A Surgery Journal
While preparing for my back surgery, I’ve been connecting with other people who’ve had the same (or similar) procedure. I’ve connected with several great people on Instagram, and I’ve even found some journal-style blogs where people wrote daily updates about their post-surgery recovery.
This has been tremendously helpful to me, both in deciding whether to have the surgery and in preparing myself for what’s to come. So I’ve decided to do the same. In addition to my usual posts (and maybe some guest posts while I’m out of commission), I’m going to do my very best to post regular updates before and after my surgery.
My hope is that:
- Someone in my position will come across these posts in the future and will find them useful, supportive, encouraging, or whatever.
- It will be another way for me to connect with people who’ve had (or will be having) a spinal fusion. (If this is YOU, please feel free to get in touch with me!!! Leave a comment here, or if you want to contact me privately, you can reach me at sharon{at}mommyrunsit{dot}com or via DM on Instagram.)
Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
So first, let me explain the actual procedure that I’ll be having. I’ve touched on this in other posts, but here’s a quick summary.
The procedure is called a Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF). You can read a complete explanation about it HERE and HERE. But the short version (in my own non-medical words) is this:
I will be put under general anesthesia for the surgery. It’s a “minimally invasive” procedure, which basically means that I’m not going to be cut open – rather the surgeon will perform the surgery via two small incisions on my back. He will remove the discs at L4-L5 and L5-S1, and he will put a synthetic spacer in their place. The spacer will be filled with dust & chips of my own bone (this is called a bone graft), which will eventually produce new bones that will fuse my spine in those two spots.
The spacer and my spine will be held together with titanium rods and screws, which will probably remain in my back for the rest of my life. Once the bones fuse, the hardware will be extraneous. It’s possible to have it removed, but most people choose to avoid a second surgical procedure and just let it be.
Most things I’ve read say that patients spend 3-4 nights in the hospital post-surgery, but my surgeon expects that I will only be there for two nights. He also said that he will want me up and moving the same day as my surgery. Some people have asked whether I’ll have to use a walker or wear a back brace, and my surgeon doesn’t think I’ll need either. He does say that I will be in quite a lot of pain after the surgery and that the first 1-2 weeks will be particularly rough. He estimates that with physical therapy, I’ll be able to resume normal functioning about 6 weeks after the surgery, although it will be a minimum of 3 months before I can even think about running again (and that’s probably being optimistic).
A photo posted by Sharon 💕 run | yoga | joy (@mommyrunsit) on
Current Mood
Physically, I’m doing better than I was a couple of weeks ago. I saw my primary care doctor, and she gave me some anti-inflammatories that don’t seem to upset my stomach too much. I’m sleeping better and my overall mobility has improved, although anything but the gentlest of stretching is still out of the question.
A photo posted by Sharon 💕 run | yoga | joy (@mommyrunsit) on
Emotionally, I have good days and bad days. Running, yoga, and going to the gym were big parts of my life and key to my self-care. Without those things, it’s been hard not to slip into self-pity or depression. I really have to push myself to get outside, stay active, and avoid becoming socially isolated. My husband has been a great help with this. This weekend, for example, he planned a hike for the while family. And he also somehow convinced me to play frisbee with him and the girls, which I actually enjoyed a lot. I’m glad he’s on my team.
I’m also anxious, but for right now my anxiety is directed more toward taking care of my family than the surgery itself. My surgery is on the girls’ last day of school, so there are plans to be made. They will spend some or all of the first week with my parents, and they’ll be in day camp the second week. My husband will be telecommuting for a few weeks so that he can take care of all of us.
Meanwhile, I’m busy scheduling all of our doctor & dentist appointments during the next 3 weeks, in between all of the end of the school year activities. And of course I have big plans for all the cleaning and organizing I’m going to do beforehand in order to simplify life for the rest of the family. We’ll see how that goes. My husband held down the fort twice last year, both for a 9-10 day stretch, so I have no doubt that he’ll manage just fine without me.
So the countdown begins. 23 days and counting.
