TLIF Surgery - Post-op 2 weeks

TLIF Surgery - Post-op 2 weeks...
I can't believe it's already been 2 weeks since the surgery! It's been quite the journey. When I was still in the hospital the Doc told me that when he saw me at my 2-week check-up I should be 50% better in regards to the surgical pain...and 95% better by the 6-week visit. It appears that he was accurate because I definitely feel at least 50% better now than I did... right after the surgery. And the pain that caused me to have the surgery in the first place is gone. I'm still having some burning and tingling in my right hip and leg (which started after the surgery), but we still think it is the result of how I'm sleeping and possibly from nerve irritation. I mean, lets face it, a lot of stuff was done to my back, which included moving nerves around. This is still so much better than what I was dealing with before! 😁
My back is very happy to no longer have staples in it. And it's still draining away...better for that stuff to come out than to stay in for sure! 😳
I had a nice visit this morning with my Pops and Susan. Susan and I were able to catch up with surgery/recovery stories since she recently had a knee replacement. Modern medicine really is amazing. They brought me Agatha (see picture). I can't wait to try her out. 😜
Diezel has let me use his recliner alone quite a bit over the past few days as he as opted for the couch instead. He's not gonna know what to think when I go back to work next week. He's gotten pretty used to spending his mornings relaxing with me and watching Matlock and Diagnosis Murder. 📺 But he will have more opportunities to enjoy his recliner while I'm in my office. 😜😂 

Diezel must have known I had said something about him NOT being in the recliner.  Right after I posted the above on FB he did this:

This boy cracks me up!!  His butt is actually on th earm of the chair.  I got this face when I got up.

TLIF Surgery - Post-op Day 13

TLIF Surgery - Post-op Day 13...
Fitbit says I only slept a little over 4 hours last night. I had trouble getting comfortable and shutting off my brain - despite the pain meds. I was restless and couldn't stop thinking about the latest development. Last night when I took a shower I noticed that my incision was draining in the bandage. I have had a puffy spot around the top right area of the incision from the beginning. Last night Ron pushed on it (ouch) and more stuff drained out of the bottom of the incision. We think the puffy area is fluid that has now finally found somewhere to drain from.

I've taken 3 sets of pictures of the incision so far and did a collage of them side by side. You can see the changes in the incision in the pictures. I'm not gonna post the picture here but they're on my blog (link in previous post).
I have an appointment today with the doc as I'm scheduled to get my staples out. I'm sure the drainage will be one of the top topics of conversation.

1:00pm Just left the doctors office. Staples are out...woot woot. He said the drainage was a seroma - which is basically when blood and fluids collect. He said it's common. And boy, it really poured when they took the first staple out! 😱 He said as long as it doesn't become bright red or change to the consistency of honey or the cream in a cream filled doughnut I'm good. Love the food analogy. 😜He said it may drain for several days. He could open it up to drain it but that could cause other issues and it's best to let it drain on its own if possible.

He gave me a back brace now that I have to wear when I'm up.  At least I don't have to sleep in it.  My back actually feels better when the brace is on...even my middle and upper back.  My middle and upper back have been hurting from constantly holding my spine in a neutral position.  At least with the brace on part of that is done for me.  And it really helps with reminding me about the limitations (no bending, lifting, or twisting).  Here's how it looks from the front and back. Sorry for the poor quality - it was taken in a mirror.  The brace wraps around and is then pulled tighter by the two straps you see on the front.






Next appointment is in 4 weeks and xrays will be done for that one to make sure the fusion is working.

Doc said I can return to work next week at half days and see how it goes. Still have all the restrictions for a while (no bending, lifting, or twisting).  Reminded me again to listen to my body and don't overdo it.  
I told him I was walking a lot and some people had suggested I might be doing too much.  Nope...he said again that walking is the best thing I can do for my back to heal.  😊

TLIF Surgery - Post-op Day 12 (some pictures included may not be suitable for some)

Consider yourself warned.... Some of the pictures below may not be suitable for some.


TLIF Surgery - Post-op Day 12...
Fitbit says I slept a little over 6 hours last night. It wasn't the most comfortable sleep...but it was sleep. As you can see from the picture, when I got up with Ron this morning I lost my chair for a bit. Diezel is such a booger. .... Yesterday was a pretty good day, so I stuck to my plan and only took half of a Percocet (with half of a Phenergan). It definitely didn't work as well as taking the whole pill and I ended up taking some Tylenol at 5am. I guess that's a better choice...maybe. ... My plan for today is the same as the previous days: watching 📺, reading 📖, writing 💻, sleeping 😴, thinking 🤔, walking... The staples come out tomorrow. Woot woot! I hope that takes care of some of the uncomfortable feelings. ... Here's to a great day! Staying positive and continuing to heal.







