I’ve been so busy preparing for moving to my new home by the end of the month. Going from a single story to essentially 3 stories. So, I am doing what I can to organize, pack and prepare my new home.

A home health aide comes twice a week for a total of 13 hours. She’s cleaning my house, helping move things to where I can reach them and also helping me pack for the move.

I’ve been staying at my new home for the past 3 weekends. The first weekend, I could only do 1 step at a time and used my cane and hand rail for support. 2nd weekend, I was able to do steps normally using cane and handrail. This weekend, I was able to step normally using just the handrail. I still step slowly and carefully, making sure I’m steady. And wow, do I get tired fast. But what huge gains so quickly.

I feel like 8 weeks was the turning point for mobility. Showers are faster and easier. Dressing using aides is faster and easier. I’m walking around the house mostly without a walker. I do bring the walker room to room in case I need it. And I use it first thing in the morning when getting out of bed. My low back is so tight and painful, making it hard to walk unsupported. I use a cane outside of the house. 

Pain….overall my post op pain is much improved. My worst day now is much better than my best day before surgery. I still have significant pain when I wake up in the morning. It’s always in my left low back, where my pre op pain was. It’s a different pain, though, and it does go away with medication. It also doesn’t return for the rest of the day.

There was a bit of a debacle with my pain medications. I’ve seen the same pain NP for almost a year. She’s very receptive and understanding. We speak nurse to nurse, and she respects my suggestions for my plan of care. Well, last month, she was on vacation, and I saw a different NP. She ended up calling in 4 different pain medications (not my plan). I didn’t realize what she had done until I went to pick up the prescriptions. The pharmacist wouldn’t dispense them. I was only allowed to choose 1 of them, and I chose Tramadol ER because it’s pain control I can use and still be able to drive to physical therapy. The pain office called me and said I could have either oxycontin and oxycodone OR Tramadol ER and oxycodone. I chose the Tramadol again. The issue is that I don’t have any long lasting medication for bedtime. I have a few oxycontin left to use at bedtime and I’m seeing my regular NP in 2 weeks. I’m confident she and I will formulate a plan for night time pain control. Until then, I’m just making due with what I have.

Physical therapy is going well. I’m making gains weekly. I’m almost getting to the point of being limited by 20lb lifting restrictions. Pre surgery I was doing 176lb leg press. Post surgery I started at 88lbs and I’m now at 136lbs in 13 sessions. Working on legs, core upper body.

I still feel wobbly, off balance, stiff, unsure if I’m leaning to one side or not. The PT staff giggles when I stand still trying to balance myself. They say I’m recalibrating my body! That’s exactly how I feel.

I’m still frustrated many times a day when I need to figure out how I’m going to do something. Sometimes, I figure it out, and sometimes I just need to wait for my aide or boyfriend to come help me. I still can’t comfortably sit in a chair other than my recliner. I’m standing for longer periods of time but that still results in moderate pain and exhaustion. Naps have reduced down to 1 hour a day, and some days I don’t need a nap. I do rest in my recliner often, however. My aide tells me several times a day to go rest. I don’t realize I need it until I sit down.

Overall, I’m very happy with my results and progress at this point. I had no idea what to expect, and I’ve just listened to my body. Rest when needed and pushed myself when I could. I’m very happy I took the leap to finally do this surgery. I can see a better quality of life in store for me.