Re: Surgery scheduled for 4/20

[Guest guest]

Jody,I put your surgery date on the group's calendar.My first suggestion is to look at your home as some who can't bend AT ALL. What will you need at waist high level. Kitchen and baths should be set up that way. Might mean most things you use, will have to be reversed. Say stemware can be put in lower cabinets, and pots and pans put in upper cabinets. Look at where your bath, bedroom, and kitchen are, hopefully you have them on the same level, if not try and get it that way, by say putting a bed for you on the main level, I did that and it worked out good for me. 

PT at the hospital will probably give you the tools you will need, but something to check out. You will need a toilet riser, a walker, a cane, grabbers, and yes, more than one, a dressing stick, a long shoe horn, a shower chair, and invest in a hand held shower head, so you can spray yourself while seated. I use two kinds of grabbers, one with the suction cups, Cam has a link on the groups site for those, and a PICSTICK brand one for laundry, it has a hard plastic grabber mechanism which works better for that.

As to bedrails, PT/OT at the hospital didn't let me use them, too much of the wrong pulling they said, they will teach you to log roll to the edge of the bed, and use your arm to get to a seated position. Shower chairs have hand grips to get you up from the seated position, and you'll only need the shower chair for a few weeks at most.

For safety you will need someone with you for the first couple of weeks, then someone to check in on you, and available by phone after that.Go through the site and read, and Cam, and other members have given their post op stories there, some day by day.

Is this going to be hard, you bet, but getting prepared helps.Others will chime in, but this is what worked for me, believe me when it's all over and you are recovered this time will be but a blip in time, I'm working on mine being 9 years ago, and it's all so worth it to be where I am now.

Colorado SpringsOn Mon, Apr 4, 2011 at 11:05 PM, jls1272 <jls1272@...> wrote:

 

Hi everyone. My surgery has been scheduled for 4/20 at Yale New Haven Hospital with Dr. Grauer. He is doing anterior and posterior. I am currently fused T6-L4 with a Harrington rod from 1985. They will be fusing down to the sacrum and putting screws into the pelvis as well. I am absolutely terrified. I am 39 years old and have been in pain for much of my adult life. I have a 10 month old baby that I can't pick up because my disc at L4-L5 is completely herniated and pressing on a nerve. My foot can drop out at anytime and is numb. L5-S1 is on it's way out too. I am freaking out because I feel like I need to be doing things to prepare but have no idea where to even start. Please, I welcome any/all suggestions. Nervous about the surgery, the hospital stay, and then the transition home. I've looked on that list on one of the links but would love some real life stories, suggestions. What will I really need when I am home? How long do I really need round the clock care? What kind of things besides a grabber did you find helpful? Bed rails? Shower bar? I was told i cant start a true PT program for 3 months. Again, all feedback is helpful. This will be here in 2 weeks and I just feel unprepared and anxious . I await any tips or stories you may have to share!!

Thanks,

Jody

[Guest guest]

Jody, I feel for you. I'm in the exact same place...with surgery this summer. I wish recovery didn't take a year...I don't have that kind of time or anyone to care for me....not to mention I'm in the midst of a career change.Pamela

From: jls1272@...Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2011 05:05:24 +0000Subject: [ ] Surgery scheduled for 4/20

Hi everyone. My surgery has been scheduled for 4/20 at Yale New Haven Hospital with Dr. Grauer. He is doing anterior and posterior. I am currently fused T6-L4 with a Harrington rod from 1985. They will be fusing down to the sacrum and putting screws into the pelvis as well. I am absolutely terrified. I am 39 years old and have been in pain for much of my adult life. I have a 10 month old baby that I can't pick up because my disc at L4-L5 is completely herniated and pressing on a nerve. My foot can drop out at anytime and is numb. L5-S1 is on it's way out too. I am freaking out because I feel like I need to be doing things to prepare but have no idea where to even start. Please, I welcome any/all suggestions. Nervous about the surgery, the hospital stay, and then the transition home. I've looked on that list on one of the links but would love some real life stories, suggestions. What will I really need when I am home? How long do I really need round the clock care? What kind of things besides a grabber did you find helpful? Bed rails? Shower bar? I was told i cant start a true PT program for 3 months. Again, all feedback is helpful. This will be here in 2 weeks and I just feel unprepared and anxious . I await any tips or stories you may have to share!! Thanks,Jody

