Misty
Nice to have Gail (and others) pop in and break the ice....She is spot on.
What kind of surgery is he doing? Did he tell you how many levels? I am wondering on this 3 week recovery timeframe, and well, don’t really think “any” spine surgery done in the age 40-50 group would fall in that 3 week recovery timeframe. Even if he was doing a shorty down in the lumbar, which some patients here have done, I would be weary.....If you need a full fusion, you need a full fusion. Now I have to ask, how old are you? Age is important.
My surgeon told me a year, I figured two years.....(I did have a massive anterior procedure...) At age 49.
For full fusion, the first 6 weeks are pretty much a “survival mode” where every minute is spent trying to get comfortable. Its hard to sleep, and its hard to sit. So, that leaves standing. My laptop was on my kitchen counter, and I would go over and take a peek at things for a few minutes. Attention span is shortened considerably.....I did make major decisions on 100mg plus of Percoset, after looking things over multiple times over a few days. My answers did not come quickly and refused to respond on issues for a few days. It was ok since everyone understood, and waited for me. You will need to prep your inner circle, and your business circle. This is no shoulder surgery, or knee job. Full fusion scoliosis surgery is serious surgery and complications can and do happen. I call it the “C” word. Sigh.....You need to know because we need to know. Its also impossible to cover all that can happen. Be ready with horse blinders and walk and look straight ahead. In other words, Damn the torpedoes. We need to fuse, and not have any infections.
Working from home is possible, short periods of time, and having the ability to lay down when you can. We sleep like cats in our recovery, and its draining. Fatigue last’s a REALLY long time. Years.
On the shoe situation, or high heel thing, maybe if I was Prince I could comment....(smiley face) I think that this isn’t a good idea, even if you were fused to the pelvis a few years post and fused solid. High heels promote or increase the lordosis in your lower spine and really do throw off your balance in the sagittal plane. (side view)(front to back) This affects your neck. Scoliosis surgeons straighten up scoliosis curves and rebuild or set your kyphotic and lordotic balance (viewed from the side)
You have lordosis in your lower spine, or small of your back, and you also have it in the neck. Kyphosis is the opposite curve in your upper back or thoracic spine. Some call it round back.
There is no race, in fact scoliosis surgery is probably the best teacher of patience. I can sit and watch the grass grow now.....setting realistic goals, with realistic timeframes is important. I never thought I would be able to reach my feet, and that was wrong. These thoughts will go through your mind, but as time passes, you heal, and things change. Adapting to change is important. Having a positive attitude means everything, you enter a new chapter of the book, and adapt slowly.
Gayle is right on returning to work at 3 months. There have been posts of misery here on this subject. Part time, ok, a few hours.....I took off 18 months, but had other problems. (broken shoulder and arm and gall stone problems.)
I will send you a PM...
Ed
Nice to have Gail (and others) pop in and break the ice....She is spot on.
What kind of surgery is he doing? Did he tell you how many levels? I am wondering on this 3 week recovery timeframe, and well, don’t really think “any” spine surgery done in the age 40-50 group would fall in that 3 week recovery timeframe. Even if he was doing a shorty down in the lumbar, which some patients here have done, I would be weary.....If you need a full fusion, you need a full fusion. Now I have to ask, how old are you? Age is important.
My surgeon told me a year, I figured two years.....(I did have a massive anterior procedure...) At age 49.
For full fusion, the first 6 weeks are pretty much a “survival mode” where every minute is spent trying to get comfortable. Its hard to sleep, and its hard to sit. So, that leaves standing. My laptop was on my kitchen counter, and I would go over and take a peek at things for a few minutes. Attention span is shortened considerably.....I did make major decisions on 100mg plus of Percoset, after looking things over multiple times over a few days. My answers did not come quickly and refused to respond on issues for a few days. It was ok since everyone understood, and waited for me. You will need to prep your inner circle, and your business circle. This is no shoulder surgery, or knee job. Full fusion scoliosis surgery is serious surgery and complications can and do happen. I call it the “C” word. Sigh.....You need to know because we need to know. Its also impossible to cover all that can happen. Be ready with horse blinders and walk and look straight ahead. In other words, Damn the torpedoes. We need to fuse, and not have any infections.
Working from home is possible, short periods of time, and having the ability to lay down when you can. We sleep like cats in our recovery, and its draining. Fatigue last’s a REALLY long time. Years.
On the shoe situation, or high heel thing, maybe if I was Prince I could comment....(smiley face) I think that this isn’t a good idea, even if you were fused to the pelvis a few years post and fused solid. High heels promote or increase the lordosis in your lower spine and really do throw off your balance in the sagittal plane. (side view)(front to back) This affects your neck. Scoliosis surgeons straighten up scoliosis curves and rebuild or set your kyphotic and lordotic balance (viewed from the side)
You have lordosis in your lower spine, or small of your back, and you also have it in the neck. Kyphosis is the opposite curve in your upper back or thoracic spine. Some call it round back.
There is no race, in fact scoliosis surgery is probably the best teacher of patience. I can sit and watch the grass grow now.....setting realistic goals, with realistic timeframes is important. I never thought I would be able to reach my feet, and that was wrong. These thoughts will go through your mind, but as time passes, you heal, and things change. Adapting to change is important. Having a positive attitude means everything, you enter a new chapter of the book, and adapt slowly.
Gayle is right on returning to work at 3 months. There have been posts of misery here on this subject. Part time, ok, a few hours.....I took off 18 months, but had other problems. (broken shoulder and arm and gall stone problems.)
I will send you a PM...
Ed
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