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I've made a few off-hand comments since February about my bad back. I have tried all many of treatments, and finally had surgery yesterday. The photo is of me going in.
I blame W's horses, not my palms 😆
The injury happened during that record blizzard last February. Pipes froze, so I had to carry buckets of warm water from the bathtub in the house out to horses, some of whom were a 1/4 mile from the house. In the deepest snow we have ever had. And have I mentioned that we were briefly colder than the south pole? Can't remember--must be all the percocet 😯
One day a horse tried to kick, presumably for being slow. Still holding 5 gallons of water in each hand, I spun on ice to get away. I did, but hurt a lot. Of course I couldn't stop hauling buckets of water several time/day for another week. The pain, though, does explaiun why I didn't dig out the palm hut and bring indoors all the potted beauties in there (Brahea, Trithrinax, Nannorhops, naini tal); they died, of course 😥
Being a doctor (wrong kind!), I diagnosed a pulled ligament and thought I just needed to move more plants. Hence my weekend job in Spring at the nursery, where my job was to lift heavy plants.
The disc herniation wasn't diagnosed until May, so I quit the nursery job. Then when we had to sell the farm in June, I lifted heavy items. And in August I dug up my favorite palms for their new life in an apartment. Ouch!
So, the take-home: lift plants carefully. If you back hurts, see a doctor. Might help you avoid surgery. For now, I must lift nothing heavier that 2 kg/5 lbs. Hmmm...maybe get into orchids?
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href=" https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MlK8B0xTR9uAraDdbOM5ZQ?feat=embedwebsit e"><img src=" 
" height="640" width="382" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href=" https://picasaweb.google.com/terdalfarm/September2011?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsit e">September 2011</a></td></tr></table>
Posted : 15/09/2011 12:42 pm
DID you make it back to this side again Erik???
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Posted : 15/09/2011 5:38 pm
??????
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Posted : 16/09/2011 11:15 am
Yup...we need a pic of Erik coming out.
Orchids = good.
Origami might be better for your back 😆 😆
It's been quite a year for you guys.
Hope the plants love your new place; and that you had other people carrying the plants.
5 lb. limit? Heck, that's a tall Scotch with ice. 😆 😆
Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/cgi-bin/banner/ban/wxBanner?bannertype=wu_bluestripes_both&airportcode=CWJV&ForcedCity=Vernon&ForcedState=Canada&wmo=71115&language=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Posted : 16/09/2011 11:52 am
Topic starter
You asked for it; not a pretty sight:
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href=" https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0geJtUYrs72Mj6_Q6D6GLtt1YkEUkSNZmQJ7eg3F81c?feat=embedwebsit e"><img src=" 
" height="400" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href=" https://picasaweb.google.com/terdalfarm/DropBox?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOaWlI6zyY37GQ&feat=embedwebsit e">Drop Box</a></td></tr></table>
Posted : 16/09/2011 11:57 am
best of luck as you recover. have had a number of friends who have done the back surgery thing and am happy to report all are completely recovered and happy they did surgery.
Kent in Kansas
where it's cold in winter (always)
and hot in summer (usually)
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Posted : 26/09/2011 11:31 am
Topic starter
Steve,
thanks. I wish I had done this months ago vs. suffer for so long. --Erik
Posted : 26/09/2011 11:32 am
Sheesh...what'd they do? put mayo on your legs? 😆 😆 😆 😆
Your tan fell off...
No more lifting heavy plants for you buddy.
Glad you're on the mend, Erik.
Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/cgi-bin/banner/ban/wxBanner?bannertype=wu_bluestripes_both&airportcode=CWJV&ForcedCity=Vernon&ForcedState=Canada&wmo=71115&language=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Posted : 27/09/2011 1:39 pm
Topic starter
😆 😆 😆
Those are tights that squeeze your legs so that blood doesn't pool there after the surgery damages blood vessels.
They came off the next day and were discarded.
Given how health care is billed down here, I don't want to even think how much those cost 😯
Anyway, no plant lifting. I did trim some fronds yesterday, and I water small amounts at a time.
Well, off for a walk now. I am supposed to walk as part of the recovery, and with the weather we have now it is a pleasure.
Posted : 27/09/2011 1:46 pm
Ah, you look good in tights, Erik.
Keep 'em for winter cold.
Swimming is the best exercise for a bad back, there might be a community pool near your new digs.
You might find a few folks wearing tights there too. 😆
Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/cgi-bin/banner/ban/wxBanner?bannertype=wu_bluestripes_both&airportcode=CWJV&ForcedCity=Vernon&ForcedState=Canada&wmo=71115&language=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Posted : 27/09/2011 2:09 pm
Topic starter
There is a pool here, but closed already. Anyway, the surgeon says no baths, swimming etc. for 6 weeks post op so that water doesn't get into that hole he made.
The walking feels good so I'll keep doing that. Everyone's gardens look good right now so I'm enjoying seeing that.
Posted : 27/09/2011 3:05 pm
I was going to say Erik
WTF is that the worst tan in the history of the planet or what? :fart:
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Posted : 27/09/2011 5:15 pm
😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
so that water doesn't get into that hole he made.
I'll leave that one alone...
Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/cgi-bin/banner/ban/wxBanner?bannertype=wu_bluestripes_both&airportcode=CWJV&ForcedCity=Vernon&ForcedState=Canada&wmo=71115&language=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Posted : 27/09/2011 7:46 pm
Glad to see things are going good for you. I hope the recovery goes well. 😀
Shoshone Idaho weather
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Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-
Posted : 27/09/2011 9:00 pm
Topic starter
That snap shot is embarrassing--I'll have to get W to take one of me looking whole and hale amongst my palms 😀
Posted : 27/09/2011 9:22 pm
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