5 years post op

Me a few weeks after surgery

So this week it is five whole years since my scoliosis surgery.

My life is very different from this time five years ago and it got me thinking about how far I've come since my surgery. If anyone reading this is currently facing the prospect of scoliosis surgery, or are in the early stages of recovery, I just want to reassure you that it DOES get easier and you WILL be able to achieve things post surgery you never thought were possible. It just takes time and patience.

I continue to push myself, and this week I graduated from University for the second time, with an MSc in Digital Marketing Communications (with distinction), which I have been studying towards for the past three years.

In the few months since finishing my MSc, I have also really got into running and I feel fitter and healthier than ever. In May this year year I completed my first ever 10K race for Cancer Research, in June I completed a 5K fun run (Run or Dye - really fun!) and I've just signed up to complete a 5K run in Manchester in September to raise money for Breast Cancer Care.

I am surprised that running doesn't hurt my back and in the past I have always avoided it for fear of causing myself damage or causing pain. When I first started it did feel a bit strange - but now it feels fine and my fitness has improved immensely over the past few months.

I'm not saying everyone with scoliosis can / should do running (you should always check with your doctor/specialist) BUT I'm saying that having scoliosis should NEVER hold you back, or stop you from trying something, and that you should always feel like you can do anything you put your mind to.

After 5 years, yes I get the odd bad pain day, but on the whole I feel better than ever and my flexibility has also continued to improve, which after surgery I didn't think would be possible.

I don't know how long this will last and whether I'll get more pain in the future but as a result, I am determined to enjoy my life while I can and I will always continue to push myself to achieve for as long as I am physically able to.

Taking part in Run or Dye 5K in June 2015

Here's to the next five years!

Louise xx

Winter Warmers - Pain Relief

Image by insane gal via Flickr

With winter brings dark nights, cold frosty/snowy days and for me and many other scoliosis sufferers - increased back pain.

The cold weather tends to cause an achy type pain and extra stiffness in my lower back, which for some reason I've noticed even more since my surgery and have noticed even more over the past few days. This is one of the reasons I detest winter, that and fear of slipping on icy ground and damaging my metalwork.

During winter, you'll usually find me with a hot water bottle or heat pad permanently attached to my back, as I find heat therapy really helps to relieve my aches and pains. 

As we've been hit by freezing temperatures and snow this week in the UK, I thought I'd share some useful tips/products that I've found and that could help get us through the upcoming winter months.

1. Heat Pads

I found this mobile heat pad on stressnomore.co.uk and think it looks perfect as you can actually strap it round your body! It beats having a hot water bottle tucked down the back of my trousers!

 
This one is also from stressnomore.co.uk. The Beurer HK63 Rheumatherm Magnetic Heating Pad cleverly incorporates heat and magnetic therapy for pain relief.




Amazon also have a good selection of heat pads.

2. Hot water bottles

A scoliosis sufferers best friend! I find my hot water bottle works wonders on my aching back and feels like bliss.

3. A hot bath / shower

If you find having a bath comfortable it can really help the pain. I actually find having a bath quite uncomfortable post-surgery as I cant bend my back against the bath and just have to sit upright which isnt very comfortable! Perhaps a bath pillow would help but I'm yet to find a decent one. I also find it quite difficult getting in and out of the bath so I prefer to have a shower which can be just as good for pain relief!

4. A lie down on a memory foam mattress / topper

For me, memory foam is the best invention ever and a lie down on my memory foam topper instantly relieves my pain. Lots of cushions also help.

5. Thermal tops

I've recently tried wearing a thermal vest top underneath my clothes which really helps to keep the cold out of my back.

Failing the above, a holiday to a nice hot beach will also do just fine! ;)

2 year post op checkup

Today I had my 2 year post op checkup. 

After scoliosis surgery you generally get seen for a checkup after 3 months, after 6 months, after 1 year and after 2 years, so this was my final post surgery checkup (hooray!) 

Like last year, it was very weird going back to the hospital I had my surgery at, it's easy to forget what you went through sometimes but going back there again and walking past the ward I was on kind of brought it all back. 

Luckily, I managed to see my surgeon for this appointment (not a registrar) which was good news. He checked my xrays and said all the metalwork looks as though it's in the right place and he thinks it's fused now which is great news. 

