Signing Off - Microdiscectomy +96

I apologise. How neglectful of me not to update you for the past 7 and a bit weeks. But I must confess that it gets worse.... barring unforeseen circumstances this will be my last Microdiscectomy blog. For today dear reader, I saw my surgeon. He pronounced himself happy and discharged me from his care.

So that's that. It's now up to me. I have to listen to his sage advice. Get myself fit, lose some weight and make sure I warm up before doing anything more energetic than tying my shoe laces.

But I get ahead of myself....


Whistle while you work
In my last update I had just completed my first day back in the office and it was both traumatic and painful. It got better. The more I got used to walking the easier it got. Just walking to and from work now totals 50 minutes. 

Work have been very good. They booked a workstation assessment for me who recommended adjustments including a new custom made chair. They have facilitated me working from home two days a week, and travelling off peak on the others. Furthermore, just at the point at which I was  ready to increase my number of days in the office I was sent to a Doctor for an Occupational Health assessment. It was an odd situation for the Doctor, as he found himself telling me that I should come into the office less than I was planning to. I got the impression that he usually tells Work that their staff are fit for work against the wishes of the employees.


Let's get physio-cal
I saw my physio last week. He is very happy with my progress and he intimated that my appointment next week might be my last. I will be sad to end those sessions. He has been really helpful and gives the best massages.

He has been building up my core strengthening exercises. I now have the following added into the mix.

Forearm lift
Lying on my front, my arms tucked together underneath me in line with my body. Raising myself on my forearms and holding for 10 seconds.

this was later replaced by...

Back arch
Lying on my front, elbows pointing out to the sides and my hands flat together under my chin. Raising my upper body up (not too high) using my lower back. Holding for 10 seconds.


Superman
On all fours, stretching one arm out in front of me. Hold for 10 seconds. The removal of one arm propping me up just makes the back work to maintain stability. Repeat with the other arm.

this was later supplemented with..

Reverse Superman
On all fours, stretch one leg out horizontally behind you and hold for 10 seconds. This works on the same principle as the Superman. It also strengthens the glutes, and stronger glutes make for better walking. Repeat with the other leg.


Taking the field
Quite how far I have come was brought home to me at the weekend when I umpired my first cricket match of the year. Last season was a real struggle. Ambitions to umpire at a higher level had been put on hold due to sciatica. Little did I know that the sciatica was caused by a herniated disc. 

Some weeks I was ok. Other weeks I needed tramadol to get through the games. Bending to pick up bails was a problem as was my general mobility. 

On Saturday I was helped by having two understanding teams (Eaton Bray and Newport Pagnell), the captains of whom were happy to allow me to do what I needed to do to get through the game. I was on my feet for 6 hours. I ached a little and by the end I was a bit stiff, but I felt elated. I had come through the match with minimal discomfort, and the discomfort I suffered was from muscles being worked hard and not the pain of an injured back.

Going forward
And so there we are. Life is returning to normal. I will continue to strengthen my core. I will try to help my back out by giving it less to carry. 

Am I glad I had the surgery? Even if I never progress beyond how I feel now it will have been worth it. I hope that I will get stronger and stronger. The numbness is now unlikely to go from my leg and foot but I can live with that.

The surgeon was very positive today. When he told me I needed the operation he told me it would be 6 months before I could consider playing golf. Now he says that with a good warm up I could consider playing it again. In fact apart from heavy lifting or sudden movements with cold muscles, the surgeon says I can pretty much do what I want now. I plan to still take things carefully until my back feels strong again. It feels like a lifetime since I had the op, and I now have a better lifetime to look forward to thanks to the op.

Thanks for reading my blog, and thanks for your company when I was stuck at home earlier in my recovery. Any blogs from now on will be your common or garden variety ramblings. You have been warned ;)

Posture Nazis - Microdiscectomy +46 (6 weeks ish)

The end of the beginning
So it's been a fortnight since I last blogged. In that time there has been more physio (more on that later), steady progress with my recovery, and last week just 2 days short of 6 weeks since the op my Doctor said I could return to work on a phased basis.

This means that I will be working mostly from home to start with, and a couple of days a week in the office. They will be short days to start with as I can't sit for too long and I need to keep exercising. The commute to the office will be off-peak to avoid being crushed or having to stand on my journey to and from work.

I have to say at this point, that work has been very supportive both before and since my operation.

So how did I feel about going back to work? Well it was a milestone for sure. I didn't know if I was physically ready but I was sure mentally ready to return.

I am 6 weeks into a 6 month recovery. Churchill put it very well when he said:

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning"

Of course, the operation he was talking about was a military one. But a turning point is a turning point.

Physio has been good. Nice and structured. A couple of new exercises have been added:

Hamstring stretch

Sit on the edge of the bed or sofa. One foot on the floor. The other leg lying flat on the bed or sofa. Then lean forward and try to grab the ankle. Feel the hamstring stretch and hold.

Then reverse and do the other leg.

Spinal loosening

Take a bath towel and roll it into a sausage. Then lie down with it across your spine. Start midway up your back. Relax. Feel your spine bend around it. Then move the towel up and repeat until it passes your shoulders

At one point it will feel like your spine must snap. But relax. Allow the vertebrae to articulate. Popping/cracking sounds are ok.

Refinement of glute bridging and core activation exercises

It sounds odd, but I now have to flap my arms up and down with these. I can't remember why this is a good thing, but apparently it is.

Sitting exercises.

I asked for some exercises I could do in long meetings. So I was told I could:

- rock my hips back and forward

- cross my legs in the figure 4 and it will provide a gentle stretch.

- clenching my buttocks

- Doing the core activation exercise but in a sitting position

Posture Nazis

So I went to the office for the first time since the op today. I had asked the train company if I could sit in 1st class where the seats are better for my first few trips. Despite them having had 6 weeks of income from me for nothing, they claimed I was trying to ask for something for nothing. They said I would have to buy an entirely new ticket for each trip, despite already having a season ticket. I couldn't even upgrade. So thank you First Capital Connect for your total lack of understanding that your overcrowded standard class coaches are not good for people with recently sliced open backs.

Getting off the train I reflected that before the op I had needed to hold the hand rails on the stairs at Farringdon station. Now I didn't. This is progress. This shows the op making a tangible difference. I like such things.

When I got to work at 11am I was shattered. The train journey plus around 30 minutes of walking had taken it out of me. But it felt good to be back. My beard caused a stir in some quarters but was generally approved of. I brought the back support from my car and attached it to my chair. That made sitting down relatively comfortable and promoted a good posture at my pc.

I met each of my staff for a catch-up and I compared how I felt talking to them before the op and now. My mind felt so much more alert. I have catching up to do, but not being drugged up on painkillers makes a difference.

