Hi, everybody. Just thought I'd give an update - even though I don't have anything very exciting to say!
I had my xrays at 3-1/2 months but ended up going to Minneapolis shortly after that for business and was lucky enough to get an appointment with Dr. Perra - so I was able to discuss my x-rays in person with him rather than receive a letter in the mail.
He said my hardware looked good - it showed no movement. My incisions look good, I was moving good and in general I looked good. So I guess that was all good news! I didn't have a very long list of questions for him - at this point this Forum seems to be answering all my questions!
I still have tight muscles on my left lumbar area - but the pain level seems to be tapering down to not much pain. Unless, of course, I over do things - which I have done a number of times. He said that tenderness is normal for up to a year - that he stretched those muscles a lot in surgery.
I had started PT and 3-1/2 months post op. All I do is isometric exercises - right now I just do core strengthening and also exercises to stretch my hips & hamstrings. I am still SUPER tight - I can hardly bend over at all. So Dr. Perra wants me to really focus on stretching my hamstrings.
I feel really good (considering) but I feel like I am still riding the roller coaster. I have days where I'm really energetic, and I have days where I'm just dragging. I've been reading old posts and I've come to the conclusion that this is normal at 4 months post op. My sleep pattern is better - when I'm not sleeping well I don't think it's from surgery (I guess it could be, I don't know). I'm not taking any meds so I know it's not that. I just assume it's my age!
I still live life fairly conservative and careful - I'm still too afraid of ruining something. But, on our trip to Minneapolis, we were there 5 days for a combination of work and a family situation. I tolerated sleeping on my son's couch and hotel beds for 4 nights and the long drive pretty well! I was exhausted when we got home and it took me a day to recover.
I walk 60 - 90 minutes per day in 20 - 25 minute chunks. I still struggle with some hip pain on my left hip - it's not bad but it's still there. For some reason, I seem to be very prone to getting bursitis on my left side - that's why I continue to walk short distances.
I find that I still have to lay down during the day on some days, but it seems to be getting less. However, there are nights when I'm kicking myself for being on my feet too long.....
Anyway, I'm still chugging along with this recovery. I'm so thankful for all of you. I continue to read old posts and search for various topics - reading what everyone has been dealing with in the last 5 years really helps me to know that I am normal (well, as normal as I can be with scoliosis!).
Kathy
I had my xrays at 3-1/2 months but ended up going to Minneapolis shortly after that for business and was lucky enough to get an appointment with Dr. Perra - so I was able to discuss my x-rays in person with him rather than receive a letter in the mail.
He said my hardware looked good - it showed no movement. My incisions look good, I was moving good and in general I looked good. So I guess that was all good news! I didn't have a very long list of questions for him - at this point this Forum seems to be answering all my questions!
I still have tight muscles on my left lumbar area - but the pain level seems to be tapering down to not much pain. Unless, of course, I over do things - which I have done a number of times. He said that tenderness is normal for up to a year - that he stretched those muscles a lot in surgery.
I had started PT and 3-1/2 months post op. All I do is isometric exercises - right now I just do core strengthening and also exercises to stretch my hips & hamstrings. I am still SUPER tight - I can hardly bend over at all. So Dr. Perra wants me to really focus on stretching my hamstrings.
I feel really good (considering) but I feel like I am still riding the roller coaster. I have days where I'm really energetic, and I have days where I'm just dragging. I've been reading old posts and I've come to the conclusion that this is normal at 4 months post op. My sleep pattern is better - when I'm not sleeping well I don't think it's from surgery (I guess it could be, I don't know). I'm not taking any meds so I know it's not that. I just assume it's my age!
I still live life fairly conservative and careful - I'm still too afraid of ruining something. But, on our trip to Minneapolis, we were there 5 days for a combination of work and a family situation. I tolerated sleeping on my son's couch and hotel beds for 4 nights and the long drive pretty well! I was exhausted when we got home and it took me a day to recover.
I walk 60 - 90 minutes per day in 20 - 25 minute chunks. I still struggle with some hip pain on my left hip - it's not bad but it's still there. For some reason, I seem to be very prone to getting bursitis on my left side - that's why I continue to walk short distances.
I find that I still have to lay down during the day on some days, but it seems to be getting less. However, there are nights when I'm kicking myself for being on my feet too long.....
Anyway, I'm still chugging along with this recovery. I'm so thankful for all of you. I continue to read old posts and search for various topics - reading what everyone has been dealing with in the last 5 years really helps me to know that I am normal (well, as normal as I can be with scoliosis!).
Kathy
Comment