12 Weeks Post-Op Visit

[peachrush7]

Hey everyone!

I saw my surgeon today, and he was really happy with my x-rays, and VERY happy/surprised that I'm off all narcotics. He thinks it's a good sign that the gabapentin is really helping my nerve pain, but doesn't think I'll be seeing a huge reduction in the nerve pain for at least another 3-6 months. But since the gabapentin is working, I am not too worried about it. I am able to drive, sit for long periods of time, walk my 45 mins, and there are a lot more great days than bad days.

He said I can start physical therapy, although it will be very limited, gentle exercises. But I'm excited, I am ready to stop feeling so weak! You know you're out of shape when the laptop feels heavy lol.

I have to wear the bone growth stimulator for another 3 months, which is annoying but it seems to be working so I really shouldn't complain. I am working full time from home again, and am able to go out to dinner, grocery shopping (though I'm still figuring out how to reach things w/o bending, like in the cart, or on low shelves).

It was very hard, painful and frustrating for the first 1 1/2 months, and for the last 1 1/2 I've seen steady and rapid improvement. I'm glad I did this, even though my nerve pain didn't go away right away. I generally just feel better. My back/neck/shoulders seem to hurt less than pre-op, and I love knowing that my scoliosis is never going to get any worse. I think the mental relief is as good as, or better than the physical!

I've got a ways to go, but now that I can do most normal, day to day things, I am feeling pretty good!

[Doodles]

Peach--
You really do look great--just looked at your before and after again. Your back is straight and shoulder blades so even! Glad you are also doing so well with your recovery. Congrats!! Janet

[JenniferG]

Your pictures tell the story! You look fabulous and it's great to read you're doing so well.

[Elisa]

I'm so happy for you Peach!

[golfnut]

Your xrays look great. Isn't it nice to be straight! It sounds like you re getting better and better. I am looking forward to physical therapy soon,as well. It won't be much for me, but I am hoping to regain some muscle tone.

[peachrush7]

you all are so kind! =) I am really happy with how my back looks now. I know my transformation isn't as dramatic as some here, but I sure do FEEL the difference.

I noticed something funny last night when I was riding in the car with my husband. I always used to prop my left arm up on the console in the middle between the two seats, and I always felt uncomfortable if I didn't sit that way. I realized last night that I hadn't sat that way since my surgery, I no longer lean to the left, and I sit up perfectly straight without any help from the console. It's funny how you just live your life crooked for so long, it just feels normal.

anyway, thanks again for your sweet words!

[leannebr]

peachrush7

Your are so fortunate and I am so envious. You sound like your doing so great. That is so wonderful. I wish I was. Did you wear a brace at all ? I had to for 3 months. How did you get the bone growth stimulator. Ive heard great things about them. I had 50% fusion at 4 1/2 months on March 18th ( some areas fused , and some not they said from the CT) I dont know if thats good or bad at 4 1/2 months..
Who was your surgeon and where ? So happy for you. Your pictures are amazing.

[Lilysaidwhat]

Peach, I'm terrified to ride in a car (still on oxy so not driving) for fear of a car wreck - plus, it's still really uncomfortable to ride more than about 2 miles.

When did the discomfort of riding in the car diminish?

[golfnut]

Peachrush,
I'm not sure who your last post was directed to. I did not wear a brace or use a bone stimulator. Dr. Lenke thinks that your muscles get stronger sooner if they are forced to support your back after surgery. I would think that showing fusion already would be a good sign. I've heard that it's at least 9 months before you could be totally fused. I am recovery well (I think), but have no idea if my spine is starting to fuse. I am not quite 3 months post op.

[golfnut]

Oops. I just realized that Leanne wrote the post I was referring to instead of Peachrush.

Lily,
I am almost 3 months post op and still put a pillow behind my back in the car. It helps!

[Pooka1]

I had 50% fusion at 4 1/2 months on March 18th ( some areas fused , and some not they said from the CT) I dont know if thats good or bad at 4 1/2 months...

Hey I don't what I'm talking about but based on the "vibe" I have gotten from reading the few testimonials that mention this, you sound ahead of the game. I am not sure even kids fuse that fast but I don't know that. Did you have BMP?

Maybe others can comment. Very interesting.

