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Category: Rehabilitation after ADR surgery

Initial rehabilitation after lumbar Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR) surgery and regular blog post updates on ongoing recovery.

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Published on 2 Comments on 5 1/2 Months Update: Follow-Up X-Rays!

In This Issue:

  • 5 1/2 Months Follow-Up and X-rays
  • Physical therapy
  • (Attempted) bike outing to Charles Bronson Wildlife Area
  • Insurance battle update

5 1/2 Months Update:

I made it! I am almost six-month post-op from my L5/S1 artificial disc replacement (LP-ESP)! I just had my x-rays taken and mailed the CD off to Dr. Desai to make sure he has them in time, but I think the images look good! In fact, the disc looks just like it did on the x-ray that I had the day after surgery. I was laughing a little when looking at the report from the radiology center because the radiologist called my ADR an “intervertebral disc spacer”. But he also noted that there is no bone loss, that I have good bone density, no erosion or hardware complications. Also, the report states “no facet osteoarthropathy”, nor did he find any other issues with my spine. I don’t know about you, but I think I have a pretty spine (including my shiny “disc spacer”, lol).

LATERAL

ANTERIOR

OBLIQUE LEFT

OBLIQUE RIGHT

Even though I have been feeling great overall, I am relieved to see/read the confirmation that everything is alright in black and white (literally). I do have minor aches and pains here and there, but I realized that this is most often the case after long periods of inactivity. I really need to keep that in mind while going through graduate school because I have the tendency to work on assignments for hours on end without realizing it.

At this point in my recovery, I am thrilled to wake up in the morning without that pain. I still remember the pain pretty well… Sometimes, I think about a movement that would have hurt me tremendously prior to surgery, and then I just do it (like bending) pain free – leaving me in awe every time!

Physical Therapy:

With that being said, I finally made it to PT with Bill, and I was SORE the day after! Not in my back but my abs and thighs! He had me do side-planks, monster-walks with squats, weighted lunges, and crunches over a medicine ball. That’s what I get for not working out in the gym enough, but I was asking Bill to put together a workout routine that I can do on my own and hopefully stick to it.

(Attempted) Mountain Bike Outing to Charles Bronson Wildlife Management Area:

This was, hands down, the hardest and shortest mountain bike outing I have been on to date. We picked this wildlife preserve, which neither one of us has ever been to before. It started out very innocently, with old roadways that were overgrown but ridable. Then the trails got somewhat muddy, which makes it harder to pedal because the tires are more “glued” to the ground. It’s a little like riding on chewing gum, actually. Then there came the first puddles, and then they turned into longer stretches of flooded, overgrown, messy trails that took everything out of me.

It felt like forever when I finally waived the white flag and surrendered! I made it an unbelievable distance of 1.6 miles before I had to admit that I won’t be able to complete this loop of 20 miles like this… Ralf captured my confession on his GoPro camera….

Of course, I now had to back-track those agonizing 1.6 miles back to the parking lot! There were actually vultures circling above, just waiting for me to collapse and become dinner. Ha, eat my titanium spine, suckers!

Once back in the parking lot, I recovered enough to go with Plan B: a hike down the Florida trail. Meh, that was not the same, but I did get to spend some more time in nature. Speaking of which, I almost walked right into a spider web with a giant (to me anyways) spider just waving at me! In case you didn’t know, I don’t do spiders! That’s when you let your 6 foot better-half walk in front of you, hehehe…

Insurance-Battle Update:

There is also news regarding my battle with BCBS: so, after my claim for reimbursement got denied (on grounds of not being ‘medically necessary’), I put together an appeals package that included a letter of medical necessity from Dr. Desai, a personal statement, and several research articles. I also pointed out that BCBS reimbursed other patients in the past (including one from Florida) who had the same surgery overseas.

