Nick - I think I might have to have a steak and ale pie and a mug of tea - can't do cold or often room temperature drinks on this blasted chemo!
Peter I had sacral pain from September 06 until March time partway through the radiation. I'm guessing you will be in that level of pain plus the same amount of pain in your pelvis from the LAR? I don't know about you but it took over two months for the throbbing on any level of walking or standing for more than 10 minutes to go away.
I have read that you can lose up to S2 or S3 and not have any real impact so it sounds like yours is that low? He has to tell you about your legs in the same way I was told I may lose bladder function or feelings in my "girly" organs. It's a scary op that's for sure but I hope you can stay focused on the fact that the surgeon is confident! They don't like to overegg things generally for fear of recriminations if things go wrong so take that as a good sign.
I'm struggling to find anything other than medical articles to read on the subject
but this is a pretty big forum so I hope someone comes back to you.
Lisa x