I asked my team to tell me if I was stooping as I stood/walked. I need to make sure my posture is good. Dave said "So you want Posture Nazis?", and then in the way that he does, he took a slightly surreal leap "That sounds like something you see advertised on daytime tv. Is poor posture getting you down? then buy Posture Nazi from JML. 'It changed my life' "

You know, that's not such a crazy idea though. Some sort of motion sensitive device should be able to alert you to poor posture. Anyway I digress...

When I left work I could feel soreness in my lower back, particularly to the right. It got worse as I walked. I walked less fluidly. Shorter steps. Slower. Then I realised that I could feel a tightness in my groin/inner thigh. What the hell? This had to be the result of walking oddly. By the time I got to Farringdon I was in a lot of discomfort. I got a seat on the train and whipped out my back support. It did the trick. By the time I got to my home station my back was more relaxed. But the 8 minute walk home took 15 minutes, and as I came in the door I was shattered.

Thankfully salvation was at hand in the form of a lovely hot herbal bath and a very good book. After the bath I felt relaxed. The pain and soreness had largely melted away. 

mmm bubbles

My first day back was not an unqualified success. I probably stayed in the office longer than I should. 

The first is the worst said a friend on facebook. I hope he is right. I have 2 days at home now, but I'm back into London on Friday for a conference and then a friend's birthday in the evening. I hope the second is better than the first.

Onwards and upwards!

Microdiscectomy - One Month on

One month after surgery for a herniated L5-S1 disc, here are some FAQs answered, and a digest of my experiences for the benefit of anyone considering such surgery.

Firstly a caveat. These are my experiences of surgery to my L5-S1 disc and my observations relate solely to my experience. Your experience may differ.

How long will I be in hospital?

You can be out of hospital the same day. I was the first person operated on that day and was on my way home less than 12 hours after entering the operating theatre. However, if your operation is later in the day or your reaction to the anaesthetic is less problem free you may well find you spend one or maybe two nights in hospital.

You should plan to spend at least one night in hospital

How long will I be off work?

I was advised 4-6 weeks before my operation. 

You are well enough to answer emails etc within a couple of day or two of the operation. So if keeping in touch with the office is critical then you can do it. The problem is that sitting for long periods will cause you discomfort. Bad discomfort for the first couple of weeks, getting better progressively. Let's face it, if you are putting yourself through this surgery you need to put yourself first for a while. 

After 4 weeks I felt ready to work, but my back was still not deemed strong enough by the doctor and a further two weeks off work were certificated.

After that 2 week period a phased return is in the offing with a combination of home working and limited travel to work. Gradually getting back to normal patterns of work.

You should definitely plan for a 4 week physical absence from work. Any work you can do remotely should not involved prolonged sitting, and you should take advice re: home office ergonomics.

How long before I am back to normal?

One of the aims of the op was to relieve my sciatica symptoms. It could take up to 6 months to see if this is a success.

My back pain is gone. I can bend without the pain I had before the op. But the strength isn't there. It could be 6 months before I am able to lift any significant weight.

I should be fit to umpire a cricket match after 12 weeks, and fit to resume playing more active sports after 24 weeks (6 months).

Don't expect to be fully recovered (or as recovered as you will be) until 6 months have passed.

What is the operation like?
You are under a general anaesthetic so you won't know anything about it. The operation takes anywhere from 1 to 2 hours. Because you are on your front for the duration of the operation you will have red marks on the front of your body and your face. These will fade. I was taken to the theatre just before 9am, was awake in recovery by around 11.30 and back on the ward by midday.

How will I feel directly after the operation?
You are clearly still full of drugs. I was told I could have various painkillers right up to liquid morphine if I needed it. I didn't. I was stiff and achy, as if I had freshly injured my back (which in a way I had), but apart from some soreness I was not in too much discomfort.

A couple of hours after the op I was able to walk to the toilet to urinate. Upon my return I was able to dress myself.

Depending on when you have your operation and how well you respond to the anaesthetic determines when you will be released from hospital. I was fortunate enough to have been first in theatre that day and was released in the evening.

The 1 hour drive home was not too uncomfortable. Make sure you have soft pillows available to support your back on the journey home.

Plan your journey home with comfort in mind.

What medication will I take?

You may be prescribed a painkiller such tramadol, and make sure you have a supply of ibuprofen at home. The ibuprofen will help to reduce inflammation as well as ease pain. Gabrapentin may also be prescribed if you have neuropathic pain such as sciatic symptoms. I was given two gabrapentin tablets to take the day after the operation and was advised by my doctor that I could have more if I felt serious sciatic pain as my sciatic nerve came back to life.

For a while I took a tramadol and a diazepam tablet each night in order to give me a good start to my night's sleep.

What pain will I be in?
Discomfort and soreness characterise the pain you feel in the first week. If you sit for too long you get sore and stiff. If you walk too much you are sore and ache. There is no getting away from the soreness. But it is manageable with ibuprofen and tramadol.

In the second week I developed more localised pain in my left side. This is the side that the disc was bulging. It may have been a side effect of the exercises I was doing, or a natural reaction to increased activity in general. Within a week this pain had passed.

It is likely that within 2-3 weeks of the operation, any pain you are in will be significantly less and more sporadic than the pain you had before the operation.

After about 10 days, around the same time my mobility real increased. I developed pain and spasms when turning in bed. In order to ensure at least a partially good night's sleep I took tramadol  for the pain and diazepam to relax my muscles. These spasms lasted for 10-14 days but gradually became less frequent.

After 4 weeks you will feel very good in yourself and pain will come and go depending on how well you look after yourself.


Listen to your body and manage your pain



What will my wound be like?
The wound is around 2 inches in length. Neatly sewn with dissolvable stitches. At first look you wonder what kind of scar you will be left with . The sewn up incision is significantly raised. The wound is tender at first but never excessively so.

From 48 hours after the operation significant bruising emerged. It looked blotchy and red. Due to concerns about infection in the wound area I had it checked by a doctor, but it was just natural bruising in reaction to the operation and sitting still.

The dressing on the wound must stay on for 48 hours after the operation. After that there is no increased risk of infection from showering (though a bath is not possible). You are not supposed to soak the wound due to the stitches. I used the antimicrobial wash that I had to bath with pre op. Spread it over the wound and then by the time I had washed my hair I was ready to rinse the wound site and then immediately dry (patting with a towel rather than rubbing).

Scabs will form on the wound. It might itch occasionally, but resist the urge to scratch. Serious itching may be due to infection so keep an eye on the wound (I took photos each day to check if the wound checked in appearance).

In just over 3 weeks the wound was clear of scabs, smooth and well healed.

Look after your wound, keep it clean and if you are concerned about an infection get it checked asap.

Are there any unexpected side effects?
What they don't tell you is that a common side effect of this surgery is that you often get constipated. That's not usually such a big deal, but when your lower back has been sliced open, it is not much fun trying to persuade your body to expel several days of waste.

Try to avoid getting a cold. You don't want to sneeze. For at least 3 weeks this would be very painful. 

