When you over do it, post op? Any of you on the other side know this? I’m sticking to my walking diligently, as instructed, but want to be sure I’m not doing too much and screwing stuff up.

As soon as my back feels taxed, I climb into bed for about 40 mins with a single pillow as per Mr Boeree’s instructions. I’m not sitting for too long and I take a big nap after lunch. Generally I’m hitting the sack at 9:30pm and waking up refreshed and without much discomfort at about 4 am. Thank you Jet Lag!

My only worry is that I’m walking close to 6km per day already across 4 outings. 1.5 km per each 20 minute walk. I feel great, but is this too much? I didn’t think anything of it until I installed this nifty app called run keeper on my iPhone. It’s free and pretty kick ass, but it tells you exactly your speeds and distances.

Still, no bending/twisting/extension/flexion or sudden movements for 4-6 weeks… that is very important to remember.

I finished my blood thinners on Saturday the 23rd and ceased tylenol on Sunday.

I’ve been taking 1 x 550MG Naproxen per day since Sunday the 17th of July… to decrease inflammation and inhibit scar tissue growth as much as possible.  I will probably discontinue it this week and move to regular ibuprofen as needed because it is much easier on my stomach.

I began taking 1 x multivitamin and 1 x fish oil on Sunday the 24th along with 1 x Whey Protein Isolate Shake w/ L-Glutamine to aid my body in repairs.  I’m also drinking a lot of water and though I had a full light beer last night, I probably won’t have much more than that for quite some time just to be safe.

-Brett

I’m up to 80 minutes of walking per day (4 x 20 Minutes) with lots of rest and help from my wife and her parents. Pain is settling down and I’m just taking tylenol and codeine as needed – usually around lunch and before bed. I’ll be making my first physio appointment back in Calgary tomorrow morning and will bring this document in for them to see… Thanks Hooch.

My current pain seems to be a dull ache around the L4-5 level, but it feels more muscle related. I’ve also got some kind of ligament pain in my sacro joint that alternates sides, which I believe is related to the increased disc height/distraction. Other than that, I get the odd facet tweak when leaning/bending gently. All of the pain seems to subside when I rest in bed with a single pillow. The tylenol helps too! Sneezing hurts like hell.

Staples are out.

Something very odd happened last night. My wife and I were getting ready to head out for my last walk of the evening. We couldn’t find our dog’s leash and spent a few extra seconds looking for it… when BANG! A crane rounded the corner close to our house and lost control of its boom. It literally took out the street light right in front of our place and a tree two houses down. We were almost right in front of it when it happened! Thank god for our dog. Somehow it didn’t hit any cars or people and needless to say, it probably would have screwed up my back a LITTLE more! 😉

I just realized that I didn’t ever properly review the Spine Clinic in the UK!  Here are my thoughts:

Mr. Boeree is one of the kindest and most thorough medical professionals I’ve ever met.  From my first phone consultation, to finally shaking his hand and eventually waking up post-op… I knew I was in exceptional hands.  I was blown away when he could tell me my symptoms on our first phone call, just by looking at my MRI.  Spot on!

Dr. McGill is a very competent anesthetist and though I didn’t see him often or have to speak with him much, I believe that is testament of his skill.

The administration side of things was a breeze and I’ve been in email contact with them often as I try to pursue reimbursement from my insurance provider.  The Nursing, PT, Pharmacist and support staff were second to none and I was a little bummed at leaving the hospital on the fourth day because I was enjoying the food and company so much!

Timmy’s and all!

It’s 7:45am on Friday morning – I head to the airport at 9:30am.  I was able to get out early the past couple of days and score breakfast for us from Pret a Manger.   It’s close enough that I’m not overdoing it, but its nice to be able to get out and about and actually accomplish something.  I really wanted to try and walk to a world famous french bakery this morning, but it’s 2.2 miles round trip.  I don’t want to push my luck before a 9 hour flight.

I called ahead and requested wheelchair assistance at Heathrow… it should be interesting!

