All quiet..

Time marches on... I can't believe that it's 7 months since my op!

Right hip and butt cheek have been shouting loudly this week due to sitting for too long in the wrong chair one lunch. and I'm still unable to carry anything other than a light handbag - even one small shopping bag a short distance remains a no-no, the dragging pains when I do so are the SAME as before the op - hell! Still it's no hardship - I've got well used to internet shopping these past few years and long may it continue!!!

Soooo looking forward to returning to my Pilates class in a couple of weeks time not least because I have missed my pals. As I've said before, we truly are 'old crocks' - the walking wounded ;-) We've all got at least one bit of our bod that's not working properly &/or been re-engineered! Our physio J works hard to ensure our joints are 'oiled' and soothed... and as a group we support one another, swap experiences but more importantly, we can laugh together (mainly at ourselves and our limitations). It works wonders...

Back with a bang!

First off, apologies for the radio-silence but I've been away in Clearwater for the past 3 weeks. It was very much what the doc ordered - lots of sun and lazy floating days by the pool (and yes, I was a good girl and did my pool exercises EVERY day). Fortunately we've been to Florida before so we could just relax and not worry about what we were missing by doing so!! Lots of things to tell you, so here goes...

• Latest trip to surgeon on Tuesday confirmed that I am making steady progress, in line with his expectations - I'm not in the top (got fast relief) or bottom (little to no relief) group of patients - I'm a plodder (not through lack of effort I hasten to add) - recovering at a pace along with the masses - slow with the odd hiccup!! I'm happy enough with that - I'm moving in the right direction.


• A very interesting post was added (thanks) whilst I was away, to the blog entry Surgeon Update dated 10.03.2009. It is well worth a read. Added Anonymously, my suspicion is that it was written by an ortho-specialist in the UK.


• British Airways deserve a huge pat on the back for the help they extended me during my recent flights. Having contacted their Special Assistance people beforehand they allowed me to board the plane early, I could've had a buggy from duty-free to the gate if I wanted it BUT more importantly, they allocated me a 'special' seat on the plane that had no-one in front of it and bags of room to get up and move about without affecting other passengers or crew (not an exit seat). They are indeed Borg's Favourite Airline!!!


• Whilst we avoided the parks in Florida I can confirm that there is help available for the 'physically challenged'. Before you go find out about the FREE-to-use motorised scooters, travel carts and wheelchairs, priority seating arrangements for rides/shows and where the seats are that do not shudder, drop, jolt or move along with the others during the rides/shows. Everywhere you go in Florida (including malls & supermarkets) is geared up to help anyone with a disability or walking problem.


• Worst experience of the holiday - walking on soft, unpacked sand!!! I pushed myself to walk along the beach each morning as part of my exercise routine - oh my goodness, the pain was incredible - I guess my back was affected by the uneven surface. And... whilst it got a little easier by the end of 3 weeks it was still NOT a pleasant experience.


• Good experience of the holiday - woggle seats!!! Yep, only in America could they invent a mesh affair that you thread a woggle through to create a sort of seat-cum-lilo thingummy. Loved it - get one in Wings, CVS Pharmacy or Target!!

That's about it for now. Speak soon...

Lots of firsts this Easter...

Well, we had a busy Easter - as in, we did a lot more than we have done for over 6 months.

We went into London for a couple of hours on Thursday for retail and a romantic lunch - it was a great feeling to be able to do that again but I was abs. wasted by 3pm - came home and was in bed with a large dose of Tramadol by 7pm!! Great company for Dr Vic eh?

Easter Saturday we went to an engagement party and met up with lots of our friends. Can you believe I was sooo nervous. Silly I know, but it has been such a long time since we did anything 'normal' with our friends... we only stayed a couple of hours but we had a good laugh. Mind you, I felt very unsteady on my feet - I've only worn flats for 6 months so wearing a small heel (and in the rain) was unnerving. And whilst I felt self-conscious with my stick, no-one else took a second look!

Sunday and Monday was pure family time and fun. We did get some sad news though on Monday, news that makes you realise that life is very short and extremely fragile... And finally, today I went out with a dear friend of mine for a proper girlie lunch - munch, vino and a good goss, just what the doctor ordered I say.

