How long were you off work after ADR surgery?

[steve55]

Actually, as I recall, my immediate post op pain wasn't that bad. In fact, the pain peaked at about 6-7 days post op but it was muscular pain not the old back pain, no pain at all at the disc locations. I will admit that the first 24 hours made it hard for me to feel comfortable,....it wasn't pain as much ad just not able to relax. I couldn't get into a comfortable position and I was sort of climbin the walls so to speak, more like an anxiety attack . But once they gave me Valium , I immediately calmed down and was able to feel comfortable. I really never felt pain was that bad, my muscles were just tense and sore. It's nothing you won't be able to handle. And I had 3 levels done . : )

I don't think you will have trouble working 2-4 hours a day starting at 3 -4 weeks out. Even now at 9 weeks out, 4 hours is the max of my 100% comfort range. 4-6 hours is the flare up painful danger zone. Weekend and evenings off of work are no problem, even without meds. But yea, work creates issues still.

Dr b is the man!! He will check every single nerve to make sure they are fully free and decompressed. He said this is why my surgury took so long, I had many issues causing nerve compression, i believe bone spurs , but he specifically mentionef needing time to free up my nerves, so it was more than just a discetomy and disc implantation. He was so careful and detail oriented that he spent 6.5 hours on my surgury , when it should have taken only 3 hours.

Overall, the whole surgury process wasn't that bad. I was never on "oh my god " type pain, not even close. So, no worries ; ) I'm 3 levels and am very happy with my outcome despite some mild pain issues, mostly at work. Good luck all!!

[runner]

Jess,

Hang in there.
It is normal to be scared and try not to worry too much.
Easier said than done.
You will make it to the other side.
Homemade wine, huh?
Do you have a vineyard?
My husband has been making his own beer.
But we don't have barley in the back yard, he buys his ingredients.
LOL.

runner

[jessmith07]

Dale,

Your post made me cry...they were tears of relief, for the understanding and the empathy and the clarity. I have gotten so much support from everyone here, I can't even begin to thank you all.

The ultra-crazies get me most when I'm sleep deprived, which is a lot lately. Mark asked me a few weeks ago how I was holding up, if I was becoming depressed. I told him, no, I didn't feel depressed, but that I did fight it back everyday. My children, while they do occasionally get on my nerves, are like 7 rays of sunshine that beam down on me, and they give me the strength to fight. How am I going to keep fighting when I'm in Europe, so far away from them for so long?

And so, last night, I increased my anxiety medication (Cymbalta) from 60 mg to 90 mg, which was what I was on before my last surgery. I don't know why I didn't think to do that sooner (thanks Cathy!!!!). I also occasionally take Sonata for sleep, and I can take 1 or 2 at bedtime, so I went ahead and took 2. I did wake up a couple of times, but I was able to go back to sleep, and managed to get about 6.5 hours. I'll try the same again tonight.

Thanks again for all the support! (Breath in~~Breath out~~Drink Wine!!!)

[jessmith07]

Runner,

Yes, we make our own wine, but we don't have a vineyard. We DO have 8 blueberry plants in the backyard, but they aren't producing anything yet. Sometimes we buy kits, but we've also developed recipes from juice that we can get from the store. We have our own label that we call Convergence, because we developed it not long after we met, and decided that we wanted to blend our beautiful families together into one. And so Convergence was born: The occurrence of two or more things coming together; the act of coming closer. Convergence is a fruit wine and we currently have three varieties: Convergence White (Apple/Peach/White grape), Convergence Red (Concord/Blueberry/Strawberry) and our newest, Convergence Blush (Con. White + Merlot). We are still fiddling with the Convergence Red. Our last two batches were very acidic, so we've gone back to the drawing board with it and are trying something new with this next go-round, but it takes SO LONG before you can do anything. We have three batches that are about thee months old aging in the 6-gallon carboys...they need at least another two months...

[treefrog]

We have three batches that are about thee months old aging in the 6-gallon carboys...they need at least another two months...

Well that will be something to look forward to after surgery.

Well, I am having some of that anxiety myself today. My boyfriend was told that the home equity line of credit increase that he applied for (already had the HELOC, and is just asking for an increase in the amount, to pay for surgery), is going to take 3-4 weeks . They had told me it would only take a week.

