Update19 days postop

Update…19 days post-op

I am sure most of you are aware of my surgery, the outcome, etc.  Being bored out of my gourd, I decided to post to the blog.

On November 13, I had spinal surgery in an attempt to get out from under the crippling pain I have had for nearly 2 years.  Doctor Cubbage had told us the surgery would take about 4 hours, beginning at 7:30AM at Willowbrook Methodist Hospital.  It was to be an anterior-posterior fusion of L4 to L5 to S1. The hospital is about 4 miles from our home so it was very convenient.  Besides, that is where the doctor was, which made it more convenient.

The surgery actually took about 7 hours.  They began on my abdomen through an incision about 6 inches long.  Dr. Cubbage did the anterior (front part) of the fusion.  I was then rolled over and through an incision about 8” or so, he did the posterior portion.  A normal fusion is one or the other but he said my entire lumbar spine had collapsed and was putting a lot of pressure on the sciatic nerve causing my pain.  A structure called a cage is holding the graft in place.  Dr. Cubbage said my spine is now stronger than a normal spine.

While he was in there, he straightened out the scoliosis which is a curvature of the spine.  On X-ray, my spine looked like an S and ½.   He straightened the S part of it.  He tells me I came out about 1/2” to ¾” taller than I went in.  I guess that makes me taller than Tony now.

I was in the ICU for 3 ½ days then moved to a room on the orthopedic ward.  They had me up and walking about the second day.  

I am to be fitted for a brace on Monday that I will wear most of the time until the fusion fills in.  My only therapy is walking.  I have to walk at least 30 minutes per day.  I am doing about a mile to a mile and ½.  The miracle of the whole thing is that after being in so much pain for so long, now, I have none.  Every time I put my foot to the floor, I expect it to hurt.  It doesn’t.

I went to the doctor on Tuesday and he removed the stitches.  Actually, there were only 2 or 3.  He used surgical glue to close the incisions.  I had an extra mystery incision, very small, close to the long one in front.  When I asked the doctor what it was for, he said he drew bone marrow from my pelvis.  Research on the web tells me they mix this in with the synthetic material they use for the graft.

We have been getting along pretty well here at home.  Fortunately, Joyce’s back problems have eased considerably.  I am now allowed to drive, but no bending or twisting.   So far, my worst problem has been keeping Bobby (the smaller of our 2 poodles) from jumping on the area of the incision.  My lap is where he resides most of the time but if he hears something or thinks he hears something, he launches himself and takes off.  Man, that hurts.

I appreciate the thoughts and prayers of all of you.  Thanks you very much.