Hi everyone,
I guess not everyone wants to know about revisions, but they happen, and I was one of the unfortunate few... but one of the lucky few that it was also successful!
Prior to surgery I was in a lot of pain, by about 3pm I was taking vicodin, and by 7pm I had retired to the couch. I put a lot of effort into PT pre-op as well, doing long distances in the pool. But despite my efforts my curve had progressed, and pain was my new almost constant companion.
I didn't know what I was going into with surgery, and was really nervous. I sort of went in expecting just to have the upper part of my fusion fixed, but I came out with my back fused top to bottom. Surprisingly, the surgery wasn't as bad as my first one, I think this had a lot to do with better nursing care and being a bit older and better prepared.
My recovery went really fast in early stages, milestones like off all drugs happened fast, walking was frequent. I even had no pain! But as I built up my activity I was getting a bit sore and really tired, and even had a bout of minor depression. But I got through it, and resumed my studies somewhere around 3 months post op, and at 6 months I'm doing two days a week on a practicum placement, and the rest of the days are full time doing my research. I haven't had my 6 month check up yet, but I feel confident. I haven't had any really bad pain for a long time now, apart from when I helped fold surveys for my research... that was not good! Other than that, I could say that I feel 10x better than pre-op, and just take a little paracetamol when I need it... before my surgery paracetamol didn't even register!
My goals now are to get back into the gym and pool, I had been up until recently when the intensity of my university studies increased and I focused my energy there, but I need to look after myself. Long-term I want to be healthy, get my weight back down to lighter than pre-surgery, and finish my doctoral studies without any more unscheduled stops! Also to set up a website for NZ scoliosis people and health professionals... have to finish uni first I think!
I hope everyone else that had their surgeries in december are good, thanks to everyone for their support as there is no-one else in my world that comes even close to understanding the highs and lows of scoliosis.
I guess not everyone wants to know about revisions, but they happen, and I was one of the unfortunate few... but one of the lucky few that it was also successful!
Prior to surgery I was in a lot of pain, by about 3pm I was taking vicodin, and by 7pm I had retired to the couch. I put a lot of effort into PT pre-op as well, doing long distances in the pool. But despite my efforts my curve had progressed, and pain was my new almost constant companion.
I didn't know what I was going into with surgery, and was really nervous. I sort of went in expecting just to have the upper part of my fusion fixed, but I came out with my back fused top to bottom. Surprisingly, the surgery wasn't as bad as my first one, I think this had a lot to do with better nursing care and being a bit older and better prepared.
My recovery went really fast in early stages, milestones like off all drugs happened fast, walking was frequent. I even had no pain! But as I built up my activity I was getting a bit sore and really tired, and even had a bout of minor depression. But I got through it, and resumed my studies somewhere around 3 months post op, and at 6 months I'm doing two days a week on a practicum placement, and the rest of the days are full time doing my research. I haven't had my 6 month check up yet, but I feel confident. I haven't had any really bad pain for a long time now, apart from when I helped fold surveys for my research... that was not good! Other than that, I could say that I feel 10x better than pre-op, and just take a little paracetamol when I need it... before my surgery paracetamol didn't even register!
My goals now are to get back into the gym and pool, I had been up until recently when the intensity of my university studies increased and I focused my energy there, but I need to look after myself. Long-term I want to be healthy, get my weight back down to lighter than pre-surgery, and finish my doctoral studies without any more unscheduled stops! Also to set up a website for NZ scoliosis people and health professionals... have to finish uni first I think!
I hope everyone else that had their surgeries in december are good, thanks to everyone for their support as there is no-one else in my world that comes even close to understanding the highs and lows of scoliosis.
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