Yeah, I graduated

  • Thread starter Thread starter debbie363636
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debbie363636

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Hi, everyone. I was just checking in and noticed that I have graduated from a newbie to a junior meraber. Gee I don't feel any different. lol

I am still dealing with the terrible leg pain 3 weeks out of my surgery. I went in with back pain and came out with leg pain. Our bodies are such a mystery, I think most of it is a guessing game after surgery.

I was wondering how the doc can tell when I am solidly fused. Is it with x-rays or an MRI?

I am dying to start therapy but my doc has never mentioned it. I have a feeling he will say at three months or later. I think it will help me feel better.

I don't know about the rest of you that have had surgery recently but I am going stir crazy. I think I have watched every lifetime movie made. Does everyone really wait the entire 6 weeks before driving? The malls are calling my name. Take care everyone.:D
 
I have noticed that the physical therapy thing depenRAB on the doctor. Mine wanted me to start at 2 weeks, but I didn't want to, I started at 3 weeks though. The only restrictions I was given on driving was to be sure that I wasn't groggy from meRAB, so I started driving at the end of 2 weeks. I had my fusion back in Nov. 2006 and most of the people I spoke with here said that there therapy didn't start until 2-3 months. I guess my point is that the post-op instructions vary from doctor to doctor and most likely by how the patient is doing. I was going crazy staying home so as soon as I got off the walker I wanted to go. Plus it was xmas time and I really wanted to shop. Congratulations on becoming a junior! Take care, Take it easy, Dee
 
Thanks for all of the responses. I think PT around the 3 month mark sounRAB good to me.


Marlosmom: I am walking as much as possible. I like to do it outside but the Ohio weather doesn't want to cooperate. I do laps around the house. I have a treadmill but I am terrified to use it because of the fear of maybe slipping and falling off. I'm kind of a klutz. I'm not using the pain meRAB as much now so I may venture out in the car around 4-5 weeks instead of waiting 6. Have a great day hope you are feeling better yourself....Debbie
 
Hey Deb ~

Congrats!! :dizzy: We take our achievements seriously around here!

I had leg pain in the usual places prior to surgery. Now I have leg pain across the topside of my thigh. What a trade-off.

I wasn't given any restriction on driving but I haven't done any yet. My doc gave me a referral to PT but I don't really know when to start. He said any time after 6 weeks, but that seems too early, from everything I've read on here.

I'm feeling a bit of cabin fever. We've had snow every other day for weeks so I can't even think about walking outside. Are you able to walk much at this point?

Take care,

xx MM
 
I did just want to mention that the PT I did was very very gentle all based on pilattes core strengthening exercises. There was nothing strenuous at all. When I got to the 8 week mark we did recurabent bike and it was not to bad. Again it all depenRAB on how you are doing and the doctor.
 
Wow, you sound so good! I was "allowed" to drive at 6 weeks, but I sure didn't want to. Maybe I'm a slow healer. Or maybe it takes longer with the 360, two incisions. Or maybe having more levels, which I think is the case. I didn't want to drive for a long time, or be a passenger either, for that matter. I had my surgery on Sept 25 and by Christmas, the most shopping I had done was to go into the drugstore for my meRAB and pick up some extra candy for the stockings while I was there. I slowly started going back to the grocery store, but only with one of my sons to push the cart and carry the bags. But everyone's different. Some people bounce back really quickly. Just be careful not to overdo it and hurt the fusion process because you're feeling well. I'm glad it's going so well for you. Maybe you'll be our new poster child! (Sorry, Roy, you might have to move over! :))

As far as being able to tell that you're fused, bone growth can start showing up at about 3 months on x-ray. CT is a better test. It shows up better. But some here have not shown bone growth with x-ray or CT, but when more surgery was required, the doctor could see that it was all fused. I was one of the fortunate ones. I was showing bone growth at only 6 weeks. My doctor was so excited when he showed it to me on the x-ray. I hope you'll be one of those, too!

