MRI Results and Major Issue in Lumbar Spine - What now?

Thanks for the update. Praying for a quick and speedy recovery. Please keep us posted as you can.

Nancy, you had quite a bit of work done. Just remember to listen to your body & take care of yourself. I know your perseverance of having a good recovery is your main goal.

Check in when you feel like it. Sending healing thoughts & prayers your way!

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Susie
Moderator in Chronic Pain & Psoriasis Forums

Hi Susie: I continue to do well, almost 1 month post-surgery. No more pain meds except for Tylenol. Still on Gabapentin. I have 2 more visits from the home health PT which have been so helpful with chair exercises and advice on healing. I’ve been walking, and invested in a rollator by Medline that enables me to be stable while walking and with a seat and backrest for when I need a rest break. I still wear the back brace though when at home I don’t use it as much as when I take my walks outside or go out to dinner or when Dan takes me for a drive along the coast. So far so good!

I’m sleeping well, and still take an afternoon nap most days. Still no BLT (bending lifting twisting) but I’ve learned to avoid it for the most part. I can shower by myself and still use the grab bar and shower chair and am of course very careful getting in and out if the bathtub. Our plan for sometime next year is to remodel the bathroom and put in a walk in shower.

My next visit with my neurosurgeon’s PA is 11/1. At the 2-week post-op she was very pleased with my progress so far. The X-ray looked good and showed the 6 screws and 2 rods from L4-5 and L5-S1.

Much of the feeling has returned to my right leg and foot and she said it will take some time to recover completely.

Well, that’s about all the news for now. I’ll be back in touch soon!

Nancy

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- breast cancer 2000 (DCIS: stage 0 non-invasive)
- endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery, both wrists: 2005, 2006
- cataract surgery 2009, 2011; right eye then left
- emergency surgery to remove gall bladder 2010
- right posterior cervical thoracic decompression w/micro-discectomy 2013
- 7-level C3-T2 posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion; with titanium hardware: 2 rods, 14 screws 2015

Nancy, so good to hear from you, but best of all to read that you are doing well. That is a great sign that you are getting the feeling back in your leg & foot already!

You will absolutely love a walk in shower. Back in 06, we remodeled the downstairs bathroom. We had the tub taken out & a nice walk in shower with a built in seat made. I have knee issues & kept falling getting in or out of the tub. We decided to do something before I broke something. That was the best investment we could have made.


At some point you will be sent to physical therapy. I will share a short story with you. A friend of mine had a 3 level lumbar fusion 18 months ago. She was 68 yrs old going into this surgery. Her surgeon put her in water therapy first. She said the water was amazing & helped her build up muscles. Once she completed the water therapy she went to regular therapy & she has done great. She says her therapy would not have been as effective if she hadn't done water first. So, this may be something to think about discussing with your dr. A lot of drs are moving in this direction with very good results.

Keep us posted!

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Susie
Moderator in Chronic Pain & Psoriasis Forums

Great News ! You Are Inspiring!