3pm -  Gotta give a shout out again to UPS and Diezel's favorite driver. Once again Diezel got his treat AND he put my packages inside the house for me! I know they are on a time schedule but it really means a lot that he took a few extra seconds to help me out. 😀 🐶📦 📦 📦 Now to wait on Ron to get home to open them.  
Diezel decided to spend some time on the other couch today instead of in the recliner.  I guess he felt like I needed some time by myself in it.  He spent almost all day sleeping on it...except when he decide to explore a little to see what's on the counter.  😁

9:45pm - Today has been an interesting day.  For the most part it hasn't been too bad.  I walked almost 2 miles so far today...which is a little less than some days but a little more than others.  I had an interesting experience trying to get ice earlier.  My hubby has been keeping a cooler with ice for me on the counter.  He put ice in it last night, but didn't change the cool pack, and today when I went to get ice my bowl was nothing but water.  I thought about it decided that maybe I could get some ice out of the freezer drawer (below the refrigerator) by squatting and using tongs.  I managed to do it but I don't think I'll be trying that again.  My legs are not quite strong enough to squat to that degree for very long.  I did manage to fill my Yeti cup up though so I was good until my hubby came home.
The staples have still felt like they were pulling...which I know is normal for the healing process.  I've been feeling like I was doing good but got a shock when I went to take the shower.  When I turned to the mirror to look at my bandage and take it off it was full of blood on the bottom half!!!  Holy moly!  It really kind of freaked me out!!! 



Just ignore the tape residue - it can't be helped when wearing sweatpants all the time.
It took a minute to get the bandage off because I'm so paranoid about pulling the skin around the staples.  I guess I either pulled something the wrong way OR have some drainage issue.  I still have a real puffy spot on the upper right side.  When Ron pushed on it more drainage came out.  He thinks the puffy spot is full of fluid and it's found a small hole and is now dribbling out.  Yuck!!  

The incision looks a bit different than before - there's been some movement.  Thankfully all of the staples are accounted for.  I've taken three sets of pictures since the surgery.  When putting them side by side you can see the difference:



The picture on the left is the one taken a week after the surgery.  The second one was taken 9 days after, and the third one was taken tonight.  It's still dribbling some.  I don't think it's actual blood because of the color of it.  They told me their might be some drainage and to not worry unless it was bright red in color, which this is not.  It is weird to me that it just started though.  Thankfully I'm already scheduled to see the doctor tomorrow for my 2 week post-op appointment and will get the staples out.  Looks like I might be having some drainage done too...  Yikes! 😱

TLIF Surgery - Post-op Day 11

TLIF Surgery Post-op Day 11...what can I get into today?? Oh, I know...more binge watching... some writing... looking through some magazines (need to catch up on my tabloids)... some more sitting...some more walking...up and down all day long. Walking and standing is actually much more comfortable than sitting. Sitting puts pressure on my back that makes me cringe. If I stand I have to do a lot of shifting around for comfort and to take pressure off my back. Walking is when... it feels the best. I'm still walking slow, but many more steps than right after the surgery...and much bigger strides. 

Thankfully still not having any excruciating pain in the surgical site - very uncomfortable but tolerable. I should say tolerable with the assistance of pharmaceuticals. I am now able to substitute regular Tylenol for one of my doses. Still taking Lortab in the daytime and leaving the Percocet (with Phenergan) for night. I'm now able to take just half a Phenergan with the Percocet and that worries me some. I think it means I'm getting more used to the Percocet...so (depending on how today goes) I think I will try to take just half a Percocet tonight and start weaning off of them. I don't like to take narcotics unless absolutely necessary. With my family history it doesn't hurt to be cautious. 6 hours of sleep again last night according to my Fitbit. 

Still scheduled to get the staples out Thursday. I can't wait for that. I know my incision is healing because it is itching like crazy!!



My favorite pup has become very fond of my new recliner!  Today however, he did decide to spend some time on the couch too.  What a boy!  💛



This boy loves when UPS comes to the house...especially when it's his favorite driver - the one that gives him treats.  Today I was fortunate enough to make it to the door before the driver got there and he was nice enough to put the packages inside the house for me.  You really don't realize how much simple tasks mean until you can't do them.  Not being able to lift the packages is tough...I'm a very independent person and not used to other people doing things for me.  But very thankful for all the help.



