Powered By ProDisc

Extreme Rescue

2010-03-20T23:25:00.000-07:00

Killabrew Canyon Heavenly Ski Resort

Lake Tahoe

click on picture to see up close

When you participate in extreme sports someday you will pay extremely. I have paid my dues and pray every time I go out. This winter I met a wonderful skier a Tahoe local that loves to ski the steep and deep as much as I do. We hooked up for a few ski dates last Sunday was a picture perfect blue bird day with cut up powder (I missed the untracked by one day that’s the way the daycare cookie crumbles).

We headed up to the top of the mountain and decided to go right into Kilkabrew Canyon double back diamond terrain (see picture above). As we stopped below Ramarrah’s and above the Middle Finger shoot we had the typical conversation that must ski buddy’s have, “You go first, no you go first” well I won and he dropped in. I was taking my time, as I didn't feel quite on my skis. After about 3 turns I saw him backed up against a tree. I called out and asked if he was ok but there was no response. My heart started to race out of my chest I skied up to him, pulled his goggles off and looke straight into his eyes he came too (so I thought) and said what happen where am I. I knew we were in big trouble. I screamed for help but there was no one around, reached for my cell phone called 911 to get them to call Heavenly to get me ski patrol then tucked the phone into my helmet. I freed him from his skis as he was screaming in pain that his leg hurt. My glove was now nowhere to be found, as it must have taken off down the hill without me. We were in an extremely vertical shoot. When I released him from his skis he fell backward head first down the hill. I grabbed him by his belt got his feet down the hill and yelled at him to dig his feet in. Then skied below him and held him into the hill by his feet. Knowing all the time it was my skis that were the only thing keeping us both up against the mountain.

I heard someone ask if we needed ski patrol I screamed back YES! It was patrol looking up into the shoot they would be there soon. I just kept trying to keep my friend still and begged him to stop moving and trying to get away from me. When help arrived I shared my assessment broken left femur and possible concussion he was not wearing a helmet (personal choice). I I have over 20 years of ski school expereance under my belt and the lead rescuer said I looked familiar so he put me to work. My job was to stomp out a landing for the sled and hold it while they prepared him for the ride out. They called for a medevac helicopter that landed at the bottom of Killabrew Canyon.

It was quite tricky getting him into the sled and down out of the shoot. Ironically they belayed the sled off the same tree I found him up against. By the time his was on his way there were more then 10 patrollers assisting. It was a rescue they live for and train for but don’t very often get to perform. As the helecopter flew out of sight I broke down in tears my ski buddy was gone he was broken and I was not sure how bad.

He called and conferred that it was a shattered left femur but his head neck and back were ok and he was headed into surgery. Praise God bones can heal. He only remembers falling and ski patrol being in his face. He does not remember me holding on to him for dear life, doing everything I had to keep him from falling down the shoot. So he was out for quite sometime.

When you play you pay and my ski buddy will have a few months to work himself back into ski shape so he can come back and face the mountain again like a true extreme athlete. As for me my ski buddy for the rest of the season will be Annalise and we will keep to the green circles. I've had enough excitment for this season.

Ski Bunny in Training

2010-01-17T14:34:00.000-08:00

My priorities sure have change over the last year and I could not be happier with life. I may not be in as good of shape as I have in the past but my back is doing great! Annalise is up to 32 lbs and I can still carry her all over the place. I am back in the gym, skiing a bit for me and riding my spinning bike as I look forward to biking season starting up this spring. We moved to lower elevation flat roads and I look forward to more road biking. ADR is the best thing I ever did for myself. If you as me if I would do it again I would say in a heartbeat.

Now we are sking

Ta-Da I Did It

love all the slack in the lines she is really doing it

My 28lb Bowling Ball

2009-03-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

My days are now spent lugging around my 28lb bowling ball and I love every minute of it and would never change a thing. Annalise is the love of my life and the biggest blessing I have ever relieved next to my successful back surgery. I and open to sharing my experience with anyone that needs help getting through back pain just drop me and email I am here for you.

Uh-Oh

2008-08-15T20:21:00.001-07:00

Introducing Zhao Jing Chu

2008-06-09T07:03:00.000-07:00

It is with great honor excitement and God's blessing that I share with you the referral of my daughter to be Zhao Jing Chu soon to be Annalise Jing Chu.

To read more about her referral come on by Love you Forever. A bit busy to post about my back but I will be picking up my Mt bike from the shop this week and starting to ride. I had the rear shock rebuilt.

Your my Best Friend

2008-05-04T17:50:00.000-07:00

That’s all she wrote

2008-04-19T08:28:00.000-07:00

I have terminated from Heavenly the teaching season is over. Boulder Base is closed and this weekend is the last weekend for the Nevada side of the mountain with California saying open until May 4th. What a great season it was. The best part for me was my ability to ski and teach all day 6+ hours as hard as I could. My back felt better when I was skiing several days in a row. Exercise in general is so important for those of us that have had back surgery. The more I move the better it feels. January brought so much powder. It was a dream come true to be skiing all my favorite runs and getting face shots one right after the other. Now it’s mud season the ground is coming up and I will be riding my spinning bike to get ready to saddle up and get back into the mountains on my mountain bike once the snow is gone. I hope to get back on my road bike this year, as it has been more difficult due to positioning vs my mt bike. In June after school gets out I will be going down to Shell beach to ride my bikes and get a way can’t wait but until then I need to keep moving it makes me feel so much better.

18 Stars

2008-03-18T20:38:00.001-07:00

We call it the Star Program. Ever star is worth $10 in tips from teaching ski lessons. I'm doing well considering its only Tuesday. Today's lesson was with a 3 year old and a 4 year old. I got them both up to the top of the hill and I could bring them down both on one bamboo pole. It’s called the magic stick. I have to say I earned those stars. Coming up this week, 2 students from my caseload in the School District are coming up for adaptive lessons. Then on Friday I am off completely and don't plan on putting my boots on. Then I finish off the week on Saturday with a Woman’s Clinic, woman skiing together/learning together is always a good time. It's also known as Chicks on Sticks. Paula you should look into it’s all day Saturday could you break away from Hannah. The skiing has been great but it’s getting warm in the afternoons very spring like. I’m hoping to make some free runs tomorrow to really check out the conditions. Every Star I get will go to bringing home to the most precious little girl.

Spring Break

2008-03-15T15:13:00.001-07:00

Spring Break is here and a storm is coming in. Hope we get a little bit. Katie and Bridgette have the next week off wont be here until next Saturday but my parents are coming on Friday for Easter. They are staying at the Ridge Tahoe where a Gondola takes you down to the slopes. I love skiing with my Dad it is his fault I am so addicted to this sport. This week I should have lots of time to work on the Mountain and make some extra money for the adoption fund of course. I am going back to being Jacqueline’s Secret weapon, she hand picks my lessons and their have been some big tippers out lately. I do plan on taking a few days off to get those important things done like taxes homework and blogging. This master’s class and all this snow/skiing is really cutting into my blogging time and I have some great posts building in my head just bursting to come out stay tuned.

