Re: Vonnie,Val, Kam ,Nan and Lorrie

[Guest guest]

---ANyone else who wants to chime in......I am really struggling with

trying to go without pain meds. I hate to complain becasue in general

I am doing well. I have tried to cut out my tramadol all together but

just can't seem to do it....my back is tired,lumbar area, sore and I

need to rest more often. SOmetimes I feel I have hit a brick wall in

my recovery. I really want to swim and go to the gym but frankly by

the end of the work day my old body is sore and tired!!!! I will be 6

months post op on July 24th. AM I expecting too much? How many of you

who had surgery near about the time I did are still on pain meds...??

How long should I expect to be on them?

I do go to work everyday and have 4 children,8,11,14 and 18..but I

want to feel much better without painmeds!!!! I need to hear from you

all on this one..I feel myself getting a bit depressed and going to

my room more and more..I want to get back in the game faster but I

can't.....I got so excited when I did Hershey Park but that was not

med free. Should I be concerned. I do see Rand in a few weeks, I

wonder what he;ll think.,PA

In , " cammaltby " <cammaltby@...>

wrote:

>

> Hi Vonnie,

>

> Congrats on making it to the first check-up...it is a great feeling

> isn't it? The worst is behind you....no pun intended!

>

> I didn't start any formal PT until after I had my late 6 month

> checkup...so it was really at 8 months. Prior to that I did walk

and

> water workouts...so take it slow and don't worry. I think you just

> have to let the period of major healing happen and then a little

> consolidation seems to happen and you will see that you have alot

> more stength an stamina around then. I am not sure why DrRand

> doesn't allow exercises, but if I was going to hazard a guess he is

> frightened one of us will run into an overzealous therapist and the

> good work he has done could be undone. Who knows, perhaps it has

> happened to a patient. Anyway, remember that I was able to

snowshoe

> to the top of Mt Stratton at my 1 year anniversary ...I don't think

> I was worse off for waiting!

>

> I keep meaning to ask you...how do you like your new wheels?

>

> Take Care, Cam

>

[Guest guest]

Hi – I’m 35 weeks post op

(so about 8 months). I’m still on pain medication. I went off the

Fentanyl patch last week and now I take about 3 Percocets a day. My body is

still very sore. My spine doesn’t hurt at all, but all the stuff they

had to cut through to get to my spine is still so tender. I’m also still

very, very tired. My energy is better some days than others. My primary care

doctor is monitoring my pain and he said he isn’t surprised that I’m

still in need of pain meds and I’m still tired. 8 months sounds like a

long time, but for this kind of surgery it isn’t. I look back and I do

feel better than I did at 6 months. I get discouraged because I’m tired

of dealing with the pain. I do think I’m depressed about it – but I’m

still glad I went through with the surgery. I just want my old self back. I’m

45 but I want to feel the way I did when I was 35 – is that asking too

much? Probably not, but I’m a little impatient. I have chest pain on

the side they did the thorcoplasty and where the surgeon went through

anteriorally. It does hurt to breathe sometimes – maybe I need some kind

of breathing therapy.

I see Dr. Boachie on July 21st.

I’ll see what he says and let you know.

Lorrie

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of heatherbenjaminnicholas

Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 6:51

PM

To:

Subject: [ ] Re:

Vonnie,Val, Kam ,Nan and Lorrie

---ANyone else who wants to chime in......I am really

struggling with

trying to go without pain meds. I hate to complain becasue in general

I am doing well. I have tried to cut out my tramadol all together but

just can't seem to do it....my back is tired,lumbar area, sore and I

need to rest more often. SOmetimes I feel I have hit a brick wall in

my recovery. I really want to swim and go to the gym but frankly by

the end of the work day my old body is sore and tired!!!! I will be 6

months post op on July 24th. AM I expecting too much? How many of you

who had surgery near about the time I did are still on pain meds...??

How long should I expect to be on them?

