Surgery isn't a quick fix...

Well, one thing I've learned is that the surgery is definitely not a quick fix. I am still living with Chronic pain eight months later and have been told numerous times from doctors that this is now a life long thing. I didn't want to accept that. But the more I refused to accept it, the angrier I got. That in turn makes the pain worst, tightens muscles etc. I am now on the road to trying to accept this life change. There are things that I just can't do and I have to accept that, there is also a lot that I can. What I can do is what I have to focus on.

I have nerve damage in my neck running down my entire right arm and hand from waiting for the surgery I needed, that is the one thing that will never go away. I also have problems with my hip, lower and mid back. All of this on my right side. I do have hope in a prolotherapist. Problem? The cost. It is not covered by medical because it is not a mainstream therapy. I fully believe it will help me one day, we just have to wait for the cash to do it.

My scars from the surgery are fading. The incision on my neck was done right on my crease so it is blending pretty well. The one on my hip is kind of ugly though, but with all the stretch marks from having kids, who's gonna notice, right? :)

I have a gazillion appointments I have to keep up with for myself. I get overwhelmed and almost forget them sometimes. Especially when I'm trying to remember all of my kids appointments.

I can't miss my physiotherapy appointments though. They keep my body working so I can keep doing what needs to be done. Every Tuesday and Friday. My physiotherapist has had to deal with me so long she knows exactly what to do to get the job done. She's great. :)

Coming Home

Coming home was SO uncomfortable. It was so painful to drive the three hours with a neck fusion that wasn't healed. The best thing I could do was tilt my chair pretty far back so the bumps didn't affect my neck as much. When I got home the girls weren't home yet. I missed them so much and the wait for them to come home was just as bad as the drive I think.
Once I was settled in my husband had to go back to work and my mom lived at my house until I could do things on my own again. She lived with me for three weeks. She drove my kids to school and dance. Cooked, cleaned, looked after my son who just turned 4 three months earlier.

I didn't have my first real shower until about 8-9 days after surgery. It was an exciting day when I was allowed to. Sponge baths just don't cut it. I had to wait until the bandages had come off on their own. The stitches were on the inside.
This was after the large bandages could come off but before the small ones were off. You can see there was a lot of bruising from the surgery.



This was the incision on my hip, which is still quite swollen. They needed to take a piece of my hip to put in my neck for the fusion. (ignore the stretch marks, from kids :p)

I also had to wear a collar every time I was in a vehicle to stabilize my neck. I wore this for almost three weeks.

And I was on Tylenol 3 and a heavy anti-inflammitory for pain.