Feeling Good

So if you had asked me a couple months ago, I would have said I was horrible, but not today.  I've been doing really good.  I still have some residual problems, but I'm very happy I had both of the back surgeries.  My right leg is still weaker then my left, I'm not real sure how to fix that.  I have a dull ache down the back of my right leg that the doctor says will probably be with me for life.  I've been getting more and more active.  I go out dancing now, wasn't able to do that for years.  I've also been making some headway in the sexdrive department, still no where near normal, but closer.  My husband is much happier now.  The pain still comes some days, but usually I don't take anything but ibuprofen for it.  I think I've taken 1 painkiller in the last 4 weeks.  That's alot better then 2-4 a day. 

I realize I will probably have residual effects from the fusion for the rest of my life.  It was worth it.  The doctor said the disc above and below are at risk because they are taking more impact now.  It's possible that I will have problems at those levels in the future, but for now I'm thrilled that I can almost live again.

Work and Stuff

So I've been back to work for 2 weeks.  I'm definitely better then I was before surgery.  My right leg hasn't locked up at all.  I've had some pain, but it isn't near what it was.  I'm thrilled.  I don't know if I'll forever be OK or if the pain will build, but for now I'm enjoying what I have.

Thursday at work they offered me day shift.  I start this week, I'm a little worried as I can barely remember most of the people I used to work with.  It's been 8 years since I've seen them, and I'm definitely going to miss the friends I've had on night shift.  I'm also moving to a different area, so I have to learn a different job.  I'm nervous, I haven't been nervous for a long time.  I'm usually confident that I can do the job better then anyone else.  Day shift is a different world, team leaders don't repair things, they call maintenance and stand and wait for it to be fixed.  I also will be working for a couple of group leaders that don't really like me.  Oh well, guess they will have to get over it, and let me do my job.  Wonder how much trouble I'm going to get into for learning how to fix stuff.

On to bigger and brighter things, my parents are moving out of state.  They are retiring to Florida, I know it's cliche but it will make them happy, and I'm all about that.  They've been basically homeless since the spring floods.  The flood took the home they've lived in for years, and for years before that my grandparents lived in it.  They had never had water get into their home, but this year it got in.  It was 3 foot up for 2 weeks.  Very unexpected, the river went a lot higher then was forecast.  They were already staying in town and the forecast kept changing.  They realized that their home was going to be totalled before they went home.  If they had known how high it was going to go before they left they might have been able to move some stuff out.  They weren't  able to save a lot of stuff, they will need to buy all new furniture.  I'm hoping I can go visit before the end of the year.

Back To Work

So I went back to work Thursday, June 16th.  Not sure about this.  I was in pain by the end of the night, I've been trying to control it with ibuprofen.  They've actually been really nice this time, kinda weird but true.  They aren't making me do the work conditioning this time.  Conditioning is exercise for 2 hours then going to work for the rest of the day.  I'm not talking normal exercise, they push you like you've been doing them since the dawn of time.  They expect everyone to be like them, doing it everyday 8 hrs a day.  Doesn't matter, glad I'm not doing it. 

So I'm not sure if I can say the surgery helped.  I'm still very hopeful that the pain is just from not working for 3 weeks.  I can definately move my right leg more now then I could.  My knee reflexes are absent it both legs, not sure why because I have no weakness in my legs. 

3 Week Update

Well it's been a little bit since I updated.  That's because I'm feeling better.  I went to the doctor last Thursday and I'll be going back to work this Thursday.  I'm really nervous.   The doctor did x-rays and they look really good.  Without all the hardware you can see the fusion much better.  It looks strong.  So he said I could go back to work whenever I wanted and I choose this Thursday.  My job is very physically demanding and I didn't want to go back any sooner because I still have scabbing over the incision.  I've had an incision open back up once before and didn't want to have that happen again.  Anyway we discussed the what if my employer tries to push me physically like they did after the fusion.  I told him I wasn't going to be stubborn about it this time.  If they make me cry, I'm going home.  He said to call and he would put me back on medical leave.  Don't think he really likes my employer.  I think I blogged a little about it last time.  When I went back to work after my fusion, I feel, they intentionally put me on a job that was constantly bending over.  I cried in pain every day.  I won't do it this time.  I don't really think it's going to be a problem, because I do feel so much better.  My biggest hangup is I don't want to be disabled.  I don't think I can be retrained to do anything easier.  I've worked many years in a factory setting and I'm not qualified to do anything else.   I don't have a college education, I regret that now.  If I had went to college I could possibly find something I could do.  It wouldn't be easy because I have trouble sitting for very long as well as the things I've been doing.  It would need to be something that balances moving and sitting.