[Guest guest]

Jody,Wow, I forgot a sock aid, good for getting on socks and even panty hose when you can't bend.Colorado SpringsOn Tue, Apr 5, 2011 at 5:00 AM, Kirkaldie <susan.kirkaldie@...> wrote:

Jody,I put your surgery date on the group's calendar.My first suggestion is to look at your home as some who can't bend AT ALL. What will you need at waist high level. Kitchen and baths should be set up that way. Might mean most things you use, will have to be reversed. Say stemware can be put in lower cabinets, and pots and pans put in upper cabinets. Look at where your bath, bedroom, and kitchen are, hopefully you have them on the same level, if not try and get it that way, by say putting a bed for you on the main level, I did that and it worked out good for me. 

PT at the hospital will probably give you the tools you will need, but something to check out. You will need a toilet riser, a walker, a cane, grabbers, and yes, more than one, a dressing stick, a long shoe horn, a shower chair, and invest in a hand held shower head, so you can spray yourself while seated. I use two kinds of grabbers, one with the suction cups, Cam has a link on the groups site for those, and a PICSTICK brand one for laundry, it has a hard plastic grabber mechanism which works better for that.

As to bedrails, PT/OT at the hospital didn't let me use them, too much of the wrong pulling they said, they will teach you to log roll to the edge of the bed, and use your arm to get to a seated position. Shower chairs have hand grips to get you up from the seated position, and you'll only need the shower chair for a few weeks at most.

For safety you will need someone with you for the first couple of weeks, then someone to check in on you, and available by phone after that.Go through the site and read, and Cam, and other members have given their post op stories there, some day by day.

Is this going to be hard, you bet, but getting prepared helps.Others will chime in, but this is what worked for me, believe me when it's all over and you are recovered this time will be but a blip in time, I'm working on mine being 9 years ago, and it's all so worth it to be where I am now.

Colorado SpringsOn Mon, Apr 4, 2011 at 11:05 PM, jls1272 <jls1272@...> wrote:

 

Hi everyone. My surgery has been scheduled for 4/20 at Yale New Haven Hospital with Dr. Grauer. He is doing anterior and posterior. I am currently fused T6-L4 with a Harrington rod from 1985. They will be fusing down to the sacrum and putting screws into the pelvis as well. I am absolutely terrified. I am 39 years old and have been in pain for much of my adult life. I have a 10 month old baby that I can't pick up because my disc at L4-L5 is completely herniated and pressing on a nerve. My foot can drop out at anytime and is numb. L5-S1 is on it's way out too. I am freaking out because I feel like I need to be doing things to prepare but have no idea where to even start. Please, I welcome any/all suggestions. Nervous about the surgery, the hospital stay, and then the transition home. I've looked on that list on one of the links but would love some real life stories, suggestions. What will I really need when I am home? How long do I really need round the clock care? What kind of things besides a grabber did you find helpful? Bed rails? Shower bar? I was told i cant start a true PT program for 3 months. Again, all feedback is helpful. This will be here in 2 weeks and I just feel unprepared and anxious . I await any tips or stories you may have to share!!

Thanks,

Jody

[Guest guest]

Hi Jody,I had revision surgery in St. Louis 2 years ago, but my spinal fusion before that was at Yale New Haven (with Dr. Patel, who is long gone). I'm not on here often but I just saw your post and I remembered feeling just the same way before my surgery. I have 3 kids (ages 4, 7, and 9 at the time) and I was terrified about the surgery and recovery. Now I'm okay, thank goodness, and life is mostly back to normal. The best thing I did to prepare was to set up a calendar at Lotsa Helping Hands: go to www.lotsahelpinghands.com, and click on "create a community." You can set it up yourself or have a friend or relative do it for you. You enter