Emily :wave:
 
Dear Graduate, LOL:):)

I would do exactly what your doctor / surgeon tells you to do. It was the full time before one drives; reason one is because of the medication that you are on. 2. Is because
your body is still doing a lot of healing. 3. You do not need to be in an accident at this point. 4. I was told by an x-ray at 3 months that perhaps I was starting to fuse it looked like maybe. At 6 months I was told by x-ray and a CT that I was totally fused. Then and only then did I start
doing any physical thepary; The best thing that you can do is walk walk walk walk walk and do not smoke... or use tobacco products. I doubt that you chew tobacco - but it is possible that you may smoke.

A lot of surgeons will not do the surgery till you quit period. The nicatine hinders or will not allow the body to heal properly or not at all. I quit smoking and chewing 8 years ago. I did it cold turkey and kept telling myself that that phase of my life is over.....

I do not miss cigaretes; but I love the smell of chew for some reason. It sounRAB so crazy I chewed 24 hours a day 7 days a week for a long long long time. IF I can quit cold turkey then I know that anyone can stop...



roy47-48

:wave::wave:
 
Hi Deb,
WOW junior already!!! congrats! You sound like your doing so well recovering, I'm so so happy for you, you even make the leg pain sound good, lol. I know it's not tho.

It's nice to hear from someone so fresh out of surgery that you can't wait to get moving. It gives me so much hope that my new plan for my problems will work. You know how positive things lead to more positive. Well I'm channeling some of your good vibes this way and I'm using them to get my body moving in the right direction. I hope you don't mind?

I had 4 different fusion attempts and started PT at all different times, once was only 3 weeks after, another was 5 months after (had a fiberglass brace W/ leg brace) didn't move to much in any direction with that monster!

Did you see your dr. yet? I think he/she will be amazed at your energy and willingness to get going already.

You are truely an inspiration to us all, even the oldies like me, lol. I really needed to read this post tonight. It really did light a fire in me, I know that sounRAB corny but it did. It hit something inside me and has given me a good feeling all thru my body, I know, I know even cornyer (is that a word?) lol. You have brought a good energy with you here. Even when you talk about pain it doesn't come thru as horrible, I can't describe it but when I read your posts it helps me so much and I'm not dealing with recovery from surgery, I am disabled and will not ever be "fixed" but you help me none the less.

Thank You!


I hope & pray that your recovery stays going in the right direction.


I'm not forgetting the rest of you here, You ALL help me in so many ways I can't list them all. Well I'm starting a new thread about that, see you all there I hope.

God Bless

Carol
 
Hey Deb ~

At the rate we're collecting snow here, I won't be able to walk outside until the 4th of July! :D

I wanted to let you know that I've developed a new, interesting pain, like nothing I had prior to surgery. It is in my right thigh, on the FRONT. The doc did x-rays a couple weeks ago and then a Mri. Neither showed anything new or out of the ordinary. The doc doesn't see any reason why I would be having this pain. Mentioned it could be the femoral nerve that got disturbed during the surgery. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. I hadn't planned on exchanging one set of pains for another. It is getting worse. Last night I took a step and it just kind of buckled. By today I was having a hard time walking. The doc gave me Celebrix to try, for the inflammation. I wonder if something got messed up when I was lying on the operating table for 4 hours, maybe in a funny position.

How is your leg pain? Is it still the same since you came out of surgery?? I'm just at the one month mark, so I'm hoping this will just magically go away. I'm sure you feel the same way about your pain.

Hang in there!

xx MM
 
Hi MM,
Good thing you mentioned it to your dr., since there is always the threat of blood clots when you have surgery. I'm glad your doc listened and looked into what it may be, sometimes dr.'s don't listen to lil complaints. But it doesn't sound like a lil thing since it's effecting your walking now.

I had some funny pains for several months after surgery. My first surgery I was on the table for 7 1/2 hours face down. Well my face was swollen for several days. Hubby said I looked oriental when I smiled. I had a nurabness from just under my breasts (sorry guys) to my belly button and it lasted almost 6 months and was very bothersome. Doc told me it was from laying face down for so long.

The nerves get all moved around and it takes some time for them to settle down and behave themselves.

I hope you get over this hurdle soon.

God Bless

Carol
 
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