9 weeks

Recovery is still progressing well.  I'm feeling more normal each day, but still trying to be cautious.  I've been progressing through physical therapy and they have moved me up to some more challenging exercises that definitely make me sweat.  It feels good to be able to do some type of exercise that tires me out.  They have also started me using a MedEx lumbar strengthening machine during my visits.  It is basically a giant workout machine which they can precisely control how far I can move and how resistance is there.  It is basically a restricted back extension machine that focuses on the lumbar spine muscles.  I still have to keep stretching at least twice a day to keep the right sided, straight leg raise pain away (although I did have some soreness today for the first time even though I had done my stretches).