the kind of help you would like each day, and it all goes on your calendar with as much detail as you want. Then you send your calendar link to everyone you know (really, everyone), and they can sign up for any help they want to offer. This, more than anything, put my mind at ease before surgery. I had people sign up to bring meals every night, help with childcare, grocery shopping -- someone even volunteered to clean my bathroom! People really were happy to have a concrete way to help, and it was amazing. Just having someone check in every day or two to ask if you need anything from the store is great. And months later I still had leftovers in the freezer. The other thing that really helped me prepare was the CD that Cam and others recommended: Successful Surgery, by Belleruth Naparstek. You can find it here: http://www.healthjourneys.com/MainCategory.aspx?mcid=10. It was the only thing that relaxed me and I listened to it before and after surgery, every day in the hospital to help calm down.If you want to talk about any details about the surgery itself, or recovery, feel free to send me an email - eveweinbaum@....Take care,Eve From: jls1272 <jls1272@...> Sent: Tue, April 5, 2011 1:05:24 AMSubject: [ ] Surgery scheduled for 4/20

Hi everyone. My surgery has been scheduled for 4/20 at Yale New Haven Hospital with Dr. Grauer. He is doing anterior and posterior. I am currently fused T6-L4 with a Harrington rod from 1985. They will be fusing down to the sacrum and putting screws into the pelvis as well. I am absolutely terrified. I am 39 years old and have been in pain for much of my adult life. I have a 10 month old baby that I can't pick up because my disc at L4-L5 is completely herniated and pressing on a nerve. My foot can drop out at anytime and is numb. L5-S1 is on it's way out too. I am freaking out because I feel like I need to be doing things to prepare but have no idea where to even start. Please, I welcome any/all suggestions. Nervous about the surgery, the hospital stay, and then the transition home. I've looked on that list on one of the links but would love some real life stories, suggestions. What will I really need when I am home? How long do I really need

round the clock care? What kind of things besides a grabber did you find helpful? Bed rails? Shower bar? I was told i cant start a true PT program for 3 months. Again, all feedback is helpful. This will be here in 2 weeks and I just feel unprepared and anxious . I await any tips or stories you may have to share!!

Thanks,

Jody

[Guest guest]

My surgery was 4/21/10, so I'm a year ahead of you. I was also petrified. One

of the things that helped me was looking at other people's picture albums in the

Photos section on the left hand side. It comforts me to know that others have

gone where I am going and have made it there - that's one of the great things

about this group. I too went from T6-L4 to T6-sacrum+both hips bolts, but I

only had posterior surgery; I wasn't quite as bad off as you are prior to

surgery but I was already 47 at that time with high blood pressure and apnea.

Although it was rough, and the surgery did not eliminate my worst neurological

pain, I am walking straight for miles when I have the time, and I'm back to work

three days a week commuting 1.5 hours each way into NYC. I think I felt " as

good as I'm going to get " at about nine months when I was again able to cross

one leg over the other so I no longer needed the sock aid and I could again tie

my own shoes. (In the meantime, Payless Shoe stores sells colorful elastic shoe

laces for only $1.99 a pair whereas the medical supply store sells white or

black ones for $9.99 a pair.) At about six months I was allowed to kneel and so

I started kneeling and also doing a lot of deep knee bending to bring me down

far enough to grab stuff from some of those lower drawers and cabinets. When

showering, some people in the group like to dry off with a bathrobe. I was much

weaker than most of the others (i.e. I couldn't lift a half gallon of milk for

at least a month and others were able to lift a whole gallon right away.) So a

bathrobe or even a bath towel were too heavy for me. Instead I used several

hand towels.

>

> Hi everyone. My surgery has been scheduled for 4/20 at Yale New Haven Hospital

with Dr. Grauer. He is doing anterior and posterior. I am currently fused T6-L4

with a Harrington rod from 1985. They will be fusing down to the sacrum and

putting screws into the pelvis as well. I am absolutely terrified. I am 39 years

old and have been in pain for much of my adult life. I have a 10 month old baby

that I can't pick up because my disc at L4-L5 is completely herniated and

pressing on a nerve. My foot can drop out at anytime and is numb. L5-S1 is on

it's way out too. I am freaking out because I feel like I need to be doing

things to prepare but have no idea where to even start. Please, I welcome

any/all suggestions. Nervous about the surgery, the hospital stay, and then the

transition home. I've looked on that list on one of the links but would love

some real life stories, suggestions. What will I really need when I am home? How

long do I really need round the clock care? What kind of things besides a

grabber did you find helpful? Bed rails? Shower bar? I was told i cant start a

true PT program for 3 months. Again, all feedback is helpful. This will be here

in 2 weeks and I just feel unprepared and anxious . I await any tips or

stories you may have to share!!

