2013—Second Lumbar Fusion
Back2008 Since 2008, I’d had three levels of vertebrae bolted together. Here are two more views of the original job:

In January, 2013: Bob removed the old fusion hardware and installed bolts and screws at the next level up. You can espy the ball of my still-functional seven-year old bionic hip-joint at lower left.
Back2008
In April, 2013, an MRI revealed such widespread degeneration that no further surgery seems indicated. By the next year, my chart at Tanner Clinic stated that I had been diagnosed with what they call “Failed Back Syndrome,” and Dr Svagr told me not to expect to be out of pain, during the rest of my mortal life. That’s been a pretty good description of the situation.
Fusion2013 Dr Kirkham prescribed delayed-action morphine, twice a day, for the duration. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of e-mailing him for a new prescription every 30 days, inasmuch as the benevolent government doesn’t trust me with renewals. Walgreen won’t mail me the stuff, either; so, I have to drag my body painfully to Kaysville Metropolitan Center and sign a bunch of forms—or impose on a kindly caregiver to do so on my behalf—each month. Is that what they mean by a life sentence? Fusion2013
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