I’m excited to get back over the pond. 🙂

-Brett

It’s hard to believe it was only 7 days ago that I walked into that operating theatre… but here I am back in London.  The car ride took just over an hour from Southampton to the Sheraton Park Lane.  I even pre-empted the trip with some codine.  But, my back really, really hurt.  I’ve been in bed for the most part since we got here.  Little walks, lots of rest.

I’m dreading the 9 hour flight on Friday!

-Brett

It’s crazy how your body responds to a surgery like this. The swelling on my stomach is finally starting to subside a little and my walking stride is getting longer… it’s much easier to walk today than it was the day I was discharged. I’m up to walking about 60 minutes total per day in 15 minute increments with as many stairs as I can fit in without pushing it. I would say I’m about 3/4 of my old walking speed pre-surgery.

That’s all you can really do post surgery – no bending, twisting, flexion or extension. Just walk, sit, lie down. Repeat. I seem to have worked into a 2 hour cycle. I’m also napping every time I feel like my body needs one.

I had my first hydrotherapy class today and have my final class tomorrow morning at 9:30am. It’s great being weightless in that water! Your back feels completely different as soon as you enter. The only weird thing upon entering the water was that I could sense an almost “phantom” numbness in my big toe that went away as soon as I got out. It wasn’t even really numb – just different. Very weird! Nerves heal in funny ways.

I also worked up enough courage to pop in the car and head out to the Chilworth Arms with my parents tonight. I even managed to dress up a bit(jeans and all – LOL). I had to get up 4 times for a walk during the meal, but it was nice to be out among people again – if even for just a short time! I finished about 1/2 my glass of Peroni as well. It’s too bad I wasted my first beer back on a Peroni. 🙂

For any of you thinking of making the trip out here – the Chilworth seems to be the best eats around and its not too $$. I would also not stay at the Hilton again. The staff are great, but the food is sub par and expensive. They also have abnormally low sinks that drove me bonkers because I can’t bend yet! I’ve heard good things about the Holiday Inn in Eastleigh… though I would probably rather have stayed in Winchester. It seems to be the most scenic city around. My parents scouted the area pretty well while I was in hospital! 😉

Also, Bath is a good 2.5 hours away and Stonehenge is on the way there. The UK back surgery route can be “true” medical tourism!

Here are the Google Map coordinates for the Spine Clinic at Nuffield Health Wessex Hospital. It took us a little while to find it the first time.

We head back to London tomorrow for a couple more days before I fly back to Calgary. I’ll be letting Air Canada know beforehand that I’d like a wheelchair and assistance upon arrival at the airport. It can take up to an hour to wait if you don’t let them know until you’re there. Thanks Duane!

My only regret so far is missing out on the Spitfire Museum. 🙁 I suppose I’ll have to visit Southampton and Mr. Boeree on my next business trip to London!

Wow… I should never have had that coffee after dinner.

-Brett

I went through my image discs and found these before and after shots of almost the same angle/section.  Pretty cool to see.  I think my L4-5 disc was shorter on the left side and this explains why Mr. Boeree had some difficulty in his approach from the left-front, squeezing his disc excising instruments into the space.  I think it is also why I feel the most pain and weirdness on my left side around the sacro joint now.  It’s the side adjusting to the biggest change.  There is also a noticeable change in foraminal volume between the two films.

In what was probably our final face to face conversation yesterday, Mr. Boeree mentioned something very important.  I haven’t read about it much online, but a few friends that have endured a major surgery have imparted their experience on the subject to me as well.

The work-up to surgery is intense, consuming and exciting in a way.  It’s an emotional high to get everything organized and done.  When it’s over, some people start to feel a little lost.  Physically, your body has been torn apart and is releasing hormones to help repair everything and slow down.  Mr. Boeree said that depression happens often and to be aware of it.  I will try to be and will explain this to my family.  Hopefully it isn’t an issue, but it is good to be aware.

The car ride and elevator bump were pretty hard on me yesterday and I’m taking it very easy today.  I’ve walked for a total of about 20 minutes so far and will try to rest some more.

-Brett

Still very swollen and sore!

I was discharged today!  I’m back at the hilton, resting.  The elevator door closed on me, startled me, pushed me back and sent a shock down my left leg!  This is going to take some getting used to. 😉