A Walk in the Park

I know by now you all must be wondering how I was so much more capable of blogging after a bilateral mastectomy w/breast reconstruction/tissue expanders than after a simple little level 1 spinal fusion with instrumentation. Allow me to make some excuses:

I can't sit up and type.
I must roll like a "cigar" to get up for anything.
When I am not lying in bed straining my neck to read and type I must be walking...and walking...and walking.

But here's the thing...I AM walking - just a day or 2 after back surgery. Amazing.

And - I am going home tomorrow - where I can stand comfortably and type - when I'm not walking.

And as I walk, I think of all of my good fortune - I am so grateful for the love and support I've received for yet another invasive medical adventure (which is truly s much easier experience than the first, I kid you not.

I mean, really - who knew back surgery could be such a walk the park?

xox
amp

You can go home

AMP will be going home sometime Saturday. She is in good spirits and looking forward to leaving the hospital.

Recovery going swimmingly

AMP is moving through recovery like a fish through water. Not two days post surgery and she is able to get in and out of bed, she is walking on her own. She is still in a lot of post surgical pain. There is a good chance that she will e discharged this weekend.

Successful Surgery!

According to the surgeon, surgery went extremely well. He believes there is an excellent possibility that she will be free from the pain that has been plaguing her. Time will tell. But for the moment I feel tremendously relieved and hopeful. Just impatient to see her.

Pre Surgery

We are in the hospital amidst the hum of construction...waiting. AMP is in fine spirits hoping for the best wondering if she should shave her head again, for good luck. Barry, any suggestions. We will keep you posted and appreciate all your thoughts and support.

For The Very Curious

Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a procedure that fuses the anterior and posterior columns of the spine through a posterior approach. A bone graft and interbody spacer stabilize the anterior portion while the posterior is locked in place with pedicle screws, rods and bone graft. Hence the instrumentation......

This is Spinal......Fusion

We're Baaaaaaaaaaaack!

As in back, that is - spinal fusion. I know I'm mixing my movie metaphors, but I am a little "tapped" out right now. Yes, after a long-suffered decision-making process of 2nd opinions that ran from a "T-10 - S-1" complete "lampost" model fusion, a decision has actually been made. I will be having a "TLIF" special - no, not "Thank Larry It's Friday" but Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion. It's all happening tomorrow at noon at St. Joseph's in Burbank. It's often casually referred to as spinal fusion with instrumentation - I kinda like that - got a cool jazz feel that seems so much more Newport Beach than the heavy metal version I'm probably facing. I do feel confident that the doctor and process I chose is the right one at this time and am actually looking forward to easing a year-long bout of intensive chronic pain.

I anticipate being one of those people who wake up from anesthesia wondering "what took me so long?" There will more more blog posts with more lucid explanations and perhaps more humor to them than I can muster now. Where is Harry Shearer when you need him?

Fortunately, Larry - my co-medical blogger, will contribute when I doze off. He may knock me back out in his zeal to do so.

Please check this blog for updates. As before, we will send email notifications when there is a new post.