I want to wish everyone a healthy and happy new year 2013!
My surgery was a life-changing event for both me and my family. Now, I can walk and stand as much as I want without pain. Since my surgery, my “cane seat” has been in the closet. Before the surgery, I hardly left home to travel or shop without it.
I would say I am about 90% pain free. But, any pain I have is more aches or tightening in the back. I don’t have the pain running down my leg. The unusual referred pain I had going from the top of my surgical site around to my upper abdomen is mostly gone. I notice that, when I am under a lot of stress, I can get the pain in my abdomen but it is nothing like what I had after surgery. I am still going for acupuncture once or twice a month just to be sure the pain doesn’t return. I really believe that the acupuncture helped to relieve the pain when nothing else except lying down did. Once I realized my headaches were caused by my position at my desktop computer, the headaches from the occipital nerve ended also.
Doing Svaroopa yoga has helped me with my suppleness. After two years, I can tie my shoes in the center of the shoe and can sit in a “crooked leg” position. I am careful with a spinal twist and use a block under the elbow of the opposite direction to which I am lying. But, I do have some twist motion.
I have hiked which I never did in my life and enjoyed it. Last summer, I kayaked and biked. I did buy a new bike so I am sitting upright instead of leaning over. My husband and I have a tandem kayak and I get in the front. How I do it isn’t very elegant, but I get in and sit down and I’m fine. I also sailed in our daysailer and moved back and forth across the center board on my knees so I didn’t have to bend.
Surgery has changed how I bend, but that is a small price to pay for the rewards I have gotten post surgery. I still use the grabber when I am too lazy to get down on one or both knees.
This winter, I look forward to cross-country skiing, which I had done before surgery, and trying snowshoeing, which was impossible before because it was like walking.
I want to thank all the people on the Forum who were cheering me on and giving me the confidence to go ahead with the surgery. The first 6 months to one year wasn’t easy, but the freedom I have in my life now was worth it and you were there to support me. I am always willing to do the same for people considering surgery or who want support now. I have been in touch with some people, who are new to the Forum.
At this season of reflection, I am truly blessed with a reconstructed back that helps me live a more “normal” life, as far as all the pain I endured for so many years. On May 4, my first grandchild was born. I am able to take her for a walk in the carriage without concern for how long I can walk. Getting on the floor is a challenge. Any suggestions??? Because of the screws into my sacrum, I really can’t sit on the floor but low chairs seem to work or sitting on yoga blocks.
December 7 has world-wide historical significance but it has specific significance to me.
My surgery was a life-changing event for both me and my family. Now, I can walk and stand as much as I want without pain. Since my surgery, my “cane seat” has been in the closet. Before the surgery, I hardly left home to travel or shop without it.
I would say I am about 90% pain free. But, any pain I have is more aches or tightening in the back. I don’t have the pain running down my leg. The unusual referred pain I had going from the top of my surgical site around to my upper abdomen is mostly gone. I notice that, when I am under a lot of stress, I can get the pain in my abdomen but it is nothing like what I had after surgery. I am still going for acupuncture once or twice a month just to be sure the pain doesn’t return. I really believe that the acupuncture helped to relieve the pain when nothing else except lying down did. Once I realized my headaches were caused by my position at my desktop computer, the headaches from the occipital nerve ended also.
Doing Svaroopa yoga has helped me with my suppleness. After two years, I can tie my shoes in the center of the shoe and can sit in a “crooked leg” position. I am careful with a spinal twist and use a block under the elbow of the opposite direction to which I am lying. But, I do have some twist motion.
I have hiked which I never did in my life and enjoyed it. Last summer, I kayaked and biked. I did buy a new bike so I am sitting upright instead of leaning over. My husband and I have a tandem kayak and I get in the front. How I do it isn’t very elegant, but I get in and sit down and I’m fine. I also sailed in our daysailer and moved back and forth across the center board on my knees so I didn’t have to bend.
Surgery has changed how I bend, but that is a small price to pay for the rewards I have gotten post surgery. I still use the grabber when I am too lazy to get down on one or both knees.
This winter, I look forward to cross-country skiing, which I had done before surgery, and trying snowshoeing, which was impossible before because it was like walking.
I want to thank all the people on the Forum who were cheering me on and giving me the confidence to go ahead with the surgery. The first 6 months to one year wasn’t easy, but the freedom I have in my life now was worth it and you were there to support me. I am always willing to do the same for people considering surgery or who want support now. I have been in touch with some people, who are new to the Forum.
At this season of reflection, I am truly blessed with a reconstructed back that helps me live a more “normal” life, as far as all the pain I endured for so many years. On May 4, my first grandchild was born. I am able to take her for a walk in the carriage without concern for how long I can walk. Getting on the floor is a challenge. Any suggestions??? Because of the screws into my sacrum, I really can’t sit on the floor but low chairs seem to work or sitting on yoga blocks.
December 7 has world-wide historical significance but it has specific significance to me.
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