I have 3 months to get ready, mentally - physically - and emotionally - but it's official. I am scheduled for the biggest surgery of my life - my third and hopefully last surgery on my back. It will be 1 hospitalization: 2 surgeries one week apart - the first will be on Jan.24,2012 and the second will be on Jan.31,2012. The doctor will first remove my L5-S1 disc anteriorly (after the vascular surgeon gains access to the area) and replace it with a metal cage spacer and bone protein with the intention of fusing it (and hopefully decreasing, if not eliminating, the majority of my pain). I will remain in ICU 2-3 days depending on how well i do post-op. He will take standing xrays of me once out of ICU to determine how well my Flatback has been corrected - if that portion of the surgery corrects it and i'm standing straight, then he will not need to perform any osteotomies. If not, then he will perform then in surgery 2, one week later. This is when he will remove my hardware (hooks and Harrington rods), fusing L1-S1 and into the pelvis. Again, ICU for a few days and then hopefully up and walking by day 2-3.
Most likely, i will need some kind of post-op rehab (something i did not have with my 2 previous spinal fusions in '93 and '95) - i will either be going to an inpatient rehab facility for a week or having some home therapy (OT/PT) for a few weeks - he thinks this will be a good idea for me since i have two young children at home (2-1/2 yrs and 4-1/2 yrs) and i will need to be as strong as possible once i return home...kinda hard to explain to a 2 and 4 yr old why Mommy can't pick you up or play dress up or do all the things she used to do (atleast temporarily anyway) - if i decide to go to a rehab facility, it will be hard being on the "other side" (ie: rehab patient vs. rehab therapist...i'm an OT and i'm usually the one "rehab-ing" my patients!) But i think either way, rehab will be a good idea - i keep telling myself that my kids (and husband) deserve 100% of me...so as scary as these surgeries will be, i owe it to myself AND them to get a chance at a better quality of life...and i'm just hoping and praying that these surgeries will do that for me.
So, with that, it's settled - - Jan.24 and Jan.31 it is then! I'm nervous and relieved all at the same time - nervous for the obvious reasons but relieved that now i have a date (goal) in sight - i have alot of pre-op testing and blood donations to do in the coming months and i will look to all of you for support when the months turn to weeks and eventually turn to days and hours before the big day....i give it all to Him and hope that in the end, the decision to have surgery (again!) was the right one.
Anxious and waiting, but hopeful none-the-less,
Michele
Most likely, i will need some kind of post-op rehab (something i did not have with my 2 previous spinal fusions in '93 and '95) - i will either be going to an inpatient rehab facility for a week or having some home therapy (OT/PT) for a few weeks - he thinks this will be a good idea for me since i have two young children at home (2-1/2 yrs and 4-1/2 yrs) and i will need to be as strong as possible once i return home...kinda hard to explain to a 2 and 4 yr old why Mommy can't pick you up or play dress up or do all the things she used to do (atleast temporarily anyway) - if i decide to go to a rehab facility, it will be hard being on the "other side" (ie: rehab patient vs. rehab therapist...i'm an OT and i'm usually the one "rehab-ing" my patients!) But i think either way, rehab will be a good idea - i keep telling myself that my kids (and husband) deserve 100% of me...so as scary as these surgeries will be, i owe it to myself AND them to get a chance at a better quality of life...and i'm just hoping and praying that these surgeries will do that for me.
So, with that, it's settled - - Jan.24 and Jan.31 it is then! I'm nervous and relieved all at the same time - nervous for the obvious reasons but relieved that now i have a date (goal) in sight - i have alot of pre-op testing and blood donations to do in the coming months and i will look to all of you for support when the months turn to weeks and eventually turn to days and hours before the big day....i give it all to Him and hope that in the end, the decision to have surgery (again!) was the right one.
Anxious and waiting, but hopeful none-the-less,
Michele
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