So do I just work through the pain?

[Susanna]

Katie,
You are a fantastic artist! My kids are all very artistic. I can't even draw stick men so Kbear is a head of me! lol

I would have you imagine that if you don't take care of your back, you may have to give up your art forever. When put that way, I think you can see just how important it is to be careful! I have had to lay on a couch for 8 months because it's the only position I have that gives me the least amount of pain that is bearable. It is hard to do anything but watch TV, read or be on my lap top in this position.

Sitting is something that my doctor told me NOT to do for long periods of time. So if you can stand while doing art or the computer, that would be better for you. I know that some artists have to be in a certain position to do their art. But for your own good, get that table up high so that you can stand to do your art and if you want to sit, get your stool raised up. (but be careful not to fall!) My doctor told me not to sit for more than 15 minutes at a time. I don't know if that will help you.

If you look at it this way, You will get more art done by taking it easy, than if you push it and end up in bed for the rest of the month!
I agree with everyone else, taking med's to cover the pain is not a good idea. I too can't take the over the counter ibuprofen. It upsets my stomach to the point that I'm in rolled up in a ball. But I can take a relative of it called Ketoprophen. It doesn't bother my stomach at all. I'm not sure why you can't take the ibuprofen, but if it is due to stomach sensitivity, you may want to see if your doctor will prescribe this. It really is different for some reason. I take it for migraines! I take three of them and have never had a problem.

I will be keeping you in my prayers, as I head into surgery myself next week!

Susanna

[Carmen]

Hi there,
It is me doing my own replies. (big thanks to Greg)
I agree with Gill, I am not really taking any pain pills at this time EXCEPT when I go to bed otherwise I will just wake up around 2 and not be able to go back to bed until I take one . Besides masking the pain, my biggest reason is I can't stand the constipation. It is worse than the surgery. I am still on PT and the nurse is still coming but I think this is his last week coming up. The surgeon gave me a sheet to wean me off of my turtle -like brace. Once I am off the brace, and I should be in one week if I follow his plam, then he said I could drive.
So in conclusion, if you can't stay off of the pain pills if you can ,or at least cut down.

[SemperFi]

Katie,
Sometimes I actually "consult" myself as tho I were still working starting out with my complaint and working down to my plan (subjective- patient complaint/concern, objective- what clinician sees, assessment -what clinician finds on patient exam, and plan - plan of care and then there's there's an e after the p part which is evaluation of the plan over period of time prescribed treatment).

Even tho SOAP documentation may be an older form of documenting it was always very easy for me to remember and easy enough to do on myself except where labs and radiologic testing is necessary but at least sometimes when I am a bit more clinical with my own complaints I think things thru a bit better. Of course I give myself the advice to make an appt. with the physician when I think it's necessary!

Like you mentioned if giving advice to another we'd probably say what we should actually do! Hope the rest intervals help you out significantly and maybe some other adaptations you're able to make without jeopardizing your health or your art.

[Justin]

Katie, you are such an artist, as we've discussed in the past.

Personally, I believe the most difficult adjustment post-op is to return to previous activities (hobbies, a work environment where you might find yourself sitting the majority of the day, etc.). The key is to change your position (sitting, standing, etc.) often -- every 20-30 minutes. I know this might be impractical while you are painting; however, there is an inherent "learning curve / rehab" that your spine must go through after any surgery. I am over a year post-op from my last surgery and I am still adjusting.

Also, avoid awkward positions for extended periods. Sometimes we get used to uncomfortable positions that can put undue strain on our spines.

Good luck!

[KBear]

Katie,
Sometimes I actually "consult" myself as tho I were still working starting out with my complaint and working down to my plan (subjective- patient complaint/concern, objective- what clinician sees, assessment -what clinician finds on patient exam, and plan - plan of care and then there's there's an e after the p part which is evaluation of the plan over period of time prescribed treatment).

Even tho SOAP documentation may be an older form of documenting it was always very easy for me to remember and easy enough to do on myself except where labs and radiologic testing is necessary but at least sometimes when I am a bit more clinical with my own complaints I think things thru a bit better. Of course I give myself the advice to make an appt. with the physician when I think it's necessary!

