First of all, I am so glad the forum is back! I really felt at sea without it. While it was gone, I detoxed from Oxycontin, had my second post op visit, tried and failed to detox from Neurontin, and started physical therapy. What I have learned while trying to go it alone without my beloved forum:
(1) I would not recommend Oxycontin to my worst enemy.
(2) Dr. Errico is my hero.
(3) It only took 3 visits to PT thus far to learn that I actually do have far more movable parts in my spine and hips than I thought I did.
The neurontin has turned out to be a last little nuisance that I have been having a tough time getting rid of. I went from 1200 mg and tapered down on a schedule to 300 mg, but when I tried to go down to 0 mg, I got very sick. After being thoroughly weakened from the Oxy detox, I didn't have the strength reserves to handle it. So I went back on the 300 mg until Dr. Errico's nurse Oksoon (who is also awesome) could get me a prescription for small increments. So first I went to 200 mg / day for a week, then 100 per day. Next I'll go down to 100 every other day. Then off finally. Either the neurontin itself, or the lack thereof, I'm not sure which at this point, is still making me sick, so I can't wait to be done with it.
At my second post op visit with Dr. Errico, he seemed really pleased. All the screws and rods seem to be still exactly where he bolted them in the first place. I've lost 15 pounds since the surgery. He says my tailbone is probably hurting me when I sit since I don't have as much cushioning. Hmmm... I still have pain in my ribs, which he was unconcerned about and says will go away, and more distressing to me I have had a rough time since going off the Oxy because I am out of breath all the time. Does anyone think that could be because of swelling? Why would I have trouble taking a deep breath? I know I am fatigued and exhausted and all my muscles in my torso are weak. And my lungs are in the vicinity of my hardware. That could be the cause. My goal is to get to my tai chi class to work on my breath, but I haven't had the stamina to walk to the YMCA where the class is held. I can walk 3-4 if need be, and I usually am walking 1.5-2 miles per day since going off the Oxy (it was a struggle to regain my distance after the detox), but the Y is just far enough away that I don't have enough strength to walk there AND take the class. That is my goal though.
PT has been a revelation. I'm not quite sure the therapist fully understands what "fusion to pelvis" means, because she keeps trying to get me to do pelvic tilts to strengthen my core, but she accepts my word when I say I can't do them. I'm pretty sure she just thinks it's a mental block I have against doing it, even though I've shown her my Xrays, but whatever. I think she's only about 25 years old. At the wise old age of 41, and having gone through what I think is probably one of the most brutal surgeries in the world, I am trying to accept that the rest of the world are mere neophytes to pain and suffering compared to me! But anyhow, all that being said, just one week of PT and I feel like a brand new person. I had been holding myself so still trying to protect my fusion, especially after going off the Oxy when I had so much pain in my ribs, that I didn't realize that there actually are muscles in my back and stomach that I can still engage and call upon. Holy Toledo! I had sort of fallen into the thought pattern that I would be a weakened invalid for the rest of my life. I'm still pretty weak. But I am amazed to know that there's definitely some potential there that I can strengthen.
I went out to see a band last night at a club for the first time in 4 months. I can count on one hand the number of times I've been into Manhattan since the surgery so this was pretty major! I did fairly well sitting on a barstool for an hour, all things considered. I'm looking forward to attempting to dance. I'm going to put that on my list of goals for my PT, along with:
1. Taking off my socks. (I can put them on, and I can take off short socks, but taking off long socks is pretty rough.)
2. Sleeping on my side. (Still very painful)
3. Being able to open heavy shop doors.
4. Returning to martial arts training. (With the exception of tai chi, I think this might be a 2015 goal.)
Anyhow, definite signs of improvement in my life. Some stupid young twenty-somethings taunted me in the east village last night for walking slow and stiff. That was pretty embarrassing. My husband tells me I need to bring my cane so people realize I have an injury and give me some leaway. Otherwise the foot traffic in Manhattan still goes way too fast for poor little me. But I've come a long way, baby! I'm on schedule to go back to work Nov. 4.
I've finally managed I hope to attach some photos of my X rays, before and after. Thanks, upgrade! I could never get that to work before. Welcome back, everyone! I've missed you!
