My journey with a T11 to L4 spinal fusion - 40 degree scoliosis curve

1-23-25 update for T11 to L4 spinal fusion - #2

OK, so just a quick list of things that are helping me during healing:

Actually first…… there are a couple things you can do before surgery. The more squats that you can do the better! This really, really helped me out. It doesn’t matter if you’re only a week away from surgery, hang onto the kitchen counter or anything else and throughout the day, just drop down and do a few squats. Those are really going to help you as you recover, because you need that strength in your legs and your butt to stand when getting out of bed and off the toilet and up from a chair. I can’t emphasize this enough. The other thing would be anything that can build your core. Sit ups, planks, I hate doing these, but I made myself do them before the surgery and I know it helped me.

OK now for recovery items……

Long handled grabbers - these are amazing and Costco has the two packs, or you can find them on Amazon, etc. I have three of them in different places around the house. It’s crazy how many things you will drop and you have to keep your back straight so there is a kneeling squat position that you can do or you can use your grabbers.

Heating pad - you must have one of these! I have a large flexible one that covers my whole surgery area on my spine and also my lower back.

Large gel ice packs - you must also have these! I have two that I sit back on my couch recliner and alternate between those and the heating pad. Make sure they are the gels, they are very soft and form your back and it doesn’t hurt to lay back on them. Also make sure they are big enough to cover across your back. Mine are about 14”x 8”. Every muscle and nerve across your back is affected and will need the cold. I also cover them with a thin blanket because when you first come home from surgery, you will not have much feeling in your back at the skin level and it would be easy to burn your skin with either the heating pad or ice packs because you will not feel it.

A bed rail - this also is a must! It really helps after you do your log roll to push off of the rail to sit straight up. I think mine is about 9 inches wide and I have it up near my shoulder level and it slides into the mattress. My bed is pretty tall so I also have a small step stool that I get onto because you want to be able to sit straight back onto the bed. Scooting and wiggling and everything else hurts.

Long handle shoehorn - this is pretty handy until you get to the point where you can reach down and pull on your shoes. You’re not going to be able to get your own socks on right away either so I definitely have a lot of slip on slippers around here.

Peppermint candy - a friend brought me some candy canes several days after I got home and I wish I would’ve had them from the start. They really helped my stomach when it was upset from all the meds and not eating much. And make sure they are the quality ones with real peppermint oil and not just artificial flavor. Peppermint tea also helped me.

They will tell you no BLT. Bending, lifting or twisting, and this is very important until everything fuses, which I understand is around three months. I have a back brace that I wear when I’m standing. Everything I’ve read says it’s more about reminding you to keep from twisting and bending, along with providing some support.

Stretch yoga type pants - I am a jeans kind of girl but my new best friend is stretch pants! My scar goes almost down to the waist line of pants and is extremely uncomfortable. So stretch pants are amazing.

Sitting - you need to keep your back as straight as possible. You don’t want a deep chair to sit in. My electric couch recliner is perfect and is where I spend most of my sitting time. It is not easy getting up to the sitting position in order to stand, so it will be important to have something comfortable for you to sit in.

Back scratcher - a nice to have

Water, water, water- I am terrible at drinking water, but you need to have a way to make sure that you are drinking a lot of water.

Toilet - when I was researching before my surgery, I did not find much information about the challenges of wiping after a bowel movement. You definitely cannot twist enough to reach your hand around from the back. I bought a tool on Amazon where you can wrap toilet paper around the end and wipe yourself and then you can release the toilet paper or wet wipe into the toilet. I tried it a couple times at the hospital and it was pretty much useless for me. I found that if you squat up off the toilet, you can reach everywhere you need to without hurting your back. That being said, I also put toilet rails around the side of the toilet, and to me they are a must have for wiping and getting up and down off the toilet. It’s actually a one piece item that attaches behind the toilet seat.

Constipation - oh my goodness this is a real thing with pain, meds, and muscle relaxers together. The only laxatives I’ve really found to work are Dulcolax 1200 mg magnesium hydroxide chews. I’ve also had to use the Dulcolax suppositories. There are so many things out there like Colace and Senokot, etc. They all work differently, but these are the only ones that work for me. I believe you should also have a box of enemas on hand in case you need them.

Supplements - 7 days prior to surgery you need to stop taking any NSAIDs, vitamins, vitamin C, most everything. They will give you a list. That being said as soon as you have surgery, even though NSAIDs are still off limits because they inhibit bone fusion, I started taking calcium. I have a pretty good calcium supplement coming next week that I am excited to use. Also, take those multivitamins unless you are eating well rounded meals.

I’m sorry this was so long! I’ve been making notes on sticky pads over the past few weeks and I’m really glad to get this out. When I read back through this message, some of it sounds pretty tough. There have definitely been tough times for me, but I can say with 100% certainty that I would not do a single thing differently. We know back surgery is usually the last resort and that everyone makes their own decision, in their own time, based on their own situation.

I wish the best for all of you and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask me!

Sherry

Hey Cheryl, I’m just checking to see what you wound up doing for your pain. I have found that it’s easy for messages to get lost in a string and I was just reading through this one and came across yours again. Just checking on you.😊 Sherry

Thank you thank you! excellent…. doing my squats as I type.. have my TJ ginger mints and ordered an additional large gel pac, grabbers, bed handle.

Holding off on the bidet I was considering — I thought exactly how you described standing as an option for toilet and personal hygiene…. so appreciate this discussion as awkward as it can be to discuss these bodily functions.

