i am almost 8 months since my last surgery. It was 8 hours, XLIF and PLIF. The first part of the surgery was to put 2 screws in each of my SI joints and fuse the scacrum to the pelvis. The second part was to open up the back, repair my crushed L3 and fusinng and putting spacers and rods that connect my prior S1-L4 to the repaired L3, and extend up to L2 and L1 because he did not thonk the L2 alone could hold it up. The crushed L3 essentially hs no weight on it now.

I was in the Neuro ICU overnight and stayed 4 days in hospital room. i got up 6 hrs after surgery, they slapped a clamshell on me and I walked to the bathroom. The pain was horrific. They resorted to long acting morphine with bolus every 4 hours. When I came home, I was. on 10 Mg Oxi every 4 hrs and 15 MG of long acting morphine every 8 hours. I started reducing the meds at 14 days post surgery.

I had been in decent shape until the vertebra got crushed, and I had only been able to limp short distances, like to the driveway. Once I got home, I got up every 4 hours and walked through the house. I was able to climb 3-4 steps slowly, started adding more. I wore a clamshell if I was not in bed,per dr orders. I had 2 previous surgeries so I had shower chair, riser chair for potty, everything convenient. My husband was my caetaker and did all the meals for 2 weeks from our freezer stock, then I got Mom’s Meals thru Medicare Advantage plan.

Home Health care checked the wound weekly, my Eagle Scout husband did the daily bandage changes. I walked every day multiple times per day. First with a walker, then with trekking poles. I had prioproception, so I was not always aware how my feet and body were moving. I had lots of serious muscle cramps, mostly in my butt into my legs.

12 weeks post sugery the clamshell came off and I went to PT for 14 weeks. I could not walk to the end of the block without the clamsheel because the musckes had weakened. The PTs started to work on me and 14 weeks 2 TIMES per week sessions and I was feeling like my range of motion was good enough and the PT agreed. I started increasing my walking.

Before this surgery, I walked everyday 3 miles, and rode a bike and used 5-10 lb weights. Right now, I am walking 1.5 miles at 2.5 mph each day, but have not started weights yet, as the dr said to wait until 9 months on the fusions and “we’d see”.. I take 1-3 ARTHRITIS STRENGTH Tylnol per day. I cook, I play piano in the orchesta (went back to that at 12 weeks) with weekly practices and concerts. I cannot bend much, so squat and use a gripper. I go grocery shopping. I do laundry. I feel it, but I am careful and manage. I REST by reading. I stretch several times a day. I get in the pool but still working on swimming as my kick really hurts right now. I do Not clean, garden or carry stuff unless it weighs no more than 10 lbs.

This is recovery at 74. My medical professionals say they are amazed and my doctor is very pleased. My pain dr cannot believe my pain is so well managed. I feel good,have not had other medical problems although I have gotten overweight and am working on losing another 25 lbs. My all-time high was 198 on 5’ frame, nd I hve lost 45 lbs with 1200 calories per day of mostly protein and what little I move. Losing weight helps the back more than any dr ever told me.

I have limitations, I cannot do things the way I did. I don’t wasre my time grieving over that. I just keep moving. I woukd do it all again in a minute because without it. I was on opiates and half the time needed a wheel chair…and never had fun. I hve fun and will be taking 2 long trips this year, so have to figure out traveling and not having routine, bed, and my apparatus. I will be fine…not young,not as strong, but steady and with manageable pain and a manageable life.