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How did you prepare mentally and physically?
Hi,
Thank you all for participating in this forum. It is providing lots of hope and insight! I am grateful!
I am 4 weeks from surgery - T10 to pelvis instrumented instrumented fusion L5-S1
Transforminal lumbar interbody fusion multilevel Ponte osteotomy tethering to
T9 with possible cement augmentation.
Not sure what all that means, but... how did you prepare yourself mentally and physically for a surgery like this?
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Look forward to the surgery as a new beginning! Trust that you are in good hands with your doctor and his hospital and support staff. It’s amazing how kind nurses and techs are! Be prepared to be a dependent for some time after the event (ask your doctor for an estimate). You need to have a caretaker(s) lined up or considered a rehab facility. Meal delivery is helpful. Have a raised toilet seat installed! Print off a pain med chart. You will not be able to remember when you took the last dose. So important to stay on top of this for the first few weeks. Start weaning when it feels right. Start PT as soon as your doctor allows. Move the parts that don’t hurt. Pump your feet often. No BLT! Try to keep spirits up. It’s very common to get depressed during recovery…it’s a long road. Get your primary doc involved so you can get the meds you need quickly. Ask if you will be given a brace ( you will come to love it). Order an incline, wedge pillow for your bed and a pillow designed to elevate your legs ( ask doc). Fairlife protein drinks are delicious and easy to digest. You may not feel like eating but meds can be tough on your stomach and your body needs protein to rebuild. Ask friends to call regularly. Have reasonable expectations.
I wish you all the strength you need to pass through this phase. The surgery is the easy part.