A few days ago, I got a written reply from BCBS in the mail: they need more information???!!!??? They actually want my medical records from my pain specialist (Dr. Gayles), my current Primary Care Physician, and my Physical Therapist (Bill). Ok, no problem. BUT: BCBS also want my medical record from DR GARCIA, the very first surgeon I ever consulted with regarding ADR surgery. Yes, that is the same surgeon, who ruled me a perfect candidate for ADR but dropped me like a hot potato after BCBS DENIED my surgery with him. Hmmm, I really don’t see the point here, especially since he never even provided actual care to me. The other medical record BCBS wants to get is from a spinal fusion surgeon I consulted for about 5 minutes and who didn’t really answer any of my questions. Oh, well, I did send back yet another letter stating the same, so the ball is back in their court. To be continued…

Published on Leave a comment on 5 Months Update: The Struggle is Real!

As I am sitting down to write this update, I came to realize that rehabilitation efforts can easily drift off to the sidelines. Even before surgery, my entire focus was on ADR and how to best rehab my back when it’s all said and done. Those of you who have been following my recovery, know how dedicated and consistent I have been with my rehab from day one. But looking back over the last two weeks made me aware that working a high-stress job with long hours along with all those responsibilities that come with adulthood can put a serious dent into my efforts! Life kind of sneaks up on you and before you know it, it’s been more than two weeks that I was able to do PT with Bill. I have also neglected my regular stretching exercises, meaning to do them in the morning before work but somehow not getting them done after all.

As a result, I had a few days where my lower (and upper) back was quite sore and tight, even along the “old route” to the right and into the right upper buttock (I guess the body will always remember). No, it was NOTHING like before and I am still waking up in the morning being able to roll out of bed without pain, but the soreness was pronounced enough to get my attention. I started doing my stretches a lot more often and even went on a couple bike rides (one local, one further away). I also went swimming at the local YMCA, which initially made the tightness worse, which then thankfully subsided.

I am happy to say that my back improved quickly again but this was a reminder that I am still in recovery and that I am still healing from this surgery. After all, I am only 5 ½ months post-op today! Writing this blog makes me reflect on what I am doing/not doing, which is great. Especially since I am adding another layer of stress and time commitment to my life: GRADUATE SCHOOL! This last Monday, I resumed classes at the University of Central Florida to finish the last year of my Master of Science in Nurse Education. Now it will be even more important to keep my rehab on track and to hold myself accountable for my own health.

As for the bike rides, the local outing took us to Moss Park, which is only 6 miles away and can be reached mostly by using bike lanes/sidewalks (our neighborhood is quite bike friendly). I felt pretty weak but that was also due to being tired from work and the intense heat. Moss Park abuts Lake Mary Jane, and I owned a house I wish it was on that beautiful lake 😉 The only downside of this route turned out to me the 2-mile stretch on the country road, where no designated bike lane exists. I don’t know what’s wrong with people sometimes, but this guy in his giant black truck really hated our guts and almost ran us off the road! I think we have him on video but I didn’t have time to look through all the GoPro footage yet. That’s why I don’t like road biking, especially in Florida! Anyways, we did make it back alive and in one piece, which I am very grateful for…

Melting away...

For the second bike ride, went to yet another new place (for me anyways): the Apopka Scenic Trails. Unfortunately, the portion that actually goes along the shore of Lake Apopka has been closed ever since Hurricane Mathew last year but the trails leading to it are still very nice. The added challenge to our bike outings is the extreme heat of the Florida summer, but so far, I have been holding up ok, even after sweating out liters of water (again) within a 3-hour ride. We made it to one of the observation towers, overlooking Lake Apopka.

Preview of next update: I filed my appeal to get reimbursed by BCBS, so stay tuned for that outcome! I am also going on a 4-day trip to New York City (first time!) with a couple old-time girlfriends of mine. We met 18 years ago during the Walt Disney World International program, where we were stuffed into “traditional” dirndl outfits that made me cringe, lol. I also got a letter to report for Jury Duty, which makes me feel like a real American now. My next update also marks my 6-month post-op date, so I need to get xrays ordered to sent to Dr. Desai!!! Stay tuned!