I do go to work everyday and have 4 children,8,11,14 and 18..but I

want to feel much better without painmeds!!!! I need to hear from you

all on this one..I feel myself getting a bit depressed and going to

my room more and more..I want to get back in the game faster but I

can't.....I got so excited when I did Hershey Park

but that was not

med free. Should I be concerned. I do see Rand

in a few weeks, I

wonder what he;ll think.,PA

In ,

" cammaltby " <cammaltby@...>

wrote:

>

> Hi Vonnie,

>

> Congrats on making it to the first check-up...it is a great feeling

> isn't it? The worst is behind you....no pun intended!

>

> I didn't start any formal PT until after I had my late 6 month

> checkup...so it was really at 8 months. Prior to that I did walk

and

> water workouts...so take it slow and don't worry. I think you just

> have to let the period of major healing happen and then a little

> consolidation seems to happen and you will see that you have alot

> more stength an stamina around then. I am not sure why DrRand

> doesn't allow exercises, but if I was going to hazard a guess he is

> frightened one of us will run into an overzealous therapist and the

> good work he has done could be undone. Who knows, perhaps it has

> happened to a patient. Anyway, remember that I was able to

snowshoe

> to the top of Mt Stratton at my 1 year anniversary ...I don't think

> I was worse off for waiting!

>

> I keep meaning to ask you...how do you like your new wheels?

>

> Take Care, Cam

>

[Guest guest]

, PA,

, . Everyone recovers at a different pace. You're doing so much! I never could have done that much at your stage. And I know someone who was on Methadone for a year following scoli surgery. I was on MS Contin (a morphine derivative) for 6 months and weaned off slowly to Vicodin and then took Neurontin. I think you need to give yourself a break. As Cam has said, recovery can be at least 18 months. I don't know Dr. Rand, but I can't imagine his thinking any less of you because you still hurt. Especially with all you do! Sounds to me like you are doing very well indeed!

Bonnie

[ ] Re: Vonnie,Val, Kam ,Nan and Lorrie

---ANyone else who wants to chime in......I am really struggling with trying to go without pain meds. I hate to complain becasue in general I am doing well. I have tried to cut out my tramadol all together but just can't seem to do it....my back is tired,lumbar area, sore and I need to rest more often. SOmetimes I feel I have hit a brick wall in my recovery. I really want to swim and go to the gym but frankly by the end of the work day my old body is sore and tired!!!! I will be 6 months post op on July 24th. AM I expecting too much? How many of you who had surgery near about the time I did are still on pain meds...??How long should I expect to be on them? I do go to work everyday and have 4 children,8,11,14 and 18..but I want to feel much better without painmeds!!!! I need to hear from you all on this one..I feel myself getting a bit depressed and going to my room more and more..I want to get back in the game faster but I can't.....I got so excited when I did Hershey Park but that was not med free. Should I be concerned. I do see Rand in a few weeks, I wonder what he;ll think.,PAIn , "cammaltby" <cammaltby@...> wrote:>> Hi Vonnie,> > Congrats on making it to the first check-up...it is a great feeling > isn't it? The worst is behind you....no pun intended!> > I didn't start any formal PT until after I had my late 6 month > checkup...so it was really at 8 months. Prior to that I did walk and > water workouts...so take it slow and don't worry. I think you just > have to let the period of major healing happen and then a little > consolidation seems to happen and you will see that you have alot > more stength an stamina around then. I am not sure why DrRand > doesn't allow exercises, but if I was going to hazard a guess he is > frightened one of us will run into an overzealous therapist and the > good work he has done could be undone. Who knows, perhaps it has > happened to a patient. Anyway, remember that I was able to snowshoe > to the top of Mt Stratton at my 1 year anniversary ...I don't think > I was worse off for waiting!> > I keep meaning to ask you...how do you like your new wheels?> > Take Care, Cam>

[Guest guest]

mary PA,

I can very much relate,though I am just over three months. I have

that tingling and numbness, left side including face, that i have

mentioned. If I take the pain meds, I barely notice it but if I try

to tough it out, IT DRIVES ME INSANE and then I am tired, sore,

emotional and tingly. I wrestle with the meds, on again and off

again. I finally decided that if my body says, I need one, then I

really do. I try now actually to take one before I reach MAX so I

don't take it out on somebody, like my son or hunnie. I am on

Vicadin which is very mild, it does nothing else but dull the pain.

