Well, it's over and done with now and I'm finally "on the other side!" It feels so good to be here. My first surgery on 1/24 went well (5-1/2 hours, ALIF at L4-L5, L5-S1 with back plate and pedicle screws). Second surgery on 1/31...well, bumpy to say the least but here's the low down: 9+ hours, PLIF fusion L1-S1 with pelvic fixation, and had laminectomies the entire length of my spine (lost 1/2 my blood volume and am very anemic and weak right now as a result), removal of Harrington rods and hooks. Had difficulty coming out of anesthesia and remained in PACU for a long time (several hours ) and spent 2+ days in ICU and received several blood transfusions back of my blood back afterwards due to the amount of blood loss. And let's not leave out the 24-36 hours of morphine-induced hallucinations. My spinal cord was wrapped in morphine as a method of pain relief for after surgery and apparently, my body doesn't like morphine! I had the most terrifying visual and auditory hallucinations of my entire life (even worse than '95 back surgery when it was "raining on me" and eventually went blind for a few hours - oh I was MUCH worse and very scary!)
BUT, thats behind me now so it's all good from here on out!
It was bumpy but all in all, I am so glad I decided to have this done. I even grew a few inches as a result! No more "shopping cart syndrome" (as I call it) - I stand tall and straight and (although painful) proud! I am currently in a rehab hospital just 5 minutes from home and will be here for a couple weeks to build up my strength and endurance. I get so fatigued from even the smallest things but that will improve over time. I also have moderate weakness and numbness on my right leg which the doctor thinks should resolve in time. AND, I got to see my kids today forethe first time in 2 weeks! It was wonderful to see them but I have to admit, after their visit, I was exhausted. I am no where near ready to come and handle the house and kids yet! Once I'm home I'll have PT/OT a few times a week and then eventually graduate to outpatient. I'm in a brace when out of bed for the next 3 months and am doing well overall I think. The pain is manageable with pain meds and like I said, although it was bumpy, I'm so glad I did it - everyone looks so much shorter than me now!
I've had and continue to have the most loving and supportive family and friends on earth! My hushand, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends including MOPS and HOPE, just EVERYONE has been truly amazing with the amount of encouragement and support - and for that, I am truly blessed and most thankful. Nothing but brighter days ahead - sure there will. Be blips and bleeps along the way, but things will only get better from here on....
About Me
- JerseyOT
- In 2012, I had 2 operations back-to-back. It was an excruciating and grueling recovery. I was doing well until about 8wks post-op when I broke my back (T12 transverse process) in therapy. I spent another 10 days in the hospital and a month in an acute rehab facility. I was in a clamshell brace for over 8 months with no improvement. I underwent surgery #5 on 11/20/12 and required a 6th surgery on 11/24 due to serious complications. After spending another month in the hospital, I finally came home on 12/21/12. Recovery has been difficult and challenges seem to pop up whenever they get the chance. My most pronounced challenge are these terrible positional headaches that started in early 2013. I had a prior CSF leak in Nov 2012 however both the neurosurgeon and ortho surgeon believe it's occurring all over again as my brain MRI shows "clear & obvious indications of a CSF leak." I had at least 1/2 dozen consults with various specialists to determine what would be the best course of treatment and since bed rest hasn't worked, surgery is the only option left. Surgery #7 is full of unknowns regarding length of surgery, stay and recovery.
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