KathyEarhart; Active L; L4/5; March 2009

[treefrog]

Kathy, I am so glad to hear how well you are doing. You deserve it, you've been through so much, it's great that you are finally on the other side of something that you so desperately wanted and needed.

I will just echo what others are saying, take it slow, and be careful how you are moving. No bending, twisting or lifting! I am extremely impressed that you went to the movies, you are a brave girl.

[Roblin]

Kathy,
I am so happy that your recovery is going so well. I can't believe you took 2 preschoolers to a movie already. That is truly amazing! I will be praying that your recovery continues to go smoothly. Btw, the scar cream they sell really does work well if you want to try it. Take care and don't let your kids run you to ragged until you are a little more recovered. If you need anything, I think I live in the same area as you. Let me know.
Best wishes for a full recovery and pain free days ahead.
In Him,
Linda

[Cindylou]

Kathy, sounds like you are coming along nicely. So wonderful. Like everyone before me has already stated, just remember to take it slow. This is the pot calling the kettle black, because I need this reminder too. Slow and steady wins the race. That's the mantra. Tuck it in your back pocket. Pull it out when you need the reminder. What are your pain levels at now? I do believe your young age will contribute significantly to some nice healing and earlier pain free days. It's all good. I could not be happier for you.

God bless you,

Cindylou

[Kathy]

I broke down yesterday and cleaned my house. I just couldn't take it anymore. I am very OCD about cleanliness (it's next to Godliness, right?) I scrubbed bath tubs, showers, sinks, vaccummed, swept, mopped, etc. I know I shouldn't have; but just couldn't handle it anymore. I just can't 'relax' if my house is a mess, it stresses me out. My hubby has been helping and keeping it picked up; but he doesn't 'clean' like I do. He does the laundry; but there is no such thing as seperating colors, pre-treating stains, not washing certain garments, etc. So far, only a couple of items have been ruined... He does load and unload the dishwasher and cooks. But he is awful about not washing the counters and stove down. After I did the cleaning, I knew that I shouldn't have, hopefully I didn't hurt myself or mess my new spine up (I did try to be careful while I did it). I actually felt better when I woke up this morning (8 hours with no drugs) than I have felt since surgery. It's almost like when I push myself and do more than I should and stay up and moving for hours at a time, that I feel better the next day. I think because my muscles are so tight and just need that movement and stretching (I have been taking muscle relaxers; but they don't help much).
Well gotta go,
my dad is taking me to lunch (yummy),
Kathy

[dshobbies]

Kathy,

You pushed it and it paid off. You were lucky. If I were you, I'd back off just a bit and build more slowly. Do what you would tell someone else to do and it also sounds like you have a great hubby. Take care of him... and you!

Dale

[Cindylou]

Kathy, I just cracked up when I read your post! That sooooo sounds like something I would do! I'm a nut over my house too, so when we are laid up, it's a major stressor. I get it. That said, you had your "fun." Now you need to ice up for awhile, because believe me when I tell you, that eventually this will catch up with you. But, kudos to you for coming here for "confession."

Keep the healing going strong.......

Cindylou

[Gil Denis]

Hi Cathy

glad you are doing so well, I agree with everyone take it easy

I am In Florida on Vacation Great weather,

Did not go to the Bonati Institute Cancled

Be well

[fuzzy]

You are now 2 and a half weeks out from your surgery and how are you feeling?

I do like to repeat what others have said and that is to be careful with those bending twisting motions. Gentle, no weight and over time slowly build up. Don't do it all or too much at once.

At about 2 to 4 weeks out I finished sanding the wood counters in my kitchen. I could take about 15 minutes of that twice a day but it was good exercise. After a week the counters were done and I was getting slowly better. But cleaning a whole house?

At 2 weeks I was not ready to go to a movie theater. For me sitting more then 15 minutes was still very painful , you are doing good!

At about 6 weeks out I celebrated by putting a telephoto lens on a camera and went photographing nature, about an hour. Camera fairly heavy, that I did not realize. Did some bending etc to get into position for the shot, etc. The next day I was in severe pain and practically down for several days and it took about a week before I felt improvement. It hurt really bad above the ADR level, worry worry. Pain went away after two weeks and I was very relieved. I did a few more minor ones like that as time went on as I clearly had to retrain my back muscles.