Published on Leave a comment on 4 1/2 Months Update: Reaching another Milestone!

The last couple of weeks have been rather intense between full-time work and volunteering at the Orlando Wheelchair Games on my days off. However, this event marks an important milestone in this stage of my recovery: Emergency Management and volunteering at sports events (especially involving disabled athletes) have always been a huge passion of mine. I remember when after hurricane Harvey hit Texas last year, I got the phone call from the DEMPS coordinator to activate and deploy me to the disaster zone. I was so entirely torn that I said “yes” initially only to call back 10 minutes later to let them know that I was too disabled to go! I had trained a long time for events like this and put my heart and soul into this role, only to be too crippled with pain when the call for deployment came. I cried for the rest of the day in frustration and slipped deeper into despair and depression… So, with that being said, putting on my uniform and volunteering at the Wheelchair Games was a big deal to me!

One very moving moment during my airport tour-of-duty occurred when a female athlete wheeled up to me and asked, “weren’t you at the Invictus Games two years ago?” I replied that I was indeed on the medical team back then. She then said “Oh, I knew it was you! Thank you so much for being here, you just made my day!” She then hugged me and rolled off with her team to board the shuttle to the hotel. I must say, she made MY day!

Later that evening I met Perry Price, an Army veteran who lost one of his legs and is now a professional basketball player! When I told him that I am more a soccer-girl, he got out his basketball and made me play soccer, right the in the airport! Let me just say, I am not quitting my day job….

The remaining days I spent at the convention center to volunteer for the clinic and the opening ceremony. What a great event!

So, what else was I up to during the last couple of weeks? Well, I got to bike in the Seminole State Forest! Due to the rain, there also was some mud involved, and the heat was rather intense. However, it was a beautiful outing and as taxing as it was to pedal up the hills, the effort was rewarded with fast downhill sprints, which are so much fun! I hope to start exploring more single-track trails that offer a more diverse terrain. Ok, I am not planning to do highly technical rides but a bit of speed and jumps should be ok…

Did I mention how muddy some of the trails were…?

This little clip captured the victory of climbing a hill that I had not been able to pedal up on a previous occasion prior to the surgery. I remember dismounting and crying in frustration the last time I was there, so to conquer this trail segment was a huge victory to me! Aaaand I got to race down the hill on the other side, whoohoo!😊

Last but not least, I also had my 2-hour mock-deployment training (virtual reality) for DEMPS (Disaster Emergency Medical Personnel), which means that I am reinstated and ready to deploy if disaster strikes (hopefully not, but if it does, I am ready). Getting my life back together, one piece at a time!

 

 

 

 

Published on Leave a comment on 4 Months Update: Four Months Post-Op!!!

Over the last couple of weeks, I have seen the following pattern: especially during very stressful shifts at work, my back (at T3) gets very tight around the “tender spot”. In fact, the soreness is quite palpable when I push on it. Interestingly enough, rest (as in sleeping) as well as physical therapy tend to reverse those episodes. That shows me how important structured physical therapy is for the recovery process. Everything, from basic stretches to high intensity activities (rehab and recreational) has been essential in my recovery. I am still very careful and selective in what I do and try to listen to my body, though. I hope that in time I can reduce or even eliminate those episodes of “tightness” altogether. I have to remind myself that I am only four months post-op, and I think it is pretty amazing how well I am healing.

Overall, I feel really good: I can bend, twist, carry groceries, pick up my dog, and perform many other activities I wasn’t able to do anymore before the surgery. I am still amazed about the lack of pain when I move, and I will never, ever, take my back for granted again! It is safe to say that I re-discovered my joy for movement!

So far, I was able to stick to my once-per-week PT sessions, and I even got a nice bike ride in, even though frequent thunderstorms and downpours have made it difficult to discover the outdoors. I don’t mind getting wet so much but I have come too far to be hit by lightning now! I sometimes wonder if the titanium addition in my spine would actually attract a lightning bolt, lol!