I told him that I'm doing alot of activities post op such as going to the gym regularly, aeorbics, zumba etc and that I was worried I was doing too much. His answer was no I won't be doing too much and that I can do anything I want to do now which is good to hear, sometimes you just need a little reassurance. 
 
What made me laugh though today was the guys who did my xrays were fascinated by them, their eyes almost popped out of their sockets when they saw them and they kept asking me loads of questions about my spine and calling me the bionic lady! Surely they've seen other scoliosis post op xrays before...I do like people's reactions to them though and straight after the guy who did the xrays had seen them he was offering to carry everything for me, like I couldn't lift a basket with my clothes in...Funny how people treat you differently after they've seen the xrays!

Anyway it was a good appointment overall and he said I dont have to go back again now or have any further xrays (woohoooo!) unless I have any issues. 

This is kind of a big thing for me, considering I have been having checkups on my back and xrays every year since I was 14. I've had more than enough xrays to last a lifetime. It's a bit weird to think I'll never have to go for another checkup or wear one of those fetching hospital gowns for my yearly xray again (fingers crossed).

2 years post op!

I can't believe it but today I am 2 years post op! I can't believe it was a whole two years ago today that I had my scoliosis surgery.

I thought I'd do a quick update on how I'm feeling now in myself and how my back is. 

I'd say at 2 years post op I'm pretty much back to normal, I work full time and I go to the gym 3-4 times a week. 

I still get bad pain days from time to time but I don't take painkillers everyday now and I'm just really thankful for everything I can do. 

Everytime I go to the gym, drive my car, go shopping, even getting out of bed by myself (things I used to take for granted) I really appreciate that I can do them. 

I think this surgey has made me look at my life in a different way and just be thankful for every thing I can do and thankful for life in general. I think it's only when these things are taken away or made difficult after this kind of surgery, that you realise how much you really rely on using your back in every day life. People really do take it for granted. Everytime I do something new that I havent done since surgery I feel so happy that I'm able to do it.

It's a long, slow recovery and it's only very recently that I've been able to do things like lie on my side in bed comfortably but I got there eventually! 

I also still feel stiff sometimes, I dont know if this will ever go but I'm kind of used to it now. If I had the option, I still wouldn't change my back for a "normal" one without the rods, as in a way I quite enjoy being unique and the rods make my back feel strong and supported. 

I don't think my back will ever feel 100% normal, but who knows it might improve even further in 6 months time!

I don't have my 2 year post op appointment until October (the hospital forgot about me!!) so I just prey everything is ok with the fusion and metalwork until then.

I'd say to people early on in their recovery - you still have a long way to go but eventually you do start getting back to "normal" and getting on with and enjoying your life again.

Louise x

Holiday - 1 year 7 months post op

I've just got back from my birthday holiday in Marrakech and thought I would update how it was for my back. 

Holidays are always difficult for people with bad backs, lugging cases about, airport queues, hours on your feet, uncomfortable aeroplane seats, hard hotel beds.. the list goes on!

However, this holiday it actually wasn't so bad.

Last summer when I was around the one year post op mark I went to Cyprus for two weeks and I found it incredibly difficult. Especially getting on and off low sunbeds and I found it hard keeping up with my family during evening walks when I would get a tight 'pulling' feeling in my back if I walked too fast.

This holiday I only realised that I had improved when my boyfriend pointed out how different I was to when we were in Cyprus last year. After he made the comment, I realised he was right. I found myself easily getting on and off the hotel sunbeds plus I did a few long days of excursions walking round all day and it was no problem at all. I had no problem spending all day on my feet and keeping up with everyone else on the excursions.

I didnt even realise all this to begin with, I was just doing it without thinking. I even had no painkillers all week! I think the heat helped with this though - I need to move somewhere hot..

The point I'm making really is that at a year post op I was thinking that that was it and that it was as good as I would ever be after this surgery. 

I know now that this is not the case, although it's impossible and frustrating not to know that at the time. If you reading this and are at this stage around one year post op please remember you will still be improving and you won't even realise it until you look back a good few months later and see how much easier things are still getting.

I had a wonderful holiday and did all the things I never imagined doing again (comfortably!) last summer.

Nothing is impossible and I still look forward to seeing what else I can do as each month passes by! 
Louise x

Psychological aspects of Scoliosis Surgery

Ever since my surgery I have been paranoid that my back will go back to how it was before my operation or that it will move/change in some way. I know the metalwork is strong but I can't help worrying about it.