So all in all, it's been a wonderful few days BUT very tiring. It really doesn't take too much to wear me out but you know what, it's all been bloody worth it. It's back to the routine tomorrow, pool and back circuits for me...

Contemplating 'normality'...

What exactly is 'normal'? Bet it's different for each and every one of us. For me, 2009 normal is way different from 2008 normal (by virtue of my op) and prior that I had a massive change to normal in 2004!!! 30 April 2004 to be precise. That's the day my back, and subsequently my whole life, went tit's up!

Been thinking (for that read, worrying) loads about the future. As I write tonight, it's an unknown...

Let me share something with you... my darling mum had TB in her spine at 12 years old, it was left untreated (in those days it was considered a lung complaint only) and as a consequence over the years her spine collapsed, unevenly fused and became disfigured. Doctors could not believe that she was not in a chair!  So for as long as I remember she suffered terribly with crippling back pain. But equally for as long as I remember, she was the life and soul of the party; she wore the highest heels Selfridges could provide and boy could she dance in them! Never mind that she'd be laid up in bed for days afterwards... She NEVER gave in to her disability or her pain. In a final and cruel twist of fate 3 years ago, my lovely mum was diagnosed with cancer - one of the largest tumours being in her spine at L4. The pain she was in could not be assuaged by drugs, even high-dosage on-the-pump morphine could only provide temporary relief from the horrific pain in her lumbar spine. Every position and every movement was hell... She didn't complain and showed no fear - I know that was for our sake, so as not to frighten us. Her suffering and death has scarred me, it haunts me. And I know, it will NEVER leave me. 

My mum is quite simply my inspiration and the bravest, kindest, so full-of-life person I will ever have the honour of knowing. I miss her so much...  I know she would have supported me 100% in my decision to undergo Dynesys. I've have been given a chance she never had - and whilst she would have been scared for me undergoing such an operation, she would have encouraged me to go for it! Operating was never an option for her as her spine was way past help, even before the cancer.

I guess now you may understand why my thoughts have turned to the future. My mum had no chance, but I have... I've got to make this work for me. I don't know what the future holds for me (and looking at my family history it scares the life out of me) but whatever it is, I promise I will make the best of it, for my sake and for mum's. Love you Muv, watch over me and flap those BIG wings now and again to let me know you're around xxxxx

Routine maintenance...

Well, all I can say this week is that after 5 months I finally have some sort of routine - albeit, one almost without diversity or excitement! My routine revolves around exercise and rest, although I have been getting out and about a bit more now that the weather has turned.

The good thing to come out of all of this is that I have shaped up. Literally. I spoke in an earlier post about my 'new toosh' - well it doesn't stop there. My body shape is changing before my very eyes - although there's not much movement on the scales I have dropped a dress size. Reason I'm surprised is because I was doing Pilates, core and swimming regularly pre-op... there's obviously something I'm doing now that is making a HUGE difference though. Not complaining... nor is Dr. Vic LOL.

Second bit of good news is that my hair, nails and skin have started to improve - hair is still thinning but there's definitely a slowdown and it now looks shiny and healthy. Nails are rock-hard. Improvement is primarily down to specific vitamins / products recommended to me. If your body is depleted post-op and you're experiencing similar problems to me, try these... Redken hair products and Perfectil / Nutracap vitamin supplements. Splurged on some facials but that's more as a itsy-bitsy feelgood treat than a fix ;-)

Exercises handouts available

Just a quickie for you 'spineys' out there who are interested...

My Core Stabilisation, FitBall & Hydro Exercise Handouts are now available. Should you want a copy please contact me via Facebook's email system - this way, neither you nor I have to publish our email addresses on the www!!

Keeping on doing what I'm doing...

Yep, that's about it really - nothing new to report, same ol', same ol'...

Cobbling together a document detailing various Core Strengthening, FitBall and Hydro exercises specifically designed by physios for 'spineys'. Many of us back sufferers are helped enormously by our surgeons, physios and GPs but I'm finding that there are equal numbers out there who are getting 'bugger all' help from anyone. So these exercises are a guide only for them (obviously with the proviso that they run them by their GP first).

Dr Vic has the envious task of scanning them all in - hoping to post them up here and on the FB group soonest.