Three and a half more weeks

Had another follow up with my neurosurgeon -- I'm off work for another 3 1/2 weeks. At first I was feeling like a huge slacker, after all, I was supposed to go back last week. Then I stopped by the office to drop off my latest Dr. note. My assistant needed some help, so I sat down at my desk to show him how to do something. 45 minutes later I was in agony...there is no way I can sit at a computer for 8 hours a day right now.

I started physical therapy this week -- not sure what I think about it, but I'll keep it up. It seemed kinda wimpy....a little massage, some stretches. Think I'll ask my PT about doing some light weights, maybe a little Pilates. I need to get my behind back out and walk....I've let the cold chase me inside these last couple of weeks.

don't over do it!!!

A lot of athletes do not allow their body to properly heal and get back in too early and too much. Please take your time and be wimpy about it. Your body will thank you for it later. Much later in your life.

be patient, the 45 minutes at the computer and the agony that followed was just a mild reminder of what can happen. So Snap, please take it easy.

(I should be saying this cause I've been lectured too too many times by the doctors in the past).

healing thoughts,
Smilingcat

Snap, see that sign over there that says " STOP"...tapping my foot here..

Take the extra time you need & rest. Do you have a nice window to sit & read by?

Good luck with the PT!

what everyone else said!
and keep with it, I know it's frustrating, but keep with it.

I really just posted 'cause I've been looking for an opportunity to tell you I love;
I'm fairly certain that given a cape and a nice tiara, I could save the world.

just give that cape and tiara a little time!

My experience with PT's is that they know what they are doing. You can't start to strengthen the muscles until you have properly established your ROM, otherwise it will make it harder to develop ROM. Take a deep breath, exhale, and go with the program. No pain is the goal. Take care.

I won't do anything unless the PT says it's OK. I think I just wanted instant relief, my little fantasy world intruding on reality once again. :rolleyes:

Did I mention I got NO sympathy from my doc? I told him it hurt to do the stretches. "So, keep doing them -- they hurt because your muscles are tight" Pffft. Must be retribution from me being snarky when he complained about being late because he had an early morning emergency call....I snarked with a smile on my face! Geez.

Advice I was given when I had my hysterectomy-"You only have one chance to heal right" so don't overdo anything! Good luck!

Today's session, much less wimpy. :eek: I'm exhausted! I asked about Pilates, she didn't discourage it, but didn't encourage it either. She said if it starts to feel like I shouldn't do something, DON'T DO IT.

I'm so glad you get more time! Take it easy.

Just take things slowly, even if your are feeling stronger and better. If you have any instability you may compensate with other muscles/movements during exercise and cause possible injury. Good luck.

When my thumb (so minor compared to your delicate neck) leave went from 1 month to a frigging 10 weeks I was feeling so guilty. And I was(mentally) more than ready to go back to work. A co-worker just said to me "take the time to heal. Because when you return, you will be expected to perform at 100%" She was right. And your co-workers want to know that when they have a serious ailment that they can take the time to heal that their doctor recommends too, in part because you have not set the bar unnecessarily high by being a martyr and coming back while you are still suffering.( Oh those dangerous snarky attacks!:D) Hang in there - I bet your neck is trying really hard to get well for you! Tokie

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Originally Posted by snapdragen

45 minutes later I was in agony...there is no way I can sit at a computer for 8 hours a day right now.

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Yup. When I had my cervical fusion, I remember one afternoon being bored silly watching dust motes. So, I decided that the baseboards needed scrubbing. 45 minutes later, I was digging around for a percoset and grabbing my recliner. Not good.

Remember that your adjacent vertebrae are having to work harder now. Neck bones are so delicate, don't push it. You don't want to have the adjacent vertebrae fused in a few years because you didn't let this heal properly.

(Been there, done that. Went back to work too early, and three years later, having same symptoms & will eventually have to get another fusion...heavy sigh.)

Dogmama, how soon after your surgery did you go back to work?

I think it was 3.5 weeks which was WAY TO SOON. I still had the hard collar on & DH had to drive because I couldn't turn my head. Looking back, I should have chucked the work & just waited. I worked at a University, so I was definitely covered by all of the federal laws. BUT, we were severely understaffed, blah blah blah....

At the end of the day, nobody really cared about my sacrifice. YOU are the one who has to live with your neck for the rest of your life. Do what the doctors say.

Also, I'd wait on the Pilates. You have to lay on your back & put pressure on your neck which may not be so good. I also noticed that any type of overhead hand movement brought my numbness back. I don't know how all of this is connected to the neck, but it is.

I had this surgery 2x now last one being last April. Did anyone tell you to stay away from ibuprofen? You can google it. Some dr.s say don't worry others say no. I just stayed away. why risk not fusing if it means no Motrin? My DH just had his lower back done and was also told by his doc none.

Yeah, I shelved the Pilates for now. So much for my iron core. :rolleyes:

I still get the occasional message from certain people at work; starting out with "gee we miss you, hope you're doing well". Then it goes into "but while I have your attention, can you do....." Bite me. Now if the email is not from my assistant or my manager, it gets deleted. Oh! One person even said "Monday is a holiday, so if you came into the office to do this for me, no one would know" Bite me twice!!

I've heard that about ibuprofen, my doc didn't have a problem with me taking it though. My last xray showed everything is fusing as it should.;)

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Originally Posted by snapdragen

One person even said "Monday is a holiday, so if you came into the office to do this for me, no one would know" Bite me twice!!

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Isn't it amazing??? I got that garbage when I was out with my neck surgery AND when I took emergency leave to be with DH during his cancer surgery several years earlier. He had stage 3-4 cancer, one week in ICU with a blood clot in the lung, MRSA infection, dehydration and hernia surgery (to repair the tear in his abdomen from throwing up during chemo.) I even had a faculty member complain that, "Kim wasn't around much this year..." Talk about bite me! What happened to compassion?

Regarding ibuprophen - I was told to lay off that & my lupus meds for several weeks before surgery because it would hinder healing. But afterwards, I was given the OK. Everything knitted up just fine.

Snap - take care of yourself. A year later and my shoulder still hates me. Wish I continued PT one more month. What happened to the "inta-heal" body, I used to have one???