2 level fusion, 7 weeks post op, first major outing

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lovemiamibeach8

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LOL.. I'm 5 1/2 weeks post op. I remeraber my first trip to Walmart week 2 (Big Mistake). I went there to look for the grabber, which I never found because I got too exhausted. Once I got inside I realized the store was WAY to big.LOL. And the majority of people just aren't sympathetic to the handicapped. I don't think I'll try Walmart again until another month or 2. Good Luck to you.
 
And, I'm exhausted. LOL. 4 hour trip out with daughter driving to WalMart. We did it, and I came home ready to collapse. Did a bit of walking, did the rest in a WalMart electric shopping cart thingie. I did learn that as much as I always thought the scooter people can be rude, the walking people can be far worse. Takes a lot of concentration when folks cut you off and make a dead stop in front of you. Or when kiRAB dart in front of you as you're buzzing down an aisle. Or when folks ignore your presence and block you in.

But hey, it was a start. We a full week's grocery shopping and a start at clothes shopping for things that will fit over this brace.
 
Wow, that was quite an outing for only 7 weeks along! You're way ahead of where I was at that point! Go you!!! :D

I was told that my brace should go outside my clothes. I wore oversized men's shirts over it to hide it. I had mine over winter, so it was actually nice to have that big, soft flannel shirt on.

I hope you continue in your recovery as well as you're doing right now. It sounRAB like you're doing really well. You'll be one of our success stories, back at life before you know it, and maybe popping in here once in a while to give hope to future newbies facing the same surgery. I'm so glad for you!

Take care,
Emily
 
I never tried one of those scooters, but I have to say my experience was very different from y'alls when I finally got out to Walmart and my local grocery store. I usually took my grabber in with me, but every now and then I'd just be going in for one or two items and didn't take it. Of course, you KNOW that one item ended up being on the bottom shelf. I would stand there looking at it, only 2 feet away from my hand, but completely out of reach. I would wait for someone to walk close and then ask if they could please help me, as I had recently had back surgery and couldn't get that item on the bottom shelf. People were so nice!

Now I take my cane with me, partly because if I'm going to be standing for a long time, I have something to lean on, and partly because it's a great tool! I've maneuvered cans of food from the back of the bottom shelf out to the front so I could get it, and knocked things off a top shelf that were only within reach if I stretched, still not a good thing for me to do. It's amazing the difference in people when I have my cane with me. I've had people run ahead of me to open a door! I am so hurabled by how nice some people are. They don't know me, and they have nothing to gain. We were impressed when we first moved to Richmond by how nice people were in general, like letting you in during rush hour traffic, or stopping in the main driving lanes of a parking lot to let a pedestrian cross over, but since I've been through this back saga, I've seen it even more. I try not to take it for granted. Hearing your stories helps keep me from that! I always thank people profusely. I want them to know that it really makes a difference for a disabled person when someone takes a few seconRAB to do some little thing that makes life easier for them. And I'm sorry you guys haven't had that same good experience!

Paula, I hope the scrubs work out. I sleep in my old scrubs now. It takes me a while to get my act together in the morning, so if I'm in scrubs and someone comes to the door or I want to go out to the mailbox, it's no big deal. When I had to stop working, I wondered what I'd do with all my colorful scrubs. Now they're being put to good use again! I wore them after my last surgery, too, the hardware removal, as they didn't rub on my incision like my jeans would.

Momzworkin, I'm so glad you're teaching your kiRAB to help others! That will become part of their personalities and will always be valuable! Good for you! You have a right to be proud!

:wave: Emily
 
Thanks Emily, and I hope so!

My brace has to be worn over a t-shirt, and then an outer shirt worn over that - when I bother. Around the house I don't care, but outside is another matter.

I've also been told, for this time of year, to pick up sleeveless men's athletic shirts to wear under the brace when I'm wearing a shirt over, because it'll be cooler. So, picked up those too. It's the height of fashion for those of us in clamshell braces. LOL

It is amazingly hard to find clothes that go over the brace, especially when I adjust the brace for sitting. To sit I have to loosen the lower straps so the brace doesn't cut into me, and that causes the bottom part of the brace to flare out. Need to get this down now before I go back to work, because I sit most of the time. Anyway, I need to find clothes that fit over the flare. So here I was, in the WalMart dressing room, my daughter freaking out that I was taking too long and perhaps I had fallen and couldn't get up ;) while I'm trying to decide if I look like an elephant or a hippo. Finally decided on a really huge flowered and loose shirt that will allow people to see me from a mile away, and a huge blue knit shirt that sorta works.

Tomorrow hubby is taking me to a store that specializes in scrubs for nurses. I've been told they carry large sizes and I think scrubs for both shirts and pants are a great idea for work. Pockets for carrying things so maybe I won't have to carry a purse and its added weight, and at least I'll look medical. Not exactly the look for the banking industry that I work in, but it'll remind people what I just went through. LOL. All I need to do is have a surgical mask dangling around my neck to complete the look.