IMG_0375.jpgIMG_0374.jpgIMG_0141 - Version 2.jpg
(1) I would not recommend Oxycontin to my worst enemy.
(2) Dr. Errico is my hero.
(3) It only took 3 visits to PT thus far to learn that I actually do have far more movable parts in my spine and hips than I thought I did.
The neurontin has turned out to be a last little nuisance that I have been having a tough time getting rid of. I went from 1200 mg and tapered down on a schedule to 300 mg, but when I tried to go down to 0 mg, I got very sick. After being thoroughly weakened from the Oxy detox, I didn't have the strength reserves to handle it. So I went back on the 300 mg until Dr. Errico's nurse Oksoon (who is also awesome) could get me a prescription for small increments. So first I went to 200 mg / day for a week, then 100 per day. Next I'll go down to 100 every other day. Then off finally. Either the neurontin itself, or the lack thereof, I'm not sure which at this point, is still making me sick, so I can't wait to be done with it.
At my second post op visit with Dr. Errico, he seemed really pleased. All the screws and rods seem to be still exactly where he bolted them in the first place. I've lost 15 pounds since the surgery. He says my tailbone is probably hurting me when I sit since I don't have as much cushioning. Hmmm... I still have pain in my ribs, which he was unconcerned about and says will go away, and more distressing to me I have had a rough time since going off the Oxy because I am out of breath all the time. Does anyone think that could be because of swelling? Why would I have trouble taking a deep breath? I know I am fatigued and exhausted and all my muscles in my torso are weak. And my lungs are in the vicinity of my hardware. That could be the cause. My goal is to get to my tai chi class to work on my breath, but I haven't had the stamina to walk to the YMCA where the class is held. I can walk 3-4 if need be, and I usually am walking 1.5-2 miles per day since going off the Oxy (it was a struggle to regain my distance after the detox), but the Y is just far enough away that I don't have enough strength to walk there AND take the class. That is my goal though.
PT has been a revelation. I'm not quite sure the therapist fully understands what "fusion to pelvis" means, because she keeps trying to get me to do pelvic tilts to strengthen my core, but she accepts my word when I say I can't do them. I'm pretty sure she just thinks it's a mental block I have against doing it, even though I've shown her my Xrays, but whatever. I think she's only about 25 years old. At the wise old age of 41, and having gone through what I think is probably one of the most brutal surgeries in the world, I am trying to accept that the rest of the world are mere neophytes to pain and suffering compared to me! But anyhow, all that being said, just one week of PT and I feel like a brand new person. I had been holding myself so still trying to protect my fusion, especially after going off the Oxy when I had so much pain in my ribs, that I didn't realize that there actually are muscles in my back and stomach that I can still engage and call upon. Holy Toledo! I had sort of fallen into the thought pattern that I would be a weakened invalid for the rest of my life. I'm still pretty weak. But I am amazed to know that there's definitely some potential there that I can strengthen.
I went out to see a band last night at a club for the first time in 4 months. I can count on one hand the number of times I've been into Manhattan since the surgery so this was pretty major! I did fairly well sitting on a barstool for an hour, all things considered. I'm looking forward to attempting to dance. I'm going to put that on my list of goals for my PT, along with:
1. Taking off my socks. (I can put them on, and I can take off short socks, but taking off long socks is pretty rough.)
2. Sleeping on my side. (Still very painful)
3. Being able to open heavy shop doors.
4. Returning to martial arts training. (With the exception of tai chi, I think this might be a 2015 goal.)
Anyhow, definite signs of improvement in my life. Some stupid young twenty-somethings taunted me in the east village last night for walking slow and stiff. That was pretty embarrassing. My husband tells me I need to bring my cane so people realize I have an injury and give me some leaway. Otherwise the foot traffic in Manhattan still goes way too fast for poor little me. But I've come a long way, baby! I'm on schedule to go back to work Nov. 4.
I've finally managed I hope to attach some photos of my X rays, before and after. Thanks, upgrade! I could never get that to work before. Welcome back, everyone! I've missed you!
IMG_0375.jpgIMG_0374.jpgIMG_0141 - Version 2.jpg
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