Another Epic Day

2008-02-24T21:53:00.000-08:00

We got on the mountain at 9:00 to try to find some untracked powder. It snowed another 2+ over night. But all I could find was condensation in between the lenses of my goggles this is not good I was skiing visually impaired. After 5 runs I was ready to pack it in. With the help of the hand dryer in the bathroom I was able to heat up the lenses enough to get the condensation to evaporate. My day was saved. No pictures or video for you today it was dumping so hard you would have only seen big white dots. I was ready to hang it up again when we ran into a friend that talked us into going over to Dipper chair. When we got to the top a patrolman was tuning the sign to open Mott’s Canyon. I screamed and we headed down to the gate. By the time I got there he was dropping the rope and I was the 4th person in. Mott’s is the steepest vertical we have at Heavenly. As I crested over the edge of the first shoot there was no stopping and I dropped in. The bottom gave out on me and the world turned white as the snow barreled over my head. I had to concentrate on my breathing blow out as you dive under so the snow doesn’t get into your mouth and choke you, breath in when you rise up to make another turn. I was the first chick on sticks to the bottom of the chair and first in my group. The snow was typical sierra snow heavy and deep so many people were digging themselves out. We all have to pay our dues sometime and let me tell you I have spend my days digging too. By 2:30 I was cooked and headed to the lodge to warm up and find my ski buddy that had packed it in a few runs early because I was lapping him in Motts while he dug himself out, “no friends on a powder day” we headed down the mountain to get in at 4:00 I made it all day 7 hours with only a few breaks. What a season. I think we are at the peek for snow but they are calling for more next weekend. Bring it on this is the best year of my life in so many ways!

Ski Lesson 4 Me

2008-02-18T09:48:00.000-08:00

A When you spend much of you ski time teaching other people how to ski, when I get a chance to go out with one of the top level instructors for a day it is a special day for me. One of my best friend Heidi is not only on the cover of our trail map again this year, she is on the Western Demonstration Team for Ski Instructors of America. This is the highest honor you can achieve in our division and in April she will be trying out for a spot on the National Demonstration Team. Heidi also does double winters by going to Australia in the summer to teach and ski. I first met Heidi when she came to Heavenly as a first time instructor. I helped her up the ranks in our certification process and now the tables are turned she is my coach. On Saturday we were both at Boulder and got off in the afternoon and went out for a spin around the mountain. She shared with me all the latest buss words being use in upper level skiing and showed me though some great demos exactly what she was talking about. Skiing has changed so much with the development of shape skies we are making new moves and to keep up with these top dogs you have to be able to adapt your old school to the new school technique. After some diagnosis and tips we played a game of cat and mouse. That is when the leader goes and that would be Heidi and I would follow her turn for turn and make the turn at the exact same time she is mimicking her body movements. You have to trust the person behind you because if you want to stop you signal them by raising your pole into the air and we move apart. I try to say as close as I can. What a blast. Even better I got to ski on her Speedmachine Moc 3 and at then end of the day she sold them to me. It was a deal I could not pass up. I have been testing new skis and these are outstanding, very stable and can make great short turns. They are not as forgiving as I may like but I love the stability and great for teaching on. It is so great to be back in action again and able to ski with the best of the best in our sport.

Back for More

2008-02-10T21:11:00.000-08:00

Some of you may remember the post Boots on Please. My little buddy came back for more. All the way up to the mountain in the car he was talking about his ski boots. When they got there mom was afraid he was not going to put them. I got the one size bigger, we played with the buckles and he put them on right away. We even got the helmet on too. Can you say moving forward. We took off right back to the chair. I shared with Mom that we may go up on the mountain and she turned a pail shade of white. But I reassured her just like I did on the phone the day before that I would not let him go without being in physical contact with him at all times. We sang songs while riding the chair lift and he was able to sing songs in French and a few other languages I could not make out. Children with autism for the most part have great balance and this guy sure did. He also loved speed but needed a bit of help to know how to steer his skis across the hill to slow down. With webbing connected to the ski tip holder I was able to start his turn and he then would finish it. It was time to move on and off we when up the Gunbarrel chair lift. This is a high speed quad chair that takes you but the mountain over the top of a double black diamond run to where there is an easy beginner run. You then get to ride this chair back down the mountain and for new skiers it is a true Disneyland experience down loading this chair. For my skier is was no different he would just say over and over again, “For you safety please remain seated at all times keep your legs, arms, hands and feet….and would stop there because this was not car. Things must be on a literal plain for children like this. Mom was so excited she said she was ready to take a lesson too. It is the new family sport.

Motts Canyon

2008-02-04T07:28:00.001-08:00

The Steep and Deep of Heavenly

Snow Snow and More Snow

2008-02-04T07:25:00.001-08:00

I have lived in this house for over 10 years now and have never seen this much snow ever. The height of winter usually comes in the middle to the end of Feb. Never this much snow at the end of Jan. We have another month to go. What is up with the weather. It is so sad to think of all the babies in China that are suffering from the cold when I am out playing in it. My prayers are with all of them in China.

After teaching for 6 hours Saturday in quite the snowstorm. I had all the intentions on making the first chair up the mountain at 8:30. We woke to 2+ feet of snow on top of the all ready 5 feet of snow blanketing the ground. We had to throw a treat out the doggie door to get Lilly to venture out and do her morning duty.

First was to finish fixing the snow blower. It locked up on Friday and by Saturday night it was in about 100 pieces on the floor of the garage. Thank you Will for finding the answer.
The mountain was on a delay so we started to shovel, bow and dig our way out. Starting with the drive way.
No Mom you go first
opps the back window was open and all my school PE equipment full of snow too
The front door, somewhere
My bedroom slider
Where is the 6 foot fence
Hot tub
back deck and the 2 sheds won't be getting anything from there for a while
backyard
Snow blowing
sticking to the path she is one smart girl
Everyone needs a place to sit out side. This back deck is the sunny spot of the house

By the time we got dug out the mountain opened at 10:00 I was trembling with excitement the snow was so light and living only down the street from the lifts we were guaranteed some fresh tracks. We were at the rope when they opened the upper mountain and had first tracks down Little Dipper chair line. So wish the camera was out I got a bit forward and did a forward roll and landed in a seated position with my skis pointed down the hill ready to go again. First fall of the year and just made me giggle. Then they opened Motts Canyon a double black diamond. This is some of the steepest runs on the mountain. All I can say was it was incredible. Powder shooting over my head, a day you can only dream about for a skier like me. I will post the video once You-Tube is back up and running.

Finished off with a hot tub and enough time to watch the 4th quarter of the Supper Bowl.

Paulette's ProDisc

2008-02-02T21:34:00.001-08:00

This video was from my first season back on skis after my surgery 5-8 months post-op

ADR in Action

2008-01-27T13:40:00.001-08:00

Another great powder day sponcered by ProDisc

Mammoth Crocs

2008-01-26T22:22:00.001-08:00

FYI Yahoo Finance Message board that posted this link: I am NOT affiliated with Crocs, I am NOT a PR folk or a journalist (you maybe able to tell that from my writing) I am just a consumer, ADR recipient that loves my Crocs. I think that should way more then people that are paid to promote Crocs I know your lurking around here so why don’t you leave a comment and tell me why.

If you are a Crocs lover like I am then you must get a par of Mammoth Crocs for the winter they are the best. I fell in love with Crocs after my back surgery because my feet hurt from the surgically inducted leg and foot pain that comes from getting your spine spread open to get in the ADR. They were the only shoes I wore for months. However I did not like putting them on in the morning when they were cold. Now with real sheepskin lining in them they are the bomb. The wholes on the bottom are filled in and now the snow does not get into them when I go out to get wood for the fire. Just minor details when you live in the mountains. I ordered a pair and they were here in less then 4 days with free shipping. Ok sorry for sounding like a cameral but they are the best foot invention ever and now are the best after ski boot/shoes I have. Boy to my feet feel good in them after a long hard day in my torture chambers.

Feels So Good

2008-01-21T21:55:00.001-08:00

My back feels so good when I am skiing. I’m not sure what it is if it is the exercise, or the position I get my hips in when I am skiing but I feel so good during and after a hard day of skiing. I feel better after a day of skiing then I do after a hard day at school teaching APE. I am back truly back to where I was before I broke my back.

