I love that I'm sleeping more deeply at night. As I taper off my medications my pain and muscle spasms are also tapering down. It still hurts just to a lesser degree. I still have muscle spasm just not as frequently and they are easier to calm down. I still get tired easily and take a couple naps a day. When I'm not napping I'm generally laying in bed resting my muscles. Showering and washing my hair or trying to put my hair up absolutely exhausts my shoulders. Many things exhaust my shoulders! Laying in bed with a book propped up makes my shoulder burn like I'm doing some intense weight lifting routine. I recently borrowed some treking poles for when I do my walking and it seems to be helping to loosen up my shoulders a bit. My daily walk to the mailbox is getting easier. Although I'm looking forward to cooler weather as I get so hot outside in my backbrace. I've also started walking laps around my backyard. Trying to promote new blood vessels and healing!
I'm starting to lose some of the numbnes in my back. It's kind of weird because it is just in random places. My hips and rear and getting feeling back. My left side waist is starting to feel more. For the longest time it just had that irritating feeling of pins and needles. Having more feeling is good and not so good. I have such strange sensations in my back. I feel the pressure on my spine, especially right where the worst curve was. Maybe I'm feeling the hardware. It is so odd having my back touched. I can feel some layers but not others. It's all a little eerie feeling. There have only been a few times where the itchiness of healing was noticable. I do occasionally get little shocks as my nerves regrow.
The physical therapist sent me home with little exercises to do and I feel like I am getting stronger. I'm not so dizzy or off balanced like I was when I first came home. I'm getting better at squating down to reach something. I'm so greatful for my flexibility! Being able to dry my own legs, without bending my back, after a shower is liberating. ;) Still, the best way to put on socks and pants is to lay on the bed on my back and pull my knees up to my chest. I'm just trying to take it easy and not overdo it. No way do I want to break hardware and have to go through surgery again. I was given a lifting/pushing/pulling limit of 10lbs. In the beginning I couldn't even lift my waterbottle to my mouth withouth straining if it was filled all the way. I use more of my fingers and wrists for opening the refrigerator and microwave. The sliding glass door is still a challenge. Somethings I can adapt to and other things I just ask for help with.
My husband, children and other family members are always so eager to help me. They'll run back upstairs for me to get my medications or something I forgot. They help me get my backbrace on and off. They get my icepacks and move them around to where it feels the best. They get my food, refill my water bottle and clean up all the food I drop. The list goes on and on of all the ways my sweet family assists me. I am so blessed to have such a caring, compassionate family!
Here are the improvements to my back!
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| My awesome x-rays |
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So easy to see the difference even from the outside :) (oh and that is actually 3 weeks post-op) 
My rib doesn't stick out so much in front. My waist is still not quite even. The muscles are all pulled so much it's going to take months for everything to relax and settle into place. My torso is so much longer it seems crazy to me but I guess it's just normal.
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