9 Days Post-Op Update
Today is Friday December 5, 2008 -- nine days after having Balloon Kyphoplasty (minimally invasive) surgery to repair my fractured L-2 vertebra. The nagging referred pain (sciata) in my right groin and right hip was totally gone when I woke up from the anesthesia and has not returned. This indicates that the injured vertebra was putting pressure on a major nerve. I have some stiffness in my lower spine; doc says this is because I have been unable to stand up straight since the accident on Labor Day, but assures me that this will dissipate when I get back into Physical Therapy. I have a follow up appointment with the doc next Thursday morning. He will then remove the two tiny stitches on either side of my spine (when they say minimally invasive, they meant it!)I am taking Flexiril (muscle relaxer) and generic Ibuprofin twice a day and have only taken one or two doses of pain medication in the last nine days. I do find that I tire easily right now (part of the anesthesia hangover) but I am so grateful to be free of the pain I had endured for almost three months!Yesterday, I went over to where I normally work my part-time job to visit and let my co-workers see first-hand how I was doing. Several people said "Hey, you got taller!" I hadn't realized how hunched over I had been before the MRI was ordered and showed that I had been walking around with a spinal fracture all those months.Tom has been great (he's always great!) about taking care of the horses and carrying stuff around here. We are trying to get the house ready for my annual Christmas party next Saturday and I am on the "No Lifting; No Bending" post-op rule. (I DID pick up my sweet Woody-cat the other night because he just was begging to be cuddled. Woody weighs in at about 15 pounds....I groaned! But he loved it!)So....another sunny but cold day here in central Maryland. I really haven't accomplished a whole lot this week and Tom has had to work every day instead of his normal 3-day schedule. I miss it when he's not around on Mondays and Fridays, but it seems like the economy hasn't affected the privately owned airplane business.I don't know if I will be able to return to my part-time job after seeing the doctor next week. But my boss assured me that they want me to come help with inventory for as many hours a day as I can tolerate. I find I do miss the daily activity, but NOT having to be at work at 7:30 in the morning!
Replies
That is one BIG cat Kathi!!! :-) I am glad you are feeling SO much better! (You\'ll be back kickin\' butt in no time! lol) Hope you can get back to work too! ((((((HUG)))))
I had no Idea you were enduring all this back pain. I\'m so glad your surgery was successful. It\'s a new lease on life. What and awsome blessing.