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Surgery yesterday went well. It took way longer than expected due to having to get through a bunch of scar tissue but the doctor was able to chop out all of the cyst. Anesthesia kicked my ass and I was dizzy and nauseous all evening and finally barfed. Pain is better than before surgery already, so I'm stoked about that. 2 weeks in bed with no bending, lifting, or twisting. Hopefully this will all be worth it.
Glad you got it done. Be aware that they use a numbing agent in the wound that will wear off in a couple days. I had some fever on days 3-5. Days 1-2 I felt like superman. For rest I had good luck laying on my side with pillow between my knees or dead flat on my back with knees elevated on a pillow. Take your pills and lay off the protein. Trust me on that. Fruit and fiber.
Thanks for the advice. I was wondering why I felt so good. Makes sense.
I hope you are doing well with yours.
I can walk! I cried. Still crying. Lol. Probably walked a mile including hills today. I haven’t been able to walk normally in months. My left leg is still weak but gets better with short rest. Before it only got better with time.
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Awesome!Quote:
Originally Posted by 4matic
Hey WMD. How you doin? Today, I had probably the best (3 mile) walk in 3+ years. Still some weakness in my calf but mostly on flat surfaces. Virtually no back pain. Yesterday I went to the gym and did an almost a complete weight circuit for upper and lower, arms and legs. It really helped!! It seems to have stabilized some of the weak muscles from surgery. I have to be very careful with amount of weight and range but I'm really optimistic.
Good to hear! I have not needed any pain meds today and have not needed many since surgery Tuesday, so doing better than expected. Surgery site is more stiff than painful, but I definitely feel something major happened there.
I still have some nerve pain in my right butt and leg, but it's better than before surgery. I am really tired and even dizzy, which I didn't expect. I just walked 2 blocks and felt some pain in surgery site and was weak so think I'll take it easy and mostly stay in bed. The doc did tell me walking was good If it didn't cause pain.
Roger that on getting tired/fatigued. I suspect trauma to the muscles and nerves takes a lot out of you when they are trying to recover. On day three after surgery I had nerve and leg pain so intense I almost passed out, dizziness, etc. After my first one mile walk I basically slept for 24 hours. I feel good today after long walk yesterday. Gym and stationary bike today. Be patient. Stay optimistic.
When you're healing your body has a different metabolism than otherwise--energy stores are diverted to the healing sites rather than to exercising muscles. After major surgery figure 6-12 weeks roughly.Quote:
Originally Posted by 4matic
Thanks OG. I wish more basic information was provided when we're sent home. I got a one page handout with the wrong phone number stamped on it. Good basic recovery info but that's it.
Wow, was feeling good so decided to do a short walk. Guess I'm not as far along as I thought. I was out of breath just walking a quarter mile and now I need a nap. Damn.
The other thing they didn't tell you--if you lost weight after the surgery (I lost 10# in a week after spine surgery w rib fractures) you will gain it back and then more; the weight you lost is muscle, the weight you gain fat. You have to work hard to get the muscle back and get rid of the fat. All this due to the change in metabolism--from catabolic (tearing down muscle to provide energy for healing) to anabolic (building new tissue at the surgery site) to baseline.
I had my thoracic spine fused for fracture, also acetabular fracture (minor). Neurosurgeon and orthopedist visit me after the spine surgery, both tell me everything is fine. I decide getting up and walking around would be a good idea which I do with no trouble with my wife's help. Only later do the PT and OT come by and tell me that I have to log roll to get out of bed and have to keep weight off the bad leg for 6 weeks. No harm done, but it seems earlier instruction would have been nice. I guess they figured I was too banged up to want to get out of bed, but they were wrong.
I was telling my wife that I would never go into a nursing home--lying around watching TV, reading, and playing with the computer is no life. She pointed out that that's what I'm doing now.j
We need an update from WMD
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Tomorrow is 2 weeks since surgery and I go see the surgeon to get stitches out and hear from him what is next.
I'd say I'm doing really well. Crazy thing is I'm still exhausted and have no stamina. I walked a mile on Friday without getting out of breath, so decided to try a 3 mile loop Saturday. I made it and didn't hurt my back but had to take a nap afterwards and slept most of yesterday. I had to laugh because it is a super flat easy walk I do 4 times a week with my dog when I don't have time to drive to a hike. Felt like I climbed Everest.
I still am not bending or lifting anything but had to go to a meeting tonight and drove myself there. First time in a car or our in public since surgery. Wow. I didn't realize how much twisting you do driving. I'm sore and exhausted now but think I'm fine.
How are you doing?
Oh yeah, first time in real pants (not sweats) since surgery and they are too tight. Damn.
pants are probably tight because you're full of shit, literallyQuote:
Originally Posted by WMD
Glad I don’t have to wear “pants.” I’m athleisure almost 100%. lol.. I do have some stretchy faux casual dress style pants that were on sale for $200. Love them.. I hate jeans now except for working.
My back and upper legs feel good. 5 years better at least.
Fatigue is gone and my mental state is much improved.
Left calf still numb but, today, I was able to walk with balance like walking a balance beam. That slow; people look at me funny. Even then my ankle still gives out after a while.
Later is weights and 30 minute spin.
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I am definitely full of shit, but my bowels are working fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by old goat
Tip for protecting the surgical wound: you need to pad the wound for a long time to prevent irritation and pain. What worked for me was gauze pad covered with surgical tape. Durable and comfortable
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Thanks for the tip. That area is really sensitive.
Doc said to not do much for a few more weeks but then can start PT. Also gave me a prescription for gabopentin as I still have some nerve pain. Not sure I want to take it. Anybody used it?
Plastic surgical tape. Not paper.
I gave Gaba to may cat last fall. Kept him calm for hours. I wanted to try it but it's expensive! I did take my mom's cat's Tramadol. Worked ok.. I prefer valium.
I'm taking 2700 mg/day. I still have nerve pain. I'm going to stop it soon and see if I notice a difference. (Taper it off, not stop it cold.) I've taken it before at much lower doses and it didn't do anything.Quote:
Originally Posted by WMD
Damn, sorry to hear you still have nerve pain! Does the Gaba make you sleepy or foggy? Sucks it isn't helping.Quote:
Originally Posted by old goat
I'm back to life finally (working half days in the office) and my back is doing pretty well. Nerve pain isn't too bad, although still there. I'm going to give it some time before starting the Gaba to see if I really need it.
Yesterday I felt like I'd be a cripple all summer or maybe forever. Today I have hope and feel like I may be biking and paddling (easy) in June. We'll see what tomorrow brings...
Attachment 283562
Let the fun continue. Ok, my new goal is back in some action by mid August.
the gabapentin made me a little drowsy, although less than a good meal. I stopped it and didn't get any worse. Maybe it works for some people, or maybe it's placebo, or maybe it's so docs have something to prescribe that isn't any opiate and isn't over the counter.Quote:
Originally Posted by WMD
After 90 days for fractures to heal I started naproxen again--that made a big difference. (At this point my nerve pain is from my chronic spinal stenosis, not much from the fracture/surgery).
PS I just noticed there are five threads in this forum with new posts today. I think we all need to be more careful.
How you guys doin? WMD? OG?
Had an ESI, doing pretty well.
I've got an awesome PT who is helping me address causes of my back problems and she is helping make my surgery a success. I feel much better than I have in years but still am not very active as I relearn movement patterns for long term Heath. You?