Guest guest Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 Hi everyone, I'm 48 days post-op/revision. After several very challenging days, I'm having a relatively good day today, yeah! Even up for a little posting. I've read some really good stuff on here lately about pain/individual differences, and maybe some hope in the future about better ways to measure it and treat it. Every little bit of hope helps. Well, I don't know about where you all are living, but it just plain hot as hell down here in Georgia. And me and heat do not mesh well together. I'm thankful every day for air conditioning. It definitely at the top of my gratitude list, along with pupsters and hummingbirds. Pardon me, if I've already told ya'll this, but as it turns out I didn't have to go to my 6wk f-up appt w/ Dr.Hey. Had some xrays done locally and mailed them to him today. He will definitely be disappointed in the films taken here, but I just hope they will hold me over til my 3 mo. f-up. Just going to see my PCP and to the hospital for x-rays ( the longest I had been " up " ) set me back, way back for about 3 days, my pain was really bad and I took extra pain pills, I was getting so disappointed/scared. Luckily, today it's back to a manageable level. I just keep reminding myself that just b/c someone else is skipping rope at this stage in their recovery doesn't mean that I am doing anything wrong or that I'm a whimp. I keep hearing this one nurse that I liked saying, don't think you're doing yourself any favors by " toughing it out " b/c if you're hurting, you are not healing. I really needed to hear that in a BIG way. I am so bad about comparing myself and beating myself up, that an angel must have told that nurse to set me straight from the beginning. And I know that doesn't apply to muscle stiffness/soreness, just PAIN. I'm constantly reminding myself, " do not lean " , " do not twist " , " do not get in a hurry about anything " . " This is not a game, it's serious stuff " . And I'm getting pretty creative with " different " ways to do things......since everything is different now and I will continue to adjust one day at a time. Better go for now, thanx for being here, everyone. peace, camille Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 10, 2008 Report Share Posted June 10, 2008 Hi Camille, It sounds like you have the right "tools" for a great recovery. I'm pulling for you! As you know, there are no prizes for who recovers the fastest. Slow and steady seems to be the best way, anyhow. It was for me. Actually, it was the only way! I was in a hospital bed in the living room for three months and on a morphine derivitive pain killer for 6 months. That was a really long recovery, but my x-rays, at 10 1/2 years post revision, are excellent. I do have issues, but that's another topic. Bonnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 10, 2008 Report Share Posted June 10, 2008 Hi Camille, I hope that I have not made you feel that your recovery isn't going well by telling how I'm doing. I believe that we all have to go through our own healing. I am hoping and praying that my successful recovery will continue, but we never know. I had terrible post surgery pain, and it went on for about 4 weeks, but I was in severe pain for at least 6 years before my surgery and lesser pain for about 20 years I can just tell you that I am so thankful that I am feeling so good at 2 months after revision surgery, and I hope that will remain. Also, we have all had different surgical problems, and we all recover from them differently. I don't want anyone to feel that their healing isn't going as well...we can't compare with others because we are all different. I am always praying for everyone on this webiste.....I am so very thankful that I am feeling so well. > > > Hi Camille, > > It sounds like you have the right " tools " for a great recovery. I'm pulling for you! As you know, there are no prizes for who recovers the fastest. Slow and steady seems to be the best way, anyhow. It was for me. Actually, it was the only way! I was in a hospital bed in the living room for three months and on a morphine derivitive pain killer for 6 months. That was a really long recovery, but my x-rays, at 10 1/2 years post revision, are excellent. I do have issues, but that's another topic. > > Bonnie > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Camille and , Really when you get down to it, weither recoveries go quickly right from the get go, or go slower and take more time, it truly will be individual, and in time, and for some a lot of it, many arrive at the same place. I've been with these flatback groups since 2000 when I got diagnosised, and began my surgical adventure, and from time to time been a bit jealous of just how fast some patients seem to bounce back versus how I did. I'm sure others felt that way about me, it's like comparing apples and oranges. I have felt the pain of those who struggle, and rejoiced with those who get their lives back really quickly. Wish I knew why some it just seems to go fast, and others need to hang in there for the long haul. I have been so interested in the pain studies listed here lately, interesting to see how and why different people handle pain. While after my surgical pain ended at about three months post op, and thankfully my back pain ended too then, something I'll be forever thankful for, my struggle for months after my surgery was endurance and plain lack of get up and go. Getting those back took months and months, and really didn't fully feel myself till about 18 months post op. I don't know if that was true just based on the volume and hours of surgery I had during two years, since I had three surgeries in two calendar years. I think my body was just tired. I do know that even 5 and a half years later I need a cat nap in the morning, about 15 minutes, and the same late afternoon. I go pretty full bore all day, up at 5 a.m. with kids and hubby, so I don't feel bad about the cat naps. Is that more about my age at almost 50, or just because my body has been through a lot, who knows, but I think the later. While we all have the same condition, Flatback, all of our spines aren't completely the same, nor are our bodies going into all this, so it's a given that for many of us our speed and rate of recovery will be different. I think it's human nature to compare, but the proof is in the pudding,and as I always say, this is a marathon not a sprint. There is a lot to heal from, surgery, years of flatback pain and disability, and sadness that we had to go through this surgical battle yet again after all we went through as kids. Take the time to process it all, and for me it makes me all the more prouder of what strong people we are. We just keep at it till we deliver a knock out blow to the beast that is scoliosis, and for some of us the match lasts many rounds. So we fight the good fight! Colorado Springs [ ] Re:Update from Camille Hi Camille,I hope that I have not made you feel that your recovery isn't going well by telling how I'm doing. I believe that we all have to go through our own healing. I am hoping and praying that my successful recovery will continue, but we never know. I had terrible post surgery pain, and it went on for about 4 weeks, but I was in severe pain for at least 6 years before my surgery and lesser pain for about 20 years I can just tell you that I am so thankful that I am feeling so good at 2 months after revision surgery, and I hope that will remain. Also, we have all had different surgical problems, and we all recover from them differently. I don't want anyone to feel that their healing isn't going as well...we can't compare with others because we are all different. I am always praying for everyone on this webiste.....I am so very thankful that I am feeling so well.>> > Hi Camille,> > It sounds like you have the right "tools" for a great recovery. I'm pulling for you! As you know, there are no prizes for who recovers the fastest. Slow and steady seems to be the best way, anyhow. It was for me. Actually, it was the only way! I was in a hospital bed in the living room for three months and on a morphine derivitive pain killer for 6 months. That was a really long recovery, but my x-rays, at 10 1/2 years post revision, are excellent. I do have issues, but that's another topic.> > Bonnie> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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