Ok so maybe not that bad, but feels pretty crap at the moment.
The good news is that my neck pain is very much better. I’m still having a lidocaine patch on most days, but I don’t think that will be for much longer. My neck still has a sense of waking up with a crock in it, except it lasts all day, but that is definitely lessening.
The back pain is creeping back in. Not as bad as before, but much more noticeable than immediately post-surgery, and seemingly increasing. I changed to the second program about 10 days ago when I started getting stabbing pains in my left shoulder blade. It did improve things, but after a few bad days recently, I was tempted to go to the third program yesterday. I waited, and things did ease without changing it. It’s probably a stupid way to look at it, but going for the final program seems like defeat, and also where do I go from there if things don’t improve? 🤷♂️
One of the things I find odd/curious is that I seem to have more of the pain on my left side now, including the stabbing pains being much more in my left shoulder blade, whereas pre-surgery it was very much more my right that suffered. Maybe it’s been programmed to be more intense on the right based on my previous experience? I will ask when I go to clinic in a couple of weeks.
Now onto my legs. First a question – who’s got my legs because this replacement pair are rubbish! 😒 Maybe I just need whoever’s legs they are to pass control over to me, because they certainly don’t want to do what I want them to. 😏 I very nearly wet myself standing next to the bed just now as I’d woken up (after barely 2 hours in bed!!!) needing to pee, and just stood there waiting for my legs trying to act like something not resembling spasmodic jelly (there’s a band name waiting to be claimed! 😀) and let me move them in the direction of the en-suite. All I can say is that, at 56, sit-down peeing should not yet be a thing! 😒 And whilst we’re on the subject of bladder control, I might as well cover bowel control. Now thankfully things are generally ok, and I’ve even remained fairly regular even without having taken Laxido since pre-surgery (I think). However, I can’t keep a fart in to save my life! And believe me I’ve not got to the point of just caring – I’ve tried to keep them in! 😮
On a somewhat positive leg thing, I managed to walk round to the local shop yesterday unassisted. I suppose I should see that for the accomplishment it is, but it took me 20 minutes to get there and 30 minutes to get back. It’s only about 1/4 mile! 😮 Whilst a bit of was really pleased to have done it, I think the thing I was most pleased with was feeling confident enough to do it alone. I was hoping to have started hydrotherapy by now but that has been postponed until I’m at least 6 weeks post op. Neuro physio are particularly keen that I don’t do anything that might involve twisting or bending until then. I’m now booked in for August 1st, an hour or so after I see the neurosurgeon.
I had an appointment with occupational health last week. Basically it’s a case of continuing with slow and steady. I had 4 weeks left on my fit note at the time, and the therapist felt 4-6 weeks would be the minimum before I return to work, and even then only doing 50% hours for two weeks followed by 75% hours for two weeks. It was also pointed out that those hours should be based on contracted hours and not 50% of my normal hours! 😳 The main thing though is waiting to see what the neurosurgeon says.