For the first few weeks that I was home after my surgery I was constantly taking pictures of my back from different angles and I would panic if I thought that it looked slightly different from the one I took a few days before. It almost became an obsession.

Even now I still look at my back constantly, if I pass a mirror or a window I look at my back to make sure it still looks how it should do. I still take photos of my back to compare to a few months ago albeit it not as frequently now.

I do wonder if this is something that will ever go away or will I always feel this way? If so I feel like I'm living on edge, constantly worrying/thinking about my back.

My mum sees me looking at my back a lot and tells me to stop and "move on" with my life but it is hard. I think 10 years of looking a certain way which then suddenly changes overnight is a lot to deal with. I've been so used to looking at/taking photos of my back constantly before surgery that I guess old habits are hard to break.

I truly believe that the psychological part of this condition is often overlooked by doctors and yet for me it's a part I feel I suffer with the most, even after surgery.

For me, my back looks alot better than before but I don't feel I look "normal." I still don't feel comfortable in certain clothes, I still feel very self concious most of the time and I still don't like anyone seeing/touching my back.

I didn't expect to feel this way after surgery and have received no guidance on how to deal with it. I don't know if others feel this way after scoliosis surgery but for me this recovery is not just physical, it's emotional aswell.

I don't know if I should go to my GP and explain how I feel or whether this is just normal after such a huge change to my body. 

Hopefully I won't feel this way forever and will be able to have just one day without even thinking about my back.

Weekend Away

This weekend I went away to York for a few days.It reminded me that I still find travelling/weekend's away a bit of a pain, here's why:

-Train Journeys - luckily I wasn't alone but I don't think I could travel on my own with a suitcase on a train. Trains are annoying at the best of times, I could rant all day about them to be honest. 

I have to reserve a seat really as I can't stand for an entire train journey. The annoying thing about this though is that if I can't reserve a seat for some reason then because I look young/"normal" I feel as though people are judging me for sitting down say, for example, if someone older is standing nearby.

I also can't carry my case and it's virtually impossible to get through a train journey from start to finish without having to carry your case at some point, even if you have a roller case like I do. There are generally lots of stairs (why do sooo many train stations have so many stairs?!) and when you get on the train there's usually a pile of cases already in the luggage area so then you have to either struggle to lift to put it on the pile of cases or stuggle with your case through the train aisle to get to your seat, which are not wide enough to wheel your case through.

Then when you get to your seat if there's nowhere to put it next to you, you have to lift it to get it onto the overhead lugguage rack, which I can't really do.

After all this my back is generally killing and I can't wait to sit down but then the train seats aren't exactly the most comfortable and I have the usual problem that my back can't bend and mould to the seat so it's usually an uncomfortable journey.

-Walking - weekends away in a city generally involve being on your feet all day and this weekend was no exception! Although my back was a lot better than the last weekend away I had late last year and the lower back pain wasn't as bad but a long day walking round in the freezing cold (there was ALOT of snow in York and it was minus 7 at one point!!) does take its toll believe me. 

Plus I was scared of slipping as there was snow/ice all over the pavements.

I took some heels with me to wear out on the Saturday night but when it came to Saturday night it was sooo cold and slippy outside and I would have had to walk quite a bit between places and to the taxi rank that I just stayed in my flat 'snow boots.' 

I felt a bit too casual but I didn't want to slip and I knew walking round in heels would be uncomfortable aswell so that was a bit of a shame - this is why I hate the snow!!! Most girls in out that night didn't seem to care though in their skyscraper heels.... sigh.

-Taxis- We got alot of taxis because we didnt know our way round plus our hotel was just outside the city centre. This part isn't specific to weekends away but I realised this weekend that I CANNOT get in and out of those larger taxis with the slider doors. I can't bend to get in and out so it's really awkward  and because of this I managed to bang my head a couple of times in the process of trying to get in - ouch! :-(

-Hotel beds - The hotel bed was really hard, which made me appreciate how much I love my memory foam topper at home! I woke up stiff and in pain every morning and then had to walk round all day and attempt to awkwardly get in and out of taxis...

Don't get me wrong I had a really fun weekend away and I'm happy that I can do all these things but going away on the train is still not the easiest. It's not much of a problem if I'm with someone who can help with my case or not mind sitting down with me throughout the day while I rest my back. 

It's annoying sometimes as I might want to visit friends who live in another part of the country for the weekend but it would be quite difficult for me to do by myself if I had to go on the train.

