It has been one month for me in my back brace post surgery. It still seems unreal that I had to have and then had back surgery. Of course I have a nice scar to remind me...well in the future when I can twist and turn around and see it!
But one month post back surgery, these are some of my thoughts. For me, the surgery was worse and better than expected. I knew that getting cut open would be painful, but I didn't know it would hurt so much and be so hard to move from sit to stand! Also getting out of bed was hard at first. Before I had trouble because of leg pain. Then it was because of back pain. The worst pain was the first week and then it started getting better. And then it started itching! But that was a good sign, just itchy!
And it was also not as bad I thought it would be. I was walking the first day and have been moving more and more each day. Also, when the doctor was doing the surgery, he said that the nerve popped back into place! This was what they wanted to see happen! After surgery, the leg pain and numbness were gone! I have had very mild numbness that started later, but the doctor said that may happen. And even that is going away. Overall, the surgery seems to have been very successful! If you ever end up needing spinal surgery, my advice would be to not wait. From what I have learned, the longer you wait, the more damage can be done to your nerve and more numbness and pain post surgery is likely
And you should schedule it in the winter! This back brace is hot! Even over winter, although in Charleston it isn't that cold, I am sweating under the back brace. If it was summer, ick!
Having worn this brace one month, I only have two more to go! Also, right now I have two more weeks in which I can't lift more than 10 pounds. Or do much house work! It has been nice to have a person clean my house (I have her number if you want it!); and slowing down has been good; but it can be frustrating to have clothes in the washer and need someone else to move them to the dryer. And dropping something on the floor usually means that I just leave it there! Also, putting on shoes and socks is challenging. Sometimes I just ask Dave to tie my shoes as it gets tiring pulling my legs closer to me since I can't bend over. The other thing that is hard to do when you can't bend over is shaving legs. Another good reason to have surgery in the winter! But winter does mean wearing long sleeves and sometimes that means my sleeves catch on the Velcro, which is a pain. The brace also makes going to the bathroom an ordeal because you have to get your pants out from under the brace; and when finished, you have to redress and put the brace back on. I do use my brace to hang my keys when I go into a store. This is because my purse it too heavy to carry and my pockets are hard to get to with the brace holding my shirt tail down. So I have to carry my keys, phone and wallet all in my hands; and have someone else push the cart. Online shopping and pickup has been much easier than coordinating people and things!
Right now I have learned to do things differently. Since I can't bend, I have to squat to get to lower cabinets. But I have learned I need to squat evenly or my hip hurts. Or I get on my knees to get things out of lower drawers. Then I use my arms and a counter to pull myself up. If something is on a top shelf, I have to stand on my toes, instead of just reaching up, to put less strain on my back. My biggest hack is tying my charging cords to the arm of my chair so they don't fall on the floor. And it is a good thing my new car has a back up camera as I can't turn around when I am driving!
But I am determined to keep the pace. Even when I am starting to feel better and feel like I am back to normal.. The brace helps me remember what I need to do. But it is nice to feel like I am healing and that I won't always have to be so careful.
So two more months in the brace. Then, not sure what the next step is. I know I won't totally heal until 6-7 months, so I am sure there will still be limits. Hopefully I will be able to do some significant exercise like spinning. In my mind, that seems like a good exercise for back recovery. We will see what the experts say!
But until then, I am walking! Only walking. I usually walk about 2 miles, but yesterday I made it to 3 and felt good. I just started listening to a book series called The Walk by Richard Paul Evans. I have read them before and really like the story. In fact, I don't know of any of his books that I have not liked! This series is about a man who loses his wife and his business and decides to walk from Seattle to Key West. I am only letting myself listen while I am walking. This will make me walk more because I love the story. You should read it too! You would enjoy it! Or maybe you can listen to it while you walk or run and it will motivate you to move too!
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