ABC NEWS: Bono injured in rehearsal, undergoes emergency back surgery

[A stor]

Annie,

I would just like to clarify something here. When, I had a sports injury. I was in pain for several weeks, not years. The injury was able to heal with conventional therapy. Which, from x-rays/imaging, etc. My doctor was able to determine. I was not a case for surgery. Back surgery has it's risk and is never the first course of treatment.

LU pointed out. Bono, from time to time, has had back problems. Almost, ten years that I have read about. It wouldn't have been horrible, continual pain. No human being can tolerate that. He is a very athletic performer. And from seeing him fall or trip, while on stage. It would be much easier for him to injure. Himself. Than, it would be for me.

The most important thing is. Bono's surgery was a success. He will feel much better than he did before.

 

[A stor]

Paralysis of any sort is a Medical emergecy and must be delt with immediately . Especially with lower back injury.


PT being the best choice, but 6-8 months will show if it is working or not. That is at the end of the range .

Exactly.....

Annie,

Six months was my time frame. For complete recovery. Ability to return to all of my normal activities, minus the martial arts of course.

Eight weeks., not one hour. I was able to do 70%. I still had to work on my dominate leg flexibility. Because of bed rest. Muscles do shrink and become tight. Four months after my injury.....100%.

My Dr. wouldn't have hesitated for one second. To set me up with a surgeon. If I was not progressing. He made it very clear and warned me as to what those "red flags" were. Paralysis was one of the two. Medical emergency treatment, surgery, STAT.

 

[A stor]

^ I was exhausted while typing the above post. I made some mistakes.

Eight months not six, recovery.

Six weeks, I was flat on my back. Four months, enough flexibility to sit comfortably in a chair. !00% better, meaning I do not have to use a cane or walker. Leg strength was good.

Bono suffered paralysis, not numbness......this is always a medical emergency.

 

[Benji2112]

Well, he is friends with kris kristofferson..

kris kristofferson- Thanks... Can't get that song" Watch Closely Now" out of my head ... Where he would talk the words as the gruff way of singing them ... Was it A Star is Born" ?
Getting old.....

 

[Cactus Annie]

LOL, the doctor clearly did NOT say any of that, and yes, you are making things up (or delusional). One cannot have a herniated disc in the lower leg or knee. Discs, along with the sciatic nerve, are located in the back.

Or is Bono perhaps an alien being with non-human anatomical features? I thought Edge was the one from outer space?

I certainly am not making this up!!!!!!!!! I read it clearly!!!!!!! Dr Tonn mentioned the lower leg!!!!!!!!!!!!! He meant the cartilage. The sciatic nerve runs from the pelvis and all the way down to the leg!!!!!!!!!

I am not a nutcase!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Cactus Annie]

That's why he was undergoing pt and MRI scans didn't reveal the disc. t was there and has been there. A disk that fragments is the end of a history, usually not the beginning. I will link some scans. They saw it.


"A Stor said that he must've had 2nd and 3rd opinions. Obvoiusly he must have been seeing specialists in Ireland at least. How can 3 people get it wrong. A Stor also said that no DR can ever predict what will happen."

I have no doubt he may have seen 20 people, and I am sure he saw 3. There are Dr's who will tell a patient what they want to hear, there are patients who will search until they find a Dr or treatment more in tune with what they want to hear. Then there are Dr's who will straight up tell them what it is.

Patients usually end up back to the one who was straight up, in time.

This Phenom is the only reason I bring up people like MJ. If a Dr didn't do what he wanted, he found one who did.

Bono found someone who he thought had a solution other than surgery, and it may have helped him in some fashion for a while,( the mind is very powerful ) but it didn't change the underlying cause, and he still had to have surgery. After trying conservative therapy, there is one other solution . He is a very lucky man .This was a close call .

This story isn't that unusual. It is more common than not.

I don't think he would've waited months with a blown disc if it was clear that PT weren't improving the situation. Harry Kewel is a footballer who is now in the World Cup and he had a back operation in March and is now fit to play a contact sport. If Bono was seeing the same people Kewel was seeing and he knew that he had an appearance at Glastonbury in June then he would've done the same thing, or at least I hope he would have. Even I would because you mentioned before that you still feel pain after sitting at a desk, well for me this just wouldn't do. I work at a desk and this type of pain would hinder my work so I would ask for surgery. My friend said that surgeons can give you a tranqualizer if you are nervous about surgery so this would be my option. Surgery is painful but in cases such as cancer or heart problems it is the only option.

