Dick's Blog

First Hike with my Newly Fused Spinal L4 L5 Vertebrae, and Last Hike on My Soon to be Replaced Right Knee Joint. Adirondack Park Boreas River Old Lester Flow Dam Site, My Tree Hugging Son

Liberated

Halleluiah. After 13 weeks, I have been liberated from my back brace. The fusion of two vertebrae is complete. Now comes the task of getting my core strength and muscle tone back after so much inactivity. I feel liberated. Finally, it’s time to burn my B-R-A-c-e. Next comes replacing my right knee joint. What we do to keep hiking, which I intend to do this weekend.

“Lammie” and “Tiger” Will Have to Make Peace Again

For 5 years, “Lammie” and “Tiger” have been peacefully lying together atop my Bose Radio. My wife gave me “Lammie” for a laminectomy 7 years ago. “Lammie” is slang for this surgical procedure to alleviate spinal stenosis and sciatic leg pain, a real “tiger”. My second laminectomy was 5 years ago. Unfortunately, “Tiger” has re-awoken. Soon, “Lammie” will be coming to my rescue, also a fusion of two lumbar vertebrae. Hopefully, “Lammie” and “Tiger” will again be peacefully lying together atop my Bose Radio.