> Thanks,

> Jody

>

[Guest guest]

Another tip - you may want to get a short haircut if you haven't one already.

(I donated my long hair to Lock of Love.) In rehab before I could take a

shower, and after I got home and didn't feel up to a shower, I used No Rinse

Shampoo to make my hair feel, smell, and look clean. I bought several brands of

dry shampoos that get sprayed on, but I didn't like those.

One of Cam's tips that I feel helped me was the Arginaid nutritional supplement.

The nurses in the hospital refused to help me take it even though the surgeon

allowed it, so I used it when I got to rehab and for the first month home.

> >

> > Hi everyone. My surgery has been scheduled for 4/20 at Yale New Haven

Hospital with Dr. Grauer. He is doing anterior and posterior. I am currently

fused T6-L4 with a Harrington rod from 1985. They will be fusing down to the

sacrum and putting screws into the pelvis as well. I am absolutely terrified. I

am 39 years old and have been in pain for much of my adult life. I have a 10

month old baby that I can't pick up because my disc at L4-L5 is completely

herniated and pressing on a nerve. My foot can drop out at anytime and is numb.

L5-S1 is on it's way out too. I am freaking out because I feel like I need to be

doing things to prepare but have no idea where to even start. Please, I welcome

any/all suggestions. Nervous about the surgery, the hospital stay, and then the

transition home. I've looked on that list on one of the links but would love

some real life stories, suggestions. What will I really need when I am home? How

long do I really need round the clock care? What kind of things besides a

grabber did you find helpful? Bed rails? Shower bar? I was told i cant start a

true PT program for 3 months. Again, all feedback is helpful. This will be here

in 2 weeks and I just feel unprepared and anxious . I await any tips or

stories you may have to share!!

> > Thanks,

> > Jody

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you all so much. It's nice to know I'm not alone. My head is spinning out

of control. Did I pick the right doctor? How long will the pain last? When will

I feel up to being social? When can I lift my baby? Etc etc etc. Ugh. Haven't

slept in weeks.

>

> Hi everyone. My surgery has been scheduled for 4/20 at Yale New Haven Hospital

with Dr. Grauer. He is doing anterior and posterior. I am currently fused T6-L4

with a Harrington rod from 1985. They will be fusing down to the sacrum and

putting screws into the pelvis as well. I am absolutely terrified. I am 39 years

old and have been in pain for much of my adult life. I have a 10 month old baby

that I can't pick up because my disc at L4-L5 is completely herniated and

pressing on a nerve. My foot can drop out at anytime and is numb. L5-S1 is on

it's way out too. I am freaking out because I feel like I need to be doing

things to prepare but have no idea where to even start. Please, I welcome

any/all suggestions. Nervous about the surgery, the hospital stay, and then the

transition home. I've looked on that list on one of the links but would love

some real life stories, suggestions. What will I really need when I am home? How

long do I really need round the clock care? What kind of things besides a

grabber did you find helpful? Bed rails? Shower bar? I was told i cant start a

true PT program for 3 months. Again, all feedback is helpful. This will be here

in 2 weeks and I just feel unprepared and anxious . I await any tips or

stories you may have to share!!

> Thanks,

> Jody

>

[Guest guest]

Jody,

It is a scary, tense time leading up to surgery. Turn your nervousness into

action and just do the best you can.

If your surgery is as it is for most of us...my guess is that at whatever point

you are sent to your home is, you will almost be ready to handle yourself. You

will probably want someone around for the first few days while you adjust to

your home routines and needs...but you will be able to manage yourself okay. The

better question might be who will deal with your 10 month old? You will not be

doing any lifting of your child for a very long time..so please make sure you

have your family care well covered. I know as a mom that if I perceived my baby

had a need that I must meet for their safety or comfort then I would do that at

the expense of my own health....so try not to ever let that situation present

itself by having another adult around.