Speaking of the great outdoors, this time we explored the Orlando Wetlands Park. We discovered the leftovers of a gator snack (poor turtle), lots of birds, and a couple alligators swimming here and there. Unfortunately, it was way too hot for gators to sunbathe on the side of the trails (a common sight during the winter).

The trails within the Orlando Wetlands Park are overall very rider-friendly but have some segments that are quite difficult for my still weak chicken legs to keep up with. I forgot how much effort it takes to pedal through higher grass while avoiding deep ruts. In addition, the weather was incredibly hot and steamy, and I guess I lost about half my body weight in sweat. At one point, I was surrounded by group of vultures while riding the trails, but even though I was quite cooked, I was not ready to become dinner yet.

Biking the Orlando Wetlands

Next week, I will reach another mile stone: my goal before surgery was to be able to be a medical volunteer at this year’s “Wheelchair Games”, which are about to start at the end of July! I signed up for three shifts during which I will help disabled athletes in need of medical attention. It is actually ironic to use the term “disabled” in conjunction with these incredible athletes. I remember seeing a guy who lost both legs and one arm during the war, chained to a rowing machine and winning his heat in the indoor-rowing discipline at the Invictus Games in 2016. This definitely puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?

Published on Leave a comment on Week 14 Update – Finding a Routine

I thought I share how my efforts of finding a routine have turned out this week: after that first intense week back to work, I finally was off for three days (Friday through Sunday). I already had a PT appointment scheduled with Bill for Friday afternoon and decided to commit to at least one PT session per week. I am already scheduled out for the next three weeks, so that way, I will go for sure. I also want to do at least one fun outdoor activity per week or at least every two weeks (as my schedule permits).

Bill worked on my sore spot over the bony prominence of L3. He thinks that either the ligament is still giving me grief or that I have a slight misalignment that is still present (he carefully mobilized that spot manually; I think it’s already making a difference, but time will tell). It really doesn’t bother me unless you press on the spot directly, so I don’t really notice it much anymore. It doesn’t give me any pain while I bike, jog, or work out, so that is good. Bill truly believes that this will resolve and will continue to work on this issue.

Speaking of PT: I have made huge progress over the last few weeks, and I am very pleased with the outcome so far. Bill adds more or substitutes different movements to my regiment while keeping me safe, which makes me feel at ease. I now do interval sprints on the treat mill, 50 pounds cable pull exercises (shoulder/arms), lunges with weights, and squats. He already informed me that next week, he will ramp-up my abdominal workout – I told him that I expect a six pack! We’ll see, lol.

Another milestone this week was the cleaning of my home! Mopped the floors AND vacuumed the carpet, whoohoo! I know, I know, it sounds silly but before the surgery I wasn’t able to do any of this. Mopping my floors always led to a vicious flare-up of crippling and disabling pain (same for vacuuming). But no more! I am happy to report that I conquered the mop and vacuum cleaner once and for all! *Add victory dance here*

 

Now to the fun stuff: as I mentioned during last week’s post, my next goal was to take those 15 miles I bicycled on pavement and take it to the woods! Saturday was the day: I ended up biking just shy of 20 miles (!) on trails in the Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area, and despite the fact that it was over 92 F (or more like 200 F in the sun), it was amazing! It’s been a long time since I explored the outdoors like this, and I was rewarded with the sighting of deer, wild boar, and a good-sized black racer (I almost run over). One very unique thing about Bull Creek is the fact that it has an old cemetery – in the middle of nowhere right in the woods. Many graves are from the 19th century and still well cared for. Never seen anything like it!

Riding the trails was fun, and the only part of my body that got quite sore was my butt. However, the soreness wasn’t as bad as when I first started out biking years ago. Either my seat bones remember the saddle, or I got a big butt (more cushioning) from being dormant for so long… I may never know, lol!

