10 weeks post-op

Overdid things (natch) this Xmas and as a consequence am paying for it now big-stylie. Add in a stinking cold and you have one girl who feels v.sorry for herself this evening!

I was on my feet for quite some time on Christmas Day resulting in extreme pain in my groin and down the front of my legs late afternoon and into the evening... strangely enough when I woke up on Boxing Day they were gone. My pain now takes two forms - there is the 'usual' post-op pain for which I now take 8 assorted painkillers a day (down from 21!) and there is the 'overdid it' pain, self-explanatory and v.severe, which when it happens can add another 8 painkillers to the mix. The key to this whole recovery malarky is to do core exercises/hydro religiously and do everything else at a slow and sensible pace, even walking. There was no hydro on Friday so I'm really looking forward to getting down to the gym pool later in the week when this cold goes.

Muscle fizzing, extreme tiredness and back fatigue are still issues as is anxiety. I understand that healing takes time and that negativity and an unhealthy frame of mind do not aid healing, but you know what? I just can't get this fear of "re-injuring" my back out of my mind and I am worried that in the future it will hold me back from doing all sorts of things. Only time will tell, I guess...

TIPS: Preparing for surgery

Quite a few of you who are pre-op have contacted me and asked if I have any tips to make your stay in hospital and the surgery more bearable. Well, here goes:-

Pre-op body preparation - CORE! CORE! CORE! - strengthening of your core muscles through Pilates, FitBall or swimming is the best aid to recovery that you can do beforehand.

Getting up - physios will be around within 24 hours of the op to get you up and out of bed. When they came to me they brought a zimmer and crutches - I managed to walk to the ward gym on the crutches and climb up and down 5 steps - in total the exercises lasted 10 mins max. I would be lying if I said it was not painful BUT it wasn't as awful as I imagined it would be and once up the pain did settle down. It was a lot easier after the first time plus you can then get yourself to the loo and bathroom. Because you are used to living with pain, you will probably have quite a high resistance already, which helps. But my biggest tip to any of you is to take all the drugs they throw at you - the more drugs you have in your system when the physios arrive, the less painful it will be when they get you up (this tip was given to me by the Ward Sister at my pre-assessment). Also please don't be afraid if they offer you morphine (oramorph, oxycontin, injections etc.) - I know a lot of people worry about taking morphine but I've been assured you can't get addicted to it when your body is using it for pain (apparently it is metabolised in a different way by the body as to when used recreationally).

Showering - I wasn't able to shower until I had my stitches out and the wound was completely dry. The first day I just had a wash at the bed with a nurse washing my back and legs - don't forget to pack a flannel and soap! Once I was up I used the sink in the ward bathroom BUT you will need help (family, friend, nurse). It is v.v. tiring and quite painful at first - even now I struggle with my feet. As for hair washing - bending over a sink or shoving only your head in the shower was a nightmare - you will want to do it as quickly as possible so I suggest you buy either an all-in-one shampoo/conditioner or a leave-in conditioner that can be applied afterwards. Believe me, you will want it to be over in one quick wash!!! I took unperfumed baby wipes with me and these were great for refreshing myself during the day and keeping my hands clean. I found the drugs made me sweat terribly, especially during the night, so these really came in handy.

Dryness - your mouth will feel like Ghandi's armpit after the op. and what with all the drugs - take a lipsalve in with you and some nice flavoured sucking sweets.

Nightwear - a nightdress/nightshirt (yes, they do still sell them at M&S) is best for hospital as pyjama bottoms are impossible to pull up and down and the waist will only aggravate your wound if it is in the lumbar region. They turn all the lights on at 6.00am every morning to get you ready for drugs and breakfast – if you want to sleep in or even during the day suggest you pack an eye mask too.

Entertainment – don’t forget your mobile (NHS Patientline is mega expensive especially for those who phone you!), Ipod / music, books.

Home at last! – I found the raised toilet seat and perch stool invaluable for washing / loo – you can make arrangements to get them via your GP/District Nurse.

Hope the above is of help to you spineys out there...

Merry Christmas

Hi everyone, Dr. Vic here... on behalf of Kelly and myself, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy 2009. May it be kind to all of us!

I would also like to say a special thank you for all your support and comments these past few months since Kelly's op, they have been greatly appreciated x

My back hurts like...... a very bad swear word!!!