[Kathy]

Ok, I have slowed down. Spent most of the day in the lazy boy. I did do some shopping; but didn't bend. Had my mom come over and clean up the house for me. No kids tonight, going out to eat with my hubby. So quiet and so nice! I told my hubby that you guys said I had to slow down. Problem is, the doctor told him all this 'liberal recovery' stuff and he doesn't get it. I explained to him that you all have done this and the general consensus is to take it easy. I'd rather be too cautious than not enough and end up messed up. I am still on the percocet, down to 6 a day. I may try switching to vicodin next week. Not sure, or maybe I will break them in half. I could do muscle relaxers and be able to handle it; but I would just sleep all the time. Narcotics make me very hyper, so it is easy to get crazy with doing stuff.
Thanks so much for all the care and concern,
kathy

[fuzzy]

Moving is good but rest is good too. Steady progress is the key. At 3 weeks out I started visiting construction sites and was ready to climb some stuff but I was held back by everybody and it was echoed what the surgeon said to me: "Always use the handrail" (this was said by Dr. Zeegers) and not take a chance on slipping, stumbling, falling, miss stepping. Anything jarring on the spine. He told me to pretend to be very old and not to worry about what others think. It was hard but at the same time I had read the progress reports and comments on these pages as well and there is one consensus. Careful and steady progress, just a little more every other day. Listen to your body if it hurts, then stop.

I really kile lazyboys, my wife bought me an electric one before surgery because I could not pull levers or rock back etc. I wish I had one where ever I go.

The breaking the pill in half strategy sounds excellent if that works for you. I would rather try that then switch to a different med unless nessesary. you could even start with 3/4 pill.

[treefrog]

Yes, there is a big difference between walking and cleaning the house. Take it easy, but that doesn't mean lay in bed all the time.

No lifting, bending or twisting. All things that are part of cleaning house, unless you are very, very, very cognizant of what you are doing at all times, and don't lift, bend or twist. I would rather not try and clean the house, if there is a possibility that I will do one of those things, without thinking about it. It's just too easy to do.

[Kathy]

Yeah, I am finally 4 weeks post op!

I am feeling really good overall. My muscles are still pretty stiff; but it is not the same pain as before. The pain now will be more in my butt, legs and one-sided and higher in my back (before it was more center back). I am stil taking percocet 10mg, 4 or 5 a day and the pain is well controlled. I could take muscle relaxers and control the pain; but then I would want to sleep all day and not move around or walk (which would just make it worse) Before surgery I was on Kadian (morphine) 20mg, 2 a day and Vicodin 10mg 5 or 6 a day and I was still in tons of pain.

My incision is healed except for a little scab on the top and one on the bottom. Everytime my 3 year old, Ava, sees it, she asks "mommy you hold me now? you back better?" It is so sweet and sad. She loves sitting on my lap in the rocker and loving on me. My 5 year old, Emma has been really good at understanding and helping me. She has helped clean the house and helping with her sister. I am super proud of how well the two of them are doing. They love it that I need to walk, been taking them to the duck pond in our neighborhood, feeding the duck and getting to see all the spring babies.

I still get tired very easy; but am not sleeping great either. I was taking Ambien, after surgery; but that has run out. I now take my muscle relaxers sleep. I slept good last night; but some nights I wake repeatedly (needing to pee, which is rare for me to wake up for that). My muscles will be very stiff and then I have a hard time getting back to sleep. Sometimes, I get up, take a percocet, sit on the heating pad watching tv and wait for the medication to kick in. I then go back to bed.

Well, I think that is all for now, I'll probably think of something else later....

Kathy

[Cindylou]

Kathy,

Overall, it all sounds good. Refresh me...did you have 1 or 2 levels done? I didn't see it in your signature. Obviously, we had completely different surgeries, but I am 5 weeks post-op, so we are just one week apart in our healing. Who is following you for your aftercare? Sorry you are having some difficulty with sleep. Have you ever tried melatonin? When I am off my sleep cycle, I take it and it does wonders. I'll take it for maybe a week, to re-regulate my sleep, and then when I stop it, I have no problem sleeping through the night. Just a thought. It's over the counter.
All in all, you appear to be doing remarkable. Again, I think your young age is definitely working in your favor. Before you know it, you'll be power walking and enjoying a spring bicycle ride.

My best to you,

Cindylou