A Post Surgery Note!

Since my last blog in June my world had shrunk - I have been having a lot of pain and discomfort with my back and was not able to get out to my normal groups, see friends, go out to eat with friends or Church.  My back discomfort had gotten so uncomfortable for me I needed to take a lot of rest breaks throughout the day.  I thought that my "Spinal Stenosis" was getting worse. I finally spoke with my Rehab Dr and asked for a referral to a Neurosurgeon.  I had an MRI early August and got to see the surgeon 2 days later.  My Diagnosis was very different than I thought, "Spondylolisthesis" Level II out of 4 - I asked what happened at Level 4 and he replied, "well the vertebrae fall's completely off the spinal column.",

 We discussed surgery since L4 & L3 were both bad and Surgery was set for the 22nd of August, a day after my 75th birthday. Whoohoo! Happy Birthday to me.  The surgery went well - He fused my vertebrae, L4 to L5 and L3 to L4.  I spent 3 days in the hospital at UT Medical Center then was transferred to Rehab, Life Care of Jefferson City, where I spent the next four weeks of daily OT and PT to get me up and mobile again.  They were phenomenal! Diane in OT became my mentor, and Carmen and Kyle in PT pushed me to walk and gain my strength back. I am their Success Story.  

Today, Saturday, Sept 30th I have been home from rehab a whole week and already am more mobile than I thought I could be.  I've been using my cane in the house and my walker outside.  Yesterday I had my IV Therapy for my "Rheumatoid Arthritis".  The challenge was to walk the long hall to Dr's office and back to the car.  "I Did It"! I also so my Rheumatologist on Monday.  Whoohoo! My day's outing - to the Dr's Ha Ha.

It has been very nice to be home again, I have Home Care for the next 3 weeks, (OT - 1 day a week & PT 2 days a week), I look forward to being completely on my own and do out PT - OT.  I apologize for getting a little long winded but I am looking forward to the next phase of healing, I may still have pain and discomfort but my hope is more freedom and mobility. 

3 days post op - home and healing

Today I'm 3 days post op from my back surgery.   I haven't been able to sit down at my sewing machine to quilt yet but I am definitely thinking about it which is a very good thing.  Monday I went in for surgery and when I woke up I found that I had to spend the night because I had developed a "leak" from a tear, not too bad but I had to be flat on my back till 6am in the morning.  Now I do not normally sleep on my back and spend less than 5 min on my back at a time so this was tantamount to torture.  so on Tuesday morning when they told me I could sit up and move around I was delighted.  I was hoping to go home that evening.  In the afternoon I was very dizzy with a stiff neck and a headache.  they determined that it was due to my pain med and that i needed to stay for another day... Oh my! but at least I could move around and sit on the chair to watch TV.  I arrived home yesterday afternoon before the snowstorm and got settled in.  I found that things were going to be ok, although I didn't feel up to sewing yet I could navigate my bed and home without too much discomfort.  I loaded my chairs with extra pillows, brought my iron patio chair with the arms in from the porch so I could sit at my kitchen table and retrieved my reacher so I would be able to pick up things off the floor without bending.  My daughter Beth stayed with me a while after I arrived home then my daughter Nan came over in the evening to help me with supper.  I went to bed early and slept well and found I could navigate around just using my cane.  I feel blessed by all the caring friends and family and many prayer warriors I have surrounding me.  Thank you Lord!  I really want to blog more but find I am not able to sit long at my desk so tomorrow is another day... maybe I'll be able to blog and put some pictures up.