First off - good luck whenever your surgery is. I suggest setting your expectations high and while you understand recovery can be a slow process...depending on what you have done. What are your surgical plans?

Step #1 for me was a four level ACDF almost a year ago. That work is 98% resolved and I'm so glad I had that surgery.

Step #2 was two-parts with a four level lumbar decompression followed a few days later by a four level fusion in the L2-5 area. That was 8+ months ago and I continue to recover but with a positive outlook (my outlook that is...).

Happy to discuss post-surgical issues and learnings? One strong recommendation is to maintain a diary. I was irritated at times when it felt like I was making no progress. But maintaining a diary helped me keep a perspective that progress was being made...plus the diary is a great emotional tool to help cope with the post-surgical stress.

My best!

@annie1 Annie, that sounds like progress. I know it’s human nature to worry that you’ve waited too long but that is fear talking. It’s better to talk to your hope and imagine and visualize a recovery where you will be walking much better. That is your goal and what ever else you define it to be. Phil’s suggestion of a journal is great toward your goal. Go ahead and write down your goals, and your progress as you go along. It will take time and you need patience, but believe that you can do it, and you’ll be able to say you did it your way. (I’m my mind, I hear Frank Sanatra singing.). Go ahead and pick out your own theme song for your journey and listen to it any time you need encouragement.

Congratulations on this important decision and steps toward your future.

Jennifer