@lisalucier wow, hugsss. I'm so sorry to hear of all of these things. These are major hurdles.
My experience after my C6-C7 C7-T1 fusion left me with tons of pain just like before surgery, but some is a different feeling of pain. Like it's hard to describe.
I have opiods given and they have no effect on the pain it's extremely frustrating. I'm a single parent my youngest is 12 and is going through toughtimes, also a major argumentative, defiant and major source of stress (which makes healing difficult).
I had to check myself back into the hospital about a week after the surgery due to feeling as my throat was closing and extreme pain.
After a picc line IV antibiotics for weeks due to a possible infection/ fluid collection in my neck.
My neurosurgeon said give it a few months to see if my pain remains sooo high then we think about fusing 2 more levels (for a four level fusion) 😭😭
If my throat still feels like I'm being choked and like I have a baseball in it, would it make sense to think my throat would be even worse after going back in to fuse 2 more levels?
I'd have nothing to lose I guess at that point.
I have zero energy the same as you (more than normal). Takes me the whole day to get minimal things done.
I've been trying to drink protein drinks because my appetite isn't great and I'm cooking less than before which isn't alot.
I have a speech therapist apt again to try to help my voice, when I speak or try to sing my voice is shaky at points. I'm hoping that inflammation will reduce more as time goes on but it'll be 2 months post op on the 13th.
My pain level baseline is 8 to 8 1/2 out of 10. Often gets to9 to 9 1/2.
It's a struggle.
I hope physio will help with ROM.
I feel for you. We're in this mess together. 🖤 I have no advice that could be positive unfortunately.
Ice, heating pads, pain cream, baths.
Same as before the surgery.
Take things on slow mode. More mindfulness and self care is necessary.