It is hard to believe but it has been 5 months since my surgery. I have come a long way but still have issues. I had an appointment with Dr. Rand last Thursday, May12, and won’t see him again until September when it will be 9 months post-op.
The good news is that I can walk and stand about as much as I want to pain free. This has made a great difference in my life. This is really why I had the surgery and I am thrilled. My husband and I have been exploring recreation areas that we did not go to before. I am walking up to 2 miles at a time. Dr. Rand doesn’t have any specific amount of time or distance I need to walk, just keep walking.
I am no longer wearing the Jewitt brace, which is a great relief. I wore it for about 4 months.
I got the go-ahead to start to do some gentle yoga postures, those without bending or twisting.
As for fusing, I was told it would take 1-2 years and Dr. Rand won’t order a CT scan until then. I do feel like I have a solid vertical mass that doesn’t hurt but is there. Hopefully, it means that some fusion is going on. I guess he couldn’t tell anything about fusing from the x-rays. I asked.
In addition, I asked about the possibility of the rib hump reappearing. Dr. Rand said it could happen after 1-2 years because it is not fused.
Also, I feel a bit numb below my waist. Above my waist, along the incision, I do have feeling. I was hypersensitive in that area for a while when the acupuncturist put in the needles. That has calmed down.
I still need to use the cane for another month. I use it for the long walks but not in the house. Dr. Rand thinks it helps with keeping the correct posture.
I still use the bone stimulator and will have it for another 3 or 4 months until it “runs out.” I have been wearing it for 4 hours a day but was told that I can reduce to 2 or 2 ½, if needed, and not to take it on vacation. The directions tell you not to put it in your carry-on luggage. I guess it doesn’t do well going through security.
The referred nerve pain in my upper abdomen, coming from T8 and T9, is less intense and less frequent, but I still have it. I did have three different kinds of steroid shots but don’t think they really helped. I have had 11 acupuncture treatments and think that has been of more help. I will continue with the acupuncture. In the meanwhile, lying down when I have the pain helps. I wrote about this nerve pain in other postings.
I have headaches in the back of my head that spread around to my temples and forehead but mainly are from the muscles in my upper back. I need to do some exercises to help with this. Also, the acupuncturist is working on this as well. I have been trying various pillows to help with this. I think the down pillow has been the best. Being a migraine sufferer, at first, I thought these were migraines, however, they are not. Luckily, the Fioricet for migraines works on these headaches too.
I am halfway through taking a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course ala Jon Kabat-Zinn but is not taught by him. It includes meditation and yoga. I recommend it, especially with dealing with pain.
I’m pleased with the outcome of the surgery. I was headed for a walker and a then a wheelchair because of the pain from walking and standing. That pain is gone!
Thanks to all on this Forum for your continued support. It is wonderful not to be alone in navigating this whole process from before surgery until you are “on the other side” and recuperation.
The good news is that I can walk and stand about as much as I want to pain free. This has made a great difference in my life. This is really why I had the surgery and I am thrilled. My husband and I have been exploring recreation areas that we did not go to before. I am walking up to 2 miles at a time. Dr. Rand doesn’t have any specific amount of time or distance I need to walk, just keep walking.
I am no longer wearing the Jewitt brace, which is a great relief. I wore it for about 4 months.
I got the go-ahead to start to do some gentle yoga postures, those without bending or twisting.
As for fusing, I was told it would take 1-2 years and Dr. Rand won’t order a CT scan until then. I do feel like I have a solid vertical mass that doesn’t hurt but is there. Hopefully, it means that some fusion is going on. I guess he couldn’t tell anything about fusing from the x-rays. I asked.
In addition, I asked about the possibility of the rib hump reappearing. Dr. Rand said it could happen after 1-2 years because it is not fused.
Also, I feel a bit numb below my waist. Above my waist, along the incision, I do have feeling. I was hypersensitive in that area for a while when the acupuncturist put in the needles. That has calmed down.
I still need to use the cane for another month. I use it for the long walks but not in the house. Dr. Rand thinks it helps with keeping the correct posture.
I still use the bone stimulator and will have it for another 3 or 4 months until it “runs out.” I have been wearing it for 4 hours a day but was told that I can reduce to 2 or 2 ½, if needed, and not to take it on vacation. The directions tell you not to put it in your carry-on luggage. I guess it doesn’t do well going through security.
The referred nerve pain in my upper abdomen, coming from T8 and T9, is less intense and less frequent, but I still have it. I did have three different kinds of steroid shots but don’t think they really helped. I have had 11 acupuncture treatments and think that has been of more help. I will continue with the acupuncture. In the meanwhile, lying down when I have the pain helps. I wrote about this nerve pain in other postings.
I have headaches in the back of my head that spread around to my temples and forehead but mainly are from the muscles in my upper back. I need to do some exercises to help with this. Also, the acupuncturist is working on this as well. I have been trying various pillows to help with this. I think the down pillow has been the best. Being a migraine sufferer, at first, I thought these were migraines, however, they are not. Luckily, the Fioricet for migraines works on these headaches too.
I am halfway through taking a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course ala Jon Kabat-Zinn but is not taught by him. It includes meditation and yoga. I recommend it, especially with dealing with pain.
I’m pleased with the outcome of the surgery. I was headed for a walker and a then a wheelchair because of the pain from walking and standing. That pain is gone!
Thanks to all on this Forum for your continued support. It is wonderful not to be alone in navigating this whole process from before surgery until you are “on the other side” and recuperation.
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