Had another post-op appointment today. Tomorrow will officially be 10 weeks post-op from decompression/lami with fusion of L5-S1. The doc asked me if I thought the surgery was worth it. Odd question since I literally couldn't walk into his office on the day of surgery and now I toodle all around the place.
I'm off all meds for back pain. He thought I was nuts and couldn't believe I wasn't taking anything at all. (I told him I was almost 10 weeks post-op, it was time to get on with it).
I'm still having trouble with those darn ol' zingers, and was given new medicine for that - since the Topamax made my insides burn up and I thought I was going to die. I am now suppose to take Keppra and Ultracet for those, but am relunctant to do so.
I now have a tens unit - again for the zingers. Hopefully it will work and I can bypass the meds all together.
Each week gets easier and better.
The strength and endurance still isn't there. The doctor said I wasn't being patient enough - that it could take 6 months to recover from surgery itself and up to a year before I feel like I could take on everything. He did say, however, that it's a good sign that I'm getting impatient and crabby with the whole mess though.
I'm still not back to work. Once the strength and endurance comes around a bit I can go back. It's hard to sit for long periods of time at a computer/desk.
The in-home physical therapy ended today. Now I will move to out-patient PT. The doctor didn't like the idea of water therapy. He said he wanted me working up a sweat. (sure...HE's not the one doing it). From that I got that maybe the water therapy was too low impact? I dunno. I liked the idea and might just putz around in the pool on my own.
So far, I'm glad I had the surgery. I feel better. I do still have some aches and pains here and there (mostly when I wake up in the morning) but I don't hurt anywhere near what I did 10 weeks ago.
What a slow process.
Hunni