Gggrrrr!!!! Not a good day today. I guess it's a combination of increased physio, a return to some semblance of normality, the run-up to Christmas and the stomach bug that is going around that has had me in a bit of a state these past two days...

A return to some sort of normality this past week has seen me - defuzzed and my hair cut & coloured (2 hours in chair / backwash was a step too far, methinks!). I tell you, I was starting to look like Russell Brand in drag!!! Also managed to get dressed up too i.e. no tracky or crocs, for my physio J's annual Christmas soiree. A few visitors through the week also raised both mine & Dr Vic's spirits no end as we have felt disconnected from the whole 'Christmas' thing this year...

Hydro was hard this week. The dreaded 'woggle twist' and 'woggle side-bends' are the worst - I know that twisting my back in various ways is a must but it is so bloody painful... On Saturday I really could 'feel' where I had worked my core and back muscles - it might hurt but at least I know it's doing some good, eh? Not back in the class until 9th January so am going to try to get down to my own gym and in the pool there a couple of times over the festive period.

No longer taking Diclofenic - woohoo!!! Re-jigged remaining painkillers to compensate when I need it, but hopefully it will now give my screws a better chance of bonding with the bone per my surgeons instructions.

The upshot of all this activity has resulted in my back hurting like ... well, the title of this post :-(

Dr Vic also took the mobility paraphernalia I have been using since the op back to the NHS stores this week. Out of all the bits Dr Vic got for me, I would recommend the raised toilet seat and perch stool for anyone having this sort of operation. They really have been a boon in helping me with showering, washing and the loo!!!

Finally able to sleep on my side - heaven :-). The full body pillow has done the trick - it's fab-u-lous!

I have been e-chatting with 3 wonderful ladies who, through no fault of their own, are now undergoing revision surgery as a result of Dynesys failure. Their cases sadden and frighten me at the same time. Their recoveries took between 12-24 months and afterwards they felt their backs were 'fixed', then suddenly... well, you can guess the rest. I would just like to say to anyone out there reading this blog and contemplating ANY form of back surgery - nothing is guaranteed - Dynesys is still a relatively "new" back procedure - things can and do go wrong, months and years even after surgery. So please go into this or any other surgery with your eyes WIDE open. I've always known that my back could change for the worse in the future (like my unlucky Dynesys friends) but I did my homework and this still remains the right solution / decision for my back right now. I have no regrets and look forward with hope to a better 'back' future.

PS. if you want to connect with other Dynesys patients, join Facebook (free membership) and become a member of the group, "Dynesis: stabilising back surgery".

Bah humbug...

Hydro last Friday was challenging. Lots of side-side twisting (new movement for me) with a woggle has resulted in more pain, so I cut out my other exercises over the weekend. Had a few Xmas visitors too, which was great but it meant that I probably spent too long up and about and am paying for it big-stylie today - hey-ho! Still what can you do? You have to push yourself in order to ascertain your limitations and in order to improve, you can't just laze about all day...

Getting excited about Xmas now but as has been the case for the past few years, I actually fear the run-up to it... Now I know many people get stressed in the run up to Christmas, and many feel totally exhausted from the constant rounds of shopping, organising, cooking, partying & visiting. But spare a thought for the thousands who are doing all that in pain or with disability.

From a 'spineys' viewpoint... no matter how much you purchase online there are still some things you just have to buy in-the-flesh - you know, the plumpest turkey or those sparkly party shoes. So with trepidation we brace ourselves for the Xmas bunfight and worse, the ensuing pain! A big bah humbug to... queues, and worse, standing STILL in queues, having nowhere to sit and rest our backs, inconsiderates who huff & puff because we're walking too slowly and with a stick to boot! and bags that only have cards & wrapping paper in them yet make our backs feel like we're carrying half-hundredweight of coal. Oh, and on the subject of shoes - I don't care what Vogue say, a party outfit just doesn't look the part with ballerinas even if they are bang on-trend, sparkly & expensive... I sooo grieve my skyscraper-heels!!! And how is it we spend all year walking, exercising and moving in an attempt to stay mobile and IT WORKS. Yet mingling and dancing at a Xmas bash just leaves us laid up and in pain for days! Work that one out???