Hopefully the more I do it though, the easier it will get in time.

A Momentous Occasion...1 year 6 months post op

Last night I got into bed but then I realised I needed to turn the light off, so I sat up. 

Then I realised. I can sit up! I can actually sit straight up from lying down!! Without even thinking about it!!

This may not sound like much but for me this is a big deal.

I'm now 1 year 6 months post op and it's only really over the past couple of months or so that I'm starting to notice improvements like this. 

I'd say I've pretty much felt the same between the 1 year post op mark and 1 year 5 months or so and I was worried that I wouldn't improve much more.  That this would be it now. The best I'd ever get.

This to me though is proof that I am still improving. Proof how long this recovery actually is.

I can't help but think that all my hard work at the gym is also paying off. For the past few months I've been working really hard, going 3 times a week and focussing on core muscle work.

Last week my fitness instructor asked me to do the "Plank," which is basically lying face down on a mat, resting on your forearms and pushing off the floor so you're resting on your toes and elbows only. 

I was a bit reluctant at first as I haven't really done any exercises on the floor since surgery and I was worried about hurting my back. It was awkward getting down that low and getting back up but he was impressed with how long I could hold the exercise, he said I can hold it longer than most people he sees so my core exercises must be working! 

I'm now doing this exercise when I go to the gym, but resting on a pilates ball rather than the floor so I don't need to get down that low.

I have really noticed that my lower back pain has improved since I started all these core exercises and I'm so happy that I can now do things like sitting up in bed, like I used to before surgery, without log rolling out.

Honestly, I thought I would never do this again. I thought that maybe the rods restricted me from being able to sit up without rolling on my side but it must be weak muscles and now I'm regaining strength in my back muscles things like this are getting so much easier.

Yes, it's always in the back of my mind that what if I'm doing damage to my back/fusion/metal going to the gym all the time? This thought sometimes takes over and I'm scared to try new things but I'm getting to the point slowly where I'm realising that my back is stronger than I think.

I actually feel like I'm getting my old life back, after all this time.

Woohoo!!!

Haircuts post scoliosis surgery: A pain in the neck (literally!)

So I had my hair done this weekend and it reminded me that having my hair cut is one thing that I absoltuely hate doing post scoliosis surgery, that and shaving my legs. I try to put it off for as long as possible but some things are just unavoidable.

The problem is that going to the hairdressers is now a completely different experience from pre-surgery, and not an enjoyable one at that. This is mainly because I can't bend my back to slouch into the hairdresser's chair so I end up perching on the end of the chair sitting straight up or leaning back with my shoulder's touching the top of the chair and a huge gap between my lower back and the back of the chair! It's safe to say that sitting this way for a fair few hours is no fun.

The worst part is leaning back to have my hair washed, it's sooo uncomfortable as I can't mould my back to the chair and end up again with the huge gap between my lower back and the back of the chair. I used to enjoy having my hair washed at the hairdressers but now I just want them to hurry up and get on with it so I can get out of that horrible seat. 

It's probably my own fault for having foils that take hours but hey beauty is pain and I may have a sore back after visiting the hairdressers post surgery but at least my hair looks good! ;-)

Next time I'll take a cushion...

1 Year, 5 months post op

So I'm now 1 year 5 months post op and thought I'd update how I'm doing now. I think honestly things have been pretty constant which is why I've not updated for a while. 

Last month my physio referred me to an exercise on the NHS scheme, as I still needed physio but there was nothing more she could do for me herself as she didnt have the right equipment. I still have problems with my lower back feeling weak and painful, especially if I've been walking alot. 

So I've been referred to a local council gym where a qualified fitness instructor has designed a programme for me to help strengthen my lower back muscles and my shoulder. 

This is all free for 3 months which I think is pretty good! It's all low impact stuff, basically using resistance machines on low resistance levels, walking on a treadmill or cycling for 30 mins, and various exercises on a pilates ball and with 1kg weights which I need to do 3-4 times a week. 

To start with I was quite cautious using the machines at the gym as it felt strange and I was worried about doing damage to my fusion or metalwork. This has been tough for me as I'm constantly worried about everything I do causing damage - I think because I was never really told what I could or couldn't do after surgery. 

Anyway, the fitness instructor was saying that I'm actually behind in my recovery and I should have been doing these things much sooner to help my muscles and recovery. The reason why I didnt though was because I wasn't sure if this was ok and you just don't know what to do for the best half of the time. At least I've started now though and I have to say even after 4 weeks of going I HAVE noticed an improvement. 

