…How a stab in the back can be a good thing!

I was diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis and .after waiting almost 6 years and being unable to walk my usual hour every morning I finally got the surgery I needed.

We went to Victoria General Hospital on Nov. 4. After a pre-op wait of about three hours I got a Laminectomy(removal of bone or part of ligament) using Microdisectomy(using a camera and tube, not major surgery) with Foriminotomy (removal of bone around the neural Foramin-the canal where the nerve route exits the spine). I then waited 6 hours in post op until they found a bed for me.

The next morning I felt some pain (not a lot) and after a visit with the excellent surgeon was granted discharge. However the diligent nurses wouldn’t let me go until i urinated a fair amount. I had to wait about 6 hours before I supplied enough urine to get me the ‘all clear’.

We came back to Hornby yesterday (Nov.6) and I’m now prepared to spend 3 to 4 weeks in rehabilitation and physiotherapy. But the expected heavy pain, and unsteadiness seems to be minimal so my own prognosis is very encouraging.

All in all the experience wasn’t fun but it was made manageable by the excellent hospital staff and, of course the expert surgery. And, of course the great care by kathi (she even supplied me with a bag of snacks to add to all the boiled eggs and cereal the hospital served)

So…I hope to continue the walks I was doing 6 years ago and if you see me on the road give a honk and a wave.

Bob Cain