If Bono knew that surgery would've been the only or best option then he would have just bitten the bullet and have done. Not even because of Glastonbury but so that he could've avoided the worrying situation of not being able to walk.

 

[Cactus Annie]

^ I was exhausted while typing the above post. I made some mistakes.

Eight months not six, recovery.

Six weeks, I was flat on my back. Four months, enough flexibility to sit comfortably in a chair. !00% better, meaning I do not have to use a cane or walker. Leg strength was good.

Bono suffered paralysis, not numbness......this is always a medical emergency.

That's what I thought when Vintagepunk said that where they come from, patients are put on a waiting list. But they did say that once surgery is done they are fine. It's not like an instinct freak accident, such as a twisted spinal cord whereby patients take years to be able to walk a short yard or even walk at all. I just think it's a waste to end up in a wheelchair because of a common injury that could've been easly treated. If Bono has the money to avoid waiting lists then he would've sorted it out sooner if it was clear that PT wasn't doing him any good.

Also, when I read that an emergency would be loss of bowl control I thought surely no one in thier right mind would let it go that far. One would choice surgery over having to wear nappies despite what pain one may experrience.

One would, wouldn't one?

 

[mama cass]

oh god i don't want to look but i can't help it

=> train wreck

 

[Cactus Annie]

And I found it kind of upseting that some people have mentioned Bono's situation in the same context as Bret Michaels. A few months ago Bret was in a coma for 3 weeks. The worry of life support is that there is always a possibility that the patient may never come out of it. Then on the same day as Bono's accident Bret had a stroke and scans showed that he had a hole in his heart. Now how does Bono's accident compoare to Bret's? They don't even cxome close. Whether or not we're fans of his music I'm sure that we hope that this is the last of Bret's health scares because he also has friends and family.

If Bono had been experiencing sciatica in 2009 then I'd say the incident in May would've been worrying because the pain was more intence and he couldn't walk. However, he was obviously aware that there was a problem. They wouldn't have spent time deliberating over scans and transfering him to anot6her clinic if he was in Bret's condition. A stroke is terrorfying and littereally every second counts. That's why I consider Bono's condition to be worrying but Brets condition is truely frightening.

 

[Reggo]

I certainly am not making this up!!!!!!!!! I read it clearly!!!!!!! Dr Tonn mentioned the lower leg!!!!!!!!!!!!! He meant the cartilage. The sciatic nerve runs from the pelvis and all the way down to the leg!!!!!!!!!

I am not a nutcase!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry to disappoint you, but there are no vertebrae in the leg.

 

[A stor]

Thanks Reggo for the medical illustration.

Annie,

Compression of the disc between the 4th and 5th vertebrae can cause sever Sciatic Nerve, pain.

Depending on how healthy the disc is. And whether or not, it has fragmented, will determine the course of treatment.

Example......small tear in the ligament, moderate bulging, swelling of surrounding tissue, puts pressure on the Sciatic Nerve. Lets say, for example, it was due to a Martial Arts injury. The disc was proven to have not fragmented, by x-rays. Still intact. Conventional Therapy is prescribed. The patient has follow up appointments with her DR. To monitor her progress. Yes, it's a bitch. Hurts like hell. The patient. She does get better. With time and PT.

Twenty, years later. Will she have a disc that fragments? No one knows. I am praying that she doesn't.

 

[Benji2112]

I don't think he would've waited months with a blown disc if it was clear that PT weren't improving the situation. Harry Kewel is a footballer who is now in the World Cup and he had a back operation in March and is now fit to play a contact sport. If Bono was seeing the same people Kewel was seeing and he knew that he had an appearance at Glastonbury in June then he would've done the same thing, or at least I hope he would have. Even I would because you mentioned before that you still feel pain after sitting at a desk, well for me this just wouldn't do. I work at a desk and this type of pain would hinder my work so I would ask for surgery. My friend said that surgeons can give you a tranqualizer if you are nervous about surgery so this would be my option. Surgery is painful but in cases such as cancer or heart problems it is the only option.

If Bono knew that surgery would've been the only or best option then he would have just bitten the bullet and have done. Not even because of Glastonbury but so that he could've avoided the worrying situation of not being able to walk.

He has been avoiding this problem for years. It does not happen over night except in cases of extreme trauma .

I doubt he gave not walking one thought. Remember, the Dr he was seeing cures everybody of everything. Why worry, Trust me Bono, a few shots, everything is great, and please pay at the window. Cash would work best > "

The disk was the issue , not so much the tear. When the disk has deteriorated to the put it fragments, this problem has been around for quite somet time. There is no question they have seen it for a while, and if they didn't, I would call the lawyer. I doubt the prmoters will allow him to return to germany for treatment

Lowerback, L4,5 s1 problems will exist even after the surgery . Muscle spasm being the worst. Ask anyone who has had it , the muscle can knot up and hurt like you have never seen . he quite possibly will end up with numbness and leg pain in some form.. It comes and goes. He will be in some form of pain management for the rest of his life.