Like you mentioned if giving advice to another we'd probably say what we should actually do! Hope the rest intervals help you out significantly and maybe some other adaptations you're able to make without jeopardizing your health or your art.

And I thought I was the only one who had complete conversations with myself You made me laugh.

[Katie]

"Sometimes we get used to uncomfortable positions that can put undue strain on our spines."

Sometimes I think this may be the reason behind my back problems in the first place. Your advice is spot on, Justin, as is everyone else's.

"And I thought I was the only one who had complete conversations with myself " Who else will listen???

Can anyone who has already gone through fusion/ADR tell me if they had this much difficulty adjusting, and did you have pain with every attempt to go back to 'normal' activities? Justin, you said a year out, that you are still adjusting...does this include the pain like I'm describing? Or are you just a lot smarter than me and quit when it started?

[Justin]

Can anyone who has already gone through fusion/ADR tell me if they had this much difficulty adjusting, and did you have pain with every attempt to go back to 'normal' activities? Justin, you said a year out, that you are still adjusting...does this include the pain like I'm describing? Or are you just a lot smarter than me and quit when it started?

Katie,

I definitely had an adjustment period even when I was "pain-free" after my 2-level artificial disc replacement surgery. My dynamic stabilization spine surgery was in May 2009 and I am still adjusting to long hours on my feet (sometimes 30+ hrs) & lifting patients. I do ask for help and when I can't do something physically (or something that I feel will hurt my spine), I make sure to speak up. I have been sore lately with my long hours, but I am so happy that I have my life back--I'm doing what I love!

[SemperFi]

Katie,
You asked specifically about returning to activities and recovery post fusion/ADR however I feel the need to state my progress since I'm many years post a failed percutaneous discectomy (1992) and a previous Ok discectomy at L5S1 in '89.

Since 1995 I hadn't been to a movie out because it hurt so much to sit and my back was out for so many weeks after that I hadn't tried again. I still haven't. I had to avoid sitting almost altogether since my 2nd spine surgery.

In the last 2 years I've found I can sit longer periods of time and esp. in the last year. Now I've also gone off Neurontin altogether and for the very first time I went out this past Friday night and sat thru a comedy show like a normal person and didn't have problems today re sitting or activities. No prolonged low back pain, no burning pain in legs or buttocks.

So my "curve" has been a really prolonged one however thats with a seriously failed surgery that made me much worse vs. much better back in '92 (and "just" a percutaneous discectomy).

My OSS told me this past year he thought L5S1 autofused after reviewing films and all I can think is how thankful I am that my body did something that has allowed me to feel better. It took a long time tho it happened!

Ok back to the normal recovery phase post surgery of an ADR/fusion magnitude!!! Take it away experienced ADRers/fusion people!

[KBear]

Katie- I'm a year to the day ahead of you in recovery and still am careful with activities. I make sure I rest and take breaks and definitely don't lift anything that I think may hurt me or cause strain (I still won't put dog food in my cart at the store or move it to the car, I always ask for help). I can now do most things without causing pain; but I'm still careful about it.

[Katie]

Even though I'd stopped almost all of the offending actions, the pain hasn't decreased until yesterday. It was waking me up at night, and I was starting to stress that something was wrong.

Yesterday I had an appointment with my chiropractor; it had been two weeks since I had last seen him and he had given me some simple exercises to do, which weren't getting done because of the pain that started a couple of days after seeing him.

He sorted me out in minutes Turns out it is almost positively SI ligaments causing the pain. He used an activator on several spots on my back, worked on some pressure points not even close to the pain source, (my lower back) and while that stirred up some misery that made me want to slug him, a few minutes later the primary pain was pretty much gone.

I get so frustrated when chiropractors get a bad rap. I have had a few bad ones, I have to admit. But this fellow is very respectful of how gentle he has to be and never 'cracks' or manipulates my spine at all. I guess a good massage therapist or osteopath would do the same, but for now I'm sticking with him. We understand each other ;-)

I had a chat with another poster from here the other day, and he had suggested that it could be a ligament as well, so that relieved the stress/uneasiness that was building.

I was given some stretching exercises to do to loosen things, different from the strengthening ones from before, and so far, so great. I slept through the night and feel great. Phew! Two weeks of pain...gone!