I also crossed many bodies of waters since it has rained a LOT in Florida and some parts of the trails are flooded:

I crossed little puddles…..

… and big puddles, lol!

After this rather intense ride, my legs where heavy and I was quite tired – but no pain! I always wait and see how I feel the next day, and I am happy to report that I felt strong and refreshed. I am still amazed to no end how my condition has changed so dramatically from near-disability to doing things like this in only 14 weeks after major surgery! I am so incredibly thankful that I didn’t end up getting a fusion because I really don’t think it would have been the same outcome.

 

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Published on 1 Comment on Week 13 Update – The Ultimate Test!

I really wasn’t planning on writing a weekly update past week 12. However, returning to work turned out to be the ultimate test of my new disc, so I thought others might be interested on how I did. First of all, I work in a VERY busy Emergency Department, and things have not slowed down while I was gone the past 3 ½ months. Due to the way the pay period was scheduled, I ended up working almost my entire two-weeks’ worth of hours in one week (Wednesday to Wednesday). Needless to say, this week has been a huge challenge and, I am so tired.

So, what does a typical work-day of mine look like? I work the mid-shift from 11:00 am to 11:30 pm, so when I arrive, the ED is usually already buzzing, and I hit “the ground running”. We have to juggle four (often very sick) patients at a time, decide who to see first and who has to wait, start IVs and draw blood, collect various bodily fluids, blood cultures, and do full work-ups. If the ED is so busy that it takes a couple hours before the doctor can assess my patient, I must decide which labs need to be done and order them myself. I get patients of various sizes in an out of bed, maneuver my way through small treatment rooms (in sometimes awkward positions), while holding my bladder for hours at end. You just never know what’s going to happen next and what to expect when walking into your patient’s room. For instance, I hear the pulse ox alarm go off in a room, and as I walk in, my patient looks at me wide-eyed, gasping “I can’t breathe!”. In the meantime, I get informed that my other patient started bleeding profusely (squirting blood, actually) from his incision site again (gotta love blood thinners). “Oh, and you’ll get a chest-pain in Room 17”…. I do have to say that I’ll work with some amazing nurses, and team work makes the dream work 🙂

The good news is that I didn’t have any back pain per se. However, especially during the first couple of days I could feel my mid-back and shoulders tense up to a point of being tender to the touch (especially around my remaining “sore spot”). It worried me a tad but as I mentioned before, there is no light duty in my ED, and I do need a paycheck. Working 12-hour shifts left me also unable to do much in terms of rehabilitation or PT, but I did my stretches in the morning and at night after work. Thank goodness, my back would “recover” overnight, and as the days went on, my tolerance level increased as well. But I am not going to lie: being “thrown to the wolves” like this was scary, hard, and stressful. Don’t get me wrong: I love my job but being off work for such a long time with my main focus being recovery from ADR surgery, it was – let’s call it-  intense to switch back into work-mode like this. But hey, it’s also nice to have a paycheck again….

The big challenge from this point on is to find a workout routine I can stick with in conjunction with work, and, starting later in August, graduate school. This first week back to work has been rather intense and (for the most part) unusual. During this coming week, I will hopefully come up with a plan that I can stick to. In the meantime, I finally got some activity today: I went on a 15-mile bike ride, which is a 50% increase in distance compared to my last one. I would say, I am off to a good start!

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Published on 2 Comments on Week 12 Update

Wow, I made it: this my three-month update, which means I am now cleared to return to work as a nurse without restrictions. How do I feel? Amazing! No comparison to the shadow of myself that I was almost four months ago when I had my last day at work. The transformation I went through since then is undeniable…

Coming home after last day of work before the surgery:

First day back to work:

Especially over the last four weeks, I feel as if my recovery efforts just “took off”, and with every passing week, I've become stronger and being able to do more. Of course, I will be careful to not over-do it (either at work or during my workouts) and to establish a consistent workout/rehab routine, which I can stick to.