When will I be able to drive?

There are several things you need to be able to do consistently and without causing pain before you can drive:

Twist - This is especially the case if you need to reverse.

Emergency Stop - you need to be able to stamp your foot hard onto the brake.

Sit for periods of 30 mins plus - I tried a short drive 12 days after my operation and it left me sore. 4 weeks after the operation I have driven for 40 minutes with no ill effects.

Operate the pedals without discomfort - for obvious reasons.

It may be 3 weeks before you can cope with a drive of 30mins plus with negligible side effects.

What exercises will help?

You should try to be active from your first day at home. Certainly, sitting around all day does nothing to benefit your back. Don't sit for too long. Set an alarm to prompt you to get up regularly. Initially sit for 30 mins and get up for 5. Build to 60 mins with a 10-15 minute period of activity. I filled that time with a rudimentary step routine on my stairs. 50 steps.

A set of light exercises provided by the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals are designed to gently stretch you and maintain flexibility were part of my programme. It said to so them 3 times a day but I didn't get to that level until into my 2nd week. Take advice prior to starting any stretching exercises.

Later I walked with a book balanced on my head to encourage the right posture. There is no sense healing your back into a slouch.

A couple of days after the op I was able to walk 1 mile. It was very tiring but great for my morale. Gradually the walks got longer and the tiredness diminished. The walking became more fluid. The trick is to keep walking regularly.

Walking on uneven surfaces is more of a challenge. After a couple of weeks of very little exercise, your muscles will have weakened, particularly those muscles that give you stability on uneven ground.

My physiotherapist gave me a new set of exercises at the 4 week point.

I will be starting to swim, and my physio recommends backstroke or front crawl. Breast stroke and butterfly are not advised.

Take advice from your surgeon and doctor before the operation to ensure you have an appropriate recovery exercise programme. I wish I had had one from the start. 


Nourish your soul
You will have a lot of time to think. Fill your time productively. Have people visit you and take you out from time to time. Read, enrich yourself by what you watch on tv. Interact with people. You will have a lot of time to yourself. Don't waste it. Construct a plan and get things in place before you have the operation.



Final thoughts
Is this something to be worried about? All surgery has its risks so it would be stupid to say no. But in the hands of a good neurosurgeon this is a routine operation. The results are not entirely predictable however. But if a herniated disc is making your life a misery, or stopping you from being as active as you would like I would recommend it. It is worth the level of discomfort I have had in order to see if it works.

Physio - Microdiscectomy +31

This particular blog post is solely concerned with my trip to the physio and the exercises he gave me.

A tale of two physios
Before my herniated disc was diagnosed I was referred by my doctor for some physiotherapy. While I was waiting for the referral I paid to see the physio on a private basis. There was a noticeable change to how I was treated when my NHS referral came through. As a private patient I received a full 30 minutes of massage, ultrasound and manipulation. As an NHS patient I was given a bit of a stretch, a lower back massage and some ultrasound treatment. None of which did any good, and routinely my 30 minute appointments lasted 20 minutes.

Today I saw a difference physio - a salaried NHS physio rather than a private physio taking NHS referrals. Despite having a far greater degree of information available to him than my previous physio (notes from my surgeon etc), he was so thorough. More thorough than the private physio. He also spotted something that I knew deep down but had got so used to that I thought nothing of it. My lower back is healing well around the site of the operation (he was impressed - yay). It needs strengthening but that is natural. What the NHS physio noticed that the private physio hadn't, was that from the top of my spine downwards there is an incredible degree of stiffness (both muscular and spinal). This is down to a prolonged period of compensating for my weak lumbar region. I have had periodic neck, shoulder and upper back pain which I had put down to commuting, a bad posture or sleeping in a bad position.

So as well as working on my core, the physio will also be working on loosening up my upper spine and surrounding muscles.

In one session I feel much more confident that this physio knows what he is doing. I also saw the difference between NHS staff paid to give the best /most appropriate treatment, and the private sector doing the least possible for their NHS referrals. I'm more convinced than ever that the government's privatisation of provision will lead to a drop in standards?

My New Exercises
So this is what the physio is getting me to do until I see him next in order to ensure my back is more flexible and my core strengthened. This set of exercises to be repeated 3 times a day.

1, Knee Rocks
Lie on your back with your knees bent and pressed together, feet flat on the floor.
Slowly rock the knees (together) from side to side. Gradually increasing the movement as the back stiffness eases.
Do this for 45 seconds

2, Figure '4' stretch
Lie on your back with your knee bent, feet flat on the floor
Cross one leg over the thigh of the other.
Gently pull the knees towards your chest and hold for 10 seconds.
Repeat 3 times on each leg

ignore the instructions on the illustration

3, Glute Bridging

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat to the floor.

Contract the muscles in your bottom and slowly curl your pelvis off the floor.

Hold for 5 seconds

alternate this with the following exercise 5 times

4, Core Actvation

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat to the floor

Draw your belly button in towards your spine

Then push your tummy muscles up

Keep breathing as you do this

To tell that this is working - find the bony front of your hips and push fingers in either side. Your flesh will feel soft. You suck your tummy in as if pulling on tight jeans and then when you push the tummy muscles against your fingers you will feel the soft flesh become harder as the muscles push against the fingers.

I'm seeing the physio again in a week's time

Life begins - Microdiscectomy +30

The hardcore recovery stuff. 

4 weeks and a day have passed since my operation. In myself I generally feel well. At times I could forget I've even had the operation, which as I mentioned very early in these blogs is a dangerous thing. It tempts me to overdo things. Odd as it may sound to consider being sedentary as overdoing it, too little movement can cause as much pain as too much. At other times simple actions can cause me a twinge or some soreness and I can't see a reason for it other than a fundamental weakness around my spine.

On Thursday I went to see the Doctor, and in his opinion I was still not ready to return to work. So I was signed off for a further 2 weeks. That will make 6 weeks in total. It's not that I'm not recovering well, but the Doc reckoned that my back needed strengthening a bit more. I'm not up to prolongued periods of sitting working at a pc and in particular I'm not ready for the weekday commute and the potential to be squashed and bashed by fellow commuters.

In the interim I will be starting physio tomorrow and will also start swimming. Hopefully after the next two weeks are up I will be in a position to have a phased return to work. That would mean a combination of home working (on reduced hours) and off peak travel to London one or two times a week. With the balance  shifting in favour of more office work/travel and less home work until I am back to normal.

Before I can do any work in the office I also need to have a work station assessment done, and in particular I will need a more supportive chair. My work is mostly desk based and so I will need a chair that supports my lumbar region as much as possible.

