Free at Last!

I can't believe it's been nearly six months already.  I saw my surgeon this week.  He pointed out on my new x-rays where the bone graft was growing.  You can see a faint white line.  He looked at each screw to make sure there were no spaces around them that would indicate any loosening.  Everything is looking right so all my restrictions have been lifted.  Happily, I no longer have to wear my back brace!  I am now allowed to bend, twist and lift things over 10 pounds.  I don't have to do any physical therapy but can do whatever exercise I'd like.  My doctor just advised me to back off a little if I have a lot of pain or pressure.  He also said it is going to be difficult and slow because I haven't used my muscles in a very long time.  In reality it will be like starting with no muscle because I've been taken apart and put back together and everything is now in a different place. I've started right in on lifting (very small) weights and using resistance bands to rebuild my muscles.  I've missed my yoga and it's amazing how much flexibility I've lost.  I used to bend in half and now I can only make a right angle.  My hamstrings have been super sore with all the stretching I've been doing and my back muscles have been aching.  It's a good pain.  It means progress and growth.  

So my final numbers are in...The thoracic region went from a 59 degree curve to 18 degrees.  This is the curve my surgeon said was very stiff and would probably only be corrected to about 30 degrees.  The lumbar region was corrected to 20 degrees from 47 degrees.  These are HUGE improvements.  I feel so blessed to have found such a skilled surgeon and that my spine was able to be corrected so much.  

In another six months I'll go back for a one year check-up.  Then again at the five year mark.  In the meantime I will continue to make myself stronger.  Looking back there was such horrific pain and terrible struggles but I truly feel it was worth it.  My quality of life is already such an improvement to the misery I lived in before.  I can already do so much more, without any pain, than I could pre-surgery.  Yes, it was all worth it!