Today I tried out a few new skis on the market, I’m trying to figure out what it is that I like and don’t like in a ski. I would love a ski that works well in all conditions but I know that is asking way too much. I now have a good powder ski and I really need an all mountain ski that can work in crud and off peest conditions but I love a good carving ski for hard snow conditions and groomers. So what I need is really 3 pairs of skis. That’s what I have now and I don’t think I can get away from it. What a better way to spend the extra money I am making at Heavenly but adding to my quiver. Then my problem is what ski to take out. Boy have come a long way from worrying if I had enough pain meds to get me out of the house to what ski I will need to rip up the mountain on. I love my artificial disc.

Logan, the Sky Angel Cowboy

2008-01-13T09:10:00.001-08:00

God helps us all

Boots On PLEASE

2008-01-12T21:11:00.000-08:00

If you have ever skied before you know how uncomfortable ski boots can be. But for a child with autism, they can be the scariest part of skiing as they were for my student today. Some of you know that I am a level III certified alpine ski instructor but I am also a level III adaptive ski instructor with the ability to teach any individual with a disabilities how to ski. Today was my first adaptive ski lesson in 3 years. My student was an 11 year old boy with severer autism I will call him Timmy for this post which was not his real name. Timmy put one foot into the boot and freaked out he felt like his foot was stuck and he would have nothing to do with the boots from that point on. I got a larger size boot fit it to a pair of skis and we took off into the forest on the snowmobile ride. He liked the ride and I was happy to get away from his parents. We spent the next 2 ½ hours trying to get the boots on his feet. We played with the boot and the buckles, put flags in a circle around the boots and carried them everywhere we went. We made snowmen, and snow angels with our boots right next to us the whole time. Timmy even road the magic carpet (a conveyer belt that brings the kids back up the hill) while carrying his boots. It was my hope that they would get heavy and he may what to then put them on his feet and not just on his hands. At one point I was able to get just the liners on his feet and we slid down the hill on them and road the magic carpet with them of course. Every time I would try to put them on his feet he would run off in his socks on the snow burr. Then after all the kids when in for lunch, and his parent brought me a bag of M&M’s and a Sierra Mist, what would we ever do without candy and soda, low and behold I got the boots on his feet. We walked down the hill in the boots and he was ok and yes we road the magic carpet in the boots too. Great progress but I was not ready to stop we had 30 minutes left and a full bag of M&M’s. Timmy then carried one ski in his arms down the hill we put it on and he loved sliding on it and called it his skateboard. Then it was time for the big step 2 skis and yes 2 boots I too put my skis on and down we went. Timmy had great balance and I could see he was going to be able to ski, with my help and the help of some special adaptive equipment to keep the skis together at the tips and webbing that connects to the tips of the skis, around his legs and to my hands. I use the webbing to control his speed and direction. With only 15 minutes left we headed for the chairlift and off we went with his Sierra Mist in hand, this was to keep his hands off the wedding, we skied all the way down the hill to where his parents were standing. To say the least they were presently surprised by all his progress. Yes 2 ½ hours to get the boots on and 30 minutes to learn how to ski. What a challenge. Tomorrow I am working with one of my students from school, he too has autism but the good thing is he knows how to put the boots on because he mom owns a ski shop. This lesson should be a piece of cake.

Powder to my ProDisc

2008-01-06T20:10:00.000-08:00

And a above. Face shots and wait deep powder all day. The storm broke this morning and only light snow flurries all day. What a blast I just don’t know how else to describe it but it was the best powder skiing I have done in many years. We skied hard harder then I have since surgery and I was able to last all day long. I am feeling so much stronger then I was just 2 weeks ago. Wish I did not have to go back to school. But we have the whole season a head of us with plenty of snow to play in. My backyard is looking good these days and my back is feeling great!

9 feet on the Top

2008-01-06T08:15:00.001-08:00

Before
48 hour Later

4-5 feet at home. Mountain opens at 9:00 got to go...

3-6 Feet of Snow

2008-01-05T18:35:00.000-08:00

And still dumping snow. The mountain opened at 10:00 and we only had one student. I just love being back at the Boulder Base. It is just down the street and some of the best skiing at Heavenly. Lets just say it dumping like I have not seen in a long time. Yesterday’s 3-5 feet was very wet. By this afternoon we have some beautiful light powder another couple feet. We went on a clinic to determine the terrain abilities and they were incredible the trees are filling in and the snow was light and fluffy.
I just love skiing with the boys. Then this after noon I back lined which is a way to get out of work and a good friend of mine and I changed into our skivvies and hit the mountain. The wind was howling we were able to get 1 run on the top of the mountain before they shut it down.

The best thing about skiing out of Boulder is WP-Western Perimeter. This is the best tree skiing on the mountain and brings to Boulder Base. Don’t worry I don’t ski trees just spaces. Can’t wait for tomorrow.

Blizzard Warning

2008-01-04T13:57:00.001-08:00

Can you see the smile on my face right through this blog.

Powder Sking Anyone?

Team Pink

2007-12-31T18:06:00.001-08:00

I have worked for Heavenly everyday but 2 since school got out on the 22. I am really putting my body to the test. Teaching upper levels is much easier then the assignment I was given a few days ago, 6 kids ranging from the age of 4-9 mostly 5-6 for 6 hours. Most of then were never-evers on skis and did not know how to stop or turn. I had them all by myself all day and to top it off they were Spanish speaking and I only know how to order a beer in Spanish. We had a great time but it was brutally hard work on my body. By the end of the day I had all but 2 turning and stopping. I took my luck and went out of the forest (the children’s area) and headed for the chairlift. With 2 on a bamboo pole and one with an edge wedge (a device that holds the tips of the skis together) we made it down to the first corner of the run with only one kid in the fencing that is what it is there for. I practiced a bit of “tough love” to let them know how important and serious this was to stay in control. They all made it down the hill and I was able to get one of them off the pole and only had the 4 years old that I had to hang on to. I was a bit worried about how my body was going to take it, I had a wild snowmobile ride out to the forest and the guy bounced me up into the air and I landed hard on my butt. I have not fallen yet and I put myself in the hands of some stupid driver and he hurts my hip. I am feeling much better 2 days later and have even worked the last 2-day. But now I’m off for a few days unless I get called in on a privet request. Tonight I am going out to a 10 course New Years Eve dinner with friends. Happy New Years everyone see you next year.

Secret Weapon

2007-12-24T08:30:00.000-08:00

I taught my first ski lesson in over 3 years yesterday. The Nevada base ski school not open yet so I have become my girlfriend Jacqueline’s “Secret Weapon”. Jax is the supervisor at Heavenly’s California adults ski school and they are slammed. She called me at home and hand picked my first lesson, a couple around a level 6. That means they can ski intermediate train pretty much all over the mountain. They had never taken a lesson, I just love clients like this, they have so much to learn. At first I was worried I did not remember how to teach but sure enough it all came back, jocks and all, it was all there. I guess the Secret Weapon worked for both of us so we went out and celebrated on the $30 tip I got from the lesson, and took Jacqueline out to dinner. Off to teach again this AM, Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas Eve and a White Christmas Day.

2nd Annual ADR Ski Trip

2007-12-20T19:40:00.000-08:00

Their's take of An ADR ski trip in the future some tome in Feb may be the week after Pres. day. Stay tuned

Adaptive Tec Team

2007-12-19T22:28:00.000-08:00

Quite the motley crew this team is made up of skiers, snowboarders, mono-skiers, a below the knee amputee on a snowboard, an artificial disc and one Elephant. I'm the one in the middle in the blue doo.

