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I thought I had posted an update here since I came home but there’s those drugs playing tricks on me again! To summarize, my two-stage surgery was on March 9 and 11. Dr. Lenke removed ALL of the posterior hardware from my previous surgeries, did one lumbar osteotomy and re-instrumented and fused me from T1 to sacrum. I was released from the hospital on March 17 and went directly to their Rehabilitation Institute. I came home on March 28. Dr. Lenke’s office had gone ahead and arranged for my home PT/OT. I have been initially evaluated and expect to get my weekly schedule tomorrow.
I have no pain, just a slight soreness in my mid-back. I have some weakness in my legs and an awkward walking gate; I’m hoping these are temporary. I’m convinced that going directly to Rehab has made all the difference in how I felt when I came home.
One thing I’m struggling with is lack of appetite. Not unusual, I know, and there have been times in my past where I would have begged for no appetite. However, I’m worried about getting enough nutrition for my healing; I’m eating less than half I would normally eat – and I wasn’t that big an eater before. I’m hoping this will pass soon.
I must say that the level of care and compassion – extending from Dr. Lenke and his office to the hospital to the rehab institute and even the Parkway Hotel – was outstanding. I don’t know how they have managed to achieve such a high level across the board, but they most certainly have.
I just re-read your comments here and mgs reminded me of something when I was in the hospital. As usual, I was constipated after surgery and we struggled to wake up the bowels. I teased my nurses that they would all have to do the happy dance when I finally had a bowel movement. Guess what – they all came in and did just that! It was pretty funny!
In summary, the most important part of this update: I’M STANDING UP STRAIGHT! Am I happy about that? YOU BET!
I have no pain, just a slight soreness in my mid-back. I have some weakness in my legs and an awkward walking gate; I’m hoping these are temporary. I’m convinced that going directly to Rehab has made all the difference in how I felt when I came home.
One thing I’m struggling with is lack of appetite. Not unusual, I know, and there have been times in my past where I would have begged for no appetite. However, I’m worried about getting enough nutrition for my healing; I’m eating less than half I would normally eat – and I wasn’t that big an eater before. I’m hoping this will pass soon.
I must say that the level of care and compassion – extending from Dr. Lenke and his office to the hospital to the rehab institute and even the Parkway Hotel – was outstanding. I don’t know how they have managed to achieve such a high level across the board, but they most certainly have.
I just re-read your comments here and mgs reminded me of something when I was in the hospital. As usual, I was constipated after surgery and we struggled to wake up the bowels. I teased my nurses that they would all have to do the happy dance when I finally had a bowel movement. Guess what – they all came in and did just that! It was pretty funny!
In summary, the most important part of this update: I’M STANDING UP STRAIGHT! Am I happy about that? YOU BET!
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