A Personal Update

Posted on by Pete Schloss

 

It has been a while since I have “spoken”. Instead of detailing my latest travels or latest musings I will share my latest “adventure”.

Earlier this year occasional back discomfort morphed into more persistent back pain. In turn the pain became more severe which caused me to seek medical attention. Multiple chiropractic visits, massage therapy appointments, and even acupuncture brought only limited and very temporary relief.

Matters worsened. Both before and after my mid-point aborted Camino with grandson, Britton, I consulted with doctors at the University of Kansas Medical Center Comprehensive Spine Center. Medications were prescribed and a lumbar steroid injection was performed. Again, the relief was only temporary and limited.

X-ray, CT scan, and an MRI have told the tale:

“At L4-5, there is a circumferential disc bulge and prominent right synovial facet cyst projecting medially within the central spinal canal contributed to marked central spinal stenosis and right lateral recess stenosis (of the traversing L5 nerve root). Additional moderate bilateral foraminal stenosis at this level.”

There was more that essentially boiled down to the fact that I have a well-traveled and well abused spine. (Witness that I recently fully engaged my stubbornness and fought through the pain to split and stack nearly 6 cords of firewood in Colorado. Not particularly smart on my part.)

I have never before dealt with chronic pain. At times this borders on disabling with pain rising to a 9 on a scale of 1-10. “Conservative” options have been exhausted and doing nothing more is not an option. I have been referring to surgery through the KU Spine Center. The recommendation from the consultation was: “Surgery would entail an L4-5 decompression and fusion with a TLIF from the right-hand side, robotically assisted, Infuse, allograft.” Again, there was more, including an exhaustive detail of why this recommendation was made and other options rejected.

My surgery is scheduled for September 30th, and it can’t get here sooner. The short-term recovery is 4-6 weeks with significant limitations on my activities. Full recovery is up to 9 months. No skiing this year. The prognosis is very good, and my excellent pre-surgery flexibility will only be slightly altered. However, I will still have a 72-year-old spine. I have promised Christine that I will be a “good patient” and follow the doctor’s instructions to the letter. That is perhaps the greatest challenge for me.

Peace Everyone. Pete

Written at Kansas City, September 6, 2024.

44 thoughts on “A Personal Update”

  1. Peter says:

    Life just happens without reference to our preferences. Other than the log splitting, you have been making clear, informed, and well-thought out decisions. My only comment is: Keep your promise to Christine!!! You have little control over what will happen, but you can thereby be complicit in the healing process. I look forward to updates here as your this leg of your and Christina’s Caminos continue. (Each of you is on your own Camino.)

  4. bhaskins1b1147f2a8c says:

    We wish you a very good surgery and recovery. (Russ did a similar surgery 2+ years ago and intensive PT, which we heartily recommend. He’s now active and rarely has that debilitating pain. So we will keep hopes for similar success for you! )
    Take care – especially between now and the 30th. And no more cord wood stacking for a while😊!
    Bobbi

  9. Annie says:

    Wow! You have the most unusual surgeries! I will be praying for respite from the 9/10 pain the next few weeks, then successful surgery and then the rest of the year, following the surgeon’s orders and going to PT!!!

  10. vicki Ross says:

    Pete,
    I feel for you. Or more exact, I feel for Christine. Mike has a similar story for a different bone and having gone through many of the tests, is now scheduled for surgery on October 1. Like you, I’ve heard him exclaim, that October 1 can’t get her soon enough. I, like Christine, spend my time extracting his promise to follow the doctor’s plan of care. He tells me he will and then I hear him say he won’t need a walker or a cane and why can’t he drive immediately after his surgery? Ahhhh the joys of aging. Sending prayers for a successful surgery and uneventful recovery for you and for Christine.
    Vicki

  11. Cindy says:

    Pete, I am wishing you a quick and complete recovery. The Camino calls, whether in Spain or here, your adventure and growth continues. Buen Camino and all the best to both you and Christine.

  12. Henk Kaspers says:

    Dear Peter welcome to the club. We always stay camino brothers. 5 year ago i had a surgery stenosis lumbaal 4 and 5. And a year ago the chronic pain return.
    Now Alice and I stay for a holiday in Indonesia (Sumatra – Java – Bali) and when we come home end of september i have on 30 september a appointment with the neurochirurg to plan a surgery for a stenosis lumbaal 3. So it is a never ending story. We wish you and Christine a good recovery.
    Buen Camino.

    • Pete Schloss says:

      Dear Henk, my Camino, brother! I am glad that you got five years of relief, but saddened that you’re going to have to go through this again. I have been cautioned that the condition of my spine is such that I may well be looking at similar outcomes in the future. My thoughts are with you my friend.

  14. Karen Hubble says:

    We just feel for you Peter. It’s so hard to gracefully get “older”, especially when your spirit and zest for challenges has always been so satisfying. May this surgery provide relief!

  15. lsnyder43e7bf588a says:

    With that one section fused, the level above and below take up the movement. It is extremely easy to herniate above and below the fusion. Be very careful when saying “excellent flexibility will only be slightly altered”. It will be altered and you need to respect that or you will have issues above and below the fusion. Best wishes, Lauren.

  16. Nathalie Elliott says:

    Pete, sending prayers and healing thoughts. Your positive, determined attitude will be a huge asset in your recovery. Please give my best to Christine!

  18. Diana Bowman says:

    Hope you feel better after your surgery. Back pain is terrible! I have had herniated disc’s removed three different times on L5S1. Just be patient with your recovery ! Wish you the best.

  19. Julie Baliva says:

    Wow, that is a lot to be going through. Your physical health and mental attitude are great. These will both help you through until and after surgery. You are surrounded by an amazing wife, family and friends who will also be supporting you! You will be in our prayers. Please give Christine our love .Prayers will be with her as well.

  20. Max Harrison says:

    Pete…I had close to that same surgery maybe 25 years ago. Synivial cyst between the L4 and L5. Recovery wasn’t too bad. Just had a hard time brushing my teeth standing straight up! Now whenever I am really tired or have been doing anything “twisty” that part of my back feels sore and hot. But it goes away after a bit if rest. Your core muscles are probably way better than mine so maybe that stuff won’t be a issue. But the almost immediate relief from the constant pain was fantastic. Good luck to you and a speedy recovery. No hauling you nicely cut wood into the house either…!!

  21. Steve says:

    One benefit of chronic pain is that you can thank whomever allows you to realize that you are still alive. Pam & I have both experienced our share of spinal pain (currently suppressed) that was releaved by skilled surgeons. I’m wishing you and Christine see the light at the end of this tunnel very soon.
    And lets not count this as one of your adventures, OK?

    Cheers!
    Steve

  22. Liz S says:

    Ah Peter – I have been kicking around what to say – thinking how to respond. Wondering if I could channel Dear Pauline… alas – the words, hers nor mine have come. So here are my best thoughts (given I am in an insomniac phase)(poor Frank) – with little wisdom – ha ha. Like so many have said – I wish you an excellent surgery and your recovery – which I pray to be complete and very successful belongs to you. Speaking for myself – I jump into PT and bust out as many or more of whatever they are asking me to do. Of late – I have had to swallow the bitter pill of – “okay, okay – I am not 35 anymore”. There is no reason in the world you should take my advice – but I do hope you follow the directions of the Docs. And if you don’t – I hope that Christine has a big frying pan that she can give you an “El-Kabong” with. Actually – I am very happy that there is actually a solution to what is causing you pain. To quote a man I respect very much – “do good, be good, follow the Dr’s orders and live long and prosper”. (okay – a little poetic license can’t hurt). Stay groovy my friend – and hugs to your Bride.

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