Maybe your meds are too strong? I do not think six months is too

long on pain meds. If you doubt you should be able to take them,

then I suggest you take a look at your xrays again You have been

through tons and we all move at our own pace. Don't expect so much

of yourself. I have one child and feel guilty for pain meds but you

have four. I am sure my son would rather I take a pain med if need

be, then get all over his case, for a toy on the floor. I feel

guilty if I do not workout or walk either. Now that I am driving, it

is summer camp, swim lessons, work and oooppps I didn't walk again.

AAAHHHH,,,, Smile

> >

> > Hi Vonnie,

> >

> > Congrats on making it to the first check-up...it is a great

feeling

> > isn't it? The worst is behind you....no pun intended!

> >

> > I didn't start any formal PT until after I had my late 6 month

> > checkup...so it was really at 8 months. Prior to that I did walk

> and

> > water workouts...so take it slow and don't worry. I think you

just

> > have to let the period of major healing happen and then a little

> > consolidation seems to happen and you will see that you have

alot

> > more stength an stamina around then. I am not sure why DrRand

> > doesn't allow exercises, but if I was going to hazard a guess he

is

> > frightened one of us will run into an overzealous therapist and

the

> > good work he has done could be undone. Who knows, perhaps it has

> > happened to a patient. Anyway, remember that I was able to

> snowshoe

> > to the top of Mt Stratton at my 1 year anniversary ...I don't

think

> > I was worse off for waiting!

> >

> > I keep meaning to ask you...how do you like your new wheels?

> >

> > Take Care, Cam

> >

>

[Guest guest]

PA,

I hate it when I lose a post, if it is a repeat I apologize. I am

three months plus now and am still on Vicadin. I, like you, wrestle

with it daily. I finally figured if my body says I need it, then I

do need it. With the tingling in my face, I GO NUTS!!. It is so much

better to take one before I MAX out because usually somebody pays if

I wait. Geezz, look at all you are doing , six months is not

long. We lived with flatback probably most of our adult lives right?

You would give yourself nine months to have a baby right? Cut

yourself a break and tell the guilt trip to take a hike. I have

to do that too, I think I should be dancing in the streets at three

months and I am far from that. Chin up and stay out of the bedroom

unless it is for fun and relaxing, not for depression. Smile

> >

> > Hi Vonnie,

> >

> > Congrats on making it to the first check-up...it is a great

feeling

> > isn't it? The worst is behind you....no pun intended!

> >

> > I didn't start any formal PT until after I had my late 6 month

> > checkup...so it was really at 8 months. Prior to that I did walk

> and

> > water workouts...so take it slow and don't worry. I think you

just

> > have to let the period of major healing happen and then a little

> > consolidation seems to happen and you will see that you have

alot

> > more stength an stamina around then. I am not sure why DrRand

> > doesn't allow exercises, but if I was going to hazard a guess he

is

> > frightened one of us will run into an overzealous therapist and

the

> > good work he has done could be undone. Who knows, perhaps it has

> > happened to a patient. Anyway, remember that I was able to

> snowshoe

> > to the top of Mt Stratton at my 1 year anniversary ...I don't

think

> > I was worse off for waiting!

> >

> > I keep meaning to ask you...how do you like your new wheels?

> >

> > Take Care, Cam

> >

>

[Guest guest]

--Ladies, thanks for the responses. I was happy to hear I am not the

only one still on pain meds. I have really tried to go with out but

after about a day I am sore and tylenol just does not cut it. I try

to stick to the one tramadol a day but there have been days that I

needed to 2. I am becoming a little frustrated, wanting to be 110%,

but feeling more like 85%. Like Val said, it takes nine months to

have a baby so I guess I need to be patient and be happy I am doing

as well as I am....VOnnie, what does Rand have you on?,PA

- In , " Lorrie Snyder "

<Lorriesnyder@...> wrote:

