Milestones

[ladysprite]

So today is the two-month point after my spinal surgery. This is the point where, for most folks, recovery is mostly through. My surgeon wants me to take an extra month, since my job is fairly physically intense, but if I had a desk job I should be, theoretically, able to go back to at least part-time, low-impact work.

So, how am I feeling? Well, before the accident I was doing surprisingly well. I was making it through most days with no meds, other than a mild muscle relaxant at night to deal with any tension that built up during the day. I was able to start lifting things. I could take care of myself; my range of motion was back to almost normal; I was in less pain than I'd been in for most of a year. I could go dancing, and feel fine the next day. I had started running again.

Now? Now I'm back to how I felt a week or two after the surgery. It's not as bad as it was a week ago, but I'm still needing to take pain meds to get through the day. I'm more restricted in what I can do, and I'm not up to working out or running.

At the same time.... the pain is still there, in my neck and right shoulder, but it's still better than it was before the surgery. The muscles are tense, but they're not rigid - and I've been warned that the more athletic a person is before surgery, the longer it'll take the muscle tension and pain to fade afterwards. And I can still do things I couldn't before (do you know how amazing and liberating it can feel to pour yourself a mug of tea from a full pot?).

The setback is the hardest part - having been so close to full recovery, it's annoying as hell to have that yanked out from under my feet. At the same time, I know if I made it there once I can do it again. And either way, I'm still better than I was before I got cut.

One more month, and then I get to go back to work. Here's hoping that I'm back to healed by then, and that it survives my return to real life....

Comments

[catalana.livejournal.com]

I feel you on the pouring tea thing. For me, after my spinal surgery, it was being able to put my own socks and shoes on. It sounds so dumb, but I was really excited the first time I could do that in months.

*hugs* Hang in there - I'm rooting for you. And also hoping for no more accidents; you've had the worst luck. The rest of the year better be superawesomeamazing to make it up to you. *glares at the year*

[ninjarat.livejournal.com]

And I can still do things I couldn't before (do you know how amazing and liberating it can feel to pour yourself a mug of tea from a full pot?).

Why, yes, I do. I occasionally get these arthritic swellings in my wrists. Simply moving my fingers and thumbs is painful and trying to hold anything is damned near impossible. It's always a relief when the aspirin kicks in and the swelling subsides. And that's minor compared to the really excruciating stuff: kidney stones and a tooth infection. I can imagine what your neck and shoulder are like.

[citabria]

You will be. :)

I know that my cervical spinal surgery was very different from yours, but the difference between 8 and 12 weeks was *huge* -- though without an accident in between. Part of that was PT, since the first several weeks focused only on massage, ultrasound and scar massage to deal with all the tension that the surgery (and pre-surgery) led to. I haven't seen you mention PT so I don't know whether you'll be going, but if you can, it can make huge strides on the muscle tension issue. I'm thinking that, post-accident, the difference might be even greater for you.

[evcelt.livejournal.com]

"Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself."

::hugs::

[bkdelong.livejournal.com]

It was great to see you out and about on the vendor floor at Arisia. May your healing journey continue with to great effect.

[arachne8x.livejournal.com]

Given what your body has been through I'm very impressed with your progress and your dedication to staying within the limits given by your surgeon.

[arachne8x.livejournal.com]

I'm impressed with how you've healed given what your body has been through. I'll be thinking healing thoughts.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Hope there is only forward progress from now on!

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Hm. What does your doctor think about alternating hot and cold on your sore muscles? I've heard that this can be helpful for the right kind of pain under the right circumstances, and it's not often the kind of thing people think of (they think warmth *or* cold).

And, OMG, do I sympathize with the frustration. I had a good spell of non-fatigue wrecked by continuous streams of too damn much work at work. (No, it's *nowhere near* as dramatic as your situation, but I can still sympathize!)