{"id":892,"date":"2012-06-25T07:54:56","date_gmt":"2012-06-25T12:54:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=892"},"modified":"2012-07-30T07:02:58","modified_gmt":"2012-07-30T12:02:58","slug":"scoliosis-surgery-recovery-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/scoliosis-surgery-recovery-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Scoliosis Surgery Recovery at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Segment 3 of this blog picks up where <a href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=838\">The Big Day <\/a>left off<br \/>\nAnd to reinforce what I&#8217;ve said before, I am NOT a medical professional of any kind. \u00a0Consult a doctor or at least a physical therapist before undertaking any suggestions found on this blog. \u00a0You take full responsibility for using any of this information.<\/p>\n<p>We were originally led to expect a total of 14 to 18 days away from home, split up pretty evenly between Baylor Plano and the Baylor Rehab facility in Frisco. \u00a0So like the smart little squirrels we are, we plugged that information into our calendar, I produced little plastic bags of daily supplements to last that long and off we scurried to Baylor.<\/p>\n<p>As early as ICU, we started hearing that Rehab was unlikely due to my rapid \u00a0recovery &#8211; which sounded pretty good. \u00a0On Friday, they were saying we&#8217;d be going home either Sunday or Monday and that would be our call.<\/p>\n<p>So when Sunday came around and I was feeling pretty good, that seemed like a good time to say &#8220;Adios&#8221; to all our friends, nurses and doctors on the PCU and head for the Old Homestead. \u00a0And we did. \u00a0(insert &#8220;I&#8217;m an old cowhand&#8230; from the Rio Grande&#8230;&#8221; chorus here) We arrived home around 1400 hours \u00a0And then it was time to work on Logistics and get our Love Nest converted \u00a0(temporarily) into an Invalid Nest.<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately we have near-Zero clutter, a single-story home (built that way on purpose) and \u00a0 the right flow of