If your home has a place for you to sleep and bathe on the first floor you are

in good shape. As said, resort your kitchen and bath so you wont have to

bend to cook or care for yourself. Stock up on staples....both in the kitchen

and personal care items. And I think using one of the " helping hands " websites

is a great idea...especially with young children.

Everyone wants to help...but they are coping with their own life challenges...so

giving them a chance to sign up for particular duties really helps you both.

Deep breaths. Just do what you can do. Use the lists provided to give you tasks

that you can accomplish.

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

What kind of chair did you use after surgery? The couch looks like it would be

difficult. Wondering if I need to go out and buy something. Most of my living

space is one one level (kitchen, bedrooms & bathroom. Down 7 stairs are my

living room and a half bath.

Did anyone use an over-the bed table?

-Jody

>

> >

> >

> > Hi everyone. My surgery has been scheduled for 4/20 at Yale New Haven

> > Hospital with Dr. Grauer. He is doing anterior and posterior. I am currently

> > fused T6-L4 with a Harrington rod from 1985. They will be fusing down to the

> > sacrum and putting screws into the pelvis as well. I am absolutely

> > terrified. I am 39 years old and have been in pain for much of my adult

> > life. I have a 10 month old baby that I can't pick up because my disc at

> > L4-L5 is completely herniated and pressing on a nerve. My foot can drop out

> > at anytime and is numb. L5-S1 is on it's way out too. I am freaking out

> > because I feel like I need to be doing things to prepare but have no idea

> > where to even start. Please, I welcome any/all suggestions. Nervous about

> > the surgery, the hospital stay, and then the transition home. I've looked on

> > that list on one of the links but would love some real life stories,

> > suggestions. What will I really need when I am home? How long do I really

> > need round the clock care? What kind of things besides a grabber did you

> > find helpful? Bed rails? Shower bar? I was told i cant start a true PT

> > program for 3 months. Again, all feedback is helpful. This will be here in 2

> > weeks and I just feel unprepared and anxious . I await any tips or stories

> > you may have to share!!

> > Thanks,

> > Jody

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Jody,

You are right to think that a sofa will be the wrong surface...particularly if

it is soft and deep. It can be dangerous to get out of such a soft hole! In fact

you will probably be cautioned against sitting in one.

My favorite chairs, to this day even, are flat bottomed chairs with very little

padding in them....think of them as the kind of chairs that you usually find in

a doctors office, with good sturdy arms to place your hands on and assist you in

standing. Even if you didnt like it forever...you will for the first year or so.

I think the flat seat works because the way you are permanantly fused means that

you need to balance on your " sit bones " ...and if its very padded or carved out

its a bit uncomfortable. I think you can probably manage a recliner if you have

one since you wont get trapped in one.

Anyway...even if you dont rush out a buy a chair, make sure you have a number or

throw pillows about...you will use them wherever you sit for the first year or

so. Even in the car!

Take Care, Cam

> >

> > >

> > >

> > > Hi everyone. My surgery has been scheduled for 4/20 at Yale New Haven

> > > Hospital with Dr. Grauer. He is doing anterior and posterior. I am

currently

> > > fused T6-L4 with a Harrington rod from 1985. They will be fusing down to

the

> > > sacrum and putting screws into the pelvis as well. I am absolutely

> > > terrified. I am 39 years old and have been in pain for much of my adult

> > > life. I have a 10 month old baby that I can't pick up because my disc at

> > > L4-L5 is completely herniated and pressing on a nerve. My foot can drop

out

> > > at anytime and is numb. L5-S1 is on it's way out too. I am freaking out

> > > because I feel like I need to be doing things to prepare but have no idea

> > > where to even start. Please, I welcome any/all suggestions. Nervous about

> > > the surgery, the hospital stay, and then the transition home. I've looked

on

> > > that list on one of the links but would love some real life stories,

> > > suggestions. What will I really need when I am home? How long do I really

> > > need round the clock care? What kind of things besides a grabber did you

> > > find helpful? Bed rails? Shower bar? I was told i cant start a true PT

> > > program for 3 months. Again, all feedback is helpful. This will be here in

2

> > > weeks and I just feel unprepared and anxious . I await any tips or

stories

> > > you may have to share!!