3-4 weeks is too late! I need that money now!

I don't know what I am going to do. Everything is in motion to have surgery in 20 days. I have to find a way to make it happen. I just want to cry right now, but I'm at work so I have to hold it together.

[Katie]

Maybe get a letter from the bank that you can send to the doctor, explaining the situation, and they may give you some breathing room. If it is guaranteed, then this may not be a show (or surgery) stopper.

Can't hurt to ask

[treefrog]

Well, I emailed ProSpine. Telling them the situation, and asking if there were options, with some suggestions for what I can do.

I am still hoping we can get the bank to move more quickly. He will be calling them tonight, and if things still don't seem to be going our way, we will go to our branch in the morning.

OMG, I can feel the stress now in my neck. I think I should leave work early, and try to chill out at home. Luckily the boss isn't here today.

[Karger]

I know this thread hasn't been active in a very long time, but I feel I am worried just as much as Jess. Jess what was your outcome?

[Gktm300]

I contacted her yesterday she is doing well n happy about her decision.

[Michelle Maree]

Thank god others feel the same.
Here I have been feeling completely inadequate not wanting to get out of bed in the morning but having to at some point because of pain.
I am having a nervous breakdown from the stress of indecision. Wanting surgery but not sure if I can live with the outcome if not a success.
How do others keep going?
How do you keep moving forward?
How do you keep positive?
Do others see a psychologist to help them cope?
Please tell me some coping strategies because I have none left to draw from.

[jessmith07]

Michelle, one thing I've learned in the short time I've been on this forum is that I've found a wonderful group of people who KNOW what I'm going though, either because they've been there, they are there, or they're heading there. Yes, there are others who feel the same as you. I, myself, have taken the day off from work because I'm so exhausted, and I just need a quiet day. How do I keep going? Honestly, my family keeps me going. My husband is my rock and if it weren't for his patience and understanding I couldn't do this. My children NEED me to get out of bed every morning, because I don't want their childhood memories to me filled with a mom who was there but unavailable. How do I stay positive? Sheer gut force, but it gets harder and harder as the days go by because the stress is wearing me down. That's when my husband steps in and stays positive enough for both of us.

You have to have a strong support system. I am blessed to be surrounded by people that I can draw strength from, and I think that God led me to this forum as a further means of support. If you can see a psychologist, then do. It certainly can't hurt. But hang in there, and keep talking to us. It's what we're here for.

[jessmith07]

Fuzzy...lorazapam...isn't that Xanax? I have some of that somewhere. I have a fear of dentists and I've been having some reconstructive work done over the last couple of years so I have to pop a couple of those before I go so that I don't say bad things about my doctor and his mama (I actually said that to him as he was leading me to "The Chair"...no kidding! ) As for the wine, my husband and I are what you would call wine enthusiasts, and we always have a couple of glasses in the evenings to help us relax (we're both pretty uptight people naturally )...which is why I HATE taking pain medication (like the narcotics).

[fuzzy]

Xanax is short acting so it wears off after 2 to 3 hours and that together with the pain build up would cause me a major axiety attacks, like a flash i would sit straight up at 2 in the morning and that was it for the night. I could set my clock by it. My doc tried several of the others and when he heard about my xanax complaint he quickly switched me. The lorazepam is longer acting and doesn't fall of the cliff as fast as the xanax which I think it meant for anxiety (dentist) but it is weaker then the loraz which the doctors don't like to write up unless they know you real well and you can manage it as it has a addictive tendency. What happens is the usual dose does not work any more and one "ups" the dose. Not good. Luckily that doesn't happen with me but it really helps with the pain constant axiety and the fact that I might get some sleep at least for the first few hours. Last night by the way was a bad night for me has my lower half tingled, when numbish etc depending how I lied and if I move arround from not being able to sleep makes it worse. I hate this neck!

I think the Dr.s don't like to write these meds especially for chronics like me due to the abuse issue. He want me to take antidepressants instead as pain causes depression, well known fact. But I had such good luck with this simple med as it helps other ways too (not documented) that I like it for that and rather not take the other.

Oh edit: I am quite into wines myself but I had to lay really low on the wine due to my problems I had to chose, the wine, or better sleep. I have friends with fine wineries. I can go enjoy the winery have a quarter of a glass and that is all I can handle...