Examiner/Tec Team Training

2007-12-18T20:32:00.001-08:00

Skiing is definitely a winter sport and not for sissies. Monday was brutally cold, skiing in a cloud of fog with high winds. As you made your way down the hill a thick layer of ice would form on your goggles so you would not see a thing. Gives me more empathy for my visually imparted students. I made it all day out on the hill and with a little help from a friend got my feet out to the torture chambers (ski boots). I may have only sacrificed a toenail on this first day of the season. My back held up great. Today it was dumping and dumping snow so hard at times you could only see a few feet in front of you. We were out from 10:00-1:30 with only a 5 minute break. The snow was great freshies every run. But my legs felt like Chinese’s noodles, not in as good of shape as I would like but I will get there. By the time I got to the car it was buried in 2 feet of snow and I had a 3+ hour drive a head of me.
In and out of 4X4 all the way up HWY 395 from Mammoth to South Lake Tahoe thank goodness I bought new tiers for the car last week they were the bomb. As for the training we stood on the hill, in true ski instructor fasion, and talked a lot about skiing and examinations for our Adaptive Candidates. All good stuff and always a great review to kick off the season.

Going Back

2007-11-09T20:39:00.000-08:00

I’m going back, I turned in my application and medical release to Heavenly Ski Resort to go back to teaching skiing this winter after 3 years off. Besides being physically strong enough to go back, I need to get back to my life. With the wait going out to 4 years, I foresee a lot of good turns in my future. I will be working at the base lodge just 2 minute from the house. I am excited to be back on the team. I have missed mingling with the guest that come to ski our mountain. It so fun to tour people around show them my favorite spots, places they would never know how to find unless they were with a guide. But when there’s no guest to play with we go out on clinics it’s a great way to work on your skills and keep up on the latest ski technique. Just putting back on the jacket will mean so much to me these days. This is the year for my come back because next year I could be living a completle different life.

Play Room

2007-09-29T11:24:00.000-07:00

I love my new workout room best room in the house sunny warm and soooo beautiful these days. Trying to get in 3-4 workouts a week. Now that I have a new pair of glasses I can read and ride. Off to get sweaty:)

Back to Work

2007-08-23T07:27:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day of summer vacation “Bitter Sweet” I go back to school tomorrow. Fist and foremost this summer I needed to enjoy the fact that I have my health and my life back. As well as celebrate the whole new direction my life is going in.
I took on projects this summer that I was not able to do for years because of my back. The yard was my first project as I weeded 4 flowerbeds that had not been properly weeded in over 3 years. So I went to town on the garden and my back felt great. At the same time I started riding my mountain bike again. I road 3-4 rides a week in the 2-3 hour range. The cool thing is I can push much harder then I could last year at this time. The back and the legs are doing great its my neck that is taking a beating. One good thing about going back to work, my bike can get some work done on it the front shock is blown out no wonder my neck hurts.
Elizabeth and I have been apart for maybe 3 weeks this entire summer vacation. The art of shopping takes on a new dimension when you have to replace everything (Catalina Fire). My new hobie, personnel-shopping consultant. Lets just say there are a few more things hanging in Elizabeth's closest these days. I took on the task of going through the girls closet when I was in Catalina and they have received so many cute things but were in need of a bit of organization. The house is coming together its much smaller but in great location just steps from the beach and the beach club. We did go by the old house to say good-bye. Also while in Catalina I went on a shore dive and snorkeled with the girls but burrrrrr the water is cold glad I brought my wet suit. The most exciting thing that happened this summer was passing Review in China. My heart is in China these days and working on my daughter’s room has been a blessing. I debated on whether to get started on it this summer, I have over a year left to wait. But I needed a place to help me represent all the love I have for her in my heart. I have a place in my heart for Annalise and I now I also have a place in my home for her. I bought this pendent at our church. I hope some day to give this keep sake to Annalise as a representation of all the love I had in my heart even before I knew you were born.

Charite' ADR, 22-years post-op!

2007-08-20T19:02:00.001-07:00

Nice back hand Mark.

My Hero

2007-08-07T10:37:00.000-07:00

Dr Delamarter and Kevin his PA at my 2 year post-op visit.

Dr D's wild and crazy X-Ray teck Damian.

Dr D and Kevin reviewed the CT scan with me and ProDisc and facets look great but there is a bit of degeneration and narrowing of the right SI joint. Alive has been making a big difference and I have been out riding my mountain bike 3-4 times a week on advanced single tack trails and enjoining life to its fullest. I will never forget where I have been and how much pain I was in pre-surgery. But my life is taking off in so many new directions. I will complete the adoption of my daughter from China in a year or so and will be traveling to China to bring her home. This is my main focus these days and I don’t spend much time dwelling on my back as I use to do. I hope everyone out in back land has as good of a result as I have. I will never be 100% but if this is all I get it was so worth it. I am so happy with my decision to have ADR with a ProDisc by Dr Delamarter. Thank you Dr D for giving me my life back you are trully my Hero!

Angora Fire

2007-06-27T08:01:00.001-07:00

CT Results

2007-06-06T20:29:00.001-07:00

Today I received a personnel phone call from Dr Delamarter. He shared with me the results of my CT Scan last week of my Lumbar and my Pelvis. I have pain in my right SI joint, same pain from before the ADR surgery. All looks great. My ProDisc is doing fine, facets look VERY GOOD and my right SI does have some degeneration but he feels that due to my active lifestyle and is to be expected. He does not see a need at this time to do any injections or aggressive therapy but wants me to continue on ant inflammatory. This does not surprise me in my opinion, Dr D is a bit conservative when it comes to post-op therapy.

He asked me how I was doing? For about 3 weeks after my 18 month post-op appointment I did nothing and the pain was a bit less but still there but I felt week and lethargic. So in my opinion that was not the right way to go, so for the past 2 weeks I have been back on my mountain bike and hitting the trails. Last week we road for 2 hours 11 miles and about 1,000 vertical feet and you can bet I was stiff and sore but not to any extreme level that would cause me to not want to ride again in a couple of days. Dr D feels I need to find the right balance of activity for my body. He does not feel I should stop what I am doing and encourages me to continue. We will talk more at my 2-year post op appointment in Aug.

Looking Good

2007-04-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

I met Dan about 6 months before my ADR surgery through ADR Support an on line forum for those looking for information on Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery. We emailed and spend many hours on the phone trying to make a decision on what to do to get our life’s back. Every time I go to LA for Doctors appointments, Dan is so kind to let me say with him even when I show up at 5:30 in the morining last week. Dan is 3 weeks ahead of me and went with the Charite and a different Doctor. We almost had surgery on the sameday but I backed out to go with Delemarter and the ProDisc. 20 months later Dan is looking great. Has gained over 20lbs, his business is taking off and has a great lady in his life these days. Dan still fights facet pain he believes is from a cyst that was there from the beginning. But he is not letting this get him down or slow him down. Dan it was great to see you hope you make it up this summer so I can share my neck of the woods with you. Don't you just love your on line friends:)

Double Lucky

2007-04-12T15:24:00.001-07:00

Cindy is Double Lucky these days with her TWINS. In November/05 she brought her girls Sammi and Nicki home from China. I feel so doubly lucky to have found Cindy though my friend and Patient Advocate Mark Mintzer. Mark and Cindy met in Munich Germany 4 1/2 year ago as they both received artificial discs replacement surgery. Today I spoke with Cindy at length about her ADR, and her adoption experience. Unlike me, Cindy did not have to submit a doctors letter with her dossier, but it was disclosed in he Home Study that she had had ADR Surgery and they gave her TWINS! After sharing my ADR story she reashered me this adoption was met to happen and to hold tight and keep myself strong mentally as well as physically. That China even though they are on their own schedule, they have this adoption thing down. Cindy you give me so much hope and inspiration to keep moving forward and staying positive in these very dark adoption days. I just can’t get over how lucky I am to have met you, we may have to start a yahoo group some day, ADR Mom’s from China.