On Saturday it was my 40th birthday (more on that below) and I ventured into London on the train to meet some friends. Without doubt this was the toughest test for my back yet. First, a walk to the station of 3/4 mile. Then 50 minutes on a train where the seats were uncomfortable (as always). By the time I got to London I was feeling some lower back pain and so I took a tramadol to take the edge off the pain. A short tube ride and then a walk from Covent Garden to Shaftsbury Avenue and then back to the pub where I was meeting my friends. An hour of walking took a toll on my back and I was grateful to be able to sit down. By the end of the night my back was causing significant discomfort. The lesson learned was that the travel was manageable but coupled with the walking etc my back was still not strong enough to cope. The Doc was right.

However the pain did not put a damper on my birthday celebrations.


Life Begins At 40 
Yeah yeah, that's something only people over 40 say. You don't get 20somethings or 30somethings saying "I'm just treading water until I hit the big 4 0. Everything up to then is a mere rehearsal and quite frankly just the warm up to the main event."

Truth be told I have not been looking forward to turning 40. It's one of those landmarks. All of a sudden you fall into a different age range on surveys. When you are 39 you can still kid yourself that you are young. You share a first digit with a 30 year old after all. At 40 all such self delusions disappear. 40 is middle aged in anyone's book. Yes, turning 40 was not something I was looking forward to. But as George Burns said about getting older "It's better than the alternative."

Present-wise I did rather well and I won't embarrass people by mentioning who gave me what, but I am uber grateful for my new laptop, dvd box sets, books, vouchers, florentines (the biscuits not the people) etc etc. Thank you one and all.

Nom nom florentines

So faced with the inevitability of the calendar ticking round I planned to make the best of it. And then my operation was postponed from February to March and everything was thrown up in the air. Not knowing how my recovery would go I wasn't able to plan anything for my birthday until pretty late. But come the day, an intrepid group of friends gathered at Philomena's Irish pub on Great Queen St.

For a group comprised of Uni friends, former colleagues from different work places, someone I met whilst filming a tv quiz show, and the new girlfriend of one of my mates* it was remarkable how well everyone got on. Time flew in the pub and then we made our way to Suda Thai restaurant nearby. Again, time flew and having arrived at 8.30pm we left at 11.30pm. One more drink at Philomena's and then off home.

It was a night of many highlights. Having been sequestered for 4 weeks it was wonderful to have my friends around me. I received some wonderful gifts from those in attendence, although in truth the greatest gift was my friends' company. Jo made me a wonderful handmade card that appealed to my inner geek.

Jo also made a cake for me, which rather took me by surprise. My head was in a whirl as my friends and many others in the restaurant sang happy birthday and I blew out the candles. I've often been on the other side, but not since a child have I had that experience and it was brilliant.

I expected my beard to come in for a lot of piss taking but actually it was rather well received. Perhaps people were just being nice, but I didn't get that sense. The net result of a great evening was this pic of me beaming like a loon at the camera with my cake.

So curiously, after wishing quite a few times** in the lead up that I hadn't bothered organising something for my birthday I am really glad that I did. I am grateful to my friends for coming out and for making it a special night, and I feel blessed to have such fabulous people in my life. Gush complete ;)

One final thought. In the age of social networking, even when people can't make your birthday in person they can still help make it a great day. I lost count at around 80 sets of good wishes. Each and every one made me happy and added to the feelgood birthday vibe. Just 7 years ago I would have received a half dozen cards and a few emails and phone calls. That was the norm. This time people from all over the world: from Texas in the USA to Tampere in Finland; and from Peterborough in the UK to Pietermaritzburg in South Africa got in touch. I love the internet age! Gush really complete this time :)



*a special mention for Michelle who was wonderful company.
**many many times in fact

Gordon's Alive!!! - MIcrodiscectomy +24

Recovery Update
The spasms have stopped and my walking is getting better and better. I went to the pub quiz again last night and whereas I seized-up from sitting down last week, this week I wasn't badly affected at all. So this is welcome evidence of improvement. I still can't sit for too long without pain and stiffness, or be too active without soreness. Last thing at night I sometimes find the twisting motion of rolling over painful, but even that is less and less the case. Things are moving in the right direction. On Thursday the Doc will tell me when I can return to work, and on Monday I have my first physio session.

I need to build up my physical strength again. Before my op, on every working day I was walking for 50 minutes just getting to and from work. A month without even that degree of exercise has taken its toll. I have little stamina at present. I suspect it will be a while before I build it back up. So more walks are in order, and when I'm allowed some swimming and hopefully I will be on my way.

It's been a while since you've had a scar pic. Well this is the state of my wound 3 weeks and 2 days after the operation. Ain't the human body brilliant! As crappy as my spine was, you can't argue with my ability to heal myself. Having said that, the spot where my cannula was placed still feels bruised. So perhaps my resilience is patchy.

An honourable beardy precedent
I'm getting quite fond of the beard, but there remains the two-toned hair issue. Hair on the top of my head going grey, hair on my face a melange of brown and ginger with hints of grey. So imagine my joy when I spotted a precedent. Ok, so I won't go as big and bushy, but even so...

"Gordon's Alive!!!"

Gruff's Geek Zone
A few websites for you. I'm not claiming to have discovered them, but I do like them:

XKCD.com
Billed as "A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math and language" xkcd is one for geeks with a science bent.
The comic section is a mix of the funny and the niche. Try clicking the random button and see what you get. My latest click got me:

Better than the cartoons in my opinion is the uber geeky What If section. So someone poses a question such as: 

"What happens if you try to hit a baseball pitched at 90% of the speed of light?" 

Without wishing to spoil it, the net result looks like this: 

Whether this is serious science or pseudo science it is great fun.


whosampled.com
Love music and want to waste hours of time? This is the site for you. Take a musician or composer and it will tell you who has sampled clips of their work. The site even places the clips side by side. Or on the flip side, take a song you like that features a sample and this site will tell you where it came from.

Some are obvious samples, lifted direct from a record. Others are well known to be based on an earlier piece of music, and some are potentially spurious. For example, We Will Rock You by Queen is alleged to be 'sampled' from Fanfare For The Common Man by Aaron Copland. I wasn't convinced and had never read that anywhere before, but listen to this.


knowyourmeme.com/
It's hard keeping up with the latest memes. You have just cottoned on to Gangnam Style while all the cool kids have moved on to Harlam Shake. Of course by now the really cool kids are on to something else.

To keep up with the world of memes, work out what the hell is going on or how the meme started, or just for an entertaining surf visit this site.

You know when someone posts a cool pic or video on facebook? The chances are that's because it has gone viral. So if you are the kind of person who thinks a pic from the top of the Great Pyramid is cool:

or saw that pink equals sign in a red square, was mildly confused and is now bamboozled by variants:

or you simply want to know if Cancer Slam is the new Harlam Shake then make sure you check out the Daily What section. Knowyourmeme and Dailywhat are actually part of cheezburger.com but that's a whole new kettle of kitties. Prepare to surf for a long time.

What the Hell, Cobblers to my recovery - Microdiscectomy +21

Tonight I had one of those 'what the hell' moments.

