update on operation

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

First a big thanks to all who have answered my questions about my then upcoming

surgery.

I am now two weeks post op and doing great. My operation went really well. I had

two nsg attending me, because this was for them an interesting case. They both

had had only one experience with TCS before me. My spinal cord was in two parts

around L5, L4 with a bit of bone in between. They cut away the bone before they

cut the filum, otherwise that bit of bone would have cut the filum in two. Don't

know what that would have done, and don't want to know either :-)

I went into surgery about 8.40 am and was back in my room by 1 pm. So it all

went very fast and smooth. I was sitting up on my bed by 3 pm and by 9 pm I

walked to the toilet. The next day I walked myself and with PT on the hallway. 

I have noticed no more numb feeling in my legs, although post op one foot was

really swollen, but that was due to anestesia. I have been laying on my back and

side the whole time and that went well. The only real pain I had was in my neck

and shoulders about two to three days post op. When I lay down it didn't hurt. I

have had no headaches, so I am guessing no spinal leak either.

I was really glad when my stitches were removed 8 days post op as it seems I am

somewhat allergic to the thread. I can move everything real easy and the

constant pain in my neck and shoulders is gone!! 

Every time I went to PT I just cried from pain when she touched my neck and

shoulders and that is all gone now !! Unbelievable.

I started swimming yesterday and have been doing exercises and everything goes a

bit easier every day. My NSG showed me some pics they had taken during surgery

and it was real cool to see how they have done everything. I was really in very

good hands. I am also allowed to drive and I'll try that this afternoon

with hubby next to me. He has gotten some paid time off  to care for me these

two weeks. So next week I'll be on my own and have to start driving again. 

I am starting to realise how much my pain has been influencing my life leading

up to the operation and that's a bit difficult to deal with but physically I am

good. I tire easily and still sleep a lot during the day, but I also blame that

on the anestesia. It takes me a long time to recover from that.

To recap: I am a 43 year old female who is born with a spina bifida occulta. I

have had never had any real problems, walked alright and no bladder problems

either. The pain in my back was never ascribed to my spina bifida, although for

myself I have always thought it might be related. It also always went away with

rest and PT. Last year August I threw my back out but the pain didn't go away as

it always did. After a visit with the neurologist and several tests and again an

MRI I got a referral to the neurosurgeon. The NSG said I had tethered cord

syndrom and that it could be operated on. Best decision of my life.

Thanks again and good luck to everyone still going through this.

 

Sophiene

http://360.yahoo.com/eiketske