Shortly after I took these pictures we had a heck of a storm come through.  Really glad those packages were inside already or they would have been soaked!  The area had quite a bit of damage from high winds and heavy rain. We were lucky.  When the storm hit the electricity went out for like 3 hours.  My hubby wasn't home yet so I had to deal with that on my own.  While that's not usually an issue I quickly realized that where I store my candles (in a bottom cabinet) is not back surgery friendly.  The only lanterns in the house had dead batteries and I couldn't get to the travel trailer where there were several other lanterns - partially due to the weather and partially due to the fact that I can't get through or over the fence in my current condition.  I managed to find enough candles located at easy access to at least have some light.  Man, the things I do all the time (bend, lift, and twist) that I don't even think about - until I can't do them anymore.  And you would not believe how many things I've dropped!!  Thank goodness for my handy grabber tool! 👏 

TLIF Surgery - Post-op Day 10

TLIF Surgery Post-op Day 10
Woke up this morning when Ron got up and my back felt pretty stiff. I walked a bit and then got back in the recliner with my ice pack and my pup. We slept some more before deciding to take on the day. Well, I should say before I decided. Clearly Diezel was not ready to get up when I did. 🐶 My Fitbit says I slept for 8 hours last night. Unfortunately 6 hours is more accurate because I was restless and watched 2 episodes of Rosewood when I couldn't sleep. But 6 hours isn't bad. Hoping for a great day today with lots of walking.



I spent a good portion of the day walking...making laps in the house.  A friend mentioned that by the time I recovered from this I would probably leave a worn out path in my house...LOL.  Diezel loves it when I'm up and walking around:



That face!!!  How can you not love it?  He's the best medicine for me.

We're getting ready for a car show...which means lots of packages are being delivered daily.  The bad thing about this is I'm not able to bring the packages in.  Diezel loves when FedEx and UPS comes...especially UPS because our regular driver brings him a treat.  He left him a treat today on top of the packages.  I wasn't able to get the packages into the house but I was able to get his treat with the my handy grabber tool.  And then later when FedEx came I managed to make it to the door before he did so I asked him to set the stuff in the house.  He did...and brought my UPS packages in.  Woot!



Today hasn't been a bad day.  I didn't take any pain pills until noon and then took half of a Lortab 10.  Nothing else until around 7pm and I decided to just take regular Tylenol since it was so close to bedtime - and I will be taking something stronger then. I'm trying to not take too much of the narcotics, but there are times when it is needed for sure.  

TLIF Surgery - Post-op Day 9

TlIF Surgery - Post-op Day 9
Hanging out with my sweetie today. Fitbit says I slept 7 hours last night...woot woot. I needed that sleep. My body needed that sleep to heal. I thought Diezel was going to sleep in the recliner with me last night, but after a few hours he decided he wanted to go to the big bed. What a boy! 🐶
The pain is really not too bad today. Even though I don't think I need one of my pain pills right now, I don't want the pain to creep up on me like it did the other day, so I'm gonna take some regular Tylenol and a muscle relaxer and see how that works. The muscle relaxer is needed for the rest of my back and hips...lol. I'm using so many other muscles to keep my spine neutral that everything else is aching. 😱 Luckily it's all manageable and tolerable for now. Ask me again at the end of the day. 



This boy loves my new recliner!! 😀



2pm - I was able to water my plants all by myself.  Well, Ron did have to get the container out for me...and I was not able to carry as much water as I usually do...and I had to water without bending...BUT, I did it.  Woot Woot!  It's the little things.... 
9:30pm - took another picture of the incision after my shower.  It seems to be healing well.  I sure will be glad to get these staples out.  I'm sure some of the pains I'm feeling are coming from them.

TLIF Surgery - Post-op Day 8

TLIF Surgery / Post-op Day 8
... Still moving forward and doing good in my recovery. Slept about 5 hours last night...which seems to be the norm lately. Walked 5655 steps yesterday according to my Fitbit. Improving every day. Pain is still tolerable...but happy for pain pills.



10:30am I had a great visit with Diana and her son today.  Diezel for sure loved having someone to show out for.  Diana gave me these cute frogs and some card games.  Also received a card from another coworker (Michelle).





Mike (our neighbor) came over.  He needed Ron to help him with something.  When Ron came he gave me hand carved cross.



6pm - The day has gone pretty good so far.  Not a lot of pain in my incision site, but of course I'm keeping up on the pain meds.  My back is hurting quite a bit in the middle and upper back.  I think it's because I'm using so many other muscles to keep my spine neutral.  It's wearing me out...LOL.


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