The only thing I know (because the surgeon told me this directly) is that fusion can't be determined from radiographs. So if folks know their fusion amount, it has to be based on some other imaging modality like CT in your case. I am not so sure there are many folks who have that done.

[mgs]

Peach, I'm terrified to ride in a car (still on oxy so not driving) for fear of a car wreck - plus, it's still really uncomfortable to ride more than about 2 miles.

When did the discomfort of riding in the car diminish?

I am totally comfortable riding/driving now (my surgery was the day before yours, but this go round was not nearly as long of a fusion as yours).

My original surgery (as you can see from my sig) was similar to yours - it was T-3 to L-3- then I had a rough month (2 hosp admissions) of complications. My mother died about 6 weeks after that surgery, and I was totally comfortable riding in the car for the 5 hours to STL for her funeral. (I wasn't comfortable on the ride home, but not because of my back. During that drive, the first symptoms of H1N1 hit me. Suffice it to say that my first 2 mos post-op were less than a joy. Plus, in that time, we moved out of our house of 22 years into the house we built. ) Life was a bit stessful in those 2 months, but at least I was comfortable in a car.
(sorry - don't mean to hijack, peachrush!)

[peachrush7]

Your are so fortunate and I am so envious. You sound like your doing so great. That is so wonderful. I wish I was. Did you wear a brace at all ? I had to for 3 months. How did you get the bone growth stimulator. Who was your surgeon and where ?

Leanne,
I've been reading your posts, and I'm so sorry you've had so many problems! I hope that things start getting better for you quickly.
To answer your questions, my surgeon didn't have me wear any brace. He (like Lenke) agrees with the line of thinking that by not bracing post-op, the muscles are forced to work, and so get stronger faster.
My surgeon prescribed the bone growth stimulator. I wear it 4 hours a day, and will have to wear it for a total of 6 months. I think you could ask your surgeon to write a prescription for you, but I know my surgeon has me wearing it because I have had 4 surgeries in the same spot.
My surgeon is Dr. Joseph Flynn in Orlando, Florida. I really like him as a person, and trust him as a scoliosis surgeon. He's also on the SRS.


"Peach, I'm terrified to ride in a car (still on oxy so not driving) for fear of a car wreck - plus, it's still really uncomfortable to ride more than about 2 miles. When did the discomfort of riding in the car diminish?"

Lily, I didn't start driving until I was completely off the hydrocodone (I was off the oxy at 7 weeks, switched to hydro, and then off the hydro at 10 weeks). Riding in the car really didn't start getting comfortable until probably around 10 weeks. I haven't really gone too far yet though, so we'll see in April when we take a 2 1/2 hour trip down to visit my husband's family. Different cars/different seats seem to affect it too. In my husband's car I have to use a pillow, but in mine I don't. I would think if you're still needing the oxy, it would follow that riding in the car would still be pretty uncomfortable.

I'm sure everybody heals differently too. I just remember around 8 weeks trying to get in and out of cars was painful and really hard. But now it doesn't hurt at all at 13 weeks. So it has gone pretty quickly when I look at that. But it sure does seem slow when you're living it! =)

mgs----
wow! what a hard recovery you had!!! Hearing from all of you who have had difficult recoveries makes me grateful every day.

[leannebr]

pooka1

What is a BMP ?
Thanks for the inspiring wors, I hope/pray your right !!
To peachrush and others that didnt/arent wearing a brace, I think your surgeons choice probably makes alot of sense. Maybe I'm having such a hard time because I wore it and it completely imobilized my body/full torso that whole time. I felt like a worm when i took it off, I was afraid to go without it I felt so weak. You probably begin to strengthen muscles and create muscles right away without a brace, where as I started to learn to use muscles I had never used, and make muscles due to my body accomodating my curves all those years. The process of strengthening and healing might be slower for me because I wore the brace.
When dr told me I didnt have to wear it, I took it off and cried I was so happy hugging everyone at the office who walked by and telling them. But I was really, literally like a worm, and when I got home I put it on off and on because I felt so weak and it was comforting like it protected me..

[Pooka1]

What is a BMP ?
Thanks for the inspiring wors, I hope/pray your right !!

Bone morphogenic protein. It significantly speeds fusion as I understand this game.

I hope you catch a break soon. You deserve it. :-)