> > > Thanks,

> > > Jody

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

After revision I could not master my recliner or the big comfy rocking chair.  The only thing I could sit on was the wooden bench, which actually belonged outside, and even slept sitting up on it.  I could sit in the kitchen chairs as well. 

I didn't have an over the bed table but I did have a TV table with the tilt top that I could put my laptop and later my wireless keyboard on.PeggyOn Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 3:12 PM, cammaltby <cammaltby@...> wrote:

 

Jody,

You are right to think that a sofa will be the wrong surface...particularly if it is soft and deep. It can be dangerous to get out of such a soft hole! In fact you will probably be cautioned against sitting in one.

My favorite chairs, to this day even, are flat bottomed chairs with very little padding in them....think of them as the kind of chairs that you usually find in a doctors office, with good sturdy arms to place your hands on and assist you in standing. Even if you didnt like it forever...you will for the first year or so. I think the flat seat works because the way you are permanantly fused means that you need to balance on your " sit bones " ...and if its very padded or carved out its a bit uncomfortable. I think you can probably manage a recliner if you have one since you wont get trapped in one.

Anyway...even if you dont rush out a buy a chair, make sure you have a number or throw pillows about...you will use them wherever you sit for the first year or so. Even in the car!

Take Care, Cam

> >

> > >

> > >

> > > Hi everyone. My surgery has been scheduled for 4/20 at Yale New Haven

> > > Hospital with Dr. Grauer. He is doing anterior and posterior. I am currently

> > > fused T6-L4 with a Harrington rod from 1985. They will be fusing down to the

> > > sacrum and putting screws into the pelvis as well. I am absolutely

> > > terrified. I am 39 years old and have been in pain for much of my adult

> > > life. I have a 10 month old baby that I can't pick up because my disc at

> > > L4-L5 is completely herniated and pressing on a nerve. My foot can drop out

> > > at anytime and is numb. L5-S1 is on it's way out too. I am freaking out

> > > because I feel like I need to be doing things to prepare but have no idea

> > > where to even start. Please, I welcome any/all suggestions. Nervous about

> > > the surgery, the hospital stay, and then the transition home. I've looked on

> > > that list on one of the links but would love some real life stories,

> > > suggestions. What will I really need when I am home? How long do I really

> > > need round the clock care? What kind of things besides a grabber did you

> > > find helpful? Bed rails? Shower bar? I was told i cant start a true PT

> > > program for 3 months. Again, all feedback is helpful. This will be here in 2

> > > weeks and I just feel unprepared and anxious . I await any tips or stories

> > > you may have to share!!

> > > Thanks,

> > > Jody

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jody...

As was recommended by my surgeons, I spent very little time in bed after

surgery. During the day, I spent most of my time alternating between

standing/walking and sitting. When I sat, I would move between 4 different

chairs.

If your sofa is at all soft, it will probably not be comfortable for awhile.

Regards,

> >

> > >

> > >

> > > Hi everyone. My surgery has been scheduled for 4/20 at Yale New Haven

> > > Hospital with Dr. Grauer. He is doing anterior and posterior. I am

currently

> > > fused T6-L4 with a Harrington rod from 1985. They will be fusing down to

the

> > > sacrum and putting screws into the pelvis as well. I am absolutely

> > > terrified. I am 39 years old and have been in pain for much of my adult

> > > life. I have a 10 month old baby that I can't pick up because my disc at

> > > L4-L5 is completely herniated and pressing on a nerve. My foot can drop

out

> > > at anytime and is numb. L5-S1 is on it's way out too. I am freaking out

> > > because I feel like I need to be doing things to prepare but have no idea

> > > where to even start. Please, I welcome any/all suggestions. Nervous about

> > > the surgery, the hospital stay, and then the transition home. I've looked

on

> > > that list on one of the links but would love some real life stories,

> > > suggestions. What will I really need when I am home? How long do I really

> > > need round the clock care? What kind of things besides a grabber did you

> > > find helpful? Bed rails? Shower bar? I was told i cant start a true PT

> > > program for 3 months. Again, all feedback is helpful. This will be here in

2

> > > weeks and I just feel unprepared and anxious . I await any tips or

stories

> > > you may have to share!!

