hope you have good luck with yours, and by the way, they have come a long way since my first one....Jerry

"Best facility"... there's the rub.
Jer, my insurance won't pay for the best. The back doc I have , UPMC in Pittsburgh, is pretty good --from me, that is a resounding endorsement; I don't like doctors.

I did take care of my back. Quality shoes with support and never 2 days in a row. Work outs to strengthen the muscles. Pick your backaches --this-and-that is heavy so demand help. My son loves that part ;-)

Like you, I knew surgery was going to happen. I put it off as long as possible, 21 yrs, because spine surgery has come a log way since 1990. Mostly because the local docs are butchers without a no-kill policy.

I am not afraid of very much, but I am afraid of this.

Posted By: Trish Davis on 03/18/11 12:13pm

Ok. That didn't hurt as much as I'd feared. It was weird, though.
Needle in your spine = definitely odd. The "P" helped.

Saw the doc this morning for followup.
He says screws asap. I said next week.
We'll see.

Oldtrucker & Jer, tell me about recovery and rehab.

Posted By: Leeann on 03/18/11 04:50pm

How long after the screws will you be able to ride in your rig?

'73 Concord 20' Class A w/Dodge 440 - see profile for photo

Posted By: oldtrucker63 on 03/18/11 09:51pm

Trish Davis wrote:

My rehab went on for months, As far as pain it is just like it was before the screws So I have to say if you can get by DON'T do it man, That is all I can say, Your most likely better like you are.

Posted By: oldtrucker63 on 03/18/11 09:54pm

Talk with other people that has done this back surgery, I bet you can't find one that will say Yes it helped me, Most of them if they had it to do over would not have had it done. All the DR want's is the $65000 it takes to have it done.

Posted By: Jer&Ger on 03/19/11 12:44pm

Trish, for me the nerve pain was gone as soon as I woke up from surgery, thank God. It took about 6 months recovery for the first surgeries, not for rehab, but just for the muscles and such to heal. I felt great. There were some pain meds. for awhile. The last group of surgeries in Sept. "04", took over a year because they were a lot more intrusive. I did a long time with rehab too (to strengthen my back muscles and work on my balance), don't forget that they had to go from T-10 to S-1 and a lot of reconstruction for these. I'm a pretty big guy (6'4', 220 lbs.), and I've always been pretty strong, but I really have to watch what I do now (at least my wife says so). I'm on pain maintenance most of the time, as you may have noticed I get a little off the wall sometimes, but I rebuilt the roof on my RV last winter and ride ATV's, so it has not stopped me. I hope you get relief from yours. I do have a little pain, but it's not the sharp nerve pain now, just weak muscles.
If I can help with anything else, just ask...Jer

P.S. Sorry for long reply

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