Hello hello!!
I finally am in a much better place now than I have been since the surgery. The lumbar fusion went very well. Up and walking the same day as the surgery. The pain in my leg from the pinched nerve was gone. I came home on the 4th day. My brother-in-law was a god-send. It didn't seem like he was doing all that much, and yet I couldn't have gotten through that first week without him. Thank you again {{{{{Tom,}}}}} very, very much!
At about 2/3 weeks the pinched nerve pain came back. The Dr. fixed what was causing that and I began to worry that I had done something to damage the fix. Turns out, it would take walking out in front of a Mack truck to hurt the fusion. Since I hadn't done that ... Turns out that when I get that pain it means that I have been over-doing it. In response, the wound would swell up which put pressure on the nerves. Sure was incentive not to over-do!
After 3 days in a row with almost no pain or noticeable weakness, I started backing off the pain medication. Which is working out just fine. Now I just have to get through the next month of limiting my actions, and at that point I should be able to get a lot more active. I have already been given the script for rehab, so will be starting that for 2/3 times a week soon. Nothing like getting through the worst of the pain, and then go back (willingly - sort of), to push the pain back to the top. For the bone to show a good start at fusion will take about 6 months.
I want to thank you all for your help along the way and your notes, cards and prayers. I needed and used up every ounce of love you sent my way. Thank you, thank you!!
~J~
