Pushing Through Pain

Today marks THREE weeks since my surgery. Spinal fusion is an extremely invasive procedure with a long recovery. Muscles are cut, screws are drilled into the spine, nerves are irritated and the skeletal system is realigned. If you watch an actual video of this type of surgery, it looks very brutal (yes, I watched real videos before both of my surgeries and it looks almost like they are working on a car or some type of a machine with all of the drilling and chiseling). Also, bone graft was harvested from my left hip. They basically scrape the bone from the hip and that is what hurt the most during the first 2 weeks. Swelling and inflammation can cause nerves to be compressed, leading to more pain. The lack of movement of the spine can also cause increased stress on other joints, such as the hips. If I sit too long, I get stiff and if I walk too much, I get sore. I am increasing my walking each day to help with the stiffness. I will be starting physical therapy soon with a focus on core strengthening to support my back.

During this critical time in my recovery, I cannot bend, lift, or twist. I have to keep my back straight and wear a brace 22 hours a day. I even have to sleep in my brace. I have to sleep on my back all night and I cannot turn to my sides. It’s not comfortable, but I’m getting used to it. It can take a while for the bone to actually fuse together and I have to be careful not to damage that process. I have to wear a bone growth stimulator over my brace for 2 hours a day to help promote bone healing. Failure to fuse can cause a whole new set of problems that I do not even want to think about.

My recovery is going more smoothly than the first one and I am learning to cope with my temporary limitations. My amazing husband has played an important role in my recovery process and I am so thankful for him. I also think that my fitness level prior to surgery has proven to be beneficial in my recovery process. I was already walking half a mile on the treadmill 10 days after surgery. The doctor said I should be back to normal around 6 weeks post-op, but I will still have to wear a brace for a couple of months as the bone continues to fuse. 

Here is a quick overview of my first three weeks after surgery:

Week 1- The WORST week. If you can make it through the first week after spinal fusion surgery, you will feel like you can make it through almost anything. It was absolutely awful.

Week 2- Anesthesia has worn off and the soreness really sets in. Still very bloated and swollen. Walking helps, even though it hurts. Each day gets better.

Week 3- Feeling MUCH better, but still tire easily. Can definitely feel if I overdo it. 

Side view of my titanium spine.
Everything below the break is new hardware.