Post Surgery Tips - Page 14

BlueAtlas · 12-03-2006, 03:53 PM

I am now almost 9 weeks post op and can do the Tim Conway shuffle pretty well. I'm so glad, though, that I applied for and got a temporary handicapped parking permit. It's not the distance for walking (although that can be tough) as much as the getting in and out of the car. The handicapped spaces are so much wider. If I had to park in a regular spot and someone parked too close, I wouldn't be able to get back in my car. I'd have to wait until the other person came back and moved their car!

Ask your doctor about this. He'll probably have the forms in his office, as he has to fill out a portion of it. It varies from state to state. In my state, I downloaded the form from the DMV's internet site and took it with me to an appt before surgery. My doctor immediately filled it out and authorized 6 months for me. What a blessing!

kimlisafreeman · 01-18-2007, 11:05 PM

Hello,

My name is Kim. I was wondering if anyone can give me any insight as to why I am still in such great pain and if it will ever go away. Since my surgeon is cluess when it comes to the back and spinal cord, I would rather trust the opinions of those actually living through it. I had spinal fusion anterior/posterior with allograph bone rods and screws. Since the surgery, (July of 2005) I am in much more pain than I was before surgery. I was diagnosed with spondyothothesis (sp??) at L-5, S-1. Tried PT, meds, MT - nothing worked. Opted for surgery. Knew the risks involved with surgery, but my surgeon, who is supposed to be one of the best (yeah right!) did not stress how much worse my pain could get. I also have pain in my right obliques and in my lower abdomen where the incision was made. Have numbness as well. Still have leg pain and lower back pain. I really want to have a baby, but I am really scared of what will happen during my pregnancy if I take pain meds or not take them. Does anyone out there have any advice/recommendations/ideas? Also, for anyone who is thinking about a spinal fusion, please really wait as long as possible. After my experience, I really think the FDA should only allow fusions in extremely serious cases. My surgeon back pedals with his answers about why I am in so much pain, and now has even said that he doesn't think my abdomen pain and oblique pain are related to the surgery. What a joke!....He just won't admit he did something wrong...Be care of surgeons; they think they are Gods and are willing to put your life in jepordy to prove it!

Regards,

Kim

kimlisafreeman · 01-18-2007, 11:10 PM

I had fusion at L-5,S-1 July of 05. I am in a lot more pain than I was pre-surgery. I don't think my pain will ever go away. Please make sure this is what you really want to do. And ask your surgeon, what is the risk that you have more pain after surgery than before surgery? My surgeon (the ...hole that he is) did not tell me that I could be in A LOT of more pain after surgery. Becare too, of surgeons; they think they are gods and anything they do is perfect (even when it is obviously not!). Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

Regards,

Kim

DesertBloom · 02-01-2007, 04:44 PM

I don't think this tip was mentioned, so here it is. Get a long handle shoe horn with a scratcher on one end. There's a company that makes these but I can't remember the name, you can find them in medical supply stores. The scratcher is great for reaching to your legs or back when you itch, and the shoe horn really helps to get your shoes on if you don't have slip on shoes. There's also a thing called a sock aid, and you can probably find it through the hospital or PT at the hospital. It's a has a plastic tube that fits over your foot, then you thread the sock over that and pull it up with the 2 nylon cords with handles that are attached. I used this for at least 3-4 weeks because I couldn't always get help with my socks. The company that makes the sock aid also has a kit that includes a reacher (good quality one) long handle shower sponge, sock aid, long handle shoe horn, and some other stuff for about 34.00. The PT at the hospital showed it to me, and my husband ordered it. They also have several different lengths of reachers for short to tall people. The quality is so good on these (have had many) that I'm still using it 4 yrs post op.

BlueAtlas · 02-17-2007, 04:57 PM

I figured this one out a couple of weeks after my surgery, but I never got around to posting it.

I was not able to reach the handles to pull out the bottom two drawers of the dresser to put away the laundry. Although my kids were happy to help, I like to be as independent as I can. I had one of my sons cut a length of clothesline, about a foot and a half long. One end he tied to the drawer handle, and he put a nice big knot in the other end. I can pick up the rope using my grabber, hold onto the knot, and easily pull the drawer open (with my hand, not the grabber). I didn't put one on the bottom drawer, as it has infrequently used items in it anyway and I was afraid I would trip on the rope. If the rope was long enough to be useful, it might also lay out across the floor too far and be a hazzard. But for the next to bottom drawer, it's been a wonderful help. I'm 5 months post-op now, and the rope is still there. I use it all the time and have no plans to remove it anytime soon.

Hope this can help someone else.

Blessings,
Emily