Susan's surgery at UCSF with Dr. Hu on 19 and 22 March, 2013

[susancook]

Thoughts on recovery, pain, and trying to live a normal life

I am about 9.5 months out from fusion surgery and have been trying to alter my expectations. I am doing quite well, but somehow had the unrealistic expectations that all of this would "settle out" and that I would have the relatively pain free life that I had 5 years ago. Now I am still dealing with headaches and seeing a neurologist for that. She thinks that there might be a cervical component to them. My neck does hurt a lot, mostly in the late day and evening. Sometimes the pain brings me to tears which I have discovered is difficult to drive through. I do PT and just received a cervical traction unit which I will try. I need to try my TENS unit on my neck. I do not take analgesics for my neck pain and doubt that meds short of high dose narcotics would do much to relieve my pain.

My hernia hurts periodically and I am on my second wind of attempt. I really want to take care of it as I am tired of looking like I am having my menopausal baby and having lower abdominal burning pain.

There are hours that go by when I feel "normal" and forget that I have had extensive spinal surgery. That is awesome and the time seems to stretch out more and more. That's good! Recovery takes longer than I had hoped, for me it seems that I am on the 2 year plan. The muscles in my upper back feel pulled although I do not remember a sudden pull.

So, I do my PT exercises and continue with my weight loss efforts. I am still pleased with my surgical results and memories of lying on the floor preop in pain are fading.

I have survived, and the process for me was a survival process. I have great support from my pain management doctor at OHSU who has done various procedures to decrease my pain. I fear the future possibility of having neck surgery.

I am in Hawaii now for 5 weeks and the aloha spirit should improve my outlook. It is 79 degrees and sunny outside. What am I doing on the forum? Bye!

Susan

[jackieg412]

Lucky you in such a beautiful place.
Susan--br careful with the tens unit by your cervical. I think that it can't be used by the spine.
The cervical pain is tough--I am going through it again. It seems that c7-t-1 is my problem.

Any time my neck is forward there is increased pain. By afternoon--all I can do is lay my head down.

Merry Christmas to you!

[susancook]

Jackie, why don't you think that the TENS unit cannot be used on the spine?

I agree with the downward glance being the most painful. If I use my computer for any length of time, I am toast. Lower back pain was tiring, but neck pain seems worse. It is difficult give the neck a rest. I think that maybe my head is too heavy.

I wish that I could share some sunshine with you!

Susan

[jackieg412]

Hi Susan,
You can wear tens unit by the spine--but not on the spine. I need to look up how close you can come to the spine and be safe. I am unsure if the electric paulses from the unit can mess with the way that nerves feel things. I agree that it feels as if the head weighs too much. Mine needs to loose weight.{Hopefully not brains}

I am still going to Pt and will ask tomorrow about how close to the spine you can come with the tens unit. I will get back to you.

Yes send sunshine--I live near Chicago and we are cloudy with highs in the teens tomorrow. Lovely!

[golfnut]

Susan,
I am sure you are enjoying the warm sunshine in Hawaii. It's really cold in the Midwest. I hope that you can get your cervical pain under control. Dr. Lenke told me to put everything at eye level, such as the computer and books, but I am sure you know that. I think that it was two years before I realized I wasn't thinking about my back every waking moment. Believe it or not, you are still early in your recovery. I continued to have fewer and fewer aches even after 24 months and now at almost 3 years, I seldom have an ache. I probably have fewer pains than the majority of 63 year olds and am so thankful that I had surgery 3 years ago. Good luck with the hernia and cervical pain.

[susancook]

Thanks Jackie and Karen for your support. I am very impatient. My L scapula area is very painful and I did not have an injury. Unsure what that would be. I can't imagine that there is anything wrong with my fusion. Maybe I just need some sunshine! I will send both of you some aloha spirit.
Susan

[jackieg412]

HI Susan,

Thanks for the sunsine. But can you send a palm tree too? I love palm trees.

About your left scapula----my right is my issue--and it is the reason for a new round of PT.
we are hoping that it helps the neck issue. It seams as that when my scapula is
acting up--my neck hurts even more.Is that the same with you?

I will ask today about tens unit. The PT hooks mine on for me --by the scapula.
Might help you too.

[susancook]

HI Susan,

Thanks for the sunsine. But can you send a palm tree too? I love palm trees.

About your left scapula----my right is my issue--and it is the reason for a new round of PT.
we are hoping that it helps the neck issue. It seams as that when my scapula is
acting up--my neck hurts even more.Is that the same with you?

I will ask today about tens unit. The PT hooks mine on for me --by the scapula.
Might help you too.

Thanks Jackie for the information! Send me a PM with your address and I will at least send you a postcard of a palm tree.

It is morning, so my scapula area feels pretty good right now. This probably sound very unrealistic, but I worry that it might be a pseudoarthrodesis......call me a pessimist. Hope that your exercises help it. I have some exercises to do. I already do so many different exercises. My life is a series of exercises!

Susan

[jackieg412]

Hi Susan'I did send a PM to you but I checked on the tens unit and was told not to put it on the spine--but along side it. as far as the neck the pt recomends that you put it more on the upper back ---near the shoulder area. He said it did not do anything for the bone that was why not to put it on the spine--but it helps the muscle.

[susancook]

Thanks Jackie. What exercises are you doing for your scapula pain? Susan

[loves to skate]

Thanks Jackie and Karen for your support. I am very impatient. My L scapula area is very painful and I did not have an injury. Unsure what that would be. I can't imagine that there is anything wrong with my fusion. Maybe I just need some sunshine! I will send both of you some aloha spirit.
Susan

Hi Susan in Hawaii, For me, it was my right scapula that was painful, but mine started at about 6 months post op and only lasted about one month. I hope your pain goes away soon. Maybe if you go swimming in that beautiful warm water in Hawaii, the pain will go away soon. Where in Hawaii are you?
Sally

[susancook]

Aloha, Sally! We are on Oahu near Kailua. Next we head out to Kauai. It sounds so non-supportive to say, but your having the same problem makes it feel OK, especially your saying that it went away after a month. I have had the pain for about 6 weeks, so maybe I am at the end of it.

I am certain that I am on the 2 year healing plan.....with 6 months of patience!

Susan.....and her menopausal pregnancy

[jackieg412]

Are you still in beautiful Hawaii??? It is getting cold here again.I am about to go take a very hot bath---but as far as the scapula--my Pt is doing some exersises with elastic bands. also an arm bike.. I guess--according to the Pt--I have lost the muscle from my right scapula area. It has always given me a problem{since the surgery}--the pt used to have to pop it out for me. He says that it is an area of not too much muscle. He calls me little all of the time. Now I guess I lost the little bit of muscle that was there--it feels as if the scapula is trying to move across the bone and gets caught. I keep having him pop it out--but it won't stay. I can't manage to do it myself. Any ideas?? I guess I have lost a lot of strength in the right arm and I am right handed. I know it isn't a good thing.
I am back to dealing with Workers Comp as they still have to pay for medical related to my spine. I hope it all goes through OK. We do know how these bills can add up.

[susancook]

Jackie, the popping sounds awful! I hope that you find some relief!
Susan

[susancook]

Limitations in paradise!

Aloha, I am on vacation in Hawaii and have noted some additional limitations and am hoping that someone will be able to help me figure these out:
* I have great difficulty putting on my flippers in the water or out of the water when I go snorkeling
* I have a lot of problems getting up and down on the beach mat or towel
Suggestions?
Thanks, Susan....not looking very sexy on the beach with my hernia!