>

> Hi - I'm 35 weeks post op (so about 8 months). I'm still on

pain

> medication. I went off the Fentanyl patch last week and now I take

about 3

> Percocets a day. My body is still very sore. My spine doesn't

hurt at all,

> but all the stuff they had to cut through to get to my spine is

still so

> tender. I'm also still very, very tired. My energy is better some

days

> than others. My primary care doctor is monitoring my pain and he

said he

> isn't surprised that I'm still in need of pain meds and I'm still

tired. 8

> months sounds like a long time, but for this kind of surgery it

isn't. I

> look back and I do feel better than I did at 6 months. I get

discouraged

> because I'm tired of dealing with the pain. I do think I'm

depressed about

> it - but I'm still glad I went through with the surgery. I just

want my old

> self back. I'm 45 but I want to feel the way I did when I was 35 -

is that

> asking too much? Probably not, but I'm a little impatient. I have

chest

> pain on the side they did the thorcoplasty and where the surgeon

went

> through anteriorally. It does hurt to breathe sometimes - maybe I

need some

> kind of breathing therapy.

>

>

>

> I see Dr. Boachie on July 21st. I'll see what he says and let you

know.

>

>

>

> Lorrie

>

>

>

> _____

>

> From:

> [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

> heatherbenjaminnicholas

> Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 6:51 PM

>

> Subject: [ ] Re: Vonnie,Val, Kam ,Nan and Lorrie

>

>

>

> ---ANyone else who wants to chime in......I am really struggling

with

> trying to go without pain meds. I hate to complain becasue in

general

> I am doing well. I have tried to cut out my tramadol all together

but

> just can't seem to do it....my back is tired,lumbar area, sore and

I

> need to rest more often. SOmetimes I feel I have hit a brick wall

in

> my recovery. I really want to swim and go to the gym but frankly by

> the end of the work day my old body is sore and tired!!!! I will be

6

> months post op on July 24th. AM I expecting too much? How many of

you

> who had surgery near about the time I did are still on pain

meds...??

> How long should I expect to be on them?

> I do go to work everyday and have 4 children,8,11,14 and 18..but I

> want to feel much better without painmeds!!!! I need to hear from

you

> all on this one..I feel myself getting a bit depressed and going to

> my room more and more..I want to get back in the game faster but I

> can't.....I got so excited when I did Hershey Park but that was not

> med free. Should I be concerned. I do see Rand in a few weeks, I

> wonder what he;ll think.,PA

>

> In @ <mailto: %40>

> , " cammaltby " <cammaltby@>

> wrote:

> >

> > Hi Vonnie,

> >

> > Congrats on making it to the first check-up...it is a great

feeling

> > isn't it? The worst is behind you....no pun intended!

> >

> > I didn't start any formal PT until after I had my late 6 month

> > checkup...so it was really at 8 months. Prior to that I did walk

> and

> > water workouts...so take it slow and don't worry. I think you

just

> > have to let the period of major healing happen and then a little

> > consolidation seems to happen and you will see that you have alot

> > more stength an stamina around then. I am not sure why DrRand

> > doesn't allow exercises, but if I was going to hazard a guess he

is

> > frightened one of us will run into an overzealous therapist and

the

> > good work he has done could be undone. Who knows, perhaps it has

> > happened to a patient. Anyway, remember that I was able to

> snowshoe

> > to the top of Mt Stratton at my 1 year anniversary ...I don't

think

> > I was worse off for waiting!

> >

> > I keep meaning to ask you...how do you like your new wheels?

> >

> > Take Care, Cam

> >

>

[Guest guest]

,

My first inclination is that, yes, you are doing too much and that your expectations may be a bit unrealistic. That being said, I suspect that one of the reasons you are doing as well as you are is because of your high expectations. Does that make sense? I was extremely frustrated that water fitness wasn't working for me, for example. I want so bad to get back in the water and feel good, but moving my arms in the water causes me way too much discomfort. Walking is a much better bet. My triceps aren't as pretty as they used to be, but all in due time...hopefully. I finally gave up my Y membership since I wasn't using it. However, tonight I might have walked the track as it was 100 degrees here at 8 pm! Gotta love Oklahoma!