My back muscles feel stronger and I'm able to do things I havent since before surgery like rolling onto my side to sleep and I also find it easier getting in and out of the car. I don't know if it's just because I'm now 1 year 5 months post op and it all just takes time, or it's because of the physio or a bit of both but my back DOES feel stronger and I'm starting to feel more like my old self at long last. 

Although certain things (like wrapping Xmas presents, as I discovered the other night!!!) are still tough and I don't think I was prepared before my surgery just how long this recovery takes and how frustrating it would be. 

I just need to remember how far I've come, this time last year I was still in my brace and on 8 tramadol tablets a day. Now I work full time and hardly take painkillers, maybe 1 tramadol now and again if I've had a long day walking.

Determination is the key... onwards and upwards!!

Louise xx

My Weekend in London

Ok so I'm now 1 year and 3 months post scoliosis surgery and I'm (almost!!) back to normal! I really can't believe all the things I can do now, I work full time and study for a Marketing diploma in the evenings as well as doing my exercises. 

Despite that though, this weekend was a huge milestone for me and a bit of a  challenge!

I went to London to visit a friend and it was the first time I have been away for a weekend by myself on a train/public transport since my surgery and I was worried how I'd cope. 


I won't lie, I DID find it difficult as I took a small case with me and it was awkward carrying it on and off the train, dragging it round the underground and up and down steps (HOW many steps in the London underground?!). Luckily my friends helped me and carried my case for me up the steps but there's no way I could have done it alone. 


I also found the amount of walking difficult as we spent most of the weekend walking (HOW big is London??!) and rushing about on the busy underground. After a full day of walking on Sat I just had to lie down when I got back to my friends flat and after that I stupidly put heels on to go back out on the Sat night. Heels + the tube + hours walking = not good!

Anyway, after the weekend was over I started feeling a bit down that my back was so sore and that I felt like an old woman not being able to walk around all day, needing to sit down etc - a nightmare train journey home with no seats was the final straw!! I ended up sitting awkwardly on my case for over an hour which did not help my pain.

I hate the fact that I can't stand for long so can't really do nights out in busy clubs (i.e London where it's ALWAYS busy) unless I get there really early to get a seat and stay in the same place all night, so bar crawls or going out later on are out of the question. It's hard cos in London and alot of cities all the bars are spread out so you have to walk quite far to get from bar to bar. Also most of the time when I do get a seat they are horrible hard wooden chairs (WHY are these everywhere?!) which are uncomfortable or stools with no backs which are nearly as painful as standing. I don't like saying anything either as I don't want to ruin anyone else's time.

Other people just don't realise how hard it all still is for me and just because my op was a year ago doesn't mean I'm "cured" and the fact that I look "normal" and also young is hard as I can't exactly ask people to move so I can sit down on busy trains. I will say this now - it is STILL hard.

I don't know where I'm going with this just that I was kind of happy that I'd been as it was an achievement for me. But it made me realise there's still a way to go.. I mean I work full time now but I drive to work and it's only a 10 minute journey. 

I'm not sure I could work full time if I lived in London, had to get the tube and rush about all day. 


I don't think I can do a journey like that again for while! But at least I did it and have come such a long way to get through the weekend :)

A few months ago I don't think I could have even gone, which is what I need to remind myself...so onwards and upwards I guess! :-) xx

Scoliosis Surgery - Extended Recovery

I really wanted to write this blog when I was actually going through my recovery to document my thoughts and feelings. I haven't gotten round to it until now but I found some forum posts that I wrote whilst going through the extended recovery period and just thought they might be interesting to read....

 Scoliosis Surgery Recovery - 3months post op check up

Just got back now and everythings fine - phew! I got to see my surgeon himself which I was pleased about and only waited about 5minutes - must be a first! He said he can see it's fusing well on the xray I had today, he showed me the xray I had done just after surgery and I could see about 4 broken ribs on it from the costoplasty - no wonder I've been in such pain lol. The xray from today shows the ribs have nearly healed but there's still a way to go yet, he said I should expect to get pain from them for another 3months at least.

I told him that I was a bit unhappy with how my right shoulder blade protrudes and he said that I need to build the muscles up around it which should help to improve the appearance of it, so he's referred me to physio. Hopefully this will work....

