Joan, congratulations on being on 'the other side' of your surgery!! You will have some rough times yet, but each day will see some small improvements. You are in my prayers!
As for your questions, it's a good idea to 'stagger' your pain meds and muscle relaxants so that you will be taking either one or the other every 2 hrs or so.... depends of course on your prescription dosage... but i found that by taking pain meds at one time and then halfway along take a muscle relaxant, that i managed to keep the worst of the spasms away.
Walking: start with a few minutes in the morning and a few in the afternoon, and gradually increase times... You don't have to try to do the whole time in one go. By my 6 week check-up, dr. wanted me walking a mile a day...
Constipation will be a bother for as long as you take pain meds, i'm afraid.... Ask for some Glycolax aka Miralax.... it's a very gentle but effective laxative that you can take from now on if you need to... You mix it in with a liquid and i promise you don't taste it or feel grit or anything... I still take it myself at 1 yr post op. It isn't fiber or stool softener, but a real laxative. was a life-saver for me..
Sleeping.... well... it's difficult. As long as your recliner feels good to you, stay there. When you start lying in bed, pillows under your knees help, and between the knees when on your side... also a lower pillow under my head felt good to me instead of being propped up. I felt like it kept my spine straighter while it healed too....
God bless you... Hang in there, it will only get better!!!
As for your questions, it's a good idea to 'stagger' your pain meds and muscle relaxants so that you will be taking either one or the other every 2 hrs or so.... depends of course on your prescription dosage... but i found that by taking pain meds at one time and then halfway along take a muscle relaxant, that i managed to keep the worst of the spasms away.
Walking: start with a few minutes in the morning and a few in the afternoon, and gradually increase times... You don't have to try to do the whole time in one go. By my 6 week check-up, dr. wanted me walking a mile a day...
Constipation will be a bother for as long as you take pain meds, i'm afraid.... Ask for some Glycolax aka Miralax.... it's a very gentle but effective laxative that you can take from now on if you need to... You mix it in with a liquid and i promise you don't taste it or feel grit or anything... I still take it myself at 1 yr post op. It isn't fiber or stool softener, but a real laxative. was a life-saver for me..
Sleeping.... well... it's difficult. As long as your recliner feels good to you, stay there. When you start lying in bed, pillows under your knees help, and between the knees when on your side... also a lower pillow under my head felt good to me instead of being propped up. I felt like it kept my spine straighter while it healed too....
God bless you... Hang in there, it will only get better!!!
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