So, what did I do this week? Ralf and I went to the Cross-Seminole Trail, where I went for my first bike ride after surgery! It was only 10 miles but it felt amazing (even though my butt was a tad sore thereafter). I pedaled like a hamster to make it up the bridge (both ways), and I managed to get over it without dismounting my bike, ha!

Did I mention that the Cross-Seminole Trail also has a calisthenics park? There I had a little pre-ride workout and discovered something amazing: remember how I had that nasty “pull” in my back while doing pull-ups and hanging knee-tucks? Well, I did some rowing pull ups to see how they feel and I had absolutely no pain doing them. Then I thought, well, let me try a hanging knee-tuck to see if there is a difference to last week. NO pulling sensation! Ok, let me do a pull-up…NO pulling sensation! In fact, there was no unusual pain or discomfort (besides being weak as hell) at all!!! I have been doing those stretches to loosen up the fascia every day but I was so surprised that this issue went away so quickly! Or maybe it was the rowing pull-ups that made a difference, who knows. But that made me so very happy! More progress! I also did some planks, knee-tucks on the parallel bars, and step-ups but I didn’t want to tax my muscles too much prior the bike ride.

I also returned to Split Oak Forest and for a run this time (of course with intermittent walking) and that also felt good. I like running on soft ground while sneaking in some step-ups on a tree trunk here, or push-ups against a log there. It’s very hot in Florida right now but it feels so good to be active outside again!

As I mentioned earlier, the 12-week mark also means that I am returning to work. In fact, I went to see Occupational Health at the VA Hospital today to get medically cleared. That was actually a lot of fun:

Doctor: “So, what kind of surgery did you have”

Me: “I had an lumbar artificial disc replacement at L5/S1

Doctor: “…. Say what?”

Me (as I pulled out my phone to show self-explanatory pictures): “So, in the US, they wanted to fuse me but I refused. That’s why I ended up going to Germany to have this done and guess what? I am pain free and I can move!”

Doctor: “Why aren’t they doing this amazing operation in the US???”

Me: “Beats me. Most Insurances are still blocking this procedure for some reason”

Doctor: *mumbles to himself*

Doctor: “Let me see the incision” (as he is looking at my back)

Me: “Ahem, they actually go in through the front (as I am showing him my 2-inch scar on my belly)

Doctor: “What? That’s it???”

Me: “Yup”

Doctor: “Amazing…”

Cleared!

So, I left with my “all clear” paperwork to turn in to my manager. Today (Wednesday, June 27th) was my first day back. Now look at how crazy my schedule (Blue Vertical Line) is already! I'm so glad I got some re-orientation time for the first couple weeks …! Let’s see how this goes: Emergency Department, here I come!

 

Published on Leave a comment on Week 11 Update

This week, I had the pleasure to return to one of my favorite Florida State Parks of all times: Lake Louisa in Clermont. Ralf and I used to work out on the fitness trail (with calisthenics equipment), which runs along sandy trails in the middle of the woods. I tried (carefully) certain exercises to see how they felt, which ended up in a (to me concerning) puzzle: When I did a straight pull-up, I felt a very uncomfortable “pull” along my mid-lower thoracic spine. I had the same nasty sensation while hanging off the pull-up bars and raising my knee to the chest. Needless to say, I didn’t do any more of those movements.

However, when I was up (with extended arms) on the parallel (dip) bars and pulled my knees toward my chest, my back was completely fine, even though it was a similar range of motion than when I was hanging before. That really puzzled me… (I have no picture of this because Ralf was spotting me, so that I didn’t plop down to the ground.) I also didn't feel that "pull" when I did rowing pull-ups, so at least this weird pull is really limited to the "hanging/pulling up" exercises.

I was also able to do some light jogging (on soft trails), but I was careful and only did a “10 seconds on, walk a bit” routine. There was no pain at all, neither while jogging or after, which was great! I am now cleared for light jogging, preferably on soft ground.