• Northampton Town were playing at home.
• I have a season ticket.
• The temperature was hovering above freezing and due to drop
• I have only driven twice since my op and yesterday's drive didn't exactly leave me feeling great
• I had no idea if I could cope with a drive of that distance, the walk from the car park, and sitting out in sub zero temperatures for a couple of hours.

But I thought 'what the hell'. I am sick of being stuck inside on my own. I am sick of missing footie games. I'm sick of wondering  when I will be fit to do x y or z. Tonight was the time to see what my body could stand.

So I set off in my car, pillow behind my back. By the Newport Pagnell services it became clear that my seat wasn't in a great position. After adjusting it, the rest of the journey was fine. My walking after the drive was better than it had been the day before, but by the time I reached my seat I was exhausted and my legs felt leaden. Treadmills are fine it seems, but the outside world has contours that test muscles unused for 3 weeks.

Why were the Cobblers playing in the evening when every other game in League 2 today was at 3pm? According to Radio Northampton, because Northampton's shoemakers used to work on Good Friday home games on Good Friday were always evening matches to enable them to attend after work. I'm not sure if that's true, and if it is, why with the decline of the shoe industry such a tradition still holds sway.

Blurry action shot looking towards the Family Stand

Anyway, we won the game, which makes 10 straight home wins. So I left the ground feeling cold but my morale boosted. I got home fine, and though I'm tired I feel ok.

So I think I now have to try to up my exercise. Push my body a bit more.

The Easter Bunny

Santa always turns up at the last game before Christmas to dispense mince pies. Tonight for the first time I can remember, the Easter Bunny appeared at half time dispensing goodies from a bucket. It was a rather freaky looking bunny.

WTF? was the cry around the stadium

I don't get the whole Easter Bunny thing. I understand how eggs came to be associated with Easter. But why does a bunny get the task of distributing chocolate eggs? Somehow I missed that at Sunday School.

Gruff's Geek Zone

Here's a little chain of online geekdom

The Guild

The first web series that I ever watched was The Guild. I was almost immediately struck by its quality and its humour. I think some familiarity with online gaming/gamers helps but is not essential. If you like The Big Bang Theory (TBBT) you would enjoy with this. Not least because Wil Wheaton crops up as the evil leader of a rival group of gamers.

It is written by and stars the scrumptious Felicia Day. She first came to notice in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Hold that Buffy/Joss Whedon link in your head for later.

The Guild has now been running for 6 seasons and is very much the revered elder statesman of geeky online shows. Periodic holiday specials led to a song "Do You Want To Date My Avatar" written by Jed Whedon (Joss's brother) and with just short of 22 million views and counting. Subsequent videos such as the Bollywood themed "Game On" show quite how far online serials have developed.

Anyway, the Guild is funny so I wanted more of the same....

The Legend of Neil

Sandeep Parekh (Zaboo from The Guild) was involved in writing The Legend of Neil in which someone playing The Legend of Zelda finds himself in the game (the explanation of how is too icky for delicate eyes). Again, this is funny stuff, though perhaps patchier than The Guild. Felicia Day crops up as a nymphomaniac fairy and is responsible for one of my favourite online songs. 

Dr Horrible's Singalong Blog

Speaking of online songs, Felicia Day is also in Dr Horrible's Singalong Blog (viewable for free on youtube) a musical created by Joss Whedon and starring a host of Whedon regulars as well as Neil Patrick Harris as Dr Horrible and Simon Helberg from TBBT.

It's funny and smart. Watch this!

Neil's Puppet Dreams

As if this world wasn't incestuous enough Neil Patrick Harris has his own series with guest stars such as Nathan Fillion from Doctor Horrible. NPH has narcolepsy and when he dreams his dreams feature warped muppet like creatures. 

Avenue Q

Ok this isn't an online series but I thought it would be nice to end this internet round up with a song by puppets about the internet. 

Long drive to freedom - Microdiscectomy +20

The obligatory recovery stuff
By the early afternoon I was both bored and fed up. So I decided to drive to the shops. Then I thought 'sod it' and decided to drive to Milton Keynes. Pleasingly, the drive itself was a comfortable and unproblematic experience. Unfortunately my walking was rather laboured and painful after the drive. A consequence perhaps more related to watching two movies that morning than the drive itself. At least I hope so. Nonetheless the drive holds out some hope of freedom from these four walls. With a queue of people wanting to visit me showing no signs of forming, I now at least see a light at the end of the tunnel in terms of being able broaden my surroundings and see different faces.

Apart from that I watched films and tv and stuff (see below)


Midnight in Paris 4.25/5
You know what it's like...Woody Allen doesn't make a decent film for years and then twice in the space of 5 years he comes up with a corker (the other being Vicky Cristina Barcelona). Ok so there were three duff films in between, but nobody's perfect.

What's more surprising is that this is a rom com that defies the standard formula and works (albeit there is more rom than com).

What is even more surprising is that it stars Owen Wilson and by the end, far from wanting to pummel his face into a mush I quite liked him.

The plot is kind of hard to explain, but it goes a bit like this. Wilson plays a writer visiting Paris with his fiance (Rachel McAdams playing pretty much the only role in her acting repertoire) and his future in-laws. One night he gets drunk and lost, when a 1920s vintage car pulls up and offers him a lift. He finds himself back in time in the 1920s and taken to a party for Jean Cocteau. Ernest Hemmingway promises to show Wilson's draft novel to Gertrude Stein.Wilson returns again and again, and comes to realise he doesn't love his fiance and has instead fallen for Picasso's mistress. He confides in Dali and Bunuel and...(to quote Kenny Everett's Cupid Stunt) "but I'm telling you the plot.

Suffice to say the film has a nice and unpredictable resolution (apart from the fact that he splits from his fiance - that's entirely predictable).

I liked it. there I said it. I liked a modern Woody Allen film and an Owen Wilson film. Two for the price of one.


Contagion 3.5/5
So what would happen if a global flu pandemic occurred? Well according to this film millions of people will die. But it's not all bad, Gwyneth Paltrow sucombs within the first 10 minutes.

This film has the feel of one of those docu-dramas you get from time to time. There isn't really enough...what's it called...plot. Bug spreads, people die, society is pushed to the brink of collapse, doctor discovers a vaccine, hooray. But having said that it is a compelling film. It's one to watch once, but not when you have a sniffle.

Oh and Jude Law's Aussie accent? Purrrlease!!!


Duran Duran live
Sky Arts showed a Duran Duran concert from 1987 and for some reason I was drawn in to watching it. I wasn't a fan back in the 80s. I'm not sure many guys were. Girls tended to fall into either the camp of Duran Duran or Spandau Ballet (a bit like 1 Direction and JLS nowadays). But over time I have grown to appreciate the fact that DD actually wrote some damn good songs.