A Fish for a Day

2007-04-09T01:29:00.000-07:00

Its spring break I have been in Hawaii for the past 2 weeks relaxing by the pool or on the beach just enjoying our stay and our wonderful accommodations. I wanted to add another first after surgery by going scuba diving. Will and I made great buddies and we went out with a locals recommendation of Jacks Dive Shack. It was a fun trip, luck would have it our dive master had a great under water camera so we got some great pictures hope you enjoy as much as I did acting like a fish for a day.

A little bit about me

2007-03-24T22:28:00.001-07:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Powder by ProDisc

2007-02-26T19:15:00.001-08:00

It's finally snowing we got 2 feet and are expecting another 2 feet by morning. Bring on the snow day I want to go powder skiing.

Heli sit skiing

2007-02-19T23:39:00.001-08:00

This is a good friend and fellow Examiner for PSIA-Adaptive Bill he can sure ripe even after breaking his back.

Rippin Woman

2007-02-16T20:31:00.000-08:00

No this is not me but Deb Armstrong, Alpine Team Member and Olympic gold medalist.... This woman can lay them over! She had a head injury from a bad ski acident a few year back but it looks like she has made a great recovery. My pass is blocked out for Sat and Sun I'm heading up on monday for a few hours.

Skiing Powder

2007-01-16T00:16:00.001-08:00

Praying for snow and dreaming of a powder day. This will have to do.

The Face

2007-01-09T20:23:00.000-08:00

I skied the East Face of Gunbarrel on Sunday for the first time this year and was my ProDisc first trip down the Face. Conditions were marginal and we only did one run but skied for 4.5 hours. My legs were toast by the end of the day. I wanted to see how I faired before I posted. The day after I felt great just a little sore in my calves but that always happen the first day or 2 on the hill. The ski conditioning classes really helped even though they caused a bit of a set back. I road the chair lift with my old ski school director and I shared with him that my body feels great my head is just not there yet. He said that the brain is the hardest muscle to come back after a big accident and to take all the time I need. He made me feel like a member of the team again.

First Day of the Season

2007-01-02T22:44:00.001-08:00

Chicks on Sticks

It was great to slide with my girlfriends today for a few hours.

PT up Date:

2007-01-01T13:39:00.000-08:00

Around Oct I went back to PT and things felt better and I started ski-conditioning classes. I was feeling pretty good. It was like old muscles were coming back on board. I must say I was amazed at what I could do. It may have been 1 too many jumps around Thanksgiving and I had to back off and hit PT again. The hip is better for sure as long as I do set of exercises every day. I try to them 2X/day. They are abduction isometric contractions followed by a psoas stretch, hip flexor stretch and the stick behind my right leg and in front of my left leg isometric contractions. I have a lot of others I add in but these are the core staples every day. I am spinning on my bike, and cross-country skiing with the dogs and hope to see my fist downhill ski day soon. Conditions have been hard and man made, not my favorit and very windy. I am waiting for the right conditions with no crowds. I can be picky its early in the season. The gym just reopened from the remodel that will really help a lot. My hope is not to need PT and be able to manage things on my own.

Warren Miller's OFF THE GRID

2007-01-01T12:23:00.001-08:00

OFF THE GRID

2006-12-10T12:18:00.000-08:00

Home Gym

2006-11-17T21:54:00.000-08:00

I have never owned a piece of exercise equipment just a gym membership. But in the winter I find it hard to get to the gym and forgo it for the couch and a warm blanket. I bit the bullet and bought myself a spinning bike.
I love it and it sits in my dinning room. I don’t dine very often so this has become a good use of space by the window. I use a heart rate monitor

to keep track of my cardio intensity and will play with the numbers by standing up to pedal or doing jumps. Here are a few other things I have added to my home gym.
An exercise ball and a yoga mat, 2- 5lb and 10lb hand waits. But the most important piece is something to stick in your ear that plays music nice and lowed. I find it the best motivator around. Off to work out now.

Ski Conditioning Classes

2006-10-28T12:52:00.000-07:00

I have started taking ski-conditioning classes from an incredible ski instructor friend of mine Robin Barns. She is amazing skier and incredible all around athlete. The class consisted of jump rope, skipping, jumping, partner running (all done on grass), jumping over cones and next to them, agility exercise and balance drills that I need a lot of work on.We also did some core strengthening exercise, loads of sit-ups, well crunches for me. We finished off with some great stretches and different yoga positions. I will see how I am doing tomorrow I am sure I will feel it but it was so great to working out at that level again. Robin was amazed at what I could do and how flexible I was even though I am not as faxable as I use to be.

2-Years Post Broken Back

2006-10-15T14:22:00.000-07:00

On October 14, 2004 I was preparing for the first big snow of the season. Cleaning out the garage moving summer into the shed and winter into the garage. All the gates leading to the backyard were open music blaring the only thing left was the pine needles in the valley of the roof. I put up this extension ladder in this exact place, climbed up and removed all the unwanted needles so the ice dame that develops could drain properly. On my way down the latter kicked out from the bottom, my legs got caught in the rungs and were taken out from underneath me. I feel from the top of the roof on my butt cushioned by the pine needles onto the cement slab below. (ya..right) After laying there for a while getting my wind back I make my way into the house to get the phone and call for help. I tried a friend but after 4 rings the room was going black and I found my way to the recliner by the front door and called the boys in. The first fireman to my door was my friend Brad. It was great to see someone I knew. Before long my house was filled with paramedics, and fireman. They had to close up all the gates, door turn off the music secure Lilly (my dog) because she was not going to leave my side. I talked them out of backbording me (first mistake) and walked to the gurney outside my door about 5 steps. In the ambulance I could feel that something was definitely wrong, I was giving nitrisoxside (sp?) temporary relief. My good friend Jacqueline met me at the hospital and after they took my cloths and left me in the room covered in dirt, I demanded that she was brought back and not to leave my side. X-rays were taken and after hours of observations I was diagnosed with a compression fracture of the anterior T-12 vertebra and sent home with a few pain meds and instructions to see an orthopedics. 2 days later I was instructed to wear this brace for 8-weeks. I could not sit or stand for more then 5 minutes and had to rely on family, friend and my church to get what I needed. After the 2 months of lying on my back I had a MRI and was told I would need to have a fusion at L5/S1 or consider Artificial Disc Replacement surgery I had done a double whammy to my spine. This was a true life changing experience for me 2 years ago. I have grown so much through this process and have a new outlook on life. Live every moment like it could be your last, know God has a plan for you. I can’t wait to see what the next 2 years will bring.

King of the Mountain

2006-10-15T14:07:00.000-07:00

Happy 70th Birthday JoeYou are the true King of the Mountain and my favoit riding budy

ProDisc Superior to Fusion

2006-10-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

So says my doctor: Dr Delamarter

Surgeons and patients hoping to preserve the natural mobility of the spine through total disc replacement (TDR) now have a second option according to new research being unveiled this week at the North American Spine Society’s (NASS) 21st annual meeting in Seattle. In a pivotal FDA-regulated trail, the ProDisc-L artificial disc proved superior to spinal fusion for the treatment of back pain related to disc degeneration.

