So it has been a long time since I checked in here.
I know I wrote in here somewhere that often people start things like this and never finish them because they get better and go back to living. I wish I could say that was my truth and in some ways it is. Honestly my lack of updating the blog is because I was better enough for my help to leave and I needed to go back to my full time job, being CEO of the family. When I am not being mom I am working on the Art Studio I run with my mom or working on completing pieces of art. There is very little down time in my life so naturally the first things to be put to the side are the unnecessaries. I am beginning to wonder if this little blog is a necessary for myself though. I need a place I can look back and have a visual record of what I did and how it affected my back. There has been many ups and many downs since I last visited the blog world and perhaps if I had kept up with the blog and been honest, I wouldn't wonder why my back aches all day.
I do too much and I don't do enough PT. I need to find more time to take care of myself in order for this surgery to help. I knew going into this from the very beginning that the surgery was not a cure all, it was a step, a big one, but if I wanted to get to the end of the tunnel I was going to have to commit myself. I need to learn to stop and do my exercises, how to say no, how to let go. I want to do everything, I want to do it all for everyone, for myself, but in the end I am hurting myself. My back hurts all the time and I am still on lots of pain pills and still in pain. I am not sure where I would say I am with things, maybe feeling like I did right before surgery, in a lot a pain enough to get my back ripped open, bone ground up and removed, bolts, screws and cages put in. I don't want to feel like this I want to feel better. I am getting back on track today, I am going clean up my act, get my exercises back in and stop doing things that highly aggravate my back. Here I go on my way to better!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Update
Posted by Reba at 7:58 PM 2 comments
Labels: doctors pain, pain pills, recovery, spinal fusion
Sunday, July 18, 2010
A Long Break ...but not in my Back!
I REALLY wanted to make this blog for the person out there searching for a recovery story from spinal fusion. I apologize that I let such a big gap go between updates, to you, out there in the Internet land looking as I was night after night for someones record of their journey after their spine had been fused.
All is not lost because this is A LONG recovery. So I am still in the midst of it and have much to tell you. I had my 8 week post op appointment last week. I am FUSING, I AM GROWING NEW BONE! This is excellent news the best I have heard since the surgery. It means that much of what I feared is not happening. I was so afraid to have the surgery and not have a good outcome. I was given an 85% or more chance of feeling much better after the surgery. That is a 15% chance of not feeling better or feeling worse. That is a big chance to take but I did. Don't get me wrong I still am in pain. A lot of pain and I am on a lot of medications for the pain. But my bone is fusing which means I may be out of this pain and off of the meds in the near future.
My doctor said the first two months are hell, the second 2 months are working your way out of hell and the last 2 months are getting back to where I was prior to surgery and much better. It is a long process a process that is hard both physically and emotionally. Total recovery is up to a year and a half at which point you should be feeling much better than you did prior the surgery. It is a long journey but not as long as a life time of living in debilitating pain. It is a journey that you need lots of help with. I have been lucky enough to have my wonderful family rally together and help me but more importantly help my children.
Before I sign off for the night. I want to let you know how VERY hard this is mentally. You will not be able to do much. You must depend on others for the simplest of things and the hardest and all that lies in between. It is not only hard on you but the loved ones around you. They take on so much for you physically and mentally. Giving up their own lives to help you with yours. I will write more next time about this subject because I cannot stress enough that you need to prepare yourself prior to the surgery for the mental strength you will need afterwards.
Good Night,
Reba
Posted by Reba at 10:08 PM 1 comments
Labels: back surgery, family, recovery, spinal fusion, strength, support
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Update and Bedtime
Friday, June 4, 2010
Back to Better: Slow Go, But it is Going!
Posted by Reba at 10:44 AM 0 comments
Labels: back surgery, bored, healing, rest
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Slow Go, But it is Going!
Posted by Reba at 7:40 PM 0 comments
Labels: back surgery, bored, doctors pain, healing, pain pills, recovery
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Go to Bed, NOW!
Posted by Reba at 8:16 AM 2 comments
Labels: family, healing, health, help, medication, recovery, rest, sleep
Monday, May 24, 2010
You look Human!
Posted by Reba at 7:46 PM 1 comments
Labels: Doctor, family, rest, sleep, spinal fusion