I also told him that I was expecting a bit more of a correction than I've got, as the first time I saw him he said he thought my spine was flexible and that he could achieve about a 70-80% correction (instead I got about 50%) but today when I asked him about it, he said that it wouldn't have been safe in my case to go any straighter than he did, apparantly my curve was stiffer than he first thought too.

But the rib hump has completely gone which is a plus so my back looks good. He showed me some xrays from the side and the difference is amazing.

I don't have to wear my brace anymore which is good and he said I can start going back to the gym again now but only to do walking on the treadmill and maybe cycling - he said definitely no to the cross trainer yet...! I don't think I feel ready for the gym just yet, but it's good to know I could if I wanted to I guess.

4 months post op: My first Physio Appointment Post Surgery

Today I had physio for the first time after my surgery (on the NHS) and I actually found it really good! Except for the fact I nearly slipped over on the ice outside the doctors - they havent gritted outside the drs, how annoying!!I didn't really hurt myself but jolted my muscles - my poor back..

Anyway, my surgeon referred me for physio as he said I have a 'weakened scapula' which makes it stick out more than it should as the muscles around it are really really weak.

So the physio has given me some exercises to help strengthen the muscles and she said it should make my shoulder blade appear much flatter over time - which makes me happy as I'm quite self concious about it.

She's also given me some gentle exercises to strengthen my lower back. She was really nice and kept saying what a good job they'd done on my back.

So I'm glad I went even though the weather is so bad I nearly didnt risk it!!

Scoliosis Surgery Recovery - 4 months post op: Tramadol Addiction

I've been taking Tramadol now for about 4months, and I don't want to take it anymore, as my pain is not as bad as it was.

For the past couple of weeks I've only been taking 1 tablet (50mg) per day (in the afternoon usually) to try and cut down, which isnt alot I dont think?

If I miss this 1 tablet, I feel really weird.. lightheaded, sweaty and feel like I'm getting the flu or something, it's really hard to explain but it's not nice!! Then, as I can't bear the feeling anymore, I take 1 tablet and I start to feel 'normal' again within an hour or so.

I cant take this any more, I just want to not have to take it! How do I cut down from 1 a day? I mentioned to my GP a few weeks ago that I was worried about getting addicted and she said I wouldnt be, so what's going on then?!

Scoliosis Surgery Recovery - 4 months post op: Post Surgery Blues

Today I was supposed to go into work for a couple of hours for a meeting to discuss going back to work and a few other things, my boss said he'd pick me up (I'm still in too much pain to drive) at 1pm.

So I take all morning getting ready which is a real struggle at the moment, it took me about 20 mins to just get my tights on this morning! Then when i'm sat in my coat all ready to go he rings me and says he's running late can we do it tomorrow! By which point I just burst into tears on the phone, now I feel stupid !!

But it was just the fact that it took so much effort with the amount of pain I'm in and I'm gonna have to do it all again tomorrow now!! I don't think he realises how much effort it takes just to get dressed atm. Also I spilt milk All over the floor earlier and can't bend down to clean it up - this again made me get all upset. I just feel useless and emotional right now :(

Scoliosis Surgery Recovery - 6 month post op check up:

Just a quick update on me. Today I had my 6month post op check (even though I'm nearly 8months post op but never mind..) and all is ok in terms of metalwork etc... phew..

Am a tad disappointed though as I ended up seeing a registrar and had to wait hours. He seemed to know what he was doing but would have liked to have seen my surgeon really. My surgeon was there but was running really behind and by the time I'd been to xray and came back think he had gone...! 

Just wish I could have gone to xray as soon as I got there instead of waiting aages to be told I needed an xray...... well I could have told them that lol. Just a bit annoying after waiting ages for an appointment, having it cancelled and rearranged etc...

Anyway at least all is ok, I feel like Im finally getting back to myself again now after 8 months and starting to get my life back - I started going back to the gym at 5 months post op and I even went out dancing on Saturday night! ;-) yay!

Scoliosis Surgery Recovery

Scoliosis Surgery Recovery - Introduction

Recovering fully from scoliosis surgery can take up to a year or sometimes two depending on how old you are when you have the surgery. The spine takes about a year to fuse and during this time it's important not to do anything that may damage the fusion as it takes such as impact sports or heavy lifting.

The problem with scoliosis surgery recovery is that it is very slow and it's easy to get frustrated that things aren't improving - I get very frustrated at times! 

