Hello from Arizona,
Thursday made 6 weeks since surgery and I had a visit/check-up with my surgeon last Tuesday. He said my recovery is progressing as well if not better than he expected. We viewed the before and after x-rays and I was absolutely knocked over by the wonderful sight my eyes beheld. Could not believe it was my spine, besides all the stuff (instrumentation....:>) he achieved a correction to 5 degrees. All those guys (vertebraes) are just as level as I could have never imagined, he also showed us the adjustment he made to avoid flatback. My husband said I was glowing and I imagine I was, because he gave me the best Christmas gift I could ever receive ~ an opportunity to have my life back! My incision is healed and neat as a pin. He told me to keep doing what I was doing and we would have a phone consult (we live 100 miles from Tucson) in 3 weeks and an office visit in another 6 weeks. He is certain that he will be able to see a significant improvement in the fusion process on that visit.
I am feeling well, the pain in my feet and legs is gone, the only pain I experience now is in my back and hip, that associated with the surgery. It is not excruciating, more like a tired/ache and some stinging sensation off and on. I have nearly discontinued the use of narcotic pain relievers. Only use them (maybe one or two) when I have overdone. I am gaining more stamina each day, I can pace myself and see that I am able to function physically a little more as the days progress. Also; I don't know when it happened, but it has definately made my life and I am certain my husbands much easier. I finally quit fighting the brace and aids like the raised toilet seat, walker and having to wear baggy clothes. Apparently, I wanted to be well so badly I fought these necessary items daily. The brace I grumbled, groaned and even brought myself to tears over the uncomfortable, ugly thing. I guess I finally accepted the fact that the brace was going to win....:>) if I was going to recover fully. Of course I have most of the recovery road ahead of me, but I am glad I made the decision I did, and I think at this point I could do it again (not that I would choose to) if I HAD to. I am so grateful to this forum for the support it has given me, my world class surgeon and support team at home, and I wish them all the blessings of this holiday season.
Gayle
Thursday made 6 weeks since surgery and I had a visit/check-up with my surgeon last Tuesday. He said my recovery is progressing as well if not better than he expected. We viewed the before and after x-rays and I was absolutely knocked over by the wonderful sight my eyes beheld. Could not believe it was my spine, besides all the stuff (instrumentation....:>) he achieved a correction to 5 degrees. All those guys (vertebraes) are just as level as I could have never imagined, he also showed us the adjustment he made to avoid flatback. My husband said I was glowing and I imagine I was, because he gave me the best Christmas gift I could ever receive ~ an opportunity to have my life back! My incision is healed and neat as a pin. He told me to keep doing what I was doing and we would have a phone consult (we live 100 miles from Tucson) in 3 weeks and an office visit in another 6 weeks. He is certain that he will be able to see a significant improvement in the fusion process on that visit.
I am feeling well, the pain in my feet and legs is gone, the only pain I experience now is in my back and hip, that associated with the surgery. It is not excruciating, more like a tired/ache and some stinging sensation off and on. I have nearly discontinued the use of narcotic pain relievers. Only use them (maybe one or two) when I have overdone. I am gaining more stamina each day, I can pace myself and see that I am able to function physically a little more as the days progress. Also; I don't know when it happened, but it has definately made my life and I am certain my husbands much easier. I finally quit fighting the brace and aids like the raised toilet seat, walker and having to wear baggy clothes. Apparently, I wanted to be well so badly I fought these necessary items daily. The brace I grumbled, groaned and even brought myself to tears over the uncomfortable, ugly thing. I guess I finally accepted the fact that the brace was going to win....:>) if I was going to recover fully. Of course I have most of the recovery road ahead of me, but I am glad I made the decision I did, and I think at this point I could do it again (not that I would choose to) if I HAD to. I am so grateful to this forum for the support it has given me, my world class surgeon and support team at home, and I wish them all the blessings of this holiday season.
Gayle
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