Not sure what this means

[titaniumed]

Very good...Are you home now? Do you have someone helping you out?

You can have food delivered....There are lots of people doing this today which is probably a good idea since the virus rates have picked up recently.

Try to take it easy....

Ed

[jackieg412]

No I'm not home yet but in rehab. The neurosurgeon decompressed some he ever to my hands and I'm having pain issues. We are using Tylenol and gabapentin. And diazapam. No narcotics.With that no digestive problems.
They explained on the osteotomy I lost a liter of blood in minutes. I have had blood replacement. It was the quick loss that we concerning. Also used cell saver.

[titaniumed]

I see, that's good.......the first shower helps out quite a bit. Just take the walker in the shower.

Blood loss is one of the complications of osteotomy.... I had 2 units off the blood bank and that was a breath of fresh air, substantial improvement. I wonder if it was a young person's blood with plenty of stem cells. It was my oil change at jiffy lube (smiley face) I was ready to rev my engine for the walker races in the hallway. Back in the old days I would punch out a 20 mile hike with no problems, at the hospital during my recovery, 50 feet seemed like a mile.

It must be a big relief to have your head off your chin...How is that working out? I would guess they don't want you looking down or tilting your head forward too much.

You had a high risk, high reward procedure which is amazing when you think about it.

Ed

[Tina_R]

Jackie, I hope they are treating you well in rehab and that you have a steady recovery. Sounds like you've been through a lot.

[Tina_R]

You can have food delivered....There are lots of people doing this today which is probably a good idea since the virus rates have picked up recently.

Ed

Delivery has its drawbacks. Primarily that the shoppers make some weird substitutions at their discretion. But they are saving me from going out so I shouldn't complain.

[jackieg412]

I'm still in rehab but doing better every day. It is a challenge for sure. I will get my staples out on Friday and then go home.

[titaniumed]

Very good.

I guess it's too early to ask if the pain has reduced....How is the T5 level?

Jackie, You and Melissa are the Tylenol ladies.....Tylenol should be paying both of you! If only the Johnson & Johnson people knew...

Ed

[jackieg412]

This is rough for sure but still just using Tylenol, gabapentin and diazepam. The thoracic area pain is gone. The surgeon said all of the hardware was loose in the cervical. So that problem is fixed.
This is the ninth spine surgery and last

[titaniumed]

I am guessing the Gab is the strongest med you have....do you agree? Or are you used to it?

How is the hot shower working? Does it help for an hour? I used the hot water soaks to relieve pain and then go right to bed and try to get some sleep. Sleeping like a cat means a lot of soaks. I did 5 hot soaks per day for 3 months. I am assuming you have a thick foam topper?

Is most of the pain from the osteotomy area at T1? or the neck, or both? I remember my pelvic anchors aching after my surgeries. I don't remember pain up high in the spine....I am forgetting these things. I do remember the flourscopy burns on my hips.

Hang in there.

Ed

[titaniumed]

Pain.com

This just came in on my computer....this might be of interest for those in chronic pain

Pain.com (pain solutions)

https://www.pain.com/en.html?utm_sou...cid=pr10000239

Ed

[jackieg412]

I took a nice long hot shower yesterday. It was wonderful. It helped relief the upper trap muscles.I hope to do it again soon. I also saw some of my little grandchildren. They have already had the virus and I wore a mask.It was a happy time.
Gabapentin and Tylenol. That is the plan. I was on ketamine in the hospital for a few days and that helped.
It is a struggle and I am tired. I will reach out to the pain doctor today. I do not like gabapentin and. I am a bit unstable.
This can only get better

[titaniumed]

It is a struggle and I am tired. I will reach out to the pain doctor today. I do not like gabapentin and. I am a bit unstable.
This can only get better

Yes, it is so tiring doing adult scoliosis surgery. It is so draining....I didn't like gabapentin at all. I thought it was too strong. It's used to control seizures..... Diazepam or Valium is also in the group. Ask, maybe the mixing of both of these meds is causing problems.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anticonvulsant

Remember that your diet is important for your immune system. Your ability to heal in this recovery is paramount....

I have struggled with fatigue all these years which is probably due to sleep disturbances. I have read that a spoonful of olive oil before bed helps but have not tried this yet....spoonful to a quarter cup before bed. I need to try this!
https://nuvooliveoil.com/blogs/blog/...h-science-evoo

You will probably have a drop off in pain levels here soon....It's funny how it steps down. I remember getting 1 hour of sleep and graduating to 2 hours of sleep. Then 2 hours to 3 hours. After roughly 13 years, I am up to 5-6 hours. I am lacking on REM sleep.

If you go in for x-rays, would love to see them. Especially the side views.

How are the scars? Keep a close eye on them with a mirror.....twice per day. You are one that needs to watch this. Are you still on antibiotics? Just wondering how they handle situations like yours. I believe I took them for about 3 weeks after I came home.

Ed

[jackieg412]

I was able to walk a little outside with my daughter. It was cold but sunny. A visiting nurse will come tomorrow to check on things.. Yes watching the incision site is important. I am not on antibiotics at this time.
I am still at my daughters but may go home on Wednesday. Her husband drives long distance truck driving and will be coming home . This covid this changes everything. Even my primary care doctor only wants a video visit to keep me out of the office.
I see the surgeon in December and will attempt to get an image of the xrays.

[titaniumed]

Ahh...the visiting nurses. When your alone, it's nice to have them stop by.

I would leave the front door unlocked and they would show up... "Ed are you awake?" "I never went to sleep!"

The one PT girl commented at the house, "How did you get out of the hospital?, your beat" "Thanks for the vote of confidence" I got a kick out of that. Of course, at that stage a few days out, it didn't matter too much where I was at. She had me doing heel lifts for DVT prevention at the kitchen counter. We would walk 100 feet and turn around which would wipe me out. They came everyday for about a month. Always a different nurse.....Lots of them looking at my scars.

Its taxing taking antibiotics and always a relief discontinuing them. They wreak havoc on your digestive tract, replacing nutrients and bacterium is important....eat well.

Our COVID rates here have gone 5 fold in 30 days. In looking at the Spanish flu of 1918, 1919 and 1920, there were huge FAST increases and drop offs in those charts....Try to apply lay logic on this is fruitless due to the changes in the viruses. And the testing, which the most accurate test is the molecular test or RT-PCR test. But it can produce a false negative from 2-37% and does not catch new infections. The virus needs to brew a few days before the test actually works. Probability of detection probably needs a full week after symptoms. You could have symptoms, have a negative test, then a positive outcome a week later. You have to factor this in and then it's no deal breaker....

Interpreting Diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2
Scroll down for graphs on timeline.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...rticle/2765837

Isolation is effective.

It's nice to be home.

Ed

[Tina_R]

This is rough for sure but still just using Tylenol, gabapentin and diazepam. The thoracic area pain is gone. The surgeon said all of the hardware was loose in the cervical. So that problem is fixed.
This is the ninth spine surgery and last

How many different spine surgeons have you had, Jackie?