The surgery is not a cure all, and in general, you will see somewhere around a 25 % loss, ( I will explain that later) but he has experienced a loss for a long time.

Lastly. He is wearing a hard brace. Only one reason he would be wearing one. They had to stablize the spine, be it bone graft , rods or plates.

 

[Benji2112]

Thanks Reggo for the medical illustration.

Annie,

Compression of the disc between the 4th and 5th vertebrae can cause sever Sciatic Nerve, pain.

Depending on how healthy the disc is. And whether or not, it has fragmented, will determine the course of treatment.

Example......small tear in the ligament, moderate bulging, swelling of surrounding tissue, puts pressure on the Sciatic Nerve. Lets say, for example, it was due to a Martial Arts injury. The disc was proven to have not fragmented, by x-rays. Still intact. Conventional Therapy is prescribed. The patient has follow up appointments with her DR. To monitor her progress. Yes, it's a bitch. Hurts like hell. The patient. She does get better. With time and PT.

Twenty, years later. Will she have a disc that fragments? No one knows. I am praying that she doesn't.

Well said... And no, she is doing everything right to prevent such a disk event . The body is an amazing thing and the ability to heal itself is a wonder. It just needs a little help sometimes.

I am sure you are in excellent shape. keep up with the exercise and such ( swiming is no doubt one of the best ) and you will be fine for years to come.

 

[gvox]

(sorry wrong thread!)

 

[Benji2112]

Sorry to disappoint you, but there are no vertebrae in the leg.

good post. Look at the vertabrae line to L4, L5, and watch any video of the concerts played so far, and you will see him plant his feet, and put his hand on that very space , which is a reflex action of protection and pain.

 

[Cactus Annie]

He has been avoiding this problem for years. It does not happen over night except in cases of extreme trauma .

I doubt he gave not walking one thought. Remember, the Dr he was seeing cures everybody of everything. Why worry, Trust me Bono, a few shots, everything is great, and please pay at the window. Cash would work best > "

Dr Muller probably prescribed some form form of PT that was in fitting with speed rather than safety.

The disk was the issue , not so much the tear. When the disk has deteriorated to the put it fragments, this problem has been around for quite somet time. There is no question they have seen it for a while, and if they didn't, I would call the lawyer. I doubt the prmoters will allow him to return to germany for treatment

Yes, but it was DR muller who adviced him badly.

Lowerback, L4,5 s1 problems will exist even after the surgery . Muscle spasm being the worst. Ask anyone who has had it , the muscle can knot up and hurt like you have never seen . he quite possibly will end up with numbness and leg pain in some form.. It comes and goes. He will be in some form of pain management for the rest of his life.

The surgery is not a cure all, and in general, you will see somewhere around a 25 % loss, ( I will explain that later) but he has experienced a loss for a long time.

As long as he sticks to PT, He should be able to recuporate most of his movement. Exercise is excellent for everyone because it helps slow down the ageing process (remember my 85 year old former marathon running and long distance walking godfather), it strengthenes muscles, bones and joints and it helps to maintain a strong healthy heart. I think if Gloria Estefan can be saved from paralyses from her PT specialist, then so can Bono!

 

[Cactus Annie]

In my book on Family Health the BMA suggest that if you are suffering from a pain down one of your legs and/or you have trouble moving a leg that you should see your doctor within 24 hours. It says that if the pain is severe you'd have an MRI scan and in some cases surgery will be required. Loss of bowl control is an emergency.

 

[Reggo]

I hate to see anyone lose control of their bowls. Makes it very hard to eat soup.

 

[blueeyedgirl]

http://www.mediamash.ca/files/64d50ae2b70f.jpg

 

[BVS]

^ Surgery has taken it's toll on Bono

 

[A stor]

Well said... And no, she is doing everything right to prevent such a disk event . The body is an amazing thing and the ability to heal itself is a wonder. It just needs a little help sometimes.

I am sure you are in excellent shape. keep up with the exercise and such ( swiming is no doubt one of the best ) and you will be fine for years to come.

Thanks for the reply......it is something. I wonder about. Back/spinal curvature, degenerative disc problems, do run in my family.