This performance, if not showing Duran Duran quite at the peak of their popularity was not far off. Le Bon was a surprisingly charismatic front man.And curiously for a band whose other members seemed intent on covering themselves in glue and then rolling around in the worst fashion excesses of the decade, Le Bon's look holds up pretty well.

Which is curious because not too long ago he was seen looking like this

Now who does he remind me of?

Two Kenny Everett references in one blog GTFI!

In my next blog (unless something interesting happens) I will indulge my inner geek. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

24 - Microdiscectomy + 19

Has it really been 19 days?

19 days of these four walls? 19 days of various degrees of pain and boredom? 19 days of overdosing on tv?

Yes it has.

On the plus side I got the date of my first physio session today. 8th April :) So I should start getting some proper focused rehab in a couple of weeks.

There's not really much else to report on the recovery front.


Boxset watch

24 Season 1
I finished the first season today. It has been a compelling rollercoaster of a show. I can see why such a buzz was created at the time, albeit the 24 episode format meant that there were rather more twists and turns than were plausible.

I have rarely seen an organisation on tv that is both as sophisticated as the Counter Terrorist Unit and as fundamentally hopeless. An organisation riddled with incompetence and traitors. Ok, so hopefully all of the traitors are out of the way now. But with 6 more seasons to watch I worry if there will be anyone left by the end.

Much was written about President Palmer and how he may have desensitised America to the concept of a black President. Maybe I will get more of an insight into that in future seasons. I'm not sure I saw it in Season 1. Because as much as he came across well, his wife would have done Michelle Obama no favours whatsoever.

I hope you won't find it too mean of me to say that I am glad Bauer's wife died at the end. She annoyed me. And if his daughter doesn't get her act together soon she will be next for the chop. Keifer Sutherland was simply brilliant as Bauer. No two ways about it. Vulnerable and tough in equal measure. One of tv's great leading men.

Once I get my breath back I will start Season 2, but I think I will hammer some of the other boxsets first...



30 Rock - S1 eps 1-8

Parks and Recreation - S1 full season

Sopranos - S1 eps 1-4
Utopia - full series (6 episodes)



Film Watch

Men In Black 3  3.75/5
The first MiB film was tremendous fun. The second was a bit of a let down. Yeah I know. Sequel in let down shock. Well I'm glad that they waited so long before making the third film because if it wasn't as good as the first it was well on its way.

So basically it is the classic 'reality has been altered so someone has to go back in time to change something and make it all ok again. But it's done well. Some really clever characters, and a lovely visit to Warhol and the Factory. It ended as these things often do with a big set piece historic event as the background. In this case the Apollo 11 launch.

It was smart, it was funny, and it was quite touching at the end. I'm glad I caught this.


Caddyshack 3.25/5
I guess Rodney Dangerfield is an acquired taste, and though Chevy Chase has had his moments this is not really one of them. The film is worthwhile for Bill Murray and the gopher. Between them they steal the film. I loved this film as a kid. It must be 20 years since I last saw it. I don't love it now, but I did enjoy it.

Things I learned today whilst mining the wikipedia page about the film is that the perky breasted and beautiful Cindy Morgan (playing Lacey Underall - clearly a name that the Bond producers felt they could spare) is blind, which makes her diving board leap all the more impressive.


Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines 3.5/5
This is one of those films. You know, the kind you have seen many times but probably not in one sitting? Well that's what it was for me. I remembered elements of it and probably on a Sunday afternoon as a kid I did see the whole thing, but that would have been a long long time ago. It's one of those multi-star vehicles that the 60s did so well and we don't get so much any more. It's a delight to watch. Silly harmless fun where nice guys win and rotters are foiled.

Terry Thomas is brilliant as his proto-Dick Dastardly and Gert Frobe is comedy gold as the hapless German. There is something intensely watchable about this film. It's a bit too loose and rambling to be a true classic but it's a delight.

First Men In The Moon 3/5

I understand this film was remade a couple of years ago. My question would be why? If you want to see a truly excellent recent sci fi film set on the moon, try Moon.

A bit like The Day The Earth Stood Still (TDTESS) last week this was a film very much of its time, with a large debt owed to The Time Machine. After 1969 such fanciful stories were not possible. It is a fantasy. The basic plot is that satronauts landing on the moon discover that in 1899 the Brits got there first. A survivor of the trip is found and tells his tale.

Aesthetically and in its production values the film is very similar to the Peter Cushing Doctor Who movies of 65 and 66. The monsters (insect like Selenites) could equally have appeared in just about any Doctor Who episode until 1989.

Animation is courtesy of the great Ray Harryhausen and works well for a film of its time and type. Like TDTESS there is some moralising. The Selenites try to understand humans but Lionel Jeffries tells them that soldiers are heroes on earth although wars are considered bad, you know things are going to turn ugly. Jeffries stays behind to his fate as his companions escape. When, 70 years later, a multinational team of astronauts explore the moon they find no sign of life and the civilisation in ruins. In a neat twist on The War Of The Worlds, Lionel Jeffries had a cold when he went to the moon and that humble virus was enough to kill the Selenites




The Muppets 4/5
Beginners 3.5/5
Friends With Benefits 3/5
Jeff Who Lives at Home 4/5
The Space Between 4/5
The Challenger 4.75/5
Genevieve 3.5/5
S1M0NE 2.5/5
Yangtse Incident 4/5
The Day the Earth Stood Still 3/5
The Hunger Games 4.25/5

On the road again - Microdiscectomy + 18

In today's blog:
- Curse You Mother Nature
- The Beard Thing
- Boxset Update

Curse you mother nature!
Things have improved a bit in the last couple of days. It's all about managing your body. On Saturday and Sunday, due primarily to the snow I was sat down for far too much of the day. This I suspect was the cause of the spasming and pain I felt in my vulnerable left side. Yesterday I tried an experiment. I set an alarm every time I sat down to ensure that every 30 minutes I was prompted to get up and walk around for a couple of minutes. Despite watching an awful lot of tv I felt very good by the end of the day. I walked well on my treadmill, and I had my best night's sleep yet. Today I was less regimented but nonetheless got up regularly and used the treadmill and the result was much the same. It makes me wonder how I would be doing if the weather had been more Spring-like rather than Wintery for the past week.

I also tried driving again today. It was only 1 mile to Tesco and a mile back, but it didn't feel bad. With the correct back support I would fancy my chances of a longer drive. Friday night's Cobblers match v Torquay comes to mind.

I've decided to give the wound pics a rest, because quite frankly there's not much new to see until the scabs come off.

I'm still finding the mental side tough. I'm a sociable person, and being kept away from people is not great. I've had my low points, and it caused me to have a deep muse on the nature of friendship today. But I am keeping that blog post for another day. Or maybe never. Instead - here's more beardy stuff.


The beard thing
Well in truth I thought that the beard focus of the last post might generate more discussion/entertainment than it did. Thanks to Jen K and Duncan for their comments on the blog itself. Grace deleted hers but I suspect that I can guess what she wrote. Suffice to say neither the human cannonball nor the 70s gay porn star looks are strong contenders.