I am, at present, taking Tramadol approximately once a week, but there have been times that I've needed it more frequently (bedtime is the toughest). I also beg Adam to 'rub me' quite frequently. My feet are quite receptive to reflexology and more than pain I would describe what I struggle with e32wwwwwwwwwsx <-Bonedust says hi... as muscle fatigue. The reflexology and the Tramadol do help with this. On weekends, I tend to take it easy and sleep a lot since I do so much on weekdays and lately, I have been making a concerted effort to come home at lunch and lay horizontal for at least five or ten minutes. That alone makes a big difference! OH, and the shoes I wear seem to have a significant impact as well! The Merrells I bought for the wedding are one of my favorites now...they are very cushiony and seem to absorb shock better than most of my other shoes. I don't know if any of this is helpful, but I am sometimes absurdly methodical about looking for solutions.

For the record, I have missed one day of work (fairly recently) due to pain since I returned full-time in April. It was raining outside and I had started my period the day before. That combination seemed to be sufficient to make me miserable. I slept the entire day and I may have taken a hydrocodone as well...don't remember. Every month, I am much more uncomfortable before I start. At that time, I will use plaster patches that my acupuncturist introduced me to several years ago (between my shoulder blades and on my hips). They have a fairly strong smell, but it's a clean smell and most people don't notice it (or they may think I smell like medicine).

So, I guess all of this is to say that I still have some pain and I still take a pain pill from time to time, but I'm o.k. with making accommodations as long as my body needs them. Compared to the accommodations required before surgery, this is nothing!

I'm counting my blessings and trying to keep my grumbling and whining to a minimum. On occasion, I succeed.

kam

[Guest guest]

Good morning all,

Trying to catch up from away...but had a minute to read a little.

...I think Kam hs captured my thoughts...you are probably

expecting too much too soon. That is not to say that you will or

won't find yourself needing to have pain meds in your arsenal to

manage forever...but you are still very early in the healing...too

soon to say for sure either way. I know several of Rands patients

who are on low doses or various meds and he has indicated to them

that they shouldn't " beat themselves up " about it...so I doubt he

will be too very concerned that you are still in need at night.

I also think Kam's advice to look at your shoes is good...as is a

careful look at your stride. I think I have mentioned this

before...but I think that after the fusion to the sacrum your stride

changes. It is not, for me anyway, that I feel that my alignment is

not proper now, it is that to stand and walk requires completely

different muscles and stance. Try this:

Stand up...really stand up...ballerina should come to mind. Set your

shoulders back, your head centered nicely over your shoulders. Now,

visualize a string coming from a point on your breastbone just about

over your heart...and visualize this string as lifting your chest

upwards.

Now, slowly get ahold of your abs by drawing your belly button

toward your spine and try to hold this posture. Stike out to walk

with the intention of insuring that your heel strikes first, slowly

let your weight travel along the outside of the foot until you roll

all the way to the ball of your foot. Be sure to let the ball of

your foot propel you forward. Think ballerina, think moving quietly

and with grace...book balanced on head...

Although I do not have foot pain, I keep this picture in my head

when I move...and I notice when I am tierd or not paying attention

it is very easy to move in a more " flatback " posture...shoving my

hips forward/landing flatfooted to initiate the stride....and this

has got to be terrible for my whole body now. Experiment a little

and see if small attention to how you are travelling might help.

Also...good springy shoes or shoes that facilitate the stride as I

outlined really make a difference for me. (I too love my Merrills

and got a pain of Keens this summer)

I do think you will still see lots of improvement ahead....but you

must take the time to heal, and make time for yourself in your

family's busy life so that you can get to your walks, or swims or

whatever you find helps in your life.....and you must commit to this

forever!

Even though it seems like this came on suddenly you really have to

overcome years of slowly slipping into flatback...and this certainly

means you need to retrain your muscles and strengthen them in order

to accomodate this new body. That job had barely begun at 5

months...so please do nøt quit on yourself now!

Try to think that your healing time frame inludes at least another

13 months, whether you like it or not, and see if that doesn't put

your timeline in a better perspective!

