Will He Swim After He Gets His Bionic Parts?

Tomorrow is a big day for this half-assed swimmer.  I get my spinal fusion surgery, L5-S1.

The rehab process is something that I don't want to experience, but that is my lot.  My hope is that there are ocean swims ahead for me still; I so miss the cold chill of the water.


"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

I can't do the Oceanside Labor Day Pier Swim, but you should.

http://labordaypierswim.com/index.html



"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

Torn Rotator Cuff in Swimming?

http://www.seahiker.com/anatomy-of-the-swimmers-shoulder-and-impingement/


A link to a good article with illustrations of the shoulder.




"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

Lightning Struck at the Beach

     Yesterday at Venice Beach


http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_26226371/lightning-strikes-venice-beach-boardwalk-la-another

I don't know anything about lightning, except that in the US it strikes most commonly in Florida.  This is another reason why I will never go to Florida.  My paramount reason for avoiding Florida is the presence of alligators.

So, this poor fellow is in the wrong place at the wrong time, for sure.  And fourteen others left buzzing by the strike.  Things like this are why we don't worry about sharks in the water. 

By the way, I am STILL waiting for insurance approval to get my back surgery.  I am now a big fatso who does nothing.  The insurance is making me see a neurologist/surgeon--only four more days to wait for that appointment.  This is a one-month wait to see this guy as a mandatory second opinion.  I bet I'm in the office for ten minutes.  What I don't get is that my L3, L4, and L5 discs are all herniated or leaking or bulging, and the technical description goes on about L3 & L4 damage, BUT the orthopedic surgeon plans to fuse just ONE disc (L5 to S1).  Seems to me you'd fix all three discs but what do I know?



"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

Ironically, this is good swimming news for me in Oceanside.

     I just looked up in this blog and my last swim was three months ago.  And I was barely in action for a few months before that.  I started the blog as an aid to my recuperation from neck surgery.  Cervical fusion C5,6,7.  The blog put pressure on me to get my lazy butt in the water.

     So my good news yesterday is that I need another spine surgery, this time a fusion of L5 to S1.  And along with that I get to rehab myself again.  My L3 and L4 aren't in great shape but no fusions there yet.  My doctor's theory is you go forth and suffer until you can't stand the pain any more.  Then you get more testing and await the insurance approval for surgery. 

    Surgery will be in approximately six weeks and the initial brace afterward is for two or three months.  I'll plan to start water work after that or while wearing the brace, depending on the type of brace and recovery.

    It took me four months to rehab from my neck surgery before I could trust it to use it.  At least I'll have something to write about again in a month or two.  This swimmer is feeling hopeful again. 










"The first time you quit is the last time you try."