3 months Post Op Today!

I kept this date in the back of my mind imagining how I might feel. Amazingly, I feel better than I imagined!

My surgeon didn’t guarantee a pain free life, he simply said this surgery would be helpful. I didn’t want to get my hopes up that all pain would be gone, so I developed realistic but also healthy expectations (see here, here, and here for more). Before surgery my daily pain level held steady at a 6, and occasionally spiked upward to an 8. I have not been pain free since surgery, but I have felt less pain gradually each day. I attribute this to an extremely conservative and cautious 3 months coupled with regular physical therapy sessions. I’ve had two flare ups and both occurred because of too much movement. The flare ups caused extreme tingling in the bottoms of my feet and calves. I called my surgeon for advice on the tingling, it was becoming severe and I wanted to double check. He said it was to be expected due to the affected nerves regenerating, and healing.

Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy helped ease my discomfort and through bi-weekly sessions, my healing progressed. I’ve catalogued the four portions of each session below: 1) STIM through a TENS machine, 2) massage, 3) wound healing, and 4) strength re-building.

Wound healing- the most painful part of physical therapy. I didn’t enjoy this, but I am amazed by the results! (see below)

Photos by: Mikey Tagliaferri

Scar/Incision Healing

For quite awhile, I couldn’t wear clothes with a waistband that touched my stomach (jeans, skirts) the fabric and pressure would irritate my incision and cause additional discomfort. #croptoplife However, just one week ago I realized I was wearing my clothes normally again without any extra agitation.

 

I took the picture on the left by mistake, I had my camera on a timer when a huge gust of wind blew my cover-up wide open to reveal my incision just 16 days post op. I laughed and figured, blooper! Then I realized it would be a great ‘before’ picture to document my progress with wound healing through physical therapy. The picture on the left shows the ‘after’ results taken just a few days ago.

Pain Management/Medications

I took pain pills for a full 6 weeks. I didn’t return to work for 6 weeks, so this timeframe coincidentally worked out well. As I mentioned above, I was not pain free but managed my pain with hydrocodone and muscle relaxers. After 6 weeks I resumed taking Meloxicam, a non-steroid anti-inflammatory, if I felt any pain. I’ve only had to take it a handful of times.

Return to Cardio – Walking/Biking/Running

Other than mini walks, I started back to cardio a month post op on a recumbent bike. I rode for 15 minutes and worked up to 3o minutes. After about 2 weeks on the recumbent bike, I started using my Peloton again. I started with 15-20 minute low impact workouts. I was also walking as much as possible, but limiting myself to 2 miles in a full day. I noticed my feet would tingle if I walked more than 2 miles, that was a warning sign I paid close attention to.

On October 2 (10 weeks post op) I went on my first run. During my run I kept thinking, this new disc is legit! I felt stability through my whole body- I can’t remember the last time a run felt like this. My energy level had improved and it was astounding. I remember trying to walk one mile and how exhausted I was, to now running a full mile very close to my usual pace. I’ve run 3 times since my first run and each time has been better and longer than the last. I am cautious about how often I run so, I mostly stick to my Peloton- which is just fine with me!

Sleep

I am embarrassed to admit the quality of my sleep before surgery. I slept restlessly on the hard ground for many months. Now, I sleep comfortably and effortlessly on my bed in any position I want. I compare the change to charging my phone for a full night – my battery and body stays charged all day without the use of a mophie or nap. As opposed to restless sleep, using my cell phone all night long, and having to charge my battery during the day with my portable charger.

Daily Schedule

I no longer feel limited in my daily life. I used to count down the minutes until I could find comfort at home resting, and now I have to stop myself because it is time to rest! I feel like a weight has been lifted from not only my body, but my mind as well. Instead of grimacing and struggling through my daily to do list, I feel at ease. Pain no longer controls my life and I feel like a completely different person.

Photo credit: Devin Bendixen

Even though I am clear to resume all activity, I plan to keep up the conservative and cautious care. I am confident my body has healed sufficiently and look forward to the next 3 months moving toward full recovery. I anticipate more challenges as well as victories, and I can’t wait to share them with you at my 6 month mark!

Until now I’ve only dreamt of a pain free life and I certainly didn’t think my incision would heal so well. It is truly amazing how much can change in a short period of time. If you are reading this today and wishing for a change in your future, trust me when I say that miracles are possible. My miracles haven’t come when I thought they would, but they have come with patience.

Thank you so much for reading and following along on this journey, I am already starting to forget my days of chronic pain and I couldn’t be happier!

If you’d like to continue reading, I’ve linked each post here:

Previous Posts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 |

Next Posts: Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Post 11 | Part 12

Physical Therapy – Performance Physical Therapy

Surgeon – Dr. Scott Blumenthal, Texas Back Institute at The Center for Disc Replacement

Hospital – Texas Health Center for Diagnostics & Surgery

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