And lastly a word from the master of embarrassing moments involving booze - copious amounts of Xmas cheer and drugs don't mix, period!!! BAH HUMBUG!!!

Physio, sleeping - 7 weeks and counting....

Here I am 7 weeks post-op and I finally started physio yesterday morning, woohoo! It was a hands-on session; the therapist was lovely and really put me at ease. She confirmed that I have tightness in my right leg and hip joint as well as in my upper back. She said that I had done well and that my movement, considering what I've been through, was good - chuffed, Dr Vic said I was grinning from ear to ear. She showed me some new exercises to incorporate in my daily routine, in particular 'cat-like' stretching exercises performed on my hands and knees. I felt good during the session, but boy was I in trouble last night, when the pain kicked in! Seems to have settled a bit today so I'm now gearing myself up for session no. 2 on Friday - this time it's hydrotherapy in a hot, bubbling pool!

Sleep, or lack of it, has been a problem for 4 years - getting just a few hours most nights before waking in pain or discomfort. And whilst I spend more time than most in bed, it's usually just to rest my back (especially afternoons following exercise). So it's probably no surprise that I'm always on the hunt for things that promote comfortable, pain-free sleep. Hence why we recently bought a memory-foam mattress topper. Not cheap it's true, but all I can say is that it is FAB-U-LOUS!!! Recommended to me by a couple of 'spineys', the topper moulds to your every contour, so you feel fully supported and warm... I abs. love it.

Since the op, I've only been able to sleep on my back - it's too uncomfortable to sleep any other way. So today I invested in a full body pillow. 'What is that?' you might ask? Well it's a full-length pillow that you position between your legs, under your waist arch and hug in your arms!! I've read rave reviews from 'spineys' who are using them - you can buy them everywhere in the US but they're hard to come by here in the UK. Finally got mine from The White Company (www.thewhitecompany.com). Can't wait until it's delivered...

And finally this week I have invested in a funky, folding walking stick of my very own. Whilst my aim is to walk totally unaided all the time, I have been advised to be sensible and always have something with me for when I get tired or my back aches. So whilst the NHS supplied stick has been a godsend, it is damn UGLY and makes me feel a 100 years old! Time for a new funky version more in line with the Kelster's image! Check out www.switchsticks.com and www.aidmobility.co.uk. I settled on a glossy black one with big yellow and green daffodils - folds to just 9 inches in its own quilted bag. Won't be missing me in the dark then, eh?

Just what the doctor ordered...

Tuesday was a good day at the docs!

If you take a quick peek below you will see the meccano set that is now my back - the x-rays only show the screws - the spacers (2 either side) and cord/wire are not visible on an x-ray. It was a sharp intake of breath moment, I must admit, when I saw the x-rays for the first time but funny as it sounds, it has made it more real to me, it's tangible now, less in my head!!

Good news is that my surgeon has given me the green light for physio/hydro - got the initial assessment on Tuesday - woo hoo!

They are a bit worried about the right leg still, particularly the pain in the groin and upper leg and want to do some x-rays on my hips. Their thinking is there could be something going on there - I was like, "WHAT! That's all I need..." anyway, I'm not overly concerned as I haven't had hip problems before. It's obviously in my interest to listen to the medics so we've agreed to see how I am doing when I go back for my next check-up in March, if I'm the same / worse I will have x-rays then. I must say that the all-round service I have had from the NHS / Conquest Hospital has been exemplary - they are on-the-ball, caring and accommodating - I've been dead lucky!!

I found out by pure chance on Tuesday that the anti-inflammatories I am taking can affect whether the 'new' HA coated screws bond with the bone - and mindful that screw failure has been an issue with some early Dynesys patients - I've been advised to eliminate them slowly if I can, over the next few months. So there we were, thinking we were doing the right thing by getting off the morphine first when the anti-inflamms should have been priority. Hey ho, would have helped is someone had told us that earlier. So once again, Dr Vic and I are having fun at balancing the drugs - got to be sensible though because I've been warned that physio may cause problems and extra pain.

All in all, I'm happy with progress - onward and upward I say.

PS. BIG thanks to all of you for your continued support /comments - I can't reply on the blog but believe me I read every one. Mwah xxx

Kelly's "new" back, with all the hardware