I’ve added more links for everyone to check out. I’ve included some modified Pilates and Yoga, info on Scoliosis and Osteoporosis and just in general education sites on the spine.
Feel free to send me any links that you have and want to share.
Thanks
Dar
How the times go by. I’m doing well, managing to taper off some of my long term pain meds. 
I’ve cut bad to 45mg MS Contin in the morning and 60mg at night. I feel like I could cut back to 50mg morning and night now as it has been two weeks. My brother in law suggested that a steady blood level was more important and that going down in 15mg amounts would put more of challenge on my body. In other words 50/50 is bettr than 45/65.
Hi all
Just a short post. THE l2/l3 decompressive laminectomy and L5/S1 microdiscectomy is finally over. I spent one night in the hospital. I’ll write more about the stay in the hospital later but it was not pleasant.
The Decompressive surgery went well, no unexpected complications or findings. Also no doubt about the amount of compression causing probems.
In the area of L5/S1 the S1 nerve looked okay compression wise but L5 was a bit of mess. LOTS of scar tissue. In fact, because he had to scrap off so much scar tissue – the incision ended up being the length of L2/3 all the way to L5. It looks like that was part of the reason that I was so bent over – the scar tissue was pulling me down towards the hip on the one side.
Anyway, it hurts like heck. I have staples in this time because of the amount of work. Lucky my sister is a nurse and can take them out or I’d have to go sit in my GP’s office to have the job done.
Managing the pain well at home. Sleeping well and resting. 8 weeks of inactivety except for walking….then occupational and phsyio therapists.
More later.
Results of the CT Scan, the visit to the hematologist and results from the Internal Medicine specialist.
Wow. I see I haven’t written a post in a few days. That’s what happens when you can focus on getting better instead of being in pain. I’ve been doing really well. Able to work out a lot and finding that I don’t have such long recovery times. The exercises I’ve been are done really carefully and slowly. Absolutely do not hurry. Form has never mattered as much as it does now.
I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. This is a time to count our blessings and be thankful for all the things in our lives that we have. Enjoy your time with family and remember to take it easy.
Change positions as often as you can. No matter what you do, move. Don’t stand still too long. Don’t sit too long. You get the idea.
Now I teach Pilates and Yoga so that means I am pro both of those forms of exercises. I have my own studio with a reformer and love Pilates. I’ve trained with Stott here in North Vancouver. But it is a really long process to get back to the Pilates. You HAVE to have your doctor’s permission. Let’s face it. You do not want to wreck your surgery and you can do that in a flash. You need to be at least 8 weeks post surgery before you even think about it. And move slowly. Feel every moment, perform it with caution. And the usual caveat – none of this is ever meant to take the place of consulting your caregivers like your physio, surgeon and family doctor. Listen to them. See a physiotherpist that has Pilates training and/or uses a reformer in her therapy. I trained with lots of them so they are around.
It was great to have Thelma around yesterday. It made me realize how little contact I have with people other than Bill. But it was also very tiring. She kept telling me to sit down or rest but I know what’s it’s like in the kitchen and I didn’t want her to be there for 3 hours…I did eventually.
So I don’t know what is going on but I’ve been having a tough time. I spent most of the time standing or lying down because sitting hurt. I also iced quite a bit.
Sohiel was here today cleaning and I did what I could. Perhaps that was too much. I slept for an hour and my body was really tired.
Well, it was a very interesting visit with Dr. Guzman, as always. He is such a nice man. Bill took the day off work to drive me to the appointment. Even though it was right in the middle of rush hour on a Thursday we made it in under 30 minutes.
