Paperclip

[thisnewday]

Yesterday, I pushed around, and several times lifted, a fair amount of that heavy, lake-effect snow that started Friday night but really settled in on Saturday. And I was careful, for the most part, with my surgically-repaired lower back. No heavy loads, nothing held too far out in front of me, and no twisting to one side or the other, with any load at all.

"Hah, got away with it again," I celebrated, as I peeled off the outerwear back in the house.

Then, this morning, as I turned to place a paperclip--that's right folks, a paperclip--on the dining room table, I felt an uncomfortable tweak in a familiar place. And I swear there was this tiny, little voice that said, "Pssst! No ya didn't, Dummy. But we'll put this one on the tab. And next time catch ya fer sure..."

LPK
LiveJournal
2.26.2012

Comments

[earthmother45.livejournal.com]

I had my back surgery in 2003 and my instructions following surgery were similar to yours. He specifically said no motion like vaccuming . . . and I have obeyed. :))

[olbuksings.livejournal.com]

Ah. So you're quite familiar with the whole routine. Mine was actually quite successful, but I had the luxury of complete rest, ample time (and insurance coverage) for the follow-up physical therapy, and realistic expectations going in.

The initial Xrays showed a fractured vertibra and 1 bulging disc with an estimated 80-85% chance of success. The diskogram and MRI, though, showed the fracture and 3 bulging discs which lowered it to 65% if fully repaired and the risk of "pushing the problem upstream" if that much of the spine were immobilized.

I opted for the partial repair, worked like a maniac on my p/t, and have been moderately compliant in my behavior since. The most difficult thing to grasp was how incremental my recovery would be even under optimal conditions.

I've felt really bad, at times, reading about our friend Sooz who's recovery has been so difficult. It's pretty hard to advise patience--which really is one of the keys--when you know that things are that far from optimal.

Anyway, we wish her the best are hopeful that we'll hear something encouraging about your knee.