Hi everyone,
I wanted to drop by and provide an update on what 5 months post op feels for an almost 39-year old who had two posterior surgeries to fuse t3 to sacrum:
Overall I'm still happy I had the surgery done and I'm anxious to keep healing and continuing to feel better. One question tho for people with long fusions - my surgeon said its fine for me to lie on my stomach, but I actually don't know how to get on my stomach. Do you log-roll on to your stomach or flop down on the bed somehow?
Aileen
I wanted to drop by and provide an update on what 5 months post op feels for an almost 39-year old who had two posterior surgeries to fuse t3 to sacrum:
- I returned to work at 4.5 months full-time to a desk job, but my schedule is flexible in that I spend one day a week working from home. That usually means doing conference calls while lying down on the couch. The sitting is getting easier but I need to get up and move at least once an hour - when I don't, the pain kicks up noticeably.
- I'm pretty uncomfortable and need Tylenol once or twice daily. I started acupuncture at 3.5 months and go twice a week. It helps with the pain but it really helps with my energy level. I'm pretty good during the day but I like to come home and head straight to the couch to rest my back. I get up to help with dinner and cleanup, then I'm back in bed usually by 9. I still need a ton of sleep, min. 9 hours a night.
- Driving is weirdly comfortable for me, I don't need a back pillow or anything.
- I try to walk 2 to 4 miles a day, which is much harder to do now that I'm back at work. I also go to the pool 3x a week. I start PT this week as well.
- I've been cleared to start doing some bending - let me tell you, the first time I emptied the bottom rack in the dishwasher was a real letdown, I did not miss that chore. I still prefer to use a grabber or my foot.
- I've recently started wearing flip flops but I use my cane when I do since I worry about tripping - otherwise I'm weaning off my cane use. I feel a little wobbly, super robotic and SO slow.
Overall I'm still happy I had the surgery done and I'm anxious to keep healing and continuing to feel better. One question tho for people with long fusions - my surgeon said its fine for me to lie on my stomach, but I actually don't know how to get on my stomach. Do you log-roll on to your stomach or flop down on the bed somehow?
Aileen
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