Newswise — “The ProDisc artificial disc is the first motion-sparing technology ever shown to be superior to fusion,” said NASS member Rick B. Delamarter, MD, of the Spine Institute at Saint John’s Health Center in Los Angeles.

“There will always be a role for fusion to treat problems such as deformity, severe facet arthritis, and instability,” he added. “But the whole pendulum is shifting to nonfusion technology.”

According to criteria developed by ProDisc’s maker Synthes, the overall success rate among patients who received the ProDisc was 64%, compared to 45% among those who underwent circumferential (360-degree) fusion. Some 94% of ProDisc patients had normal motion (mean 7.7 degrees).

By stricter FDA standards, success rates were less impressive – 53% in the ProDisc group and 41% in the fusion group. The FDA analysis acknowledged that ProDisc led to greater patient satisfaction and overall success than fusion, but found no advantage for ProDisc in disability and pain reduction. The FDA concluded that the ProDisc “is reasonably safe and effective.”

Whether a motion-sparing artificial disc becomes the dominant treatment for patients with symptomatic disc degeneration remains to be seen. Third-party payers have been resistant to paying for TDR based on perceived gaps in the evidence about its long-term safety and effectiveness and a lack of evidence comparing TDR to nonoperative care.

Like other artificial discs, the ProDisc was designed to overcome limitations inherent in fusion. The new study demonstrated that the ProDisc preserves the natural mobility of the spine, eliminates the need for bone grafts, and limits the collateral damage associated with posterior surgical approaches. Clinical trials have not yet shown another hoped-for benefit of artificial discs – that they can prevent degeneration of adjacent vertebral segments.

The ProDisc is the second artificial disc to win FDA clearance. The Charité artificial disc, made by Johnson & Johnson, was approved in October 2004 on the basis of a noninferiority trial showing that outcomes of the Charité device were no worse than those of fusion with a BAK fusion cage.

The new ProDisc study went further. It was also designed as a noninferiority trial, but included a secondary superiority analysis showing that the overall success rate of ProDisc was not only no worse than fusion’s, but better. The FDA approved the ProDisc on August 14, 2006.

The ProDisc is comprised of a polyethylene central core sandwiched between two metal endplates. Unlike the Charité disc, which is designed with a free-floating central core, the ProDisc is a semi-constrained prosthesis with a keel intended to lend stability and minimize device migration and subsidence.

Delamarter and colleagues randomized 242 men and women with back and/or leg pain to the ProDisc (162 patients) or fusion (80 patients), then followed them for two years. Patients had previously failed at least six months of nonoperative care, demonstrated radiographic evidence of single-level degenerative disc disease, and scored greater than 40% impairment (> 20/50) on the Oswestry Disability Index. Their average weight was 176 pounds and their average age was 39 years.

According to the analysis by Delamarter et al., patients in both groups had similar pain and disability through postoperative month 18, but ProDisc patients reported significantly less pain and disability at the 24-month point. The findings appear to be at odds with the FDA analysis.

Complication rates were similar between groups, and no patient in either group suffered a major complication. About 4% of ProDisc recipients had reoperations, compared to 5% of fusion patients.

Delamarter emphasized that 81% of ProDisc patients said they were satisfied with the treatment, compared to 69% of fusion patients.

He pointed out that the stringent FDA success criteria did not include patient satisfaction. “We’re in the business of improving quality of life. The FDA’s determination of success is a mathematical formula. It isn’t a patient success formula,” he said.

The FDA in the conclusion to its summary said the trial “demonstrated that the ProDisc-L Total Disc Replacement is reasonably safe and effective by demonstrating its noninferiority when comparing Overall Success and adverse event rates to the control for the studied indication.” Other statistically significant advantages observed in the ProDisc group--diminished blood loss, surgery time, and hospital stay – may not have been clinically significant, according to the FDA analysis.

The future of ProDisc in many ways lies in the hands of third-party payers. Though payers have expressed strong reservations about the Charité disc, it is unclear how they will respond to the ProDisc.

Questions remain about the long-term durability of artificial discs. Laboratory studies suggest the ProDisc will last 40 to 50 years, said Delamarter. “But what happens clinically at 30 to 40 years we don’t know,” he acknowledged. The FDA license requires Synthes to follow patients in the trial for a total of five years.

Some observers wonder if broader use of the technology might result in worse outcomes. FDA-regulated device trials typically employ some of the best surgeons in the field. Whether future ProDisc outcomes will be comparable, better, or worse than those documented in the FDA trial is unknown.

Delamarter believes the ProDisc is ready for widespread use. The Synthes training program is “intense on a small scale, allowing surgeons to be thoroughly trained,” he said. “But patient selection and proper surgical training are critical.”

The North American Spine Society recently issued training recommendations for TDR. They include the following:

•The surgeon should have extensive experience in anterior lumbar interbody fusion. The risks inherent in an anterior transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach-- and, particularly, in a repeat anterior approach—“are significant.”

•The clinical setting should be equipped to deal with potential intra-operative and postoperative complications.

•Surgeons should be accomplished in the possible salvage procedures.

•Surgeons should have performed one to two TDR procedures per month for the preceding 12 months; be proficient with fluoroscopy; be certified in a training course given by the offering technology company; and first undergo a series of mentored operations.

Source: Abstract #113. Delamarter RB, “Lumbar Total Disc Replacement with The ProDisc-L Artificial Disc versus Fusion: A Prospective Randomized Multi-Center Food and Drug Administration IDE Trial”

Scotts Lake to Big Meadows

2006-09-24T14:28:00.000-07:00

Today is my 13-month anniversary of my ProDisc surgery and I had the honor to ride with my Physical Therapist Mike and my faithful riding partner Joe. Mike stands at 6'3" and can spin his peddles 2X faster then I could ever dream of. He was so nice a patent to reel me in and wait many times. The only thing is by the time I get to them they are ready to go and so I never get to rest that this the life of a trail snail.

This ride was 10 miles 1,350 vertical and 1,350 descending. It took almost 3 hours. We started at the Big Meadows trailhead road straight up for 2 miles, popped out onto HWY 89 and took the old HWY to a new trail I have never been on.

It was a hike and bike for me but the end of the trial I really enjoyed it can you tell.

We made it to Scott’s Lake and then the best part of the ride was ahead down into Big Meadows. I have alway been stronger going downhill.

After taking a look at this rock I decided to give it a try and then do it a gain for the camera so all of you to see.

As for Mike he is an animal and was so sweet to ride with me. Maybe in my next life I will be a trials rider too.

Thanks Mike for putting me back together and not braking me apart.

In These Shoes

2006-09-23T21:47:00.000-07:00

I'm still working up to being able to wear these shoes. I guess a girl's gotta dream it's Saturday night and all. I have a big mountain bike ride tomorrow morning with the boys. I sure won't be wearing these shoes.

I Spine

2006-09-21T21:01:00.000-07:00

There's a new back forum on the Web
I Spine. This forum is just getting off the ground and if you are looking for great information regarding Artificial Disc Replacement surgery this is a good place for you. I have been a member of a few back forums on the Web and the politics have set me back a bit. I have seen a community disappear and hope to see some of my old ADR buddies appear on I Spine. The more information out there for back patients to get their hands on the better.

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride- (backwards)

2006-09-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

This ride is usually a shuttle downhill ride but we can call this Joe's Mr. Toad's Backwards Ride. We started were you would finish the ride up about 4 miles. It is steep and I spent more time hiking and biking. I was a bit tiered from my PT on Friday but I have to say my hip is feeling a lot better. I will take today off and hit the gym and PT this week. I am starting a diet to see if I can loose 5-10 pounds before my sisters wedding Nov 4. Wish me luck.