But it's important that when this happens to just look back a few months and remember how many more things you can do now. With scoliosis surgery recovery you often see progress month by month rather than week by week.

Things DO get better believe me, I've been there :)


Scoliosis Surgery Recovery - Journey Home from Hospital

My dad picked me up from hospital to take me home, which was about an hours journey by car. I had been shown how to get in and out of a car safely by the occupational therapist at the hospital but it was still very uncomfortable getting in. 

My tip: take plenty of cushions with you in the car! I had two behind me and one in front of me for support. I was also in my brace which was really uncomfortable but I think helped make me feel more supported. 

The journey was painful, I felt EVERY bump believe me! And getting out of the car was just as bad. I still find it awkward getting in and out of cars now but that's for another post!

Scoliosis Surgery Recovery - Recovery at Home


When I got first got home after scoliosis surgery I think I realised for the first time that I was a bit taller than before surgery, all the kitchen cabinets and the sink in the bathroom looked lower and it was all very strange. I also remember trying to sit on the sofa and just couldn't as it was waay too low! 

Luckily before I left the hospital an occupational therapist had my parents measure the heights of all our sofas and my bed and recommended that we got a higher chair for me to sit on (like the one I had by my bed in hospital - I called it a 'Grandad Chair.')

My parents also bought me a table like this:
 
 

I could then sit on my 'grandad chair' to have my meals or go on my laptop.

So just a bit of advice really, you will probably need a decent chair with a straight back (plus LOTS of cushions) as there is no way you can sit or lounge on a sofa for a good few months!

Another really handy piece of equipment during recovery from scoliosis surgery is a grabber:

 

This was invaluable to me as it gave me back a little bit of independance. I used it to pick things up off the floor if I dropped something as I was not allowed to bend for 3months, and actually I still use it now as once you have a spinal fusion it's awkward bending down anyway - even once you've recovered!

I also had a raised toilet seat (this is a must as you can't get low enough without it at first!), crutches and a stool to sit on to wash myself as I couldn't get into our shower at first (it's over the bath). All of these things were provided by the hospital.

The best thing to do before you buy anything is check with the hospital what they will provide you with first as they all tend to be different.


Scoliosis Surgery Recovery: First Few Weeks at Home

The first few weeks post scoliosis surgery at home were difficult, I won't lie. You may need someone around to help you for at least the first few weeks - my mum took two weeks off work to look after me. 

Just to give you an idea of what it's like for the first couple of weeks, my daily routine would consist of:  

• Getting out of bed - This was a chore in itself! To get up was very difficult and I could no longer just sit up to get out of bed like I used to. Instead I had to 'log-roll' out which is basically just rolling onto my side and sitting up (I still do this now one year later as it's easier!!) and then supporting myself on my crutch/someone to stand.  
• Having a wash - my mum would help me with washing for the first few weeks as I struggled to do this alone. She would set up my perching stool (provided by the hospital) by the sink in the bathroom and put all the towels down on the floor and I would basically use this stool to sit on and have a body wash. I wasn't allowed to get my scar wet for the first couple of weeks at home (your surgeon will tell you when it's ok to do so) so it was a PAIN washing my hair during this time. I used alot of dry shampoo I can tell you!! I can recommend stocking up on dry shampoo and also taking some to the hospital with you so you can freshen up a bit.
• Getting Dressed - I was able to do this by myself when I was discharged from hospital but it was and still is a struggle. Try putting trousers or tights on without bending your back - not easy! I used to put the clothes I wanted to wear high up on a shelf or something so I could reach them without bending.
• Painkillers, Painkillers and more Painkillers! I was put on tramadol, paracetemol, antibiotics and piritin (to stop the itching that the tramadol caused) when I was first discharged from hospital. I took my painkillers in the morning at about 6am, lunchtime, tea-time and before bed. I was put on antibiotics as the doctors were worried that I had an infection at the top of my scar as it had started to widen, thankfully I didn't! So the antibiotics were more of a precautionary measure.
• Sleeping - I spent alot of the day in bed sleeping for the first few weeks. Mainly because the painkillers just knocked me out! But it also felt better on my back to lie down than sit up. I could only lie flat on my back for the first few months as any other position felt too uncomfortable. In fact I still find it uncomfortable lying any other way now, which is weird as I could never sleep on my back before surgery.
• Eating/Drinking - I would get up and sit on my 'grandad chair' in my brace (with about 3 cushions behind me!) by the side of my bed to eat my meals, using the table that I mentioned above. I would try and increase the amount of time I spent sitting each day but to start with, it was difficult to sit for longer than an hour or two and then I would need to lie down. If I needed a drink when I was lying down I couldn't just sit up, I would have to 'log-roll' and actually sit on the side of the bed. To solve this issue I mainly used beakers with bendy straws so that I could drink lying down! I would recommend stocking up on bendy straws for the immediate post surgery stages. You will also need someone to make meals for you for the first few weeks as you can't lift anything or bend to get into cupboards etc, if this isn't an option then frozen/pre-maid meals that you can just heat up in the microwave are ideal.
• Walking - I tried to walk for a little each day to keep my strength up - this is very important. For the first few days at home I used my crutches to walk around the house for about 20 minutes, then I would need a lie down / sleep. It's amazing how doing so little can really tire you out after this surgery. After about 4-6 weeks though I was walking round the block without my crutches for about an hour a day and my mum used to walk with me. Luckily it was summer so it was a good time of year to go out for a walk. I couldn't believe how quickly I improved though and with my brace on I could soon walk pretty much like I used to before surgery, at a normal pace, by about 6 weeks post op.