When I returned to PT, I asked Bill about that painful pull I felt during above-mentioned movements. He thinks that the fascia running along by thoracic spine is the culprit, which is the reason why I felt it when I pulled up (and the innervating muscle in my shoulder was pulling on the thoracolumbar fascia), but not when I had my arms/shoulders immobilized (extended on the dip bars). So, I am now adding thoracic stretches to my routine but I guess it will take some time for that to go away. Looking at this picture, it actually makes sense…

Speaking of PT, I am making good progress and I can feel myself getting stronger every week. That ligament in my mid-lower back that I injured a few weeks back is still in the healing process though, and I still have imbalances I have to work on (left leg weaker than right). My lower back muscles are also still a tad “sleepy”, which doesn’t help with the fascia issue either. But I was told that with consistent training, those issues will resolve over time. Today, we added lunges and different weight-pull exercises to the mix, it feels amazing to be able to do this! If I just wasn’t such an inpatient person, meh. But really, I am very pleased with my progress and will work at my remaining issues, one week at a time.

This week, I finally used my Universal Studios annual pass for the first time in at least 9 months! I was HOT out there but I had so much fun. I really like rollercoaster but, of course, I wouldn’t risk that…yet! So, I ended up going on kiddie rides, such as “ET” and “Cat in the Hat” but hey, baby-steps! Most importantly, I spent hours walking around or standing here or there to watch street performances ect., and I had ZERO pain. Not even a little bit. I felt like my old self in a way and it amazes me when I think back to the time before surgery, where I couldn’t’ remember how it felt like NOT to be in pain. That was a very humbling moment.

I walked all over Universal, had a nice, cold Duff beer in “Springfield, USA”, and then took the train from Harry Potter’s Kings Cross over to Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure. From there, I made my way over to Jurassic Park, where I watched people getting soaked in the water ride. Soon I will be able to join them again! For now I have the next hurdle to take: returning back to work next week!

Soon, the HULK will be mine!

 

Published on Leave a comment on Week 10 Update

My schedule has become quite busy with PT, massage therapy, and my own rehabilitation efforts. I love the way Bill is challenging me without compromising my back. In fact, he constantly checks for proper form and asks about any pain. To clarify: I am SORE! But a different type of sore, the sore you’ll get from a good workout. It’s awesome (you know what I mean)! My back never flared up, even though at times the muscles in my lower back would be a tad tight, but that would go away after stretching and some time on a heating pad. Oh, yes, I wanted to mention that from time to time, I do use a heating pad to loosen-up muscles and promote blood flow to the area. It has helped me very much throughout my recover. So far, my new disc is performing as advertised 🙂

According to Bill, I am progressing fast and consistent but because of that, he also cautions me to not over-do it. We added upper-body workouts with weights but since I am either seated or pulling the weights toward me, and not actually picking them up, it doesn’t strain my back. But it does work my abs and my chicken wings, which I really missed (not the chicken wings, the workout). I am now doing squats (arms up and only squatting ¼ down), step-ups with a “raised-leg pause” on top, and resistance side-steps with rubber bands (not as easy as it looks like). I also started doing planks, which I hated even before I got injured, but you got to do what you got to do!

My hamstrings are beginning to lengthen a little but with that issue, I still have long ways to go. The “burning” soreness in my calves, on the other hand, has greatly improved. I was truly sweating when I was done, there is no rest for the wicket!

post work-out

I also see Ben intermittently to keep my muscle supple and to work out any kinks/adhesion/peas. That also really helps with my progress and to keep up with my rehab program.

