Day 8 post op – home today?

A better night last night, including being able to get to the loo on my own using the zimmer frame. I’m still very wobbly on my feet but being that bit more independent gave me such a psychological boost. It did also mean I needed a bit more pain relief as I started to mobilise more, but I’m sure that will be short term.

The doctors did rounds and said from their perspective I should be ok to go home, provided I was signed off by the physio later. It was unlikely to be until late afternoon before everything would be sorted though.

Evidently I was having a nap when the physio Katie came, and then I’d just started lunch when she came back so she went to see someone else to let me eat in peace. When she came back she assessed my strength again and was of the same opinion that my leg has a specific front lift problem, probably from the hip and/or spasms. We tried a few steps with the stick instead of the frame and I got a bit of confidence, so ventured down the corridor with Katie assisting. Then came the time to go it alone. My confidence suddenly nosedived and she kept on having to remind me to breathe as I tensed up every time I had the slightest wobble or didn’t feel in control of my legs. I started to relax a bit but was very conscious how much attention I was paying to not making my neck worse rather than walking. We went back to my bed and I sat in the chair. Katie said she’d ideally like to see me a bit more independent before discharging and would try to come back later in the day.

A bit later the nurse in charge came to tell me that I was ok to be discharged when my meds were sorted. I questioned that she told me there was no change to my meds, given that Mr Mundil said he was prescribing lidocaine patches – and thus had seemingly been helping since it was put on earlier. It turned out the pharmacist had removed it as they are not approved for back pain. I pointed out they were for post-op pain in my neck and the nurse advised me to discuss with the GP. I pointed out Mr Mundil said the GP can’t prescribe them as they’re hospital only. I will pick that up on Monday when I sisal to the SCS team.

About 6.30pm I was told I was ok to go. It was a bit of a surprise as I’d not seen anyone from the SCS team about the device, and Katie hadn’t been back. I was told that, since I’d been using my stick reasonably well, and I live in a bungalow, I was ok to go anyway. Ruth came and collected me and got me in the car to go home. Whilst I can’t say I was very comfortable in the car because of my neck, it was so nice to be driven and not feel every dent and bump in the road through my back. By the time I got indoors I was absolutely knackered, but it was great to be home.