DAY 4-8
I am home now and and relatively comfortable. The pain I've experienced is mainly due to a spasm and cramping of my left hip area. That muscle cramps up at the slightest movement and creates a jolting pain. Otherwise pain is a constant 2.
MEDICATION
- 2 Norcos every 4 hours (a bit much but needed in the first week)
- 1 muscle relaxer every 6 hours - don't really think it's helped much
- 1 Xeralto per day
- 2 dulcolax daily
GENERAL
At least from my experience, you will need someone to help you. You cannot be up on the walker getting things. I've needed two people to help me off the bed and into the wheelchair when getting to the restroom. It is too dangerous trying to do it with only one helper, but I assume this is case by case . I feel I have a high pain tolerance but this is different.
The first time trying to use the restroom was painful due to the setup. The plastic bedside commode put so much pressure on the underside of my thighs that I couldn't do my thing.
I got uncomfortable in bed, after hours in one spot you start getting very frustrated. Being on the wheelchair is painful after a few minutes.
Cleaning yourself is a challenge.
This ese are all small things that you'll figure out as you go through your own journey, but try to prepare and don't underestimate things.
Plan for your bed to not be too high or too low. The height of my bed turned out to be an issue. Standard bed height is better. An adjustable bed is best if you can arrange it.
STRETCHING
This has been a bit of a challenge for me in the first week. However I have been moving my legs side to side, up and down, and bending them as much as possible.
I am planning on starting routine PT four days a week. This will loosen me up.
Internal Femurs with Dr. Mahboubian - Los Angeles
"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever."
~Lance Armstrong
Quote from: MirinHeight on January 27, 2018, 07:45:12 AM"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever."
~Lance Armstrong
Thanks MirinHeight. Definitely no quitting here. It's balls out pushing to 7.6 CM!!
Day 9
Post-op visit with Dr. M. Had to hire a transport van again, to and from the Dr. Office.
Dr. M said all looks good. He removed the stitches and introduced me to the Precise (Nuvasive) rep. Dr. said he wanted me to lengthen 4 times a day for the first week and then lower to 3 times a day at .33mm per session. He told me to start taking vitamin D and calcium. He said I was a little tighter than he'd like but was overall ok. Said I needed to start PT immediately.
The Precise rep was real cool and explained in detail how to use the machine.
Came home, had my 2nd bowel movement since surgery and felt good. It was however a tiring day. Legs felt weak.
Lengthened two sessions finally in the first day!!
I'm .66mm taller now !!!!
Loving the detail, it's not often that we get a good look at the day to day struggles.
Congrats on the growth to far, onward and upward!
Quote from: Android on January 27, 2018, 08:25:36 PMLoving the detail, it's not often that we get a good look at the day to day struggles.
Congrats on the growth to far, onward and upward!
Thank you Android. Trying to be as specific as I can. It can only help someone as they're going through they're own LL later on.
Yes! Onward and upward!!
Quote from: LAGrowin on January 27, 2018, 07:27:21 AMbigdreams55,
Congratulations! Happy for you. Which doctor did your surgery if I may ask?
The first week has really been a battle with the small things. Pain is manageable but getting to the restroom for me has been a real battle. The pain of getting off the bed and unto the wheelchair has been tough. Pain due to cramping in my left hip area. Your first bowel movement is no fun eitherZ. It hurts.
Sitting on bedside commode over the toilet hurts, etc etc ....
Can't wait for things to start getting better. So you're about 3 cm in by now?
Would love to stay I touch.
I had Dr. Rozbruch, I have a journal here as well! Feel free to let me know if you have any questions, I'm at 3.8 cm now.
Quote from: bigdreams55 on January 27, 2018, 10:21:42 PMI had Dr. Rozbruch, I have a journal here as well! Feel free to let me know if you have any questions, I'm at 3.8 cm now.
Sounds like you're about halfway there bigdreams55, congratulations!!
This whole experience has been almost surreal for me. I can't believe that I actually did it.
Yes, I'm sorry, I've been reading your journal, not sure how I didn't put these two together.
Thank you so much. We should stay in touch bigdreams55.
All the best!
Hope everything goes well.
Quote from: Misoru on January 29, 2018, 04:52:47 AM
Hope everything goes well.
Thank you Misoru. Hoping for the same. So far so good other than the expected commonly mentioned issues.
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