I'm back and alive....but only just!

Poor old you, Cno.  

I've not been around much and only popped back to read about the iPad mini, but this was far more interesting - in a squeamish short of way.

Look after yourself, and hope you soon feel much better.

Best wishes, Nick

Thank you for your kind words.

I for one greatly miss your input, understanding and support, as at times I feel like King Canute.

As one who is interested in innovative thinking, new products and musical evenings, you might be interested in this thread: http://www.whathifi.com/forum/accessories/an-evening-with-touraj-moghadd...

Staples or stitches?  

I believe it's some sort of dissolvable stitches.

Sheesh!

Ok, so that was the bladder, what about your back? 

Yes, I did get a bit carried away with my urology!

I was under the knife for about 1.5 hrs, where (I think) they sliced the back muscle to reveal the backbone. They then "angle-grinded" the bone (L3/L4) to fool the body into thinking it was broken, so it would grow.

After that, Titanium struts were inserted and bolted to either side of the joint, to maintain the gap and hold some synthetic bone in place, over which the new bone will grow and fully fuse the joint. To my surprise, they left the disc in place, as they had now relieved the pressure that had been on it.

With pain medication, I am managing nicely....able to get about, go up and down stairs and go for (very) short walks. Any sort of stooping and lifting is too painful to contemplate, but this was similar before the surgery, where I'd been in constant pain since the discography last December.

I have been put off work for 3 months and will be following a rehab programme to get my fitness back. So to sum up (sorry, I am inclined to ramble on), I'm a lot better than I thought I'd be and would rather go through 3 back surgeries than one bladder busting fiasco.

Welcome back.  Get well soon, live long and prosper. 

Will do my best, and thank you for the good will.

Cno

Having winced my way through this thread, I'm glad to see you've retained a sense of humour! It's always about cables with you, Cno...

Rest up, heal (every part of your anatomy) and make the most of your time off work.

The story certainly has greater impact on a forum where blokes make up the majority of the audience.

Women who have given birth, usually pull that ace out of the pack, and tell you to stop whinging....as what you've suffered is nowt more than an inconvenience!!

what did they find - sorry I was probably "away" during that period

Not fun.

As a doctor who has been on the other end of the catheter.... I wonder if you will be up for a TURP in the not distant future.... Shouldnt usually be that hard to get a catheter in unless there is obstruction. Maybe see a urologist?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transurethral_resection_of_the_prostate

They discovered a herniated disc between L3/L4, which was leaking "battery acid" onto the nerves below.

Thank you for the suggestion - I will certainly make the suggestion.

I was put in the urology ward and the urologist did the usual finger check, and found nothing abnormal from that direction. I have since been told that my reaction was not all that uncommon (have had no unusual symptoms before or since).

If I had got someone a bit more experienced from the start and they'd used the catheter with the rounded pointy tip, the whole experience would have been avoided.

Thank you again for your advice.

Cno