Also appreciate the reminder to be my own advocate as I am single and will not always have a family member or friend with me.

Someone suggested having candies in your room as the staff likes stopping in for treats, especially on the evening shift. This worked well when my Dad was in a nursing home.

The problem is, I have already eaten the choc kisses I picked up… think that will need to be a last minute purchase.

I have a Caring-bridge set up which seems a bit over the top for this surgery but I have so many different friend groups to update and thought it might be the easiest way for friends to stay informed. I noted, Sherri, your recovery seemed to take all your focus, energy and willpower to heal the 1st month. so Again thank you for your thoughtful and honest communication on your personal experience. I will share the CaringBridge link in case anyone wants to check in.

A few questions.. packing for hospital and hopefully transfer to Assisted rehab care. Take a look and comment please. good or not needed,,?

1. Sweats 2
2. slip on slippers with grip.
3. was told front clasping bras and button down sweaters and tops as overhead might be difficult.
4. i have a fuzzy shawl with pockets for drains for hospital
5. dry shampoo ( how long before my 1st shower?!!!!!!) Will I be able to style my hair? ( people say I won’t give a ,:$! but i think i might)
6. elastic pj bottoms and soft lose appropriate cami with shelf bra
7. robe
8. loose fitting pj boxer shorts for under hospital gown
9. earplugs
10. ipad iphone ipods chargers
11. dulex and fiber powder
12. face wipes
13. body wipes
14. lozengers
15.hand lotion
16. body lotion
17. chapstick
18. glasses/ contacts
19. slip on tennies
29. small make up bag — faze 2 rehab and going home.
30. hair styler

I am thinking two suitcases???
1. tote for hospital and 2nd brought by friend for rehab

I am considering purchasing a lounge chair for my bedroom to possibly sleep in etc. someone said make sure it is 180 flat as u won’t want a bend in your back? So only straight up or flat????? I slept on my sofa after knee replacement surgery two years ago as it hurt too much getting in and out of bed?? different surgery so..

sorry so long … any input by anyone appreciated

happy u are now feeling up to responding!! continued healing vibes coming your way!

Hi Tamra!

Ok, I copy and pasted portions of your last message that I have input on, and are my thoughts, based on my experience…

I knew that I was going to fly home after surgery and didn’t want to deal with checked baggage. I was able to fit everything into one carry on, and I brought too much…..🤣

My surgeon was clear that everyone stays in the hospital for different lengths of time. He did say that the average seemed to be 2 to 4 days for my surgery. I was in the hospital for 9 days and still had plenty of supplies in my suitcase.

I wore the surgery gown and changed it for a fresh one, at least twice. My catheter stayed in for about 3 days. Longer than they wanted but my pain was still too high. I also had a drain and bag for my back and I think they took that out on day 2 or 3. Also, I had 3 IVs total in my arms.

So I would plan on a surgery gown until they unhook you from a few things. I started wearing loose fitting sweatpants under my gown after the catheter and back drain were removed. The sweatpants add a little challenge to using the toilet, but it also covered my tail when walking around the hallway.🤣

Ok, I copy and pasted some of your questions below:

1. Sweats 2 (one to two should be good!)

2. slip on slippers with grip. (they will put the hospital slippers with grips on you and I wore those for the duration. I’m sure you can wear your own if they are acceptable.)

3. was told front clasping bras and button down sweaters and tops as overhead might be difficult. (I brought a bra but did not wear it because it sat right at the top of the surgery cut. With my surgery, there was no pain raising my hands above my head, so I did not need the front button shirts that I brought.)

5. dry shampoo ( how long before my 1st shower?!!!!!!) Will I be able to style my hair?
(The hospital gave me 2 dry shampoos. I had no idea such a thing existed, and it was the most amazing thing! My room had a shower in the bathroom and I took one at around day seven I think. I used hospital provided cleansing wipes until then. I kept my hair pulled up in a messy bun that kept it comfortable for me to lay down)

10. ipad iphone ipods chargers
(A must! I brought a 6 foot cord and I’m glad that I did because it barely reached. I also had a portable power pack that I used.)

11. dulex and fiber powder (I was advised against taking any fiber powder. I take that on a normal basis at home, but it will actually work towards constipating you more when you are taking all the medication. You might want to look into this a little more😊)

I am considering purchasing a lounge chair for my bedroom to possibly sleep in etc. someone said make sure it is 180 flat as u won’t want a bend in your back? So only straight up or flat????? I slept on my sofa after knee replacement surgery two years ago as it hurt too much getting in and out of bed?? different surgery so..
sorry so long … any input by anyone appreciated
(the hospital bed was the best part of my room! I wish I could’ve taken it home with me. You will not want to stay in one position for very long, so it was nice to be able to move the head or legs up and down a few inches, and it provided relief. I did this constantly. I remember laying there thinking there was no way I could go home and lay on my bed that doesn’t move. That’s been one of the great things for me at home. I have a couch that I can adjust and recline and I still do it.
As for sleeping on my bed, I slept in my couch the first week and I’ve been sleeping in my bed ever since. I have only slept on my back to this point. I have two large pillows that I prop under my knees and it’s the most comfortable way for me. I know some people lay on their side and it is completely allowed. I’m just worried that I will rollover and twist in the middle of the night. You can prop yourself up with pillows to keep yourself on your side, it’s just that my spine and body do so much better just laying on my back. You will quickly figure out what works best for you.

I think you are doing a great job preparing for your surgery!!
Sherry