On 8/5/2012 5:53 PM, MaryL wrote:

How are you feeling? I have been thinking about you and hoping that we
would hear that your surgery has been a resounding success. When will
you start therapy? I assume you will have to go through a healing
process first.


Hi Mary. It's been a tough week. Mostly just trying to adjust to what
I can do, what hurts too much, and what needs to be called into my
surgeon to see if meds can be adjusted or added to. I have mostly just
wanted to stay in bed, take my pain meds and go back to sleep but that
isn't going to help my back, plus after a couple of days I just needed
to move a little. At first I could only walk with the walker, the my
mom gave me a spare cane she had in her car. The incision wound has
healed just so amazingly! I think I get the stitches out on Wednesday.
One of my feet still feels like it belongs to someone else (no feeling)
but I'm starting to be able to wiggle my toes. Almost my entire leg was
paralyzed from the swelling in my spine causing the lack of being able
to use that leg. I could walk short distances but I could tell my gait
was probably funny to see. It isn't a hunched over walk because of the
spinal fusion which keeps my spine straight. It was more of a wide
legged gait. At just over a week from surgery I'm feeling so much better
and sent mom home. I'm no longer watching the clock for my next pain
med but I'm still taking it the 4 times a day prescribed. A cocktail of
Oxy, Soma and Gabapentin. Whoa, what that does to your head! I think
I'll be ok and I'm finally starting to think the surgery was the right idea.

Thanks for asking!