Hi friends! I was just thinking about how this recovery business is kind of like the tortoise and the hare somewhat-- although as long as you finish the race, everyone can be winners. I am one of the tortoises, though.
Yesterday I had my 21 month check-up with my scoli doc. I go every six months now. After all was said and done, Dr. H was very pleased with everything and of course, that made me feel good. All those little worries that nag at you are put to rest... and you feel like you can tackle the world again. I've noticed lately that there are many of you who recover so quickly it practically makes my head spin. I am so excited for you! It's not that way with everyone though. I am still making progress but have not "arrived" at being "recovered" yet. I think I will be one of those that takes the full three years someone once mentioned (as in 1-3 years), to recover. Or longer... But I am still really excited about how far I've come and how well I am doing. That is why I'm sharing.
Dr. H said I am walking really well (PT REALLY helped with my stride and posture!) and that all in all I was looking good. (Right, thankfully he didn't mention the extra weight I'm still working on getting rid of!) The neck aches are apparently age related, mostly due to arthritis. The lower lumbars we are watching, but they are ok still. We were playing the odds with whether or not to include L5-sacrum, and didn't. Time will tell. The pains I get sometimes in my mid back are probably hardware. But the fusion and all that looks good. I do not have serious aches and pains-- just mostly fatigue and aching after a long day at work, and, as I said, tenderness in my neck/upper back and in my lower lumbars. I hardly ever take anything for the aching-- and never did prior to my surgery either. The aching I had then was different-- more like gravity was pulling my back down on itself as the day progressed. I don't have that anymore! Occasionally, if I have a bad day (or two) or overdo things, I'll take a darvocet and that takes the edge off and helps.
Whoo hoo! He also lifted most of the restrictions that I've had, saying to use common sense and to use proper body mechanics (squatting, etc.) mostly. I think he probably assumes that by 21 months I am now healed enough that occasional stress won't cause a problem. And that my DDD and arthritis will keep me from doing anything too foolish! I am gearing up to hold those two first grandbabies (Oh yeah, "bubs" as some of our Aussie (or British???) friends say) of mine that are due to arrive in May! Did I tell you both are little boys? And then I'll get through this wedding in June. Lots to do this spring and early summer!
Mostly I am posting some of this because there will be others who don't progress with the speed some of you have, and that doesn't mean that we won't continue to get better too. It just takes longer for some of us. Slow and steady wins the race... or at least finishes it!
You are all so dear-- I know I don't post nearly as much as I used to-- I run out of steam and have other priorities to deal with that "call my name" much louder these days! But I visit the forum every day and read as much as I can and tuck away the info in my head. I often say "I'll get back to that thread and add my little bit" but often it doesn't happen. Oh well! Or I'll see that an old friend posted after being gone for quite awhile and I mean to send a PM to say how great it was to hear from them... but then it doesn't always happen either. Double oh well and then some.
You're a great bunch!!! Thanks for your friendship! Hugs, Susie
PS-- I got digital copies of some of my x-rays yesterday, so hopefully sometime soon I'll attach some that are much better to my signature. But don't hold your breath! That's hard for me.
Yesterday I had my 21 month check-up with my scoli doc. I go every six months now. After all was said and done, Dr. H was very pleased with everything and of course, that made me feel good. All those little worries that nag at you are put to rest... and you feel like you can tackle the world again. I've noticed lately that there are many of you who recover so quickly it practically makes my head spin. I am so excited for you! It's not that way with everyone though. I am still making progress but have not "arrived" at being "recovered" yet. I think I will be one of those that takes the full three years someone once mentioned (as in 1-3 years), to recover. Or longer... But I am still really excited about how far I've come and how well I am doing. That is why I'm sharing.
Dr. H said I am walking really well (PT REALLY helped with my stride and posture!) and that all in all I was looking good. (Right, thankfully he didn't mention the extra weight I'm still working on getting rid of!) The neck aches are apparently age related, mostly due to arthritis. The lower lumbars we are watching, but they are ok still. We were playing the odds with whether or not to include L5-sacrum, and didn't. Time will tell. The pains I get sometimes in my mid back are probably hardware. But the fusion and all that looks good. I do not have serious aches and pains-- just mostly fatigue and aching after a long day at work, and, as I said, tenderness in my neck/upper back and in my lower lumbars. I hardly ever take anything for the aching-- and never did prior to my surgery either. The aching I had then was different-- more like gravity was pulling my back down on itself as the day progressed. I don't have that anymore! Occasionally, if I have a bad day (or two) or overdo things, I'll take a darvocet and that takes the edge off and helps.
Whoo hoo! He also lifted most of the restrictions that I've had, saying to use common sense and to use proper body mechanics (squatting, etc.) mostly. I think he probably assumes that by 21 months I am now healed enough that occasional stress won't cause a problem. And that my DDD and arthritis will keep me from doing anything too foolish! I am gearing up to hold those two first grandbabies (Oh yeah, "bubs" as some of our Aussie (or British???) friends say) of mine that are due to arrive in May! Did I tell you both are little boys? And then I'll get through this wedding in June. Lots to do this spring and early summer!
Mostly I am posting some of this because there will be others who don't progress with the speed some of you have, and that doesn't mean that we won't continue to get better too. It just takes longer for some of us. Slow and steady wins the race... or at least finishes it!
You are all so dear-- I know I don't post nearly as much as I used to-- I run out of steam and have other priorities to deal with that "call my name" much louder these days! But I visit the forum every day and read as much as I can and tuck away the info in my head. I often say "I'll get back to that thread and add my little bit" but often it doesn't happen. Oh well! Or I'll see that an old friend posted after being gone for quite awhile and I mean to send a PM to say how great it was to hear from them... but then it doesn't always happen either. Double oh well and then some.
You're a great bunch!!! Thanks for your friendship! Hugs, Susie
PS-- I got digital copies of some of my x-rays yesterday, so hopefully sometime soon I'll attach some that are much better to my signature. But don't hold your breath! That's hard for me.
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