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Kam,

I never think of you as "grumbling" or "whining". Sounds to me more like good insights and helpful hints. :-)

Bonnie

[ ] Re: Vonnie,Val, Kam ,Nan and Lorrie

,

My first inclination is that, yes, you are doing too much and that your expectations may be a bit unrealistic. That being said, I suspect that one of the reasons you are doing as well as you are is because of your high expectations. Does that make sense? I was extremely frustrated that water fitness wasn't working for me, for example. I want so bad to get back in the water and feel good, but moving my arms in the water causes me way too much discomfort. Walking is a much better bet. My triceps aren't as pretty as they used to be, but all in due time...hopefully. I finally gave up my Y membership since I wasn't using it. However, tonight I might have walked the track as it was 100 degrees here at 8 pm! Gotta love Oklahoma!

I am, at present, taking Tramadol approximately once a week, but there have been times that I've needed it more frequently (bedtime is the toughest). I also beg Adam to 'rub me' quite frequently. My feet are quite receptive to reflexology and more than pain I would describe what I struggle with e32wwwwwwwwwsx <-Bonedust says hi... as muscle fatigue. The reflexology and the Tramadol do help with this. On weekends, I tend to take it easy and sleep a lot since I do so much on weekdays and lately, I have been making a concerted effort to come home at lunch and lay horizontal for at least five or ten minutes. That alone makes a big difference! OH, and the shoes I wear seem to have a significant impact as well! The Merrells I bought for the wedding are one of my favorites now...they are very cushiony and seem to absorb shock better than most of my other shoes. I don't know if any of this is helpful, but I am sometimes absurdly methodical about looking for solutions For the record, I have missed one day of work (fairly recently) due to pain since I returned full-time in April. It was raining outside and I had started my period the day before. That combination seemed to be sufficient to make me miserable. I slept the entire day and I may have taken a hydrocodone as well...don't remember. Every month, I am much more uncomfortable before I start. At that time, I will use plaster patches that my acupuncturist introduced me to several years ago (between my shoulder blades and on my hips). They have a fairly strong smell, but it's a clean smell and most people don't notice it (or they may think I smell like medicine).

So, I guess all of this is to say that I still have some pain and I still take a pain pill from time to time, but I'm o.k. with making accommodations as long as my body needs them. Compared to the accommodations required before surgery, this is nothing!

I'm counting my blessings and trying to keep my grumbling and whining to a minimum. On occasion, I succeed.

kam

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Bonnie. I hope my husband agrees with you!

kam

[Guest guest]

Hi Pa, Well honey your not alone with the pain,I am still in

alot of pain my whole body fells like I was run over by a truck.he

has me on percocet and a low dose of oxycotin and when I went to him

last week he told me I wasn't taking enough cause I wake up all night

tossing and turning cause I can't get comfy..I really don't think I

will ever be off it cause I have been taking pain meds for about 20

yrs. now so I have a high tolerance to pain meds.I also have alot of

other problems and have had a knee replacement and need the other

done but NO WAY am I even thinking about that now or in the near

future..my back has been opened up 7 times also.So I don't see me

coming off them at all.And lets face it I'm not getting any younger

and the body hurts more now.Hey as long as I don't abuse the stuff

and just take it for the pain that's fine with me.Hope you feel

better I know it's hard to keep going everyday but we have to to

keep us from going insane..That's why I work cause if I sat home all

day in pain forget it, I'd rather be in work with the pain and have

somewhat of a life and I love to socialize..I'm sure I won't be doing

it too many more years but I will go till I really can't do it

anymore Take Care ,Vonnie ...---

In , " heatherbenjaminnicholas "

<heatherbenjaminnicholas@...> wrote:

>

> --Ladies, thanks for the responses. I was happy to hear I am not

the

> only one still on pain meds. I have really tried to go with out but

> after about a day I am sore and tylenol just does not cut it. I try

> to stick to the one tramadol a day but there have been days that I

> needed to 2. I am becoming a little frustrated, wanting to be 110%,

> but feeling more like 85%. Like Val said, it takes nine months to

> have a baby so I guess I need to be patient and be happy I am doing

> as well as I am....VOnnie, what does Rand have you on?,PA

> - In , " Lorrie Snyder "

> <Lorriesnyder@> wrote:

