I stayed in the San Jose Kaiser for 3 days. Some of the same staff was there to take care of me again, and they were my favorite nurses! The day I was to leave, I lost all control of my right leg and fell. Lucky for me, nothing was seriously damaged. A nurse and a passerby helped pick me up and put me back into bed. Even though I fell, my prognosis was so good that I was released off of the Prednisone, which was creating "moon face" and mood swings. My beautiful teenage daughter brought me home, and laid with me in my bed for a little while. I could actually feel the spine stabilizing and I could also move around the home with less pain. The exiting and entering of my bed was much less painful even 1 day after surgery! I was able to sit at the kitchen table the day after I got home! I was told to literally do nothing except walk to my bathroom and back to bed for 3 weeks. For an active human like me, this was difficult. I was distracted by a steady stream of loved ones visiting me.
I had forgotten how many weeks it had been since the fusion surgery, and due to the medications I was on, somehow thought I was further along than I was. I walked too long outside with my husband about a week after surgery and the next morning woke up with a huge pear shaped swell at the incision site. I was told by telephone from a physician's assistant to put heat on it to improve circulation. After a week, the swelling still wasn't deflating. Then I went in to have my stitches removed. The other physician's assistant said cold compresses are for reducing swelling and hot was for stiffness. So, I was given the wrong information initially. Wow. I said that I hoped there was a conversation to be had with the initial advice. The response was a smile and silence. After all, they are in the exact same surgery unit and hold the same position...
Now, I am 4 weeks into my home healing journey. I can walk about 20 minutes around the block without a cane. I am off of all pain medications. When I went off of the heavy medications I had diarrhea for 4 days. I suppose this was the release I needed. I had constipation for days off and on since the initial pain began in May. Narcotics will do that to a person. Also for the first time in my life I had hemorrhoids. I am currently on medication for those, and being tested for a bacterial infection in my colon. When a person takes antibiotics in the IV for lengthy periods of time, usually during hospitalizations, it is easy to wipe out all of the good bacteria when killing the bad bacteria. I feel so much better all around, though. My physician's assistant said that my back and leg will never be completely without pain for the rest of my life. I will have good days and bad days. I will be able to be active again, but there is a chance the disc above the fusion will herniate later on in life. I must be mindful with my movements.
Isn't that part of our wellness goals anyway? Be mindful in words, deeds, actions, and thoughts...
Please share this with your loved ones and on your social media channels.
Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf channel on YouTube