After the first few weeks you find you can do more and more for yourself, like make yourself a meal and walk much further. At this stage it can start to get boring, as you are not allowed to do much but you do feel better in yourself - I was signed off work for 3months, which was then extended to 4 months! I did start to do work from home after 2 months though. 

It's important to remember though that I was 24 when I had the surgery, teenagers tend to go back to school part time after about 6-8 weeks.

I kept myself busy during this time with DVDs, magazines, daytime tv, Haribo ;), puzzle books, and the Internet. I even took up cross stitching and baking and became quite good at making cupcakes! :-)

I also spent alot of time on a scoliosis support forum speaking with others that had been through the same thing. This really helped me as it stopped me from going mad with worry if I felt a new pain or twinge as I could see others were experiencing exactly the same! 

You will feel new pains and the odd twinge or "electric shock" type pain, which are usually the nerves and muscles "waking up" and it's normal to experience this after this type of surgery. 

It's also normal to be in pain for quite/uncomfortable for quite a while after the surgery, it's very frustrating but it doesn't mean there is anything wrong, your body just needs time to recover.

Keep Moving!

I know I've said this already but it's important to keep moving as much as you can to prevent circulation problems. I say this because at about 6 weeks post op I experienced extreme swelling in my right leg and ankle and when I pressed my fingers into my ankle it left an indent. 

I went to the dr who was worried because I had just had surgery that I could have a blod clot! Needless to say I was terrified and had to have scan on my leg and blood tests immediately. 

Thankfully I didn't have a blood clot, instead I had oedema caused by me being immobile for so long. To reduce your risks of blot clots and swelling in the legs post surgery it's important to keep getting up for regular walks, doing simple leg exercises, drinking lots of water and you could even wear some flight/circulation socks. (They do provide you with these when you are in hospital to wear in bed but I didn't get any to take home, might be worth asking about this before you are discharged.)

Feeling Down Post Surgery

It's really easy and I would say completely normal to feel down after this surgery. It's a huge thing to go through, a massive change to your body and at times I found it all quite hard to deal with. I definitely suffered from the post surgery blues - wondering what on earth I'd done to myself and whether it was the right thing to do.

I was worried that my back would move and go back to how it was before surgery. I was constantly taking photos of my back and comparing them to see if there were any changes - it became an obsession.

If something looked slightly different on one of the photos or was taken from a different angle I would really work myself up with worry. From reading stories on the forum I could see it was normal to feel this way, other people suffered from this type of paranoia too post surgery. And I guess it made sense to feel so worried after all I'd been through.


I also got fed up of the pain, stiffness, not being able to do things for myself, not being able to pick things up that I had dropped and having to sit up 'straight' all the time with my brace on. I longed to lounge on the sofa like the rest of my family as at that point I couldn't see myself ever being able to again. But of course, at around 3months post op I could sit on the sofa again - and it was the best feeling ever!! :-)

Hope this helps, please feel free to contact me or comment below if you have any questions about scoliosis surgery and the recovery and I'll do my best to help.

If you're feeling a bit blue post surgery, check out some inspirational quotes that helped me feel a bit more positive during my recovery.


Louise xx