On facebook Steve D suggested the Ed Helms look. By which I assume he meant this, or a goatee variant thereon:

Though with the way the colouring seems to be developing this look now appears to be a viable option in the longer term: 

If I go down that route I have to hope that there is no causal link between crazy facial hair and anti-semitism. 

Putting aside this guy of course:

The consensus was to keep what I have tidy, definitely not have a moustache, and curiously that I should not start wearing baseball caps.

OOOPS!

Boxset Update


I will from now on put the most recently watch shows/films at the top of each section.

TV

24 - S1 eps 1-19

30 Rock - S1 eps 1-8

Parks and Recreation - S1 full season

Sopranos - S1 eps 1-4
Utopia - full series (6 episodes)

a recommendation in waiting via Jo is: The Following.

Film / my rating out of 5

The Muppets 4/5
Beginners 3.5/5
Friends With Benefits 3/5
Jeff Who Lives at Home 4/5
The Space Between 4/5
The Challenger 4.75/5
Genevieve 3.5/5
S1M0NE 2.5/5
Yangtse Incident 4/5
The Day the Earth Stood Still 3/5
The Hunger Games 4.25/5

Does it hirsute me? - Microdiscectomy + 16

A quick update before the main event of this blog.

I'm having more problems walking than I did before. I suspect this could be due to sitting around too much (thanks rain and snow). But it feels like an injury, which is worrying. It's not in the centre of the back, more in my left hip and it feels more muscular. Fingers crossed this passes. 

The wound continues to heal well, and I am not feeling any pain in the centre of the back near the wound. I can bend relatively well. In the light of the concerns above I consider this to be a good sign. 

Saturday was a tough day. I had been hoping to go to the football. But snow and arctic temperatures put an end to that. The game went ahead but I decided that discretion was the better part of valour. I felt down. Not just because of that. As I said in an earlier blog, the biggest challenges right now are mental. It was one of those times where you can pull yourself out of the gloom, or someone else pulls you out of it for a while, and then you sink back down. Thanks to those who brought me some relief from the gloom through facebook, messages, texts, and emails. It really is appreciated.

Today at Jen's suggestion I went quizzing for the first time since the op (I didn't drive). Sitting still did me no good. I struggled to walk about after sitting around and had to pop a tramadol, but boy was it good to get out. Oh and we stormed the quiz. 60/65 points and clear winners by 7 points. All in all a worthwhile night out. But perhaps an indication of how far off I am being right. I can't hope to return to work until I can sit for significant periods of time without seizing up.

Beardy Weirdy

Today also marks the 17th day of my beard. I didn't set out to grow a beard. In fact I have always avoided growing it for too long, as a genetic gift from both sides of the family are some recessive ginger genes. I have nothing against ginger hair, it just looks a little odd to have it on one part of your head and not the rest. Especially since the other genetic gift of prematurely grey hair hit me.

But being wary of hurting my back by leaning over the wash basin to shave I let my beard grow. I last shaved on 8th March, and at some point a week or so in I realised I actually quite liked having a beard. Even with the ginger two-tone oddness. Opinions have been split amongst the two friends who have voiced an opinion.

I am determined to keep it until I return to work, which is at least two weeks away. However, it is now getting to a point where I have to start thinking about trimming or shaping the beard. This is how it is at the moment.

So I found an app and a pic of me clean shaven and put together a selection of style options. I invite you to tell me which you think I should definitely consider. Yes I know I am a hostage to hilarious japesters suggesting the craziest of the options, but to be honest the funnier the feedback the better. 

So in the comments section please tell me what you think of these, or suggest some alternatives (preferably with links). Click on the pic to see a larger version

  In the meantime I shall be lovingly cultivating my new furry facial furniture and awaiting your comments.

The two week round-up - Microdiscectomy +15

Two weeks ago today I had my operation. Just in case anyone is catching this blog late here is what to expect (based on my experience) if you have microdiscectomy surgery.

The Operation
You are under a general anaesthetic so you won't know anything about it. The operation takes anywhere from 1 to 2 hours. Because you are on your front for the duration of the operation you will have red marks on the front of your body and your face. These will fade. I was taken to the theatre just before 9am, was awake in recovery by around 11.30 and back on the ward by midday.

Directly after the operation
You are clearly still full of drugs. I was told I could have various painkillers right up to liquid morphine if I needed it. I didn't. I was stiff and achy, as if I had freshly injured my back (which in a way I had), but apart from some soreness I was not in too much discomfort.

A couple of hours after the op I was able to walk to the toilet to urinate. Upon my return I was able to dress myself.

Depending on when you have your operation and how well you respond to the anaesthetic determines when you will be released from hospital. I was fortunate enough to have been first in theatre that day and was released in the evening.

The 1 hour drive home was not too uncomfortable. Make sure you have soft pillows available to support your back on the journey home.

Pain
Discomfort and soreness characterise the pain you feel in the first week. If you sit for too long you get sore and stiff. If you walk too much you are sore and ache. There is no getting away from the soreness. But it is manageable with ibuprofen and tramadol.

In the second week I developed more localised pain in my left side. This is the side that the disc was bulging. I hope that this is symptomatic of that part of my body readjusting after the op. Time will tell.

The Wound
The wound is around 2 inches in length. Neatly sewn with dissolvable stitches. At first look you wonder what kind of scar you will be left with . The sewn up incision is significantly raised. The wound is tender at first but never excessively so.

From 48 hours after the operation significant bruising emerged. It looked blotchy and red. Due to concerns about infection in the wound area I had it checked by a doctor, but it was just natural bruising in reaction to the operation and sitting still.

The dressing on the wound must stay on for 48 hours after the operation. After that there is no increased risk of infection from showering (though a bath is not possible). You are not supposed to soak the wound due to the stitches. I used the antimicrobial wash that I had to bath with pre op. Spread it over the wound and then by the time I had washed my hair I was ready to rinse the wound site and then immediately dry (patting with a towel rather than rubbing).

Unexpected side effects
What they don't tell you is that a common side effect of this surgery is that you often get constipated. That's not usually such a big deal, but when your lower back has been sliced open, it is not much fun trying to persuade your body to expel several days of waste.

Exercise
You should try to be active from your first day at home. Certainly, sitting around all day does nothing to benefit your back. Every hour or so get up and walk around for 10 mins. I did a rudimentary step routine on my stairs. 50 steps.

Later I walked with a book balanced on my head to encourage the right posture. There is no sense healing your back into a slouch.

A couple of days after the op I was able to walk 1 mile. It was very tiring but great for my morale. Gradually the walks got longer and the tiredness diminished. The walking became more fluid. The trick is to keep walking regularly.

