7 months post-op: what MORE should I expect?
 

Hi everyone,

I haven't posted for a long time. I'm 7 months post-op exactly, and am doing pretty good overall.
I'm still icing my back before resting--it doesn't hurt B4 I rest, but if I lay down on my back, then it will eventually suffer some discomfort.
Dr. Zeegers said my back would be "up and down" for 6 months: I'm hoping this does NOT mean that my back won't CONTINUE to improve after the 6 month milestone.
I was sort of hoping to have an Avatar Body just a few weeks post-op, which wasn't realistic.
At any rate, I was just wondering how much MORE to expect, if anything, as far as my continued progress.
The first 6 months show milestone after milestone--I could definitely notice a difference each and every month. Things lately have "plateaued", but I'm hoping that my spine and continue to improve, however imperceptible it may seem at present.
Any feedback would be appreciated. THANKS!

It can improve still. 3-18months until you stop improving I've seen put out by leading surgeon. Seen reports from people who have slowly improved up to 2 years espescially with facet symptoms (which seem to be very common with adr).

One thing I've found with this plastic widget in my back, muscular control become critical.. it can go places it shouldn't and will, mostly due to severance of anterior ligament.. my spine can go way into extension it couldnt before. Post-surgery body was completely shot, had no idea where it needed to be, but the proprioception is slowly coming back with work. Im about 7 months and heaps better than I was at 3 or 4.. was a mess.

Pilates is a very good starting point for retraining your body in this manner if you dont have any access to physio. Just remember a bad teacher will cause more confusion and pain, only way to suss that out is have a go.

Glad to hear you're doing well but in my experience, 7 months is still early. My 'healing' lasted for 2 years and from the posts I've read, that seems to be a truer extimate than 6 months.

I agree with Hooch about Pilates. However, don't do anything with which you're uncomfortable and by all means, control the sessions yourself. I made sure my instructors understood my specific limitations. There are usually several ways to do their exercises/stretches so if one isn't good for you, they can find another way. And please go slow in the beginning.

But give yourself those two years and then reevalute your healing.

Dale

very encouraging responses!
 

Thanks you two.

I'm very encouraged to hear that my spine SHOULD continue to improve. I, like HOOCH, feel that my "avatar body" is taking time to get used to. My anatomy has definitely changed--everyone says I look TALLER.
Also, RE "aches and pains", I'm finding my UPPER back is now quite aggravated from time to time. I'm wondering if this has anything to do with my lower back being so strong (structurally) that perhaps it transfers stress to the upper region. Sounds silly, I know, but my co-worker had major spine surgery on her Thoracic, and NEVER feels pain in that are, but only LOWER back pain--which is alleviated IF she exercises.
RE exercise--I've resumed biking for 4 months now. It's a great cardio.
RE resistance training--I only resumed 1 week ago. I did a chest, biceps routine on a Friday, and felt quite good during and after.
On Monday, however, I did a some seated rows (which generally targets the lower back). I didn't go to crazy with it, but eased my way into maybe 5 sets at a good weight. I had warmed up adequately too. I felt great all day...until evening. I felt as though my entire system was in SHOCK! I'm STILL in pain--upper back mainly. So I'm seeing my chiropractor this morning. He's "against" weight-training, which I feel isn't fair--since many people benefit from resistance training.
At any rate, anyone else have this experience? Not sure if it's a proprioception thing or not. I feel like my upper body NEEDS some resistance training, so that I can stay "firm"--believe me, I'm not doing it to look like Arnold; just want to feel (and look) my best.
OH yes, I have done some Pilates--long ago. Sort of expensive. But maybe that's a better way of easing into the gym scene again. I tried some assisted push ups last week, and it didn't feel right so I didn't continue. I did some Planks, which felt pretty good. But I certainly must diversify my core exercises.

Chiros... how many of them would look out of place wearing a red nose?

The thoracic thing is normal, they've put more lordosis in your lumber spine so the thoracic curve has to curve more to compensate. The spine is balanced in this fashion. If you're feeling it in your thoracic its probably good otherwise you'd feel it in your lower back if you fought the new lay of the land spine wise.

I would agree that Pilates is a good way of moving back into higher level activity. You can't afford to have a dysfunctional or weak core when you've gotten so bad you're getting fused or getting prosthetics put in your spine. You've gotta have your core and alignment sweet in a plank before you start adding a pushup hey.

I'm finding of got to learn to 'sink' into the new lordosis, and find that position of optimal loading. I had a lot of problems with going into thoracic extension, which caused lumbar extensions, and pain. But a lot of that was contributed to by my state post-op, physically a mess for 3 months chewing tramadol (prob due to fusion). Once the pain started to subside a bit I could make gains.