Things that are Done Differently Post-Op

[leahdragonfly]

moving the hips

Hi Jennifer,

not to get too detailed here, but how can you move your hips if you are fused to your sacrum? I am fused to the sacrum, and it is physically not possible to move my hips as in tipping my pelvis forward/back or side to side. Without being too detailed I understand there are other ways to move while in bed, but I guess I'm confused how exactly you move your hips. Care to share?

[Irina]

When can one have a glass of wine? I understand that you should not have any alcohol until you're on the meds, but when you weaned off, is occasional glass of wine with dinner Ok? Not that it's so important, just curious.

Also, the first weeks at home - did you wear pajamas or night gowns? Would PJ pants irritate the scar around the waist / hip line? Is night gown better? Did you wear sleepwear all the time during the first couple weeks or had stamina and desire to change into something else?

I am impressed by how much some people walk before and after surgery. I wonder when people say that you walk 4-5 miles pre-op and let's say 2 miles post-op, do they mean walking all these miles non-stop, at once? I can only walk 1.5 - 2 miles non-stop before my back and ribs start hurting reallly bad. Do people who were able to walk these 4-5 miles pre-op did it pain-free or they just pushed thru the pain?

[JenniferG]

Hi Jennifer,

not to get too detailed here, but how can you move your hips if you are fused to your sacrum? I am fused to the sacrum, and it is physically not possible to move my hips as in tipping my pelvis forward/back or side to side. Without being too detailed I understand there are other ways to move while in bed, but I guess I'm confused how exactly you move your hips. Care to share?

Hi Gayle. I'm as confused as you sound! I have no problem moving my hips. If you lie on a bed, can you not lift your hips up off the bed? Move your hips from side to side? After reading your post, I went and lay on the bed, thinking, am I imagining this? No, I can move pretty much as I've always done. I'm testing it sitting in my chair right now, I guess I move from above my fusion. But it does the same thing. I can move side to side in my chair, keeping my shoulders still. If I stand, I can clench my buttocks and move my hips forward. Can you not do these things?

[Confusedmom]

Jennifer, thanks!! You have given me some inspiration that things will gradually get more normal. They're already more normal than right after surgery, but I'm glad to hear they keep improving!

Irina, I don't think there would be any restrictions on drinking wine after your off pain meds--as long as you're not falling down drunk!!

[Confusedmom]

That was supposed to be a smiley, but it didn't work. I know you wouldn't let yourself be falling down drunk post-op, of course.

[Irina]

That was supposed to be a smiley, but it didn't work. I know you wouldn't let yourself be falling down drunk post-op, of course.

Nope, Evelyn. No falling down drunk post-op, just pre-op. Sounds like a thing to do when I have a surgery date. Just kidding :-)

[golfnut]

Evelyn,
I am fused T4 to sacrum and it WILL get easier to do all of the things you mentioned. Trust us on this!