My Update

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I am 6 months post-op off of revision. I had three surgeries (March 15, April 26

& May 5). I suffered some surgical complications but it was ultimately completed

successfully after the 3rd surgery and I went to Rehab for two weeks before

finally coming home on June 1. So my origional 2-day staged surgery really ended

up being a 2 1/2 month ordeal! but it is behind me (thankfully!) and I am

healing. I was able to wean off all meds by two months post-op, with an

occassional Percocet if needed. I haven't had to take one in about 6 or 7 weeks

now. My experience was hell. I wouldn't want to go through it again, but I would

if I felt I had no other option. I have no regrets even though I do have

residual issues.

At 6 months post-op, my areas of major concern is:

1. The neuropathy in my right leg and foot.

2. The occassional piriformus, hip and SI joint pains that I experience off and

on.

3. The consistent and constant knee pain that I am still experiencing.

I would say at this point, my knees are my biggest issues. For any of you that

are new to this group, I have been experiencing knee pain for several years. I

was diagnosed with Pseudo-gout (horrible painful)in 2004 and osteoarthritis in

both knees the following year. I have endured many cortisone shots, several

anti-inflammatories (oral and topical) and ultimately endured bi-lateral knee

arthroscopy in July 2009 in which the ortho performed 5 different procedures in

each knee. This was all in anticipation for my revision. Unfortunately, my knee

pain is now just as bad, if not worse than per-revision which I feel is truly

inhibiting my revision recovery.

With that said, Dr. Glazer understands all this and has agreed to PT (with my

rheumotologists urging) for the purpose of strengthing my knees and legs only to

see if this will help. I'm game. So far so good and the PT feels it is promising

because for the first time in several years, she is finally able to do some

manual modalities that she was unable to do before without flaring up the

painful flatback symptoms. So I'm hopeful.

I have returned to work (as of just last week) after being out for EIGHT months!

I'm grateful they held my job and I am allowed to return on whatever schedule

works for me. I do have a 45 minute car commute (each way) to work, so Dr.

Glazer and I were both concerned about that. However......last week was a

breeze! No problems at all. I only worked 10 hours over two days, but it was

successful. This week I am attempting to work three days. Yesterday I even

worked 6 1/2 hours with absolutely NO problems. I was mentally fatigued, but

physically I felt fine. We'll see how it goes. Slow and steady wins the race and

as I often repeat to myself (I believe it was Cam that told me this too! Gotta

love Cam!) there is NO prize to the person who heals the fastest!! I happen to

be a compliant person - I'm not even tempted to do anything I'm not supposed to

and I rest when I need to.

I know that unfortunately sometimes we hear from folks who are not where they

would like to be int their recoveries, but some of us are. We need to know that

there is good and bad in everything. Do I consider my surgeries to be a success?

YOU BETCHA! Do I think my surgeon is better than others? NO!!! (although I DO

think he is great!!)Do I think I was just lucky? PERHAPS. Am I symptom-free with

no aches or pains? OBVIOUSLY NOT. But then again, I never expected to be.

So at my 6 month post-op time, I'm happy. I am getting my life back a little

more each day, each week, each month. I take what I can get. Do I wish I could

sit here and say not only were my surgeries successful, but they went smoothly

and it wasn't all that bad and that I am completely pain-free and live is just a

bowl of cherries?? Yeah, I wish I could. But I truly understood going in that

that wasn't realistic. I'm just little 'ol me, trying to make the best of my

scoliatic body and trying to take each day as it comes. With a smile on my face!

D (RI)