Stephanie says
I’ll having the TLIF surgery in 2 weeks, and I’m beyond scared about it. I’ve read your blog, I’ve stalked your Instagram and you seem to still be alive haha, but I’m still nervous, totally second guessing this decision I’ve made that will be with me the rest of my life. I need it though, as my back is only going to get worse. My worst fear is the first few weeks after surgery and not being able to do anything. I’m so active and involved in family/household chores that seeing my husband, mom and mother in law do them for me will make me feel so lazy and incompetent… I also have a 14 month old son and not being able to pick him up for who knows how long is the worst feeling. It kills me. I’m really having a hard time with this decision. Im hoping I can get back to normal in a short time but i know it may be a while or not at all… Please send any and all words of encouragement as I’m really needing it! How did you cope?
sharon says
Hi Stephanie! Yes, definitely still alive. 🙂 The whole recovery process is hard, and sometimes I still second guess my decision too. And then I think it through, and I always come to the same conclusion – a fusion was the only thing that was going to keep my slip from getting worse. Same as you.
I totally get the feeling lazy/incompetent thing. But I was so miserable and/or doped up for the first couple of weeks that I didn’t mind having my husband do everything. I couldn’t have done any of it even if I’d tried. So I just had to kind of let it go. I slept a lot. I journeyed to & from the bathroom. Slept some more. (It’s all kind of a blur of ice packs and pain meds.) Give yourself two weeks of selfishness/self-care. You basically have no choice, so you can either fight it or accept it. Either way you’ll be stuck in bed. Know what I mean?
For me, the guilt kicked in once I started to feel a bit like myself again, mabye around 2-3 weeks post-op. And I probably pushed myself too hard because of it. But the thing is, it’s been 3 months now, and I can pretty much do everything around the house and with the kids that I did before surgery. I do laundry, cook dinner, drive them all over town. I still have some back pain, and I still get tired very easily – but other than that, I’m basically back to normal. And in the grand scheme of things, 3 months isn’t really that long. And actually I was able to do quite a lot by 6 weeks. If you’re young and active and don’t have other issues to complicate your surgery or recovery, you’ll probably be back at it sooner than you think.
I don’t know if this helps at all. My kids are a lot older than yours (8 and 10), and who are we kidding – caring for a toddler isn’t going to be easy. But it sounds liken you’ve got people to help you, which will make a big difference. Let them help you, okay? Two more things: 1) You can totally ask me anything at all. I mean that. Just email me: mommyrunsit(at)gmail(dot)com. 2) Have you found the spondy Facebook group yet? If not, you need to. It’s a HUGE help. I’ll be thinking about you… xoxo
Nancy says
I’m just curious….how did you find out you needed this? I have had daily back pain for 3 years! My son is 3. I’ve had x-rays, and an MRI done: result indicated 2 slight herniated discs between L4-L5 and S1 and slightly degenerating bone…. I’ve done physiotherapy and treatments of anti-inflammatories….I’ve even had cortisone infiltration!! NOTHING IS WORKING. I feel so helpless…and my little guy wants his mommy to play 🙁 I’ve FINALLY managed to get a doc to prescribe Arthrotec. and so now my pain has decreased from an 8 to maybe a 3 (which means i can actually get out of bed and go pee without horrible pain!) but i’m only 38 and really didn’T want to be on pills for the rest of my life! Any advise ?
sharon says
Hey Nancy! So sorry about the back pain. 🙁 I actually just wrote a blog post about my spondy, including how I was diagnosed – long story short, it was discovered by a physical therapist who felt the bump from the slipped vertebra in my back. Can you see a surgeon for a consultation? Surgery is hard, but I think for me it was the right choice. I think recovery now will be easier than it would’ve been if I’d waited another 10 years, you know? I’m taking a muscle relaxer called Robaxin. It seems to help and is not habit-forming, which I like. I wish I could be more help…I know how much this sucks. Hugs & healing thoughts…
Morgan says
This post is really inspiring! Surgery can certainly be a nerve-wracking experience, but this generation is really lucky that they have so many resources to get a feel for what to expect beforehand. Recovery periods sometimes seem like they’ll never end, especially when you have a family to care for, but just remember you will get through it and bounce back better than ever!
sharon says
Thank you so much, Morgan! I’m very very nervous, but at the same time I’m just so ready to be done with this part of my life. I’m ready to get back to being me. Thanks for reading! xo