Anyway my family are good.  At least my husband and children.  My parents not so much.  Their home was flooded for 3 weeks.  They had at least 3 feet of water in their mobile home for 2 weeks.  It's a total loss.  They have been living in a tent on their property for 3 1/2 weeks.  I don't like it at all, I understand it but I don't like it.  They are going through their home and garage trying to salvage anything they can.  It's horrible, the water knocked things off shelves.  If it wasn't extremely heavy or bolted down it got shifted around.  They have found a few things they can save.  I really wish their realtor would call them.  They put in an offer on a house in Florida.  So far the government hasn't declared it a national disaster, but I'm hoping within the next week FEMA will come in.

Day 7

Well I'm doing better I think.  The ice packs really helped bring the swelling down, well that and the ibuprofen the doctor let me take.  I'm taking very few painkillers now too.  I really don't like taking them because of my family's addictive personalities.  I've yet to have problems with it, but I could just as easy as others in my family have.  Yesterday I went to my niece's graduation party.  We didn't stay long but it was nice being out with my family.  I kind of shocked my family by showing up, but she's only going to graduate high school once and I wanted to at least show up.  I was sick after I left there, didn't take any painkillers all day due to wanting to go.  Didn't want to fall asleep and not make it there.  So when I got home I took some painkillers and grabbed the ice packs.  Oh WOW I left off stopping at my husband's niece's house.  She graduated too, unfortunately she didn't have a party but I needed to drop off her present.  She is beyond sweet and thrilled to get anything for graduation.  Anyway so after the pain subsided some I felt much better.  I discovered I get nauseated when my pain goes high. 

Anyway so far so good.  I'm hoping for the best with this surgery.  I already seem to have less grinding in my back.  There isn't a whole lot of information on recovery or anything like that out there to help you know if your doing good or not.  Hopefully someone searching hardware removal will find this and find some comfort.

On to today's events.  Today I went to Menard's with my hubby and the grocery.  He convinced me to use the electric cart in Menard's.  It felt horrible, the people there just kept staring.  You can't see I've had back surgery and I'm only 41 so nothing is visibly wrong with me.  I just wanted to leave.  After that we went to the grocery.  I refused to use the electric cart there because of the looks at Menard's.  I hope I don't look at people like that, I'm sure I do.  Everyone is guilty of it, passing judgement without the knowledge needed to pass judgement.  Anyway by the time I left the grocery (getting stuff to replace the stuff from the broken fridge) I was in a lot of pain.  I rested and took ibuprofen because I still wanted to do things today with the family.  After awhile the pain got a little better.  Called my husband to get the grill going.  He grilled burgers and hot dogs.  I made some fries and cheese sticks.  It was a good afternoon.  Now that everything has settled down I've taken my painkillers and I'm just relaxing trying to unwind.

Day 4

Today is Day 4 after my hardware removal.  I'm still not even close to good.  My incision is beyond swollen.  I've been using ice and ibuprophen to try to bring the swelling down some.  It seems to help for a little while but not long enough.  I called the doctors office today to make sure it was ok to take NSAIDS.  My day just generally sucked.  I got up in bad pain.  My refrigerator went out during the night.  Lots of bad food, couldn't even save any of it.  It was blowing hot air instead of cold air.  So my day started bad.  I had to get myself moving and leave the house.  I needed ice packs, so I rounded up all my courage and went down to CVS.  Biggest mistake I've made.  I was nausiated and sweating the whole time.  Got my stuff and got out quick.  I got to take my bandage off today.  It is nasty.  I'll post the picture but if you've got a weak stomach don't look.  Stop Now.

I cut the picture down but you get the idea of the amount of bruising and my skin is swelled painfully tight.  As it heals I may add more pictures or I may just let it go.  It used to be a pretty tattoo. 

Day 3

Well I still have a lot of pain.  I don't seem to be bouncing back as quickly as I'd like.  I don't know what I expected since it is back surgery.  I may call the doctor today and see about getting something for the muscle spasms.  Can't hurt right?  Anyway I am setting my alarm now for every 4 hours so I remember to take my pain meds before I let it get back out of control.  I'm not gonna second guess the surgery yet.  I can't tell a lot yet because my muscles are screaming but I don't have the catch and grind on the right side that I can tell.  I'll know more when I can walk better.  I've tried using the walker and it doesn't appear to be helping but I'm forcing myself to get up and move as much as I can. 

We had a storm come through last night.  Let me tell you it was no fun getting to the basement.  Once I was there it wasn't bad.  We have a furnished basement with recliners and entertainment center.  It isn't a finished basement, but I've decided we need to put a bathroom down there.  Maybe when I get better we can do that.  It can be the next subject for my blog, when pain isn't the focus anymore (positive thinking)  So guess we need to check into how to plumb it because it is below the current plumbing.  I can't have the kind of bathroom I want upstairs but maybe downstairs I can put in the jacuzzi tub and walk in shower.  It could be fun planning it.