The busy bee I am, I attended another meeting during this week: the “Emergency Nurse’s Association” (ENA) local chapter meeting, which was held at Celebration Hospital this time. I sat without issues through a lecture on the “Management of North American Pit Viper Envenomation”, so if you ever get bitten by a rattle snake, I’ll have you covered. Since the ratio of being bitten by a snake is 3:1 in men, here is a public health announcement: Guys, I know you really want to, but do NOT pick up that snake! It takes 12-18 (!) vials of anti-venom and it takes 3 years to make those vials, which explains the price tag I suppose. Besides, those bites’ manifestations can be quite nasty…just saying 😉

At the end of the meeting, it was time for our group picture. This is where I realized the horror others feel when you tell them that you just had back surgery. So, I ended up in the front and was about to squat down a little, which was absolutely no problem, when my friend said, “Iris just had back surgery, she shouldn’t bend or squat!”. I tried to respond with “It’s all good, I can squat and bend, no problem”, but it was too late.

Group: “Oh, noooo! Don’t let her squat!”

Me: “Uhm, guys, I am ok, really…”

Group: “Get her a chair, she needs to sit down!”

Me: “No, no really, I….” *as someone already carried said chair to the front*

Group: “Sit down, sit down!”

Me: “But I…”

Group: “No, really, you should sit down”

Me: (resigning) “Alright, I am sitting down, but please, I really don’t want to sit here all by myself, that’s silly”.

*Two more chairs are now dragged to the front line*

“Say, Cheese!”

ENA group picture

Wow, the stigma that comes with having back surgery cannot be denied, lol!!! I guess I still have lots of education on ADR to do here…

I did have a really good time and loved the lecture (yeah, I am an ER-nerd). Thank you, Bonnie, for reminding me of this meeting and actually pick me up for it. Can’t wait to the next one!

ENA meeting

Another highlight of this week was my birthday present: dinner at the fancy "Boheme Restaurant", followed by a show at the “Dr. Phillips Performing Center of Art”, where I got to experience the amazing David Blaine illusionist. Mind blown!

David Blaine Performance

 

Published on Leave a comment on Week 9 Update

Between Ben and Bill, my rehabilitation is progressing nicely! One of my highlights of this week was my trip to the Split Oaks Forrest, where Ralf and I used to go run together. I haven’t been there in a mighty long time, and it felt so good to be outside again and hike the trails.

Splitwood Oak Forest

Was I tempted to jog a little? Absolutely! Did I do it? Nope! I will get permission from Bill first since -I know, I know - “slow and steady wins the race”… BUT I did some step-ups, which I would normally do in the gym or at PT, on a (stable) tree log! No pain, and it gave me hope that I will be able to eventually go back to having outdoor adventures again!

step-ups

https://youtu.be/xMeNbv_tqlo

I admit that this outing was also “mental rehab” since I missed being outside in the beautiful woods so much! I felt very positive, motivated, and hopeful for the future to come!

You might wonder how I felt the next day? Sore! Especially in my ankles and thigs, which tells me that I haven’t really used those muscles in a while! Walking on loose sand and wooded trails is definitely more challenging than walking on a treadmill.

During today’s PT session, Bill added some upper-body workouts to get my chicken wings back into shape as well, while strengthening my core. Got to be fit by the end of June!

What else have I been up to? I actually cleaned my home. No, I didn’t mop the floors, nor did I vacuum the carpet. I also omitted cleaning the bath tubs, lifting the mattress to put on fitted sheets, and I didn’t take out the garbage yet, since I am very mindful of the weight restrictions. But I can clean counter tops, fold laundry, and the rest of the bathrooms. That was very liberating, actually. After I was done, I did my prescribed stretches and even though I felt sore and a bit tight the next day, I didn’t feel pain.

On Tuesday, I took one more step toward returning to the professional world of nursing, as I attended the Sigma Theta Tau International Chapter annual meeting at the University of Central Florida (UCF). It’s an honors society for nurses and closely tied to UCF, where I will resume my Graduate studies this coming Fall. Glad I got a picture with Dr. Stephen Heglund before he had to go! He is one of my favorite nursing school instructors, but we usually meet at the Disney races were we both volunteer (well, where I will be volunteering again now since I am fixed).

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