KathyEarhart; Active L; L4/5; March 2009

[Kathy]

Originally Posted by runner

Kathy,

Things heal faster after week 3 it seems. Just keep following the orders. Are you wearing a brace?
It was nice of your friend to clean your house and do laundry. This is what is bothering me now. I have a ton of washed laundry to put away so that is bothering me right now.
Does your friend come to California? HA HA.

Remember do not bend, lift or twist. Some definitions of twisting include opening some doors and screen doors and don't reach into a pantry or a refrig to pull out stuff. I never thought of these motions as twisting or bending but I was warned by my doc to avoid those things.

Aren't you happy to be on the otherside now? It is nice to get the surgery over with and get on with the healing. Remember slow and easy like the turtle in the turtle and the hare. The turtle won the race.

Be a turtle.

Take care,

Kim

Kim,
My surgeon acted like I didn't even need a brace. He gave me a soft one, on my request. It is elastic all the way around. I bought a harder one at the medical supply store, it has a couple of the plastic 'bar' like things in the back. It is kinda like what you would wear at a job for lifting. I mainly wear it when I go out, not much around the house.
Also, my surgeon said that I could do light bending forward and didn't restrict twisting. I have been squatting down to pick stuff up, instead of bending. I am trying not to twist, but have probably done it.
I thought his reccommendations were crazy, so I have stuck more to what I have heard you all say. He told me he was very liberal on restrictions and I think maybe to liberal. Thanks for all the help, Kathy

[Justin]

Originally Posted by Kathy Earhart

Kim,
My surgeon acted like I didn't even need a brace. He gave me a soft one, on my request. It is elastic all the way around. I bought a harder one at the medical supply store, it has a couple of the plastic 'bar' like things in the back. It is kinda like what you would wear at a job for lifting. I mainly wear it when I go out, not much around the house.
Also, my surgeon said that I could do light bending forward and didn't restrict twisting. I have been squatting down to pick stuff up, instead of bending. I am trying not to twist, but have probably done it.
I thought his reccommendations were crazy, so I have stuck more to what I have heard you all say. He told me he was very liberal on restrictions and I think maybe to liberal. Thanks for all the help, Kathy

Kathy, it is great to hear you are doing well! I agree with Kimmers--avoid low-level bending and twisting. The first 8-10 weeks are key for osteointegration of the device. I know it's tough to avoid certain movements, especially when you are starting to mentally feel better. It's almost as if you have to make a conscious effort as you continue to heal.

[Terry Allen Blackburn]

The house was there before you went in to surgery, the house will still be there after you heal up.

This is an excellent time to allow others to care for you while you recover. If you overdo it and hurt yourself it does the future no good.

Here's to a rosy future.

It sounds like you are doing well.

Terry Newton

[runner]

kathy,

Now this is the nurse coming out of me as I just read your whole post. Look at what Dr. J and Terry told you.
Please, please be careful. It is the first six weeks that are really important for the bone to grow into the implant (ADR).
I realize that a clean house is so much better, but your back is even better than that.
My youngest daughter calls me OCD and I am not. I think.
Just avoid the temptation of cleaning the bathtub, toilet, etc...

End of lecture but I wouldn't be lecturing you if it wasn't vitally important.

Kim

[Kathy]

Hey, nothing to do with backs here....
My dog, Jack, a white boxer, had surgery last week on Tuesday. He has these growths that appear on his skin, that are basically just like a zit. With Jack, however, they don't go away on there own . On him, they just get bigger and bigger, finally requiring surgery. He had one on his rear right leg removed last week. He had a 5 inch incision going down the top of his leg, with tons of staples in it. Poor dog had the cone on his head; but he got smart and was using the edge of it to 'scratch' the wound. I then removed the cone, made him lay on his bed in the living room (so I could watch him and keep him from licking himself like crazy) Well, we locked him in the shower, in the bathroom on Sunday when we were gone all day for Easter (for whatever reason, the smaller space keeps him from moving around and picking at his wound). We came home Sunday evening and he still had all his staples in; but his skin was soft and gooey (like a booger) and stretched. It looked like he had a flesh eating bacteria, being the doctor I am, I diagnosed him I don't think that is what she thinks it is; more like 'bad skin' or he infected it by licking it so much. We took him back to the vet on Monday, she cut all the 'dead' skin off and kept him there (so he could be watched better than we can). He went back into surgery on Wednesday to remove more dead skin and he had ripped some staples out (why am I paying her to watch him again?) She now has him in a small kennel, so he can't turn to reach and lick his wound. Yesterday, he had a good day and was doing good (altough he is probably killing her with the whining- he is spoiled and is more high maintenance than my kids at times )


Anyways, I miss having him here. I'm worried about him, I don't think it is life threatening; but never had to leave him at the vet this long either. I decided, dogs are like kids, if they didn't come as babies and puppies, no one would keep em' We watched Marley and Me last night, it so reminded me of Jack, drives you crazy (eats your steak if you turn your back on him and it for too long); but you love them anyway! Oh, I cried like a baby when the dog died (hope I didn't ruin that for anyone).

[Maria]

Kathy,
Sure hope your pup heals soon and can come back home ASAP.. poor baby! I'd miss Lola too or the cats whenever they have to be at the Vet's overnight or for x number of days.. or even worse when I'm in Fla.visiting my Dad for a period of time..

anyway, sending cyber get well healing thoughts to your doggie and sure do understand that *thing* called love w/our animals.

Not seen Marley and Me yet as I'm afraid to cry my eyes out over it

[Kathy]

Here is a picture of Jack in his cone.

jack cone.jpg

[runner]

Oh, you can tell Jack does not like the cone.
I took my eight-year-old to see Marley and Me and I kind of felt bad because of the end but he keeps asking to see it again (on DVD).
So you never know how kids react.
Hope Jack is home soon.

Runner

[Kathy]

Just uploaded these Easter pictures to my computer and had to share. Emma is 5 1/2 years old and Ava is 3 years old.

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