> > > Thanks,

> > > Jody

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Jody,Boy it's sure interesting to read what works for others. I hated sitting after surgery. I was either up walking, or laying down flat. If I sat it was at one of our hard chairs from our table set, but it wasn't for long. Sitting still isn't my favorite, I'd rather be up doing something than sitting.

Sitting on sofas if they are low, too soft, can be a problem. I have a new couch set, and I got them because of firm cushions and high legs, a must post op for us, otherwise you can't get up from a too low, to soft couch, and you can hurt yourself.

Life with a very fused spine!Colorado SpringsOn Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 9:32 PM, <linda.racine@...> wrote:

 

Hi Jody...

As was recommended by my surgeons, I spent very little time in bed after surgery. During the day, I spent most of my time alternating between standing/walking and sitting. When I sat, I would move between 4 different chairs.

If your sofa is at all soft, it will probably not be comfortable for awhile.

Regards,

> >

> > >

> > >

> > > Hi everyone. My surgery has been scheduled for 4/20 at Yale New Haven

> > > Hospital with Dr. Grauer. He is doing anterior and posterior. I am currently

> > > fused T6-L4 with a Harrington rod from 1985. They will be fusing down to the

> > > sacrum and putting screws into the pelvis as well. I am absolutely

> > > terrified. I am 39 years old and have been in pain for much of my adult

> > > life. I have a 10 month old baby that I can't pick up because my disc at

> > > L4-L5 is completely herniated and pressing on a nerve. My foot can drop out

> > > at anytime and is numb. L5-S1 is on it's way out too. I am freaking out

> > > because I feel like I need to be doing things to prepare but have no idea

> > > where to even start. Please, I welcome any/all suggestions. Nervous about

> > > the surgery, the hospital stay, and then the transition home. I've looked on

> > > that list on one of the links but would love some real life stories,

> > > suggestions. What will I really need when I am home? How long do I really

> > > need round the clock care? What kind of things besides a grabber did you

> > > find helpful? Bed rails? Shower bar? I was told i cant start a true PT

> > > program for 3 months. Again, all feedback is helpful. This will be here in 2

> > > weeks and I just feel unprepared and anxious . I await any tips or stories

> > > you may have to share!!

> > > Thanks,

> > > Jody

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much everyone. So much to wrap my head around. You are all extremely

helpful!

> > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > Hi everyone. My surgery has been scheduled for 4/20 at Yale New Haven

> > > > > Hospital with Dr. Grauer. He is doing anterior and posterior. I am

> > currently

> > > > > fused T6-L4 with a Harrington rod from 1985. They will be fusing down

> > to the

> > > > > sacrum and putting screws into the pelvis as well. I am absolutely

> > > > > terrified. I am 39 years old and have been in pain for much of my

> > adult

> > > > > life. I have a 10 month old baby that I can't pick up because my disc

> > at

> > > > > L4-L5 is completely herniated and pressing on a nerve. My foot can

> > drop out

> > > > > at anytime and is numb. L5-S1 is on it's way out too. I am freaking

> > out

> > > > > because I feel like I need to be doing things to prepare but have no

> > idea

> > > > > where to even start. Please, I welcome any/all suggestions. Nervous

> > about

> > > > > the surgery, the hospital stay, and then the transition home. I've

> > looked on

> > > > > that list on one of the links but would love some real life stories,

> > > > > suggestions. What will I really need when I am home? How long do I

> > really

> > > > > need round the clock care? What kind of things besides a grabber did

> > you

> > > > > find helpful? Bed rails? Shower bar? I was told i cant start a true

> > PT

> > > > > program for 3 months. Again, all feedback is helpful. This will be

> > here in 2

> > > > > weeks and I just feel unprepared and anxious . I await any tips or

> > stories

> > > > > you may have to share!!

> > > > > Thanks,

> > > > > Jody

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>