2 years

[Moondoggy]

Great positive post, glad you are finding your sweet spot in world.

[Rock]

Good to hear a 'success' story and congrats on the impending arrival.
Even though I enjoy my alcohol I have always believed that it has few real benefits and many negatives.
I would be interested to hear what your "physical therapy" involves and anything about the training/background of your practitioner. More than half the world over 40 has a 'back condition' of some sort. I am always open to new information/suggestions.

[Cru Jones]

That’s a post with many highs! Well done and congratulations on all the good things (and all those to come).

[Andad]

You are on a roll Eric.

[GolfJunkie]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

Congratulations, Eric. 37 years in March for me. I’ve never regretted that decision in 1987. Keep up the good work.

Thank you!

Congrats to you as well, 37 years is incredible. I hope I can say the same one day

[GolfJunkie]

Originally Posted by SWS65SM

I will never know the pain you went through, can only say I could mildly relate to the frustration having gone through lower spinal injury that impeded my daily life/forced to quit golf. Super happy for you, looks like everything's going well and congratulations all around! Keep up the amazing work

Thanks!

[GolfJunkie]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I joke with my wife that when I retire, I'd like to deliver mail... easy to get those steps in

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

Great way to stay active in retirement

[GolfJunkie]

Originally Posted by Richris1

Outstanding on all levels! Big congratulations!

Thanks Richard.

Your sobriety and positive posts on the forum have influenced and inspired me to continue on with my journey.

[GolfJunkie]

Originally Posted by Moondoggy

Great positive post, glad you are finding your sweet spot in world.

Thank you

[GolfJunkie]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

That’s a post with many highs! Well done and congratulations on all the good things (and all those to come).

Thanks Cru

[GolfJunkie]

Originally Posted by Andad

You are on a roll Eric.

Life is good!

[stevestil]

the best "incoming" news one can get!

congrats!

[mannyv11]

Great story man, always have a blast when we get to see each other. Glad things are working out for you and keep up the tremendous work.

[GolfJunkie]

Originally Posted by Rock

Good to hear a 'success' story and congrats on the impending arrival.
Even though I enjoy my alcohol I have always believed that it has few real benefits and many negatives.
I would be interested to hear what your "physical therapy" involves and anything about the training/background of your practitioner. More than half the world over 40 has a 'back condition' of some sort. I am always open to new information/suggestions.

Thank you!

So, a little background on the injury. When I was 16 I was in a motor vehicle accident with a drunk driver. We lost control and hit a tree. I was sitting behind the driver and there was 3 others in the car. I took the direct impact. When I came to I was hanging out the rear passenger door and my left leg was pinned under the driver seat. I didn't know what happened but all I could see was a lot of blood and I was in extreme pain. Don't remember a whole lot of the actual accident scene or being extracted from the vehicle, but I do remember looking down and seeing my left leg bent in half, halfway up my femur. I was rushed to the ER where I was taken directly into the OR to try to stop the internal bleeding, that was the first surgery. I then laid in bed for 3 days with a broken leg, 8 fractures in my pelvis, a broken sternum and 2 broken vertebrae. My mom made the decision to move me to a new hospital with better care for the impending surgeries. I then spent the next few days in and out of the OR while they reconstructed my mid section and put a lot of hardware in. After 2 8 hour surgeries I then spent another 6 weeks in the hospital recovering. When I left I was in a wheel chair for 3 months. I was told it could be a year before I'd start walking again. As a 16 year old I was devastated, terrified, sad, guilty. Progress went quick and I transitioned from a wheel chair to a walker then crutches all within ~ 6 months of the accident. Once I was walking again I went on with life for the next 15 years and didn't think much of it. In my early thirties I started experiencing pain in my low back and just thought it'd be part of my life going forward.

Then in early 2020 the paid started getting worse, some days it was so bad I literarily couldn't stand up or get out of bed. I kept mentioning to doctors that maybe it was related to the hardware still in my pelvis, muscle related, etc. anything for some answers. Every doctor basically dismissed my description of the pain and went directly to the L4, L5, S1 fusion.

Not sure what my PT's background is but he listened and thought it was related to my SI joint and muscle related. We immediately started working on core strengthening. Started with stretches and kegal exercises. Then moved into balance boards, BOSU ball stability, squats, lunges, various yoga movements, etc. We continue using a trampoline rebounder with medicine balls while standing on a balance board. Very small movements that require a lot of focus and balance. It has done wonders for me and I continue going to my PT once every 3-4 weeks. In addition I walk, ride my peloton and do some sort of stretching, body weight movements and/or lifting every day. My PT is confident I will be able to start a full weight lifting regimen again in the near future, I'm just a little hesitant as I don't want to take a step back at this point.

After living though this the last few years, i've learned that I have to stay active and get my daily workouts in. I thought surgery was my only option and almost caved. So glad I didn't do it. Diet, exercise and vitamin D have been the most important things for me

[GolfJunkie]

Originally Posted by stevestil

the best "incoming" news one can get!

congrats!

Thanks Steve.

[WatchTimes]

Congrats on all fronts!
Stay strong and keep focused on the goals!
Always forward, never backwards!

[GolfJunkie]

Originally Posted by mannyv11

Great story man, always have a blast when we get to see each other. Glad things are working out for you and keep up the tremendous work.

Thanks Manny. Hope you and your family are doing well.

You've witnessed it first hand on the course. It was ugly there for a while (well it still is, I can just enjoy it now!)

[mannyv11]

Originally Posted by GolfJunkie

Thanks Manny. Hope you and your family are doing well.

You've witnessed it first hand on the course. It was ugly there for a while (well it still is, I can just enjoy it now!)

I have my man, I never realized the accident you were in / surgeries you had were that intense and I can only imagine how hard all of that was.
I am glad to see it all working out and can't wait to finally see you really swing it again, some of those iron shots even with half swings were pretty ridiculous .

I'm still waiting for my photos of our watches together! didn't see them in the LJ folder

[Carguy87]

Congrats on everything Eric you’re an inspiration man! I haven’t had the car accident/ surgeries you’ve had but I struggle with back pain as well (bad combination of arthritis and being overweight) and reading your success story motivates me to do better for myself. Thanks for sharing with us and I wish you all the best on your continued sobriety and recovery!

[harvey]

Eric you are smashing it! You can’t keep a good man down…

[colpol]

What a post

Glad you’ve came out the other end/ life is good

[TK-710]

Congratulations on two years. That’s a testament to your mental discipline and emotional maturity.

As someone who has had two back surgeries I saw this the other day and could completely relate; as I’m sure you can as well:
IMG_6567.jpeg

[KatGirl]

Congratulations on your 2 year anniversary. I hope you are attending meetings. Great news about expecting a new baby. It is the greatest joy, in life, in my opinion. Glad you are pain free, or nearly so. As for your walking goals, exercise is good for both body and mind. I power walk 2 miles uphill, at a significant incline daily,, and I’m old enough to be your Mom. Keeping physically active is so important, for overall health. Hobbies are great, too….

Kat


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Redfoot]

Great stuff!!!! Glad you are enjoying and tackling life with a positive attitude.

I celebrated 7 years sober on May 4. My wife and I welcomed our first child last November. Life is GREAT and I know I would not be where I am today if I did not quit drinking/drugging.

Wishing you the best of luck on your continued journey!

[superdog]

This is a subject near and dear to me.

I wish you enormous congratulations. You should be super proud. I am very happy for you.

I am also inspired by you. Thank you for posting.

Have had a few similar experiences. Can relate to much that you write. Not all, of course.

In any case, good for you. Making the best of your life. Keep it up. Rock on.