The Surgery

It's been a very long 5 days! Here's a quick recap. Wednesday morning I went in for the partial hemilaminectomy & discectomy of the L4-5 disc. I checked in at 6:30am, went back to surgery a little after 8am. He was finished by 9:45am and I woke up shortly after. The most amazing thing is the sciatic pain that has been in my right leg constantly was already gone. Really amazing. Also, I was thankful because the surgeon had warned that 20% of his patients have some numbness along the line of their pain after surgery. Thankfully I'm in the 80%.

So, for now I have a different kind of pain. It's really not as bad, thankfully. Also, it's wonderful knowing that it will go away in time. I had quite a few boughts of nausea in the hospital because of some of the medicines.

After visiting with the physical therapists, I was able to find out what it is really going to take to heal my back. As for now, I can only sit in a chair for 20 minutes at a time. I'm supposed to walk around the house and then rest again, off and on throughout the day. Thanks to the pain and muscle spasm medicine I also take a few naps. The main thing is that I can't: lift, twist, bend, push, pull, etc. My surgeon had told me to not do these things for 2 weeks. The first physical therapist I saw after surgery said it was really 6 weeks and then the other PT said to really be careful for 4 weeks, then cautious for the remaining 2. Wow, this puts a bit of a damper on life. I'm not going to be able to do many day-to-day things. It's going to be a challenge to say the least, but completely worth it. Caring for Isaiah is going to be the main challenge - I won't be able to bend over to pick him up, change his diaper, put him in and get him out of his bed, etc.

I returned home on Friday evening. It's amazing what it does to you to just be home, sleep in your own bed, use your own shower, etc.

Putting the challenges aside, I am so thankful for being able to have the surgery. I am also grateful for all of the help I have had thusfar and all the help I know I will get in the future through the rest of the recovery. Dan has completely helped me here at home, which I am grateful. Thanks also to everyone who has brought us such yummy food! Thanks also to everyone who has and will be helping me with Colby, Abigail & Isaiah. I wouldn't be able to have the surgery without your help!

Dan's brother & family had the kids spend the night Friday evening and then took C0lby & Abigail to the ranch last night, and plan on returning home tomorrow some time. It's been really nice spending some time just with Isaiah. He's 20 months old right now and is becoming a little boy so quickly. More and more everyday he's imitating lots of new words. It's fun to see him growing up and changing, but it's sad he's not really a baby anymore!