Never again

[Roblin]

Phylly, It sounds like you are really doing well for no farther out from surgery than you are. I am so happy to hear of your progress. Keep up the walking as you can. If you don't mind me asking, how long were your discs that were removed in and how many levels were fused?
Praying for your continued recovery.
Roblin

[phylly]

Hi Roblin and All,
I am walking around the house and I am taking it easy. I still have to shower when my husband is home so he can tape up my back incisions so I can't wait to have my stitches out tomorrow. I still have a lot of back pain and am pretty dependent on my patch and percocet. I am hoping to cut my percocet down in the next week but when it wears off-ouch!

I feel really blessed at how well I am doing. I had my prodiscs in 1 year and 3 months so it was not too long. I had 2 levels fused L4-S1. I am hoping that I will not be too stiff because I could move so well with the discs. I know it will be a tradeoff and I hope that I will not have the pain I had from bending with the discs. My buttock and leg pain is much better although I do not spend a great deal of time sitting. I remember my BLT's. I still have calf pain too but I am hoping it is just nerve inflammation and will lesson over time.

Thank you all again for the loving support. It means so much. I feel like I have many spiney friends to check in with who understand what happens. I hope I can attend the Spiney Olympics some day along with the Spiney ski trip. That is a lot to look forward to but for now I just want to get through each day and hope for a little less pain as time goes on. I will get my OP report tomorrow so I can share more details on the surgery. Thank you for keeping in touch.
Phylly

[runner]

Phylly,

Way to go. Keep up those walks and wean your medication when you need to not when you think you need to.
It sounds like you are healing nicely, but remember easy does it.

Runner

[phylly]

Hello All,
I went to the Dr. Today for my two week update. I am feeling stronger each day. My stitches came out, and xray was taken, and I got to give my doctor a hug. He feels I am doing very well but I will still have some good and bad days and not to worry if I am feeling bad. He wrote a prescription for Forteo, a bone strengthener. I will need to be followed by an endocrinologist but I am glad because my bones have weakened this last year probably from all the epidurals I have had.

We talked about the surgery and how much bone came out with the prodiscs. He said very little because he was able to take them out anteriorly. He did put in titanium rods and pins in the posterior. He also said that my left leg weakness and muscle spasms were caused by having to retract the psoas muscle and that was normal and would go away. He was very positive about my outcome and will see me again in a month. Dr. Carlson also said that I could drive when I felt up to it which I don't yet. I was surprised about that and don't want to push it.

I was pretty tired when I got home and have been a blob today but in a good mood. Tomorrow I am going for a nice long walk. It seems like I have been able to cut down the percocet a bit and I am going to try to get down a bit more before I see my PM and he cuts it down more. My husband told me that the BMP used in the surgery causes more inflammation in the surgical site and probably a bit more pain for awhile so I feel I am right on track for now and I am not letting the pain get too out of control.

Thanks again for all the wonderful support I have received from everyone.
Phylly

[Justin]

Phylly,

This is fantastic news! I am so very happy for you. In a couple months, this will all be but just a memory.

[Cindylou]

Phylly, thank-you for the detailed post. It really sounds like you are right on track. I can't believe you are already 2 weeks post-op. When you wrote that you were going to take a long walk, I had to look again at where you live.....because we've got a half foot or more of snow coming today! You forget that some places in the world are still enjoying balmy weather! I actually love the snow. Just wish I was able to ski in it right now. Hang in there. Keep posting. Glad you are coming along nicely, with a few expected bumps.

My best,

Cindylou

[Gil Denis]

Hi Cindy Lou

Great news, so glad you are doing so well, we love snow.
Are you able to go to the gym to walk or go to MOA to walk around.
Some day we will ski again

Take care

Gil