6:00 am Gym Call

2006-09-14T21:59:00.000-07:00

I made it to the gym 2X this week in the mornings. I am so wiped out after work that this has been the best way for me to get a quick workout in. I ride the bike for 20 minutes do ball core strengthening exercise and exercises and stretching from my PT. Then some upper body weights. I only have 50 minutes if I want to sit in the steam room. Tomorrow PT after work things are feeling better. I think we are on to something that is going to help me increase my activity level and decrease the hip pain.

Back to PT

2006-09-08T20:41:00.000-07:00

I have decided to start another round of Physical Therapy. I have been fighting pain in my right hip that sets off my sciatic for over 4 months now and I have to get a handle on it. I have been afraid that I may have damage to my right hip during the fall off the roof almost 2 years ago and even though I have fixed my back my hip has not come around. After the evaluation Mike my PT feels that it is my SI joint and not my hip my right SI joint is not moving correctly. When I lye down my right leg is shorter but when I stand up my right hip is higher and rotated forward. He can't seem to reproduce the pain in my hip. This is a good sign and he has given me several exercises and will be doing some manipulation to see if we can get the right SI joint moving correctly and eliminate the pain. I think he is on to something. The energy work would give me relief until I did something physical. This leads me to believe that it is structural and I need to strengthen certain muscles groups and stretch others. I will post my exercises that I said I would do everyday. I plan to do more energy work as I really enjoyed it and I see its place in my recovery.

Old Myers Grade to Holly Grade- 9 miles

2006-09-04T14:50:00.000-07:00

This ride starts off with a 4-mile climb up Old Myers Grade on pavement to the top of HWY 50 1100 vertical up and then down Holly Grade. This is a very technical and steep single track with lots of rock staircases and a huge cliff on your left hand side the whole way. I did a lot of walking down. The ride turned into a social event as we ran into people we know from the start to the finish
When we got to the bottom and were riding out South Upper Truckee there were people on the side of the road pointing up to the top of the Grade. 2 weeks ago a woman intentionally drove her car off the road at that spot and today someone decided to jump off. We met up with a highway patrolman and got all the details. HWY 50 would be closed in both directions for a couple of hours. That is the link to get in and out of South Lake Tahoe. So all those trying to get out after the long weekend would have to sit and wait for this person to be rescued.

ProDisc Poster Girl

2006-09-02T09:12:00.000-07:00

It’s a go I will be working with Synthes the ProDisc Manufacture to help them develop a documentary to share with insurance companies to show them what life can be like after ProDisc surgery. What an honor that I get to give back to the company that has giving me my life back. I will do anything I can to help others feel as good as I do these days. They said that they would be putting information and releases in the mail along with explanations of compensation for my time. Personally I don’t need compensation I have gotten everything I need my life back. Well there are a few medical bills still lingering so I will put it towards them.

Energy Work

2006-08-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

I don’t know all the specifics about Energy Work. But I know someone in my town that comes highly recommended. I have treated myself with a block of sessions for my 1-year anniversary and I fell much better. He says he is doing a lot of different types of energy work on me and has done many different flows. On Thursday when I went in after a very long and stressful day with my hip and sciatic flared up I left feeling like my hips were aliened for the first time in a long time. I will try to add more info here as I look into it.

1 year Post ADR

2006-08-23T21:15:00.000-07:00

This is what I looked like a year ago today. It’s my 1-year anniversary of Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery. I feel great and am so happy with my decision to have ADR instead of fusion surgery. A year ago I could only walk about 1/4 of a mile, spent the majority of my day in bed and was dependent on pain pills and sleeping pills to get through the day. I had no quality of life and was isolated from my family and friends. Going out and socializing was not an option unless I could lie down. I was on total disability from work and the school year started without me. A year later I have my life back. I have no back pain, only take ibuprofen as needed and have been back on an exercise program that I could only dream about last year. I started the school year today with such a smile on my face. Committing to a medical procedure is the scariest thing I have ever done in my life. I had to put my life in my doctor’s hands and believe I would wake up on the other side of this dreaded nightmare.

This is Mark my patient advocate from Global Patient Net Works. He observed my surgery. In the recovery room when Dr Delamarter was trying to wake me up I would not respond to him but when Mark said “Paulette… Paulette it’s Mark” I reached out for him. I had told myself to listen for Mark and my subconscious was waiting for him. I held on to his had like it was my life line. Later in my room only 4 hours after surgery I stood up for the first time with Mark’s help. What a difference a year has made in me physically, mentally and spiritually. What a blessing this year has been I would not change anything. God is so good!

Jobs Peek/Motts Canyon

2006-08-20T22:49:00.000-07:00

Back to work tomorrow. But this is where my heart will be out in the mountains.

Paulette & the Boys

2006-08-20T22:28:00.000-07:00

Today’s ride was to be Joe and his harem (a girls ride) but turned into Paulette and her Boys. We road 7 miles 1100 vertical up and down and were out for 3 hours. One mechanical. Allen though someone throw a rock at him but it was his front shock blowing up. Good thing I had my first aide kit handy and cleaned him up. I love these guys they are such great riding partners even when I wine. Today I was wining about going back to work more then I was about riding the trail backwards. The Tahoe Rim Trail it one trough ride. We went out 3.5 miles to Motts Canyon on the way to Star Lake and truned arond and road back. I have been to Star Lake that's a 6+ hour ride. I wll save that for next year.

FDA Approves ProDisc II

2006-08-15T17:40:00.000-07:00

They did it the FDA finally got their heads out of their butts and approved the ProDisc. A year ago Dr Delamarter called me at home and said I would be the first to know if it got approved before my surgery. I won’t be needing that call as I have my ProDisc and my life back. I hope that the rest of you suffering from back pain waiting for a ProDisc find the fix you have been looking for. Please come back and check in on me as I continue my recovery and celebrate how great it is to be Powered by Prodisc.

17 Miles and a trip to the gym

2006-08-15T17:08:00.000-07:00

I have been fighting a respiratory crud I must have gotten down south or on the plane home. I have had to rest a bit more but on Sat I went to the gym, did light exercise and sat in the steam room. Sun was a 7-mile ride with Will on the Heavenly Loop and today I did my last Tuesday morning ride with Allen and Joe. We did the Gun Mount 10 miles. It is called that because you ride up to the Gun Mount were they shoot bombs to set off avalanches over HWY 50 in the winter. Thanks Joe and Allen for being such great riding buddies this summer and waiting for me. They both have noticed an improvement in my riding ability. It’s so great to be back.

Allen also known as Catman on a Mt Bike
Joe will be 70 years young in Octorber quite the animal up hills

Mt Rose To Spooner Summit-20 Miles

2006-08-10T09:29:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday 8/8 I road my mountain bike 20 miles from Mt Rose Meadows to Spooner Summit accessing the historic Flume Trail. This ride is more down hill then up hill but does have around 1000 feet of climbing and 2000 feet of descending. It took us 3 ½ out with 2:45 riding time. We had one mechanical a flat that held us up. My riding buddies are Joe and Allen both ski instructors from Heavenly. Joe is a retired school principal and will have his 70 birthday in a couple of months. Joe is an animal going up but likes to keep me in front on the way down. He likes my line.

No back pain at all I feel great. My legs calves and feet are tight and I got quit a calf cramp the night after the ride. I am still resting but may go the gym today and work out a bit.

Forgot my camera so this picture of the Flume Trail will have to do. My altimiter did not work correctly so I will have to do this ride again to post all the correct elevation stats.