A set of light exercises provided by the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals are designed to gently stretch you and maintain flexibility are part of my programme. It says to so them 3 times a day but I didn't get to that level until into my 2nd week.

Driving
I was told that you can drive when a) you are comfortable turning your body and b) when you would be able to make an emergency stop without problems. I tried driving 12 days into my recovery. Just a short drive to the shops. Afterwards I felt stiff. I know that I could drive if I needed to, but I will take it slowly.

Nourish your soul
You will have a lot of time to think. Fill your time productively. Have people visit you and take you out from time to time. Read, enrich yourself by what you watch on tv. Interact with people.

Getting back to normal
One of the aims of the op was to relieve my sciatica symptoms. It could take up to 6 months to see if this is a success.

I should be able to work from 4 weeks after the op, though I might not be up to commuting for a little while after that.

I will be having physio, hopefully from around 4 weeks after the op. I will also be able to swim from around that point. Running is still not possible because of the impacts it sends through your spine, but walking on a treadmill or cycling on an exercise bike are possible (as long as the back can cope).

I should be fit to umpire a cricket match after 12 weeks, and fit to resume playing more active sports after 24 weeks (6 months).

Final thoughts
Is this something to be worried about? All surgery has its risks so it would be stupid to say no. But in the hands of a good neurosurgeon this is a routine operation. The results are not entirely predictable however. But if a herniated disc is making your life a misery, or stopping you from being as active as you would like I would recommend it. It is worth the level of discomfort I have had in order to see if it works.

Traversing plateaus - Microdiscectomy + 13

There comes a point in every climb...
...when the steep climb drops away, the horizon emerges and you reach the top. But sometimes you realise you haven't actually reached the top. You've reached a plateau. There is further to go, but you have to traverse the plateau first.

I feel like I've reached a plateau in my recovery. There was a rapid improvement over the first 9 or 10 days. But the last few have felt much of a muchness. It's not as if I feel right. Certain movements cause back spasms from time to time, rather like when I first injured my back. Though overall the stiffness and aching have diminished. I have an occasional a pain around my left hip, and the numbness in my left leg and foot remains.

Work it baby
I have not been overdoing my exercises. Just 4 simple gentle stretches, plus the walking I have been doing. Tomorrow I will start using the treadmill to enable me to do a few short walks every now and then, no matter what the weather. I am listening to my body. I am stopping when it yells at me. But I am not going to let it off the hook. The easiest thing in the world would be to just vegetate in front of the tv and plough through my boxsets (for progress on these see below), but my long term prospects are linked to the sensibly paced strengthening of my core strength. So I need to try to strike a balance that doesn't risk injuring myself.

The power of hello
Never having had any significant period of illness before I don't think I had quite appreciated how much even the smallest gestures can mean. A text here, a phone call there, or a visit. They all do wonders to lift the morale. I wrote last time about my friend Stef and her daughter Hannah taking me out to lunch. Today it was the turn of my Mum and Dad. Although they only live about 30 miles away, for various reasons the drive to Flitwick is quite a big thing for them. So it meant an awful lot to see them and spend time with them.

It doesn't matter that you are doing well in your recovery, it still means a lot when people take time out of their day to say hi. It is that power of hello that is one of the big things I will take from this experience.


Wound pic time

Now looking nicely scabby. Note a cheeky bit of stitching poking out at the top. I know a friend who removed her own stitches once. I'm wondering if I will have to follow suit.

Boxset watch

TV

Utopia - full series (6 episodes)

Sopranos - S1 eps 1-4

Parks and Recreation - S1 eps 1-4

24 - S1 eps 1-8
30 Rock - S1 eps 1-8

Film / my rating out of 5

The Muppets 4/5

Beginners 3.5/5

Friends With Benefits (partial) 3/5

Jeff Who Lives at Home 4/5

The Space Between 4/5
The Challenger 4.75/5
Genevieve 3.5/5
Simone 3/5

Who the hell needs two colour schemes on their head? - Microdiscectomy blog +11

It was an unusually nice and sunny day...
...on Monday when I walked to my Doctor's. It was a walk I had done before you may recall. This time I walked more smoothly. My walk to the station is normally 8 minutes, I got there in 10 and was at the Doc's inside 15 minutes. This is progress. I was a little sore as I sat down, but my major concern was avoiding the people with coughs and lurgies. The surgery's waiting room is not a good place to be if you have a low immune system. I wonder how many people have been finished off by their fellow patients.

Anyway I saw the very nice Dr Webb for the first time. I asked about getting a physio referral and she said she would sort it out. I asked about the rash around my wound and she agreed that it was probably an allergic reaction to my dressing. The rash is now dying down I'm glad to say. For the latest wound pic scroll to the bottom of this blog.

I asked about the sciatic twinges I've been getting. Dr Webb said (as expected) that this was normal. The nerve is recovering after being pinched for so long. It could take up to 6 months to settle down but this was nothing to be worried about. If the pain gets too much I can have more gabapentin.

My surgeon said that I should be able to start swimming after 4 weeks. The doc examined my wound and said that I could probably take a short dip after Easter. Yay.

Who the hell needs two colour schemes on their head?

All in all I left in a very positive frame of mind. So much so that I took this picture of me with my ginger beard in all its glory. What a cruel trick mother nature has played on me. My hair prematurely grey and receding, while my beard comes out in a totally different colour. What kind of design flaw is that? I'm like an 80s car in need of a go-faster stripe to separate two different shades of paintwork.

If I keep this beard (which right now I am inclined to trialling) I have a dilemma. Do I embrace the two-tone look or do I consider dying my hair, my beard or both? Thankfully as I don't have to go to work for a while this dilemma can be mused on for a couple more weeks. If you have any thoughts, answers on a postcard to...oh wait...just use the comments section.


Mo Visitors Mo Morale
Hot on the heels of my visit from Paul and Kay on Sunday, I received a text from my old Uni mate Stef asking if I wanted a visit from her and her one year old, Hannah. Of course! Even that text lifted my spirits. Well that was nothing compared to the visit itself. Nelson Mandela said that the thing he most missed while he was in prison was children. I can well believe it.

Stef suggested we went out for lunch, and so we headed to The French Horn in Steppingley. It's an attractive old pub which serves really nice food. We sat in the restaurant area and proceeded to enjoy a couple of hours of chat, lovely food and cooing over Hannah. If you don't believe quite what a cutie she is, here's a pic.

By the time Stef dropped me off back at home I was feeling really great. I really think good friends and cute 1 year olds should be prescribed on the NHS.

Boxset watch

TV

Utopia - full series (6 episodes)

Sopranos - S1 eps 1-2

Parks and Recreation - S1 eps 1-4

24 - S1 eps 1-4

Film

The Muppets 4/5

Beginners 3.5/5

Friends With Benefits (partial) 3/5

Jeff Who Lives at Home 4/5

The Space Between 4/5

The Challenger (tv movie) 5/5

Today's gratuitous Wound Pic