> >

> > Hi - I'm 35 weeks post op (so about 8 months). I'm still on

> pain

> > medication. I went off the Fentanyl patch last week and now I

take

> about 3

> > Percocets a day. My body is still very sore. My spine doesn't

> hurt at all,

> > but all the stuff they had to cut through to get to my spine is

> still so

> > tender. I'm also still very, very tired. My energy is better

some

> days

> > than others. My primary care doctor is monitoring my pain and he

> said he

> > isn't surprised that I'm still in need of pain meds and I'm still

> tired. 8

> > months sounds like a long time, but for this kind of surgery it

> isn't. I

> > look back and I do feel better than I did at 6 months. I get

> discouraged

> > because I'm tired of dealing with the pain. I do think I'm

> depressed about

> > it - but I'm still glad I went through with the surgery. I just

> want my old

> > self back. I'm 45 but I want to feel the way I did when I was

35 -

> is that

> > asking too much? Probably not, but I'm a little impatient. I

have

> chest

> > pain on the side they did the thorcoplasty and where the surgeon

> went

> > through anteriorally. It does hurt to breathe sometimes - maybe

I

> need some

> > kind of breathing therapy.

> >

> >

> >

> > I see Dr. Boachie on July 21st. I'll see what he says and let

you

> know.

> >

> >

> >

> > Lorrie

> >

> >

> >

> > _____

> >

> > From:

> > [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

> > heatherbenjaminnicholas

> > Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 6:51 PM

> >

> > Subject: [ ] Re: Vonnie,Val, Kam ,Nan and Lorrie

> >

> >

> >

> > ---ANyone else who wants to chime in......I am really struggling

> with

> > trying to go without pain meds. I hate to complain becasue in

> general

> > I am doing well. I have tried to cut out my tramadol all together

> but

> > just can't seem to do it....my back is tired,lumbar area, sore

and

> I

> > need to rest more often. SOmetimes I feel I have hit a brick wall

> in

> > my recovery. I really want to swim and go to the gym but frankly

by

> > the end of the work day my old body is sore and tired!!!! I will

be

> 6

> > months post op on July 24th. AM I expecting too much? How many of

> you

> > who had surgery near about the time I did are still on pain

> meds...??

> > How long should I expect to be on them?

> > I do go to work everyday and have 4 children,8,11,14 and 18..but

I

> > want to feel much better without painmeds!!!! I need to hear from

> you

> > all on this one..I feel myself getting a bit depressed and going

to

> > my room more and more..I want to get back in the game faster but

I

> > can't.....I got so excited when I did Hershey Park but that was

not

> > med free. Should I be concerned. I do see Rand in a few weeks, I

> > wonder what he;ll think.,PA

> >

> > In @ <mailto: %40>

> > , " cammaltby " <cammaltby@>

> > wrote:

> > >

> > > Hi Vonnie,

> > >

> > > Congrats on making it to the first check-up...it is a great

> feeling

> > > isn't it? The worst is behind you....no pun intended!

> > >

> > > I didn't start any formal PT until after I had my late 6 month

> > > checkup...so it was really at 8 months. Prior to that I did

walk

> > and

> > > water workouts...so take it slow and don't worry. I think you

> just

> > > have to let the period of major healing happen and then a

little

> > > consolidation seems to happen and you will see that you have

alot

> > > more stength an stamina around then. I am not sure why DrRand

> > > doesn't allow exercises, but if I was going to hazard a guess

he

> is

> > > frightened one of us will run into an overzealous therapist and

> the

> > > good work he has done could be undone. Who knows, perhaps it

has

> > > happened to a patient. Anyway, remember that I was able to

> > snowshoe

> > > to the top of Mt Stratton at my 1 year anniversary ...I don't

> think

> > > I was worse off for waiting!

> > >

> > > I keep meaning to ask you...how do you like your new wheels?

> > >

> > > Take Care, Cam

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

the best advice I got from one lousy pain management doctor was to get

a pair of well cushioned athletic shoes. I have a lot of pain in my

feet (but am unrevised), and since switching to Nike Air Max shoes

with the shock absorbers and an air cushion under the heels, the pain

is not nearly as bad as it used to be.

> I also think Kam's advice to look at your shoes is good...as is a

> careful look at your stride. I think I have mentioned this

> before...but I think that after the fusion to the sacrum your stride

> changes. It is not, for me anyway, that I feel that my alignment is