In this Update:
- Reflection
- Follow-up X-rays
- Starting from Scratch
- Emergency Management
Reflection
I am 12 months post-op, wow!!! Last year, same time, I was admitted to the SANA Dreifaltigkeits-Hospital in Cologne in hopes to reclaim my life. The feeling of finally boarding the airplane to fly overseas to have a German surgeon I have never met operate on my spine was simply indescribable: I would say it was a mix between anticipation, fear, and hope. Ralf and I arrived on a Saturday, the day before Easter and our 8-year anniversary, and I was admitted the following Tuesday. I met Dr. Desai that Tuesday for the first time, and I do remember that most of my worries melted away, and deep down, I knew I would be alright. And so it came to pass!
I decided to capture my reflection on video, and I hope that maybe it will help someone else, who faces a similar situation, to get through such a life-changing experience. I have also compiled some pictures from that time last year.
Ralf and I spent our 8-year anniversary (which also happened to be Easter Sunday) eating dinner at a Spanish restaurant in Cologne. He has suffered just as much through the last couple of years, so we both were ready to get this surgery done and over with!
This was my spine before: it still blows my mind how one degenerated disc (in my case L5/S1) can cause so much crippling pain and disability!
I remember everything! Dr. Desai actually stayed with me for 15 minutes in pre-op, talking to me until I was "put under" ...
Here I go, walker and all, for a stroll down to radiology to get my 1-day X-rays taken by Dr. Desai! At that time, ALL of the "old, crippling" pain had just vanished!
This was the first time I got to see my new spine, including my beautiful LP-ESP. Even though, the portion the covers the underside of L5 is a tad too long (2mm), the ESP covers my the entire endplate of S1. Fantastic outcome all around!
Here is an "up and personal" look of what's inside of me now (of course I got a new one, not the model, lol): the LP-ESP feels very stiff but that is great for protecting the facet joints while still providing motion in all six degrees, including shock absorption!
Here is my incision at two weeks right after Dr. Desai pulled my stitches versus today. Best scar ever!
And of course I had to wear my custom-made back brace. If it wasn't so stiff, it could have actually passed as a fashion accessory! So, after the six weeks were over, I had to find a purpose for that thing... Nailed it!
And here I am, at my last follow-up visit with Dr. Biren Desai, the person who gave me my life back! I might be biased but to me, he is not just an incredible surgeon but also a kind and humble human being. Thank you for everything, Dr. Desai!
Follow-up X-rays
And here they are: my 1-year follow up X-rays (lateral, flexion, extension, anterior). Dr. Desai said they look perfect, no issues whatsoever!
1-Year Lateral view:
Here is a side-by-side lateral view comparison of my 1-DAY old X-ray (Left) and my 1-YEAR old X-ray (Right):
Flexion (Left) and Extension (Right):
Aaaand anterior:
Starting from scratch
I know I said it a few times in the past, and believe me, it wasn’t for lack of motivation that I didn’t get to stick to regular workouts as planned, but things are starting to fall into place. Since I missed six weeks of workouts due to my overloaded, crazy schedule, Angela had me start from scratch, and this time, I WILL make it happen!!!
Food for thought: During the time that I was still on FMLA (when I was off during the first three months after surgery), I was very active, but as soon as work and school resumed, all bets were off! That is something that others in my line of work/type of schedule may face themselves, but even if you can’t make it three times per week to the gym, recovery from ADR can still go well…
Ralf and I also made to Seminole State Forest for a 2-hour bike ride through those beautiful (and often bumpy or sandy) wooded trails… (yes, it's the end of March here, those are the perks living in Florida)
This picture has actually a very personal meaning to me. Before my pain prevented me from doing anything physical anymore, Ralf and I did a lot of outdoors activities together - always together. That was taken away from us when I couldn't come anymore due to being disabled. But now, we can - together!
Emergency Management
My plan is still in motion: I decided to use my MSN Nurse Educator degree to try to transition to the incredible National SimLEARN center in Orlando (still VA) to reduce my stress level and have a more structured schedule. But even if I leave the bedside to continue my nursing path in a different role, I still have my Disaster Response and Emergency Management teams to provide some "hands-on" emergency nursing. April 2nd was our pre-preparation meeting to go over detailed plans and check our gear for the upcoming annual Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) drill, an interdisciplinary mock mass casualty event that all emergency services within the city of Orlando will respond to!
Thank you for creating this blog. I'm scheduled to have ADR for my L5/S1 at the end of August. Curious if you were given the option to have a bikini line incision versus the vertical. My surgeon has given me that option, although he prefaced that the bikini line incision has higher risk of infection.I'm having my surgery done here in Florida. Did you have any issues with fluid around the incision or infection? Thank you again. Your posts have been so insightul.