Re: For Andy - a final question

January 12, 2008

Hi T,

I have good news for you. It's been 3 weeks since my surgery and I'm

doing well and certainly could go back to work (if I had a job to go

back to!).

My first week post-op was actually easier than my second, though. I

can't say why, but my guess is that it took that long for my body to

lose the numbing of tissue trauma and register what it had been through.

I was hoping to go off Percocet that week, but I continued to take it

for the second week. I was prescribed up to 10 pills a day (!) - but

have been taking a quarter of a pill twice a day. As of yesterday I'm

back to taking Ultram two or three times a day (and no Percocet). I

have soreness, and I'm still quite tired, but I don't have terrible

pain and it's managed well with the small amount of meds.

I think it would be important, however, to keep in mind that I only

had a portion of my instrumentation removed whereas you will be having

all of yours taken out. I imagine you'll be on the operating table

longer and more of your muscles and soft tissue will be pushed around

than in my case. So I think it would be good to expect a longer

recovery. But I don't think it will be debilitating - maybe you'll

have mild to moderate pain and some fatigue for a few weeks (3-6ish?).

On the other hand, my Pilates instructor had had all of her metal

removed and she was taking long walks by her second week post-op - so

who knows???? However long it takes you, it won't be anything like the

time and intensity of revision.

Oh, to answer your question, my surgeon wanted to keep the rest of my

instrumentation in place because I had/have significant spinal

rotation and I'm at risk for a broken fusion (because of torque, or

naturally occurring twisting forces).

Did your surgeon say why all of your instrumentation needs to be taken

out? 'Just curious.

In any case, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Please let us know

how you are doing before and after your procedure, and about your

upcoming play!

Much good luck,

Andy

>

> Dear Andy

> I was wondering how you are and if your recovery from your removal

surgery was still

> going as well? Hope so.

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