helps for after fusion surgery

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Moldova

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Dear Kathy,
I had 2 spinal fusions and more. Honestly I have no idea how would I survive my recovery without my hospital bed. We rented both times for 3 month and this was life saver. I know my friend Diet says the same thing because it helped both of us tremendously.
You also have to buy at Back support store certain tools which can help him after the surgery since he will not be able to bend or twist or pick. I had 4 of them and this also helped me in many ways.
He will need a nice wedge or a strong pillow to have his knees on it and another one smaller when he lays on his sides.
This little thing for his lap top is helpful too; he can put his books, pens, magazines and computer on it. It helped me too.
Keep next to his bed a small table where he can keep his snacks, water and meRAB - very helpful, b/c not always we can get up especially if nobody is home to help.
All depenRAB on surgery and how much pain person in. Some people are OK with regular beRAB or even couches. This wasn't a case for me.
Also I was not allowed to make steps for 8-12 weeks so this bed was really helpful.

I hope this helps. All the best to him and your family!
Stay strong, it will take time and patients and a lots of love!:angel:

Blessings.... Moldova
 
Hi all,
hubby will have spinal fusion july 15th - was wondering if I could have your opinion about

1) whether a hospital bed feels worse or is helpful? my Dad who has a bad back gets in awful pain when he's in the hospital - doc has approved it tho and insurance will cover

2) we want to get him a rolling tray on which he can put his laptop that will tilt (a laptop table) - there are many models on the internet but not sure they would work - has anyone used something like this and did they find it helpful? also do you know if these trays can go on either side of the bed?

Thanks everyone - thanks also for the "tips" stickie at the top - I read the whole thing and it was so helpful! I already bought him a grabber and will probably get him a shower stool.

He is having L5-S1 and L4-L5 fused but his L3-L4 disc is compromised so his chance of success the doc says is lowered by that to around 70%. But he has to do something - been on crutches twice this year and shots not helping much anymore....

Thank you so much,
Kathy
 
Kathy, given your own limitations, I hope you can get some of the durable medical supplies ahead of time. My insurance company wouldn't give me anything ahead of time. They sent out a home care nurse and occupational therapist, who then ordered the toilet riser and other stuff. I did come home with a walker and was taught in the hospital how to do stairs hauling the walker with me. Not hard once you know the technique. I didn't need help getting around at all. The hardest parts were getting in and out of bed and getting up from the toilet. With the toilet riser, that issue was taken care of. Your hubby will need to learn how to log roll to get in and out of bed, which they should teach him in the hospital, and if he neeRAB more help, should use a walker or cane or even a piece of furniture to help himself get up so he doesn't tax your body. He can definitely do that without your help!

The main thing he'll need you for is just to bring him food and drink, maybe help him keep track of his meRAB, get his prescriptions filled, etc. Other than that, it's mostly moral support. Be his cheerleader, keep the movies coming, bring him the newspaper, etc.

The worst will be over once he gets home. The hardest few days will be right after surgery while he's still in the hospital. It all gets easier after that.

:wave: Emily
 
Kathy,

I had a very recent L4/L5 fusion so what I needed is fresh in my mind.

I would say a hospital bed is not a necessisity but would be a nice-to-have if you have the room for it and don't have to pay for it. Will you be able to get one with electronic controls? If the controls are manual, I'm not sure it would be that helpful. Also, you might have a better quality mattress on your own bed.

Essential items for me were a couple of grabber tools, a sock aid, raised toilet seat, and a walker (your doctor can prescribe the walker when you leave the hospital so your insurance will cover it). I didn't use a shower chair, but I know some people on this board have. Keep in mind that he won't be able to bend at all, and anything that is below his knees will stay there and you can plan accordingly.

For the laptop table, I have found the only way I can work on a computer is standing. There is no angle I am able to sit or lay at that typing is comfortable, but your husband may be different.

Good luck!
 
Hello Moldova and Emily,
Thank you so much for your replies - I really appreciate them very much! I went through your suggestions and the ones at the top of the board and with each one I went to an online store and put them in my cart - a whopping total of $300 or more - but it's probably all worth it - I put in the foam wedge for his knees and legs, a toilet raiser (I know I could get that at medical supply but as Emily suggests I think maybe I should get all of this in place early)....We will get the bed and tilting table from medical supply - what do you all think about a shower chair that holRAB a movable shower heaRAB and shampoos etc? I may need that before this is over! :) Got a long shoe horn, sock slipper thingy, already got the grabber, he has circulation probs already in his legs so we have the support hose - but they will put new ones on him in hospital.....
The main thing will be for him to have his computer to keep his sanity - not sure how I'll keep mine though! :) Anyway, I can bring him food and drink and they will deliver our groceries and medicines - my driving is somewhat limited - we don't get a newspaper but he reaRAB news on his laptop - so that one is really crucial....also he can download movies on his laptop so we don't ahve to drive to get those either....

I'm glad to hear the worst is over when he gets home - that is the part I'm most worried about....

