Lumbar L4/L5 & L5/S1 M.A.S.T. TLIF, July 23rd 2009

**symara** · 09-16-2009, 12:23 PM

It's been really slow going for my rehab...

the pain has been going away very slowly and it has taken awhile for the incisions to even heal.

My 1 month follow up the doctor had me start doing rehab at home and quit going to the clinic to just stretch my legs and walk. He told me to do it at home and when my incisions healed completely to call back and start aquatherapy. Well, I'm finally calling today to go back Monday. My left side incision just didn't want to heal, he told me it would take longer though, that was the side that he said they had to work on longer to get the fused piece of disc out.

I go back the 25th for my 2 month follow up, I'm going to ask him if I can go back to work part time. I think I can handle that. I know I can't handle full time, but in case I can't handle full time in 4 more weeks, at least if I go back part time now, I can work part time for 8 weeks with my FMLA instead of just being off completely for 4 more weeks. I just have to figure out how to stay awake to work. Taking two Percs with the phenegren is making me sleepy and zonking me out. So I pretty much walk and sleep.

Sometimes I wonder if I should have gone off the percs first instead of the fentynol, but I swear, it seamed like the percs were working far more than the patch was as far as helping the pain.

As far as walking and sleeping, it seems like that's all I can do, and my hubby is getting very frustrated with me. He is feeling very over worked, and I don't blame hime. Clothes are piling up, along with the dishes and everything else. The house could be declared a national disaster area. He wants me to help pick up what I can, and is upset with me, and I want to help. Let me put it this way, I am one of those peope that LOVES the internet, searching stuff playing games everything. I haven't been on but a few times, and that's been on here or on for work since my surgery because I'm either hurting or too tired. I just don't know how I can get myself to stay awake enough to even pick up what I can pick up... Any tips????

**KBear** · 09-16-2009, 03:07 PM

Symara,
You are still very early post op, so don't push it. I completely understand the hubby's frustration, as mine is the same with me. He gets upset when the house get all messed up and doesn't understand that I just can't do it. He also had a hard time realizing my need for a nap, for the first several months. Your body just went through major trauma and is trying to heal itself. It makes you tired. What I did, was sit down with hubby and explain to him how I feel and how some of what he was asking was not physically possible. I also make more of an effort to do small stuff when I do have the energy. Remember, you only get one shot at healing properly. Take it easy.

Glad to hear that you are progressing and healing.

**Justin** · 09-16-2009, 05:58 PM

Hi Symara,

It's great to "see" you! Your recovery sounds like it is going very well, especially for being less than 2 months post-op.

Kathy offers very good advice above. Keep up the walking and it is good to get your sleep while you are healing. Like Kathy said, you only get a shot at healing correctly once, so take the time you need now. Don't be "guilted" into doing something that you can't physically do right now.

The ups and downs of recovery can be smoothed out when you and your loved ones are on the same page--I know this from experience.

In terms of keeping the house clean, try and find a reasonably priced maid service that you can hire to help clean once every 4-6 weeks. It will truly save your spine.

I just don't know how I can get myself to stay awake enough to even pick up what I can pick up... Any tips????

You could always increase your caffeine intake gradually to see if it helps, or even take a brisk 5-minute walk outside before you start tackling projects around the house. It also helps if you can look at the mess as a set of small tasks as opposed to the entire house is dirty. It's easier to set small goals and remember you can only do so much at this stage in your recovery.

Let us know how things go on the 25th and if you start back to work part-time.

**Cindylou** · 09-26-2009, 08:59 AM

Hey Symara, nice to see you posting. Justin and Kathy, as always, give very sound advice. I especially like the idea of tackling small projects, so as not to feel so overwhelmed. And, if you can afford it, even a high school neighbor perhaps, who could use some extra cash, to help you keep your home manageable. There is no easy way around it. If your hubby is used to a spotless home, it's just unrealistic to expect that so soon after surgery. Were you able to start back to work part time?

**symara** · 09-28-2009, 12:40 PM

started back part time today. 4 hours a day. whoo hoo.

I also go back to physical therapy Wed too start the aqua-therapy. They had dis-charged me from the system so I have to go through the whole examination again and everything.

I started weight watchers today also to try to start losing weight and eating healthier. Motivate myself to keep walking like I should.

I wish we could hire a maid, but money is way too tight. I think I'm going to see if my grandmother can come by and give me a hand to help pick up.

I had a nice day Saturday, we went down to the river front for a festival and had a great time, I was so exhausted, and my leg was killing me from the activity but it was worth it.

The weird thing, Sunday, I felt great! My leg didn't bug me all day Sunday. I still just relaxed Sunday and didn't push it.

I didn't tell you guys but my primary care doctor diagnosed me with a sinus infection and my pain meds had been masking it since they were drying me out. Explains why I was sleeping even more than when I came home from the hospital the last couple of weeks before the 18th. He put me on an antibiotic and told me to get a netipot.

The antibiotic was keeping me up at night whenever I tried to go to sleep, so then when I did sleep it was a crash and burn type of sleep, where I slept for like 24 hours cuz I was up the previous 24 due to the meds. It was a crazy past week taking them. I'm glad I'm done with them now. They were getting out of my system though last night and I kept waking up all night long.

I feel like pain wise I'm finally feeling about like I did before surgery, so from here on is definately better than I was before. I'm looking forward to it now.

**Justin** · 09-28-2009, 12:58 PM