Hey guys,
Hope you are doing well. Sorry I've been MIA for so long. 2011 was an interesting year in many ways. I returned to work in August, working for a really nasty piece of work. Worked my rear off regardless, and was laid off. Not surprised. My last day is the end of January, and my package is good, so I am glad to leave the 2+ hr each way commute behind. I've been interviewing so far and think I will be able to pick up work that is closer to home fairly fast. That's the hope anyway!
As for post-op, things are going well. I am frustrated that I am still not 100% but guess I have to accept that it will take 2 more years or so before I'm really at whatever my new baseline will be. I still get late day fatigue in my upper back/neck, which is less than it used to be.
Ed, I dismissed your foam topper recommendation, until my inability to sleep comfortably left it as a last resort. Putting a 4" topper on a select comfort bed was just the ticket! I can sleep on my side again! Granted it's a pillow fortress with my body pillow (sorry, husband) but hey, I'm sleeping really well! Thank you for that rec!
I think about my surgery every day. I worry often about breaking a rod or having to go back under the knife, or being in a car wreck. There are things I miss that will never do again. My PT says I'm about 80% of where I will be. Even now, I can tell you for sure that 80% of post-op is about 110% better than I was pre-op. For months it seems like nothing changes, then I feel something substantially improves. So far no setbacks. I am happy that I can walk as much as I can. You know, I would read on the boards pre-op about everyone walking and how you loved walking. Walking was so painful to me that I dreaded it. I thought, "Who the hell wants to walk that much? I am not a walker." Well, I still don't think, "I'd like to go hiking (I hate hiking)", but I do think, "I'd like to park far out at the mall and walk around until I buy everything that I came for without having to prioritize where I go, in case I have too much pain and can't stay as long as I'd like." It was a surprise to me when, one Sunday, I was driving my car to my 3rd or 4th errand and realized I hadn't prioritized the order. I used to go to the grocery first, in case I was in too much pain to do that and other things, so that at least I'd have the groceries purchased. Now, I can do what I want in the order I want, and pick up dinner on the way home without pain, most days. Apparently, other people live most their lives this way. Who knew?!
There are a lot of adjustments. Body mechanics are very hard for me. I am forever forgetting to squat and instead bend oddly at the waist, causing myself pain and/or hip spasms. If only I would remember to squat!!!
For those of you who did anterior as well, my hat is off to you. I don't know how you have made it through. That surgery looks so terrifying to me.
Anyhow, I just wanted to check in and let you know that there is another fusion success story out there.
Be well.
Hope you are doing well. Sorry I've been MIA for so long. 2011 was an interesting year in many ways. I returned to work in August, working for a really nasty piece of work. Worked my rear off regardless, and was laid off. Not surprised. My last day is the end of January, and my package is good, so I am glad to leave the 2+ hr each way commute behind. I've been interviewing so far and think I will be able to pick up work that is closer to home fairly fast. That's the hope anyway!
As for post-op, things are going well. I am frustrated that I am still not 100% but guess I have to accept that it will take 2 more years or so before I'm really at whatever my new baseline will be. I still get late day fatigue in my upper back/neck, which is less than it used to be.
Ed, I dismissed your foam topper recommendation, until my inability to sleep comfortably left it as a last resort. Putting a 4" topper on a select comfort bed was just the ticket! I can sleep on my side again! Granted it's a pillow fortress with my body pillow (sorry, husband) but hey, I'm sleeping really well! Thank you for that rec!
I think about my surgery every day. I worry often about breaking a rod or having to go back under the knife, or being in a car wreck. There are things I miss that will never do again. My PT says I'm about 80% of where I will be. Even now, I can tell you for sure that 80% of post-op is about 110% better than I was pre-op. For months it seems like nothing changes, then I feel something substantially improves. So far no setbacks. I am happy that I can walk as much as I can. You know, I would read on the boards pre-op about everyone walking and how you loved walking. Walking was so painful to me that I dreaded it. I thought, "Who the hell wants to walk that much? I am not a walker." Well, I still don't think, "I'd like to go hiking (I hate hiking)", but I do think, "I'd like to park far out at the mall and walk around until I buy everything that I came for without having to prioritize where I go, in case I have too much pain and can't stay as long as I'd like." It was a surprise to me when, one Sunday, I was driving my car to my 3rd or 4th errand and realized I hadn't prioritized the order. I used to go to the grocery first, in case I was in too much pain to do that and other things, so that at least I'd have the groceries purchased. Now, I can do what I want in the order I want, and pick up dinner on the way home without pain, most days. Apparently, other people live most their lives this way. Who knew?!
There are a lot of adjustments. Body mechanics are very hard for me. I am forever forgetting to squat and instead bend oddly at the waist, causing myself pain and/or hip spasms. If only I would remember to squat!!!
For those of you who did anterior as well, my hat is off to you. I don't know how you have made it through. That surgery looks so terrifying to me.
Anyhow, I just wanted to check in and let you know that there is another fusion success story out there.
Be well.
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