Now don't forget Emily...I did do the WalMart thing in one of their electric scooters, so I didn't walk the store. Trying to walk more is a personal goal right now, although not my doctor's. He's a fan of relaxing and letting the fusion take, everything else can come later. I do see what he means. Too much walking really is the only thing that causes any back discomfort. Not real pain, mostly an ache. When I saw the x-rays showing the vast amount of hardware in there, I was shocked it was just an ache. Holy Cow!

Paula
 
:eek:

Lovemiamibeach, at week 2 I was still figuring out how to go to the bathroom! I can't believe you tried WalMart. The mind boggles.

Yup, I'd give it another month or two. I was thinking how incredibly unpleasant it was and will be spending today recovering (in other worRAB, sleeping.) And yes, people are extremely inconsiderate of the handicapped. I now understand why the electric scooter people get aggressive, so many of the walkers are so inconsiderate they set everyone up for an accident the handicapped can ill afford.
 
Hi Paula ~

I agree with Emily. I never could have gone to WalMart at 7 weeks. At that time for me, I think I was walking the length of the first floor of our house several times a day. I was still on oxycodone and was not driving, and spent most of my time in bed.

Refresh my memory: was this your first surgery?

xx M:wave:M
 
I can't imagine going to Walmart or anywhere at my 2 week mark. I was lucky if I could get out of bed and walk to my recliner. I am 5 months post-op and I still cannot do much shopping and would love to get away for awhile for a short vacation but I just can't stand sitting in the car for very long. I did use those scooters for about a month and most people were nice but some gave me such looks that it made me feel so bad so I quit using them. I still take my cane and when they see that in my cart they seem to be considerate so I don't know why they resent people using the scooters.

Take care
Linda:angel:
 
I tried one of those handicap scooters at Sam's Club about three weeks after double fusion. I was getting scripts refeilled and my Mom and daughter were with me but I finally gave up and parked by the exit and waited for them. I could NOT believe how rude people were and inconsiderate! I was in tears. I have made sure to teach my kiRAB to RESPECT these people, stop and ask if they can grab or reach something for them-anything to make it easier. They have made me so proud in grocery stores!!
I only rode on once and won't do it again! :jester:
 
I have the van set up so that I can lay down on the floor. I put a recliner chair pad, then a sleeping bag on top. We took out a row of seats. I take a meclizine to deal with the dizziness. That has really helped with the travel over 20 minutes. I am still not driving and I am 21 weeks post-op. But, I am fine with that since i see progress. I also tried the scooter thing but it just jerked my back so much I decided to walk holding onto a cart. If you are still looking for grabbers, it's easier to get them online. Try Amerimark - they have them for tall people as well. It took me a month to get out of the house. I also can't imagine going to WalMart at 2 weeks. If I can't reach something at the grocery store, I go and ask one of the teenage boys that are working to get it for me. I also do it when I drop something, which is pretty much with every trip. ;)
 
Hi Mom ;-)

Laminectomy at L4/L5 25 years ago. One of those incredible cases where I was relieved of 100% of my pain. At the time I was told the nerve impingement and herniation was so extreme it made it easier to repair. The only permanent damage it left was a small nurab spot on my leg.

This is my first fusion, L4-S1. The real problem was L5-S1, but the level above, where I had the laminectomy, was showing narrowing and bulging, so we did it before before I wound up having another surgery next year.
 
I do think how people react to those in the scooters depend upon where you live. I live in the mountains of NE PA, and in the summer we have lots of tourists from NYC and lots of people and children going to all of the local summer camps. Unfortunately, they do tend to treat the locals as if we are all morons. Course, they have no idea I'm originally from NYC myself. Anyway, this particular Walmart (I have a choice of two) is right in the middle of one of those summer tourist towns and all the shoppers seem to need to go wherever they're going in a hurray, as if they're waiting to catch a train or will be late for work. Habits die hard.

But I will also walk next time, holding onto the cart, even if I need to bring my cane. Need to build up walking endurance anyway.
 
Momz, you're right, and chances are good I won't use one of those scooters again. I think I'd rather be in pain then to deal with the frustration and anger.
 
I have to say it was 4 weeks for me when i tried wal mart and i refused to use one of the motorized carts cause i know how people are here where i live about being rude. I always ask if i can help or encourage my kiRAB to do the same. Heck i am 4 and a half months post op and i still do what i can for anyone. But anyway when i went to wal mart i was in search for a grabber myself and after walking a little ways someone told me it was one the other side of the store and i was lucky hubby went to get it for me cause with my big ol brace on dont think the manager even offered. So thank goodness for hubby i sat down on the bench while he got it for me. And i wasnt driving either hubby was i would ride.
I hope you get some shirts to go over that bulky thing i didnt bother i rarely went out and i dont work i havent been able to since 2002 when i had the first fusion and maybe it not healing is what kept me from working so i hope this one takes and i can return to work one day.
Good luck and take it easy!
 
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