7 Artificial Discs Do Lunch

2006-08-09T14:49:00.000-07:00

On Monday I had the pleasure of going to lunch with Dale and her husband, Dan, his mother and sister and my patient advocate and good friend Mark Mintzer from Global Patient Network. This was my first time getting to meet Dale. She is around 7 weeks behind me post-op and went to Germany and had a 3-level ProDisc from Dr Bertagnoli. She shared with me that I was one of the people that helped her to come to the decision to go with multi level ProDisc something you can only get in Germany these days. She is doing so much better then she was before surgery. She was what is called a “shut in” someone that can’t leave there house. She is now able to walk around independently and is going to PT and seeing more improvements all the time. It is for these reasons that I continue to be willing to help anyone that is suffering with back pain to find a way to get back to life. I hope Dan’s mother can find a solution to her back and neck problems. Dan's situation shows how back problems can be genetic. Dan is better but not great at one-year post-op still taking pain meds and beginning to exercise again.
Mark, a 2-level Charite, is saving more life’s then ever before with many new and difficult clients. He is going to be starting his own forum any day now and I can’t wait to continue to learn from him. Mark supported me as a friend first and I am so glad he was there to watch my surgery how lucky is that.

4-ProDiscs Running

2006-08-09T08:48:00.000-07:00

On my trip down to see Dr Delamarter for my 1-year post-op appointment I stopped in on Paul also known as pablocruise on ADR-Support. Paul was 3 months post-op when we met on the forum. Paul is a 3-level ProDisc patient of Dr Delamarter. Now 1/5 year post-op Paul is going to the gym every day lifting weights and playing full court basketball. Paul you have and always will be such an inspiration to me. Your story is amazing you have overcome so much and still moving forward in your life. Paul use to work for the city of Manhattan Beach putting in street signs. Jack hammering and lifting heavy equipment is what destroyed his back and he is now back in school to be a surgical technician. Thanks for taking me down to your old stomping grounds and getting sand in your shoes.

St Johns Hospital Stay

2006-08-01T20:57:00.000-07:00

Below I have posted my first recovery entry from ADR-Support. I was 10 days post-op on a lot of pain meds so bear with my rambling....
Hi All,

I got out of the Hospital Fri 8/26/05 (3 day hospital stay), could of stayed another day but new my care would be better at the apartment in Santa Monica with my parents. For those of you that are interested in more details here is a day-by-day account of my first 5 days.

Day 1:

The morning before surgery I took a walk along the beach with my Dad. I was surprised how relaxed and ready I was to get this started. Then check in to the hospital with my Mom at my side and had to wait 2.5 hours in a very uncomfortable hospital bed until it was my turn. My anxiety started to build as you can imagine and they gave me a valium to calm my nerves.

Then things started to roll before I knew it I had the IV in and they wheeled me into the OR and said we are going to put you to sleep now. The next thing I remember was a familiar voice �Paulette-Paulette its Mark�. I reached out and grabbed his hand and said how did it go? Did they get it in? He said it went great and my spine was very mobile. I was so happy and relieved that when he said he had to go (Mark was observing another surgery with Dr D and the team) I would not let go of him and he had to tell me to let go. My mind was not fully connected to my body.

When I got to my room my parents were waiting for me then Mark came in and gave us all the details and was very happy with what he observed Then in came the �Team� Dr D, his fellow, and 2-PA�s. They all were incredibly pleased with their work like school kids showing off. I asked what size core he used and he said a size 10mm and wanted details on the distraction process. Dr D said that my spine was very mobile and cooperative he was also very happy to pull out a large piece of disc material that was sitting on the nerve and said that should be the leg pain right there. I asked Dr D if I could stand up and go to the bathroom and he said yes but only to the bathroom until I have the corset. They left.

I told Mark that I wanted to stand up we called the nurse and with their help I was up on my feet and walking what an incredible feeling. Did not have to have a urinary catheter because I was able to go (pee) right before surgery and was only one level.

I have never been on morphine before and was not able to sleep at all. Asked if I could have a sleeping aid and they said no because I was not able to have liquids. Had to call the nurse, (a tall strong gorgeous man) to move me from my back to my side then back again and to the bathroom several times. I was only allowed ice chips and was told not to swallow them. I started to get very itchy from the Morphine and was breaking out into a rash.

Day 2:

I was given more ice chips for breakfast and was then switched from morphine to dilauden PCA and given benodryl for the itching. The pain increased and they added soma for the tightness I felt. I was taken down for a CT scan and then fitted for the corset. Was given my first tray of food, beef broth, jello and hot tea. The pain was by far the worst day 2. The incision was excruciating when transferring in and out of bed. It felt like someone had pounced on my lower back, definitely different low back pain then the pre-op low back pain. PT consisted of a walk with a walker to the nurse�s station and back to bed. The nurses station was located just right outside my door. I enjoyed a dinner of liquid food, chicken broth was the main course. I was able to bring in my Lunesta (sleeping pill) for that night and slept as good as you can in a hospital.

Day 3

Orders can in to wean me off the PCA and onto oral meds. I was happy to get off the dilauden it gave me headaches. My mother spent the day with me and brought me one of my professional ice packs to lay on. Their idea of an ice pack was a bag of ice chips not so great to lay on.

In came my first oral meds, 2-darvocets. I questioned this as it hardly took the pain away before surgery. In 2 hours I was up to a 6-7 pain level and they gave me 1-narco. In 4 hours I was pushing an 8-9 shivering and shaking in pain having difficulties transferring and walking. The nurse said that I could not have anything else for 2 hours and gave me an anti-inflammatory. Dan/djscal called and told me to call the nurse and ask her to call Dr Delamarter and get new orders. There was a shift change and my night nurse came in and boy was I happy to see him. He returned with a syringe full of dilauden and new orders for 2 norco every 4 hours. Thanks Dan I would not have made it through day 3 without you.

Day 4

Woke at 2:30 am had to ask for more meds and then again at 5:00 am watched the sunrise. Walked the halls in anticipation of getting out of there to my stash of pain meds waiting for me at the apartment. My PM doctor from Tahoe was waiting for my call. I do understand there is a nurses shortage but wow they said my orders were as needed and I had to ask for my meds.

Dr Delemarters Fellow came in and said that my orders were for oxycidine not darvocet. When Dr D came to see me with both PA�s. I told him that I was having pain from the middle of my back to the middle of my thigh. He said that I was experiencing bruising from having to jack-open my spine so much to fit the disc in. He also told me to �take it easy� that his was not a case of �no pain no gain� talking to me just like a Coach/PE Teacher.

I left the hospital and made my way back to the apartment and started in on the meds proscribed by my PM doctor in Tahoe oxycodone and percocet for break through pain. It was a good thing I had everything I needed filled and ready to go.

Day 5

So happy to be with my family in such a beautiful place where Mom can cook and Dad can go for long walks. The meds are regulated and I am feeling really good and very optimistic. It�s hard to believe that there is anything in there. My incision is horizontal all of 2 inches long and slightly off center to the left side (below my tan line ).

Dan/djscal came by for a visit and we went for a short walk, long rest and toasted to our new lives over dinner. Dan you have been a great friend and advocate and my ADR big brother.

Next 10 days

I will be resting and recuperating here in LA and will keep you all updated on my progress but promises not to be so wordy in the future. I look forward to meeting any of you that can make it to the elephant house here in Santa Monica on Sunday Sept 4. What a better way to start my new life with a toast to all of you that supported me through this journey.

God Bless

Recovery Blog

2006-08-01T20:28:00.000-07:00

I am Creating this blog to post my workouts and recovery from ADR. Come along as I get stroger Powered By ProDisc