2 Months Post-Op

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone!

Monday (5/2) marked two months since my revision surgery, which was

done on March 1-2. I had a follow up appointment with Dr. Glazer's

physician's assistant, Jeff, approximately a week and a half ago.

The follow up overall went ok. He noticed that my shoulders have

become more uneven since my last follow up appointment, which he

attributed to uneven muscle weakness/strength and the fact that I

typically hold my cane in my right hand. He said that PT would help

rebalance me, and referred me to outpatient PT. Though the referral

was for general post-operative PT in order to regain muscle strength

and flexibility, both of which I am severely lacking right now.

My first PT appointment was yesterday (5/3). The appointment itself

went fine, and was essentially an initial evaluation, plus a

recommendation of a few exercises to start off. I have another

appointment on Friday, and will be going twice per week for a while.

How long did some of you spend going to PT post-surgery?

The thing about PT that is causing me the most difficulty is the trip

there and back. Since my husband needs our only car during the day,

driving myself is not an option. Therefore, I am stuck using public

transportation, which in my case means two buses. The bus trips

yesterday were brutal -- hard plastic seats, bus drivers who

accelerate and brake suddenly, and a long time spent waiting during

the transfer from the first bus line to the second -- in an area where

I had no option of sitting down. The thought of repeating that twice

per week for who knows how long is stressing me out. I'm trying to

find ways to minimize bus trips, such as scheduling my appointments at

times when my husband can pick me up afterward. I'm also beginning to

wonder if carrying some sort of cushion with me to sit on while riding

the bus will help. I'm envisioning a camping-type portable cushion or

something like it. I know I'd look odd, but if if helps it's worth it.

During my last follow up appointment my pain medication doses were

lowered. I've stopped taking the Topomax I had started taking last

year for nerve pain. The dose of my long-acting pain medication was

decreased a little, and I was told to take my breakthrough pain

medication no more than once per 6-8 hours instead of the 4-6 hours it

was before, though the dose wasn't changed. I am also still taking a

muscle relaxant.

At first I was concerned about decreasing my pain medication, and

ending up with the pain getting out of control. However, I seem to be

finally turning the corner pain-wise, and the post-surgical pain has

finally begun to improve significantly. I am still in quite a bit of

pain, but it's a world of difference from how I was feeling only a

couple of weeks ago.

I'm moving around better, and rarely ever use my cane when at home. If

I go out where I will be on my feet for a while, I still use it then

-- such as my trip to PT or shopping. I'm still too weak to walk

around without it for extended periods.

No specific return to work date has been set yet. I definitely am not

ready to return full time, that's for sure. Though depending on how

things go over the next 2-3 weeks, I may feel well enough to begin a

tapered return to work -- perhaps a combination of working in the

office a little bit and/or doing some work from home. I need to chat

with my boss and HR soon about possibilities. But this is all

completely hypothetical right now, because I really need to get a bit

stronger first, and we'll see how long that takes.

The weather is only into the sixties in Boston right now, but I'm

already feeling very uncomfortable with my brace on due to

overheating. I honestly can't remember how long I will be required to

wear the brace, but I already feel silly having to put it on when I'm

just doing simple walking around my house. But last I was told was

that I needed to wear it unless I was in bed, in a high-backed chair,

or in the shower. I look forward to those restrictions being reduced a

bit.

My next follow up is in four weeks. Everytime I show up for an

appointment I seem to forget all the things I've been meaning to ask.

I suppose I really should show up with my questions written down so

that I can refer to them. I feel silly doing that, but I shouldn't

care about looking silly.

It's hard not to grow impatient and frustrated with a recovery that

takes so long (even if I'm recovering well), but I keep reminding

myself that I need to take care of myself so I don't cause any set

acme, which would be much more frustrating.

Beat wishes,