[dridobits]

Hi everyone,

Just checking in. Had my fusion two weeks ago today. Can't believe it's behind me now. So much anxiety went into the waiting, years of appointments, blah blah.

Surgery went well. They went in from front and back due to bone density and used hardware. The pain has been mostly surgical and certainly bearable.

I Do not feel any nerve pain or anything near what I did before with the chemically sensitive disc problem I had. The difference between what I was and how I feel now is so worth it. I was never looking to be out of pain. Just the excruciating nerve pain that took most forms of hope out of my life. I've had some weird cramping in one of my calves but that seems to be diminishing.

If I make a wrong move, boy do I pay for it. I'm walking up to 1/2 hour a day (skip a few days here and there). The hospital stay was kind of a blur. I went in two weeks ago Wed. and left Sunday. I've been at my friends where they have lovingly taken care of me, fed me and been the most amazing people as always. I am blessed. Got rid of the walker, use the cane for stability.

I know I've got a long road ahead of me. What my pain future will be who knows but I felt like having that L5 disc in there was akin to having Satin taking over my body. I'd say I'm in more discomfort than pain. Walking helps it a lot. The doctor said I'd probably see a big shift after the one month mark in terms of surgical pain.

I'm now surprised I put off surgery so long. Fourteen years of that chemically sensitive disc and all the hell that went with it. You all know what I mean I'm sure. But I have hope today and that's a lot.

I'll update more as go along. Thanks everyone for their support. Wishing all less pain today.