The Results Are In.....

[discombobulated]

So, I had my first post-op check-up on the 16th.... and it went AMAZINGLY WELL!! :D :eek: (I'm now 10ish wks post-op)

I have never seen so much metalwork used in such a short fusion, but by gum apparently It's working! - my spine & fusion are both STABLE!! With my previous lumbar/pelvic fusion, by now movement of the pelvic instrumentation was pretty dang clear. None of that with this one - and, my surgeon thinks that if it's not moved by now, it most probably won't :D

I'm cleared to do "anything within reason" - so long as a movement or lifting weight doesn't feel like it's stressing my spine, I'm good to go. Admittedly, my surgeon knows I'm not highly active & I am experienced enough to know what feels like it's stressing & what isn't... but it's still so good to know that there's very little I could do to harm it.

He was thrilled that I'm in much less scoli-caused pain (& taking very few painkillers), though was mildly surprised that I'm still having so much trouble with neuropathic (nerve) pain. Said that should clear up in time (& I may still get more sensation back in my dead leg), but was very glad to hear my GP had put me on Lyrica (pregabalin) just the week before & it's working pretty well, though I will still tinker with the night-time dosage so I can actually sleep for more than an hour at a time. He was also glad my endocrinologist put me on iron pills mid last week, as an assortment of blood panels showed my blood iron content have dipped very low & my body's iron stores have just about bottomed out, too. My endo was rather surprised I hadn't fallen asleep in her office, lol (I guess it didn't show that I wasn't far off it :p )...so working on the order to "get iron, get lots of it, & get it fast" :rolleyes: Anyhow, so that bit's on the mend, too (or it will once I fix dosages to control side effects).


I am sorry I've not been around posting much lately, but had other medical etc. issues happening. A huge thanks to you all for helping me survive this thing, pre-op & post-op...really do appreciate it. Being back home now finally, I'll try to catch up & de-lurk again ;)


Take care, all.


Double edit: since I don't have access to the computer files of my x-rays, I took a bunch of photos of the before & afters last night, lol. So watch this space for the Picasa link once I upload. Hope they turn out ok this way....

[discombobulated]

Well, in case anyone's interested, I finally got around to getting my x-rays on to my computer & up online (http://picasaweb.google.com/auribus.tenere.lupum/SpinalFusion311December2008?authkey=gnMolanl5iI&feat=directlink). Unfortunately, electronic copies for patients is (virtually?) unheard of over here, so the best I could do was take photos - hence a light reflection on each film, lol. But they give a pretty good idea of what's in there for anyone else who loves this kind of geeky stuff :p

Have really hit a wall with exhaustion in the last couple of weeks - I think a combo of anaemia still + just still being pretty early out from surgery. Maybe (hopefully) something that some of you clever people have thoughts/experiences of - in just the last few days, I've been getting very frequent, very disconcerting clicks in my lower right back / right butt area, right in the region the lower bolts now are (I can feel where they are through the skin). It does feel like tendons, I guess - but gives the occasional sharp pain, & it's weird that it would just suddenly appear...on the other hand, I don't feel anything moving in my spine/pelvis like I did when things clicked around with my old rods. Blah...I just know I'm being paranoid, but still am ringing my surgeon in the morning :o

Anyhow, hope this finds you all well, & that those who are post-op are recovering smoothly. I'm trying hard to keep up with everything, but just have very little energy to write (heck, it's taken 2 x 1/2 hr sessions + a 40 min nap at my desk in between to get this written, lol...still have knuckle marks across my forehead :D). Sure hoping this will come a lot better, very soon.

Take care, all. Sorry to ramble :o

[LynnMarie74]

Hey! cool pics! I am waiting for my post op apt to post all my pics...if I can figure it out!! :) Looks like the outcome was good-congrats on that! Take care!

[WNCmom]

Disc--

I was out of town for a week and just read your follow-up report. I'm so glad to hear all is well. I know you were on tenterhooks about it. Congratulations!

Mary Ellen

[Susie*Bee]

First of all, of course we're interested! So thanks for posting the x-rays. :) You are looking pretty straight and stabilized! I'm sorry you've been feeling drained, tired, and all that. Hopefully once your iron level goes up you will get to feeling a bit more perky.

Probably the clicking is just the normal stuff happening, like muscle, etc. moving over hardware-- I have had various pops and clicks at different times in my recovery. There's one I THINK gets really loud is when I do certain exercises-- it's a hip/lower back thing and I looked it up once and now have forgotten-- but it's called something like snapping hip syndrome... I think you're wise to ask your doctor. Let us know what he says.

[debbei]

Disc,

congratulations on your good news appointment. I'm so glad things are going well for you!

[pmsmom]

Yes, yes!

Sending out another congratulations to you!

That's great news!

Marian

[discombobulated]

Thanks, all. Mary Ellen - yes, I was definitely on tenterhooks :o I guess, a case of "once bitten, twice shy" after the first L3-pelvis fusion ended up so badly. I'm SO relieved!

Susie - I'd never heard of snapping hip syndrome...TBH, the title gives me visions of your hip biting at your hand while you exercise LOL :D Are you not in pain with it? Sure hope not :-\

I called my surgeon yesterday morning re. the pops/clicks/cracks/creaks/etc., but he was in surgery, so the lovely receptionists took down what was happening & stuck a note on his desk, lol. He didn't get a chance to call personally (I didn't expect him to!), but had the receptionist call back yesterday afternoon to say he wasn't worried at all :D I'd mentioned a few sharp pains I'd had with the noises, & he said he still wasn't worried about them, but if I start getting a lot of pain, to get an x-ray done here & sent express to him (he's about 300km away). But, no major pain here - heck, so much less pain than pre-op...can't tell you how relieved (& surprised) I am that this surgery seems to have worked..thus far, at least! :D

In other news...got an offer to return to one of my (very) part-time jobs, only 2-4hrs a wk over 2 days a wk - but starting next week....really bummed, think I'm going to have to turn it down. Am constantly exhausted without doing anything, let alone getting back to work. Had planned to get back into working by now, esp. since I'd had to decide way back in Oct. not to study this year...getting pretty frustrated with not feeling good since I'm not in pain now, just Exhausted. I want a date that I'm going to feel good by, LOL! But, logically, I know I'm not fit to be of help to anyone...even if I am letting someone down, big time (which, I am :( ). *sigh*...someone just clock me over the head & put me out until I'm good to go again, please?? lol.

Anyways, best quit rambling - go do some major updates on the kitten photo album while I have (a little) steam this morning :D (it's amazing how exhausting but refreshing a short outing with a good friend is :) )

Take care.