Re: 7 months post op - CINDY

[Guest guest]

Hi, Ken:

I actually got engaged at the Grand Floridian and have stayed

there a couple of times (it helps to get an annual pass - the

discount on the rooms covers the cost of the pass)

We are frequent visitors to WDW.

Take care,

> > > > > >

> > > > > > ,

> > > > > >

> > > > > > This first year after surgery is a long one. You are

> probably

> > > in

> > > > > that

> > > > > > endless period where you just can't believe you are not

> back

> > to

> > > > > 100%,

> > > > > > and frankly it is depressing. I hope you speak with

DrRand

> or

> > > > > > Priscilla if you have any concern that the uptick in

pain

> > seems

> > > > > out

> > > > > > of proportion to whatever activites or events are going

on

> in

> > > > your

> > > > > > life.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > I know that it was after my 6 month check up (actually

at

> 7

> > > > > months)

> > > > > > that DrRand let me begin a very small land based PT

> > > program...and

> > > > > I

> > > > > > also began additional aquatic therapy. While neither of

> those

> > > > > > activites brought on more acute pain...I did realize

there

> > were

> > > > > some

> > > > > > parts of my body that hadn't been used in some time! I

> also

> > > > > realized

> > > > > > how short and stiff most of my muscles and ligmaments

had

> > > become

> > > > > and

> > > > > > was able to begin the slow process of restoring some of

> that

> > > > > > function. (That still goes on to this day, by the way).

> > > > > >

> > > > > > So, with regard to your question about still having bad

> days

> > 7

> > > > > months

> > > > > > out...I think you will find that most of us will

> > > > > say " yes " ....either

> > > > > > mentally or physically (or both) and that the timeline

> that I

> > > am

> > > > > sure

> > > > > > that DrRand gave you of 12-18 months of healing will be

as

> > true

> > > > > for

> > > > > > you as it is for most of us. Even coming up on 4 years I

> have

> > > > > > definitely noticed a stronger more able bodied " me " ...we

> are

> > a

> > > > lot

> > > > > > older than when we first had scoli surgery...and so it

> will

> > > take

> > > > a

> > > > > > long while for your body to adjust to your new " you " .

What

> > are

> > > > you

> > > > > > doing to strengthen yourself?

> > > > > >

> > > > > > I don't believe that the cold bothers me much...at least

> not

> > in

> > > > > the

> > > > > > way you describe but others have definitely expressed

the

> > same

> > > > > > feeling. My favorite post swim activity is to lay and

> stretch

> > > in

> > > > > the

> > > > > > sauna...and that heats me right up. If you havne't

started

> a

> > > > water

> > > > > > based rehab, and if DrRand permits it, perhaps you can

> find a

> > > > club

> > > > > > that has a warm water therapy pool to float around in

for

> > > > > starters.

> > > > > > That would be lovely AND warm!

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Also,I am not sure where in New England you are...but

down

> > this

> > > > > way

> > > > > > there is a virus going around that seems to be hitting

> > everyone

> > > > > with

> > > > > > that tired and achy joint feeling..I am just getting

over

> > > > it...but

> > > > > > the first few days before I realized it was a bug my

> joints

> > > were

> > > > > all

> > > > > > aching like the dickens and I was worried it was Lymes

or

> > > > > > something... now its subsiding. Could that be it? I

think a

> > lot

> > > of

> > > > > us

> > > > > > experience this at the beginning of an illness.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Can't help you on the stylish shoe thing.I am tall..and

> > always

> > > > > have

> > > > > > worn flat shoes, which I would recommend anyone stick

with

> at

> > > > your

> > > > > > stage in recovery. Heels would tilt me forward in a way

> that

> > > > would

> > > > > > way overload my spinal muscles and I would be exhausted

> > trying

> > > to

> > > > > > hold myslef up (a la the old flatback pose). I

> particularly

> > > love

> > > > > > Merrills as they fit my feet well....but they tend to be

> more

> > > > > casual.

> > > > > > I agree completly that on line shoe stores are a great

> source

> > > for

> > > > > > shopping since you don't have to spend the day

> > shopping...they

> > > > > just

> > > > > > ship and you can see for yourself if they work.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Don't be a stranger to the group! You are in a recovery

> stage

> > > > that

> > > > > is

> > > > > > a difficult as the first 6 weeks, in some ways.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Take Care, Cam

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>