 

[A stor]

In my book on Family Health the BMA suggest that if you are suffering from a pain down one of your legs and/or you have trouble moving a leg that you should see your doctor within 24 hours. It says that if the pain is severe you'd have an MRI scan and in some cases surgery will be required. Loss of bowl control is an emergency.

Yes, loss of bladder, bowl control is always a medical emergency. Especially, when it is caused by back injury. The other red flag my DR. warned my about.

 

[Benji2112]

Thanks for the reply......it is something. I wonder about. Back/spinal curvature, degenerative disc problems, do run in my family.

Your doing everything right, and sounds lke you have maintained an excellent exercise program. Keep that up and you will be better, way better than the average person who just let's it go.

It is kind of the use it or lose it theory. You can stay far ahead of any degeneration with exercise, and another thing that really helps is a good matress and pillow. The old style of the Tempurpedic pillow and matress are the best. The pillow alone is well worth the 80.00 .

Most people have some form of a degenerative disk problem (s) and never know it except for pain, sorness, or tightness.

You will be good !

 

[Benji2112]

Dr Muller probably prescribed some form form of PT that was in fitting with speed rather than safety.



Yes, but it was DR muller who adviced him badly.



As long as he sticks to PT, He should be able to recuporate most of his movement. Exercise is excellent for everyone because it helps slow down the ageing process (remember my 85 year old former marathon running and long distance walking godfather), it strengthenes muscles, bones and joints and it helps to maintain a strong healthy heart. I think if Gloria Estefan can be saved from paralyses from her PT specialist, then so can Bono!

"Yes, but it was DR muller who adviced him badly".

You got that right . You don't treat someone who has a 3.4 career span the same way as you would someone who has a 40 year career span.

Gloria had some vey good Drs .

Some people remember the Buffalo Bills player a couple of years back wh had a a devestating hit during a game. Instant neck down... severe spinal cord injury . About as bad as one could get.

The team Dr had been to Miami and had a close friend on staff of the MPTCP . The Dr in Miami saw the game on televsion ,knew this Dr was the team Dr, and litterally called the Dr via cell on the field. They began right there on the field , to treat him with what I will describe cooling his body temp and blood . There was little hope before this treatment he would ever move below his neck , and within days , his was moving arms, and soon legs. Wthin weeks, he was walking ( with some help ) and continues to this day to have a very good range of motion. He is walking.

Treatment of spinal cord injuries has come a long way. This treatment is now standard , and EMS, fire departments, police etc, are now all trained in this treatment.

In animal studies, it is alost 100 % recovery of complete spine severance.

It is foolish to do mystery treatments on something so important as basic function when the science is well proven to prevent and eliminate serious complications. You will find few things that are more studied than LBP, spine problems , c-spine. As much as cancer, heart disease etc.

 

[Benji2112]

Yes, loss of bladder, bowl control is always a medical emergency. Especially, when it is caused by back injury. The other red flag my DR. warned my about.

Kidney failure, liver failure, total system failure . It is an emergency

 

[Benji2112]

Dr Muller probably prescribed some form form of PT that was in fitting with speed rather than safety.



Yes, but it was DR muller who adviced him badly.



As long as he sticks to PT, He should be able to recuporate most of his movement. Exercise is excellent for everyone because it helps slow down the ageing process (remember my 85 year old former marathon running and long distance walking godfather), it strengthenes muscles, bones and joints and it helps to maintain a strong healthy heart. I think if Gloria Estefan can be saved from paralyses from her PT specialist, then so can Bono!

He will lose some just from the fragmenting disk . He will always have some form of pain . Hhow bad depends on his PT . It is why surgery is usually the last resort.

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

second reminder, this thread is about bono and his back problems. anyone wishing to discuss their own back problems/general medical issues can start a thread in either lemonade stand or zoo confessionals.

 

[A stor]

second reminder, this thread is about bono and his back problems. anyone wishing to discuss their own back problems/general medical issues can start a thread in either lemonade stand or zoo confessionals.

Thanks Khanada......

We are going off track.

 

[A stor]

second reminder, this thread is about bono and his back problems. anyone wishing to discuss their own back problems/general medical issues can start a thread in either lemonade stand or zoo confessionals.

Done.....I started a thread in the Lemonade stand. For folks to share medical info and advice on back exercise. It is a more appropriate place for it. Again, my thanks to you!

 

[daygloeyes2]

In my book on Family Health the BMA suggest that if you are suffering from a pain down one of your legs and/or you have trouble moving a leg that you should see your doctor within 24 hours. It says that if the pain is severe you'd have an MRI scan and in some cases surgery will be required. Loss of bowl control is an emergency.