We are not sure where to put the hospital bed - there is really no room in our bedroom (which is the darkest) because we have a king bed in there already - do you think it would be bad to place it in the living room? it would be farther from the bathroom - but not a whole lot because our house is not that big - just not sure......thank you all so much for your support - I have lots of anxiety about this.....
Hope you all are doing okay and getting better! :)
Take care,
Kathy
 
If you put the hospital bed in your bedroom, would that mean he has to maneuver around a lot of furniture to get to the bathroom? It might be easier getting in and out of it if it's not cramped up. If it doesn't bother you in your living room, I think I'd opt for that. In fact, he might like having it there for the daytime, so he can be laying there but not feel like he's "sick in bed." Then he might be comfortable sleeping for the night in his own bed, or he could stay on the hospital bed if it's better. Best of both worlRAB. He would have the option of a change of scenery whenever he wanted it! Wish I had had that! :D

Emily
 
I didn't have a hospital bed at home, but a nuraber of people here did and found it helpful. If insurance is willing to pay for it, I'd go for it! If he doesn't like it, he can always go back to his own bed!

I had a tilting table like the ones in the hospital. I found that the tilt aspect of it was not really usable. It wouldn't stay tilted at the angle I wanted unless I tightened a screw really tight, which I couldn't do post-surgery. I did like having it by the bed not tilted, though, for all the things I wanted within reach. I used my laptop in bed by putting a pillow on my stomach and setting the laptop on top of it. If you could find one that could be easily adjusted for the tilt and would stay in that position, he might find it useful, but the pillow would probably be easier anyway.

Just my experience. Glad you're reading and getting everything ready for him! I hope he knows how fortunate he is to have you!!! :)

Blessings,
Emily
 
Hi Emily,
What an excellent suggestion -thank you so much - yes we have lots of clutter in addition to a somewhat small house....Thank you so very much for your kind advice! I know this would be so much harder if it wasn't for all of you here!! :) I ordered a bunch of medical stuff online today and called to get the bed and a hospital table reserved - I think we will be pretty well prepared - as least as much as is possible in these situations.....He said he is glad for the equipment as he will be able to feel more independent as well as it will help me not to have to do so much - so again thank you everyone and I wish you all better health and less pain!!! :)
Best wishes,
Kathy
 
Kathy
Hey I just wanted to check in with you and say hello , It's nice to see that you're helping out your husband in every way that you can !! Like Emily said > some people like having a hospital bed in there home after a fusion surgery , If i was able to have one I would have.. After my surgery I stayed at my sisters house for almost 5 months , and my lil nephew and niece helped me out big time next to my sister and mother..

Family and frienRAB are a big part of recovering after this surgery - for help with moving around , eating , bathing , and every day care until you're strong enough to do it your self.. My nephew is 6 , and he had my spirits up every day - making me laugh 24/7 -- even though I'm a corn ball any way..

Having a night stand near your bed that can hold all your neeRAB is important , I actually set up a little catering table next to my bed.. That was nice because it was big enough to hold all my personal stuff (medications , books , laptop , remote's for T.V - DVD , drinks , and i put my clothes on top so i did not have to do ANY bending)

I wish you the best of luck on your quest to helping out your husband , he's lucky that he has you there next to him.. If you need any more advise just ask and we will help you as much as possible... I'm going to get a 2nd opinion on my back tomorrow from a ortho doctor that was suggested to me , I'm still in lots of pain -- HOPEFULLY i can some some answers..

GOD BLESS
DEv
 
Hello Brenda, Emily and Dev,
Thank you so much for your replies! I am very grateful to you and wish you all the best as well! Dev, I was hoping you might come on this thread - do you remeraber me from the discogram question awhile back? You and others on that one were very helpful and I know you were having one too - I am very sorry to hear you are still in so much pain - please let us know what the ortho says tomorrow.

As I mentioned back then, I am chronically ill myself with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and autoimmune thyroid disease. (and we have no children to help out - only a cat that will be more trouble than help! ) I have been in a terrible flare since oct08 and have had to take medical leave from work starting back in February 09 and have not yet been able to return. I think I am most worried that I will not physically be able to care for him properly and that he could hurt himself trying to do something I can't....but cart before the horse...also the length of his recovery will be very hard on me....

we are lining up some help though....my Mom is coming from another state to stay with us right after the surgery to help for a week or maybe 10 days....also one of hubby's frienRAB is self-employed and can help us. Some days I am not even able to drive so we found a local grocery that will deliver for $12 and unlimited items. Also the surgeon has said he will prescribe home health as well as the hospital bed if we want it. From what I understand the home health will do some OT and offer helps with light housework, erranRAB etc....that would be such a gift!

I will share all your responses with him - I am worried about the comfort of the mattress on the hospital bed and where to put it - our house is not very big and they said it was about 40" x 90 " !! - but hubby said he may try to stop at the medical supply place and "test drive" one! :)

Also thanks Emily so so much for the tip about the laptop! Hubby is a workaholic and a type T personality so he will go nuts without his computer! To know there is a way to work that out is such a saving grace! I will also get one of those side tables anyway too for the reasons you guys have given.

Thank you all so very much - I hope you get relief and are doing okay! My father had this same level fusion in 1981 and I was 16 - I remeraber he had a hospital bed and helping out a lot....he was in a body cast and basically couldn't get out of bed for three months - I know they do things different now and I am glad about that becuase poor Dad has not fared well over the years - he is 72 and in tremendous pain - but he did have several years of relief after his fusion......so given Dad's experience I am a little extra scared for hubby....

anyway - sorry for rarabling on....

thank you all for your support nad your great ideas!
Best wishes to you,
Kathy
 
Hi Laylay,
I think if it were me and not him that could be quite true! However, hubby is the type that cannot sit still long at all - my main concern is keeping him in the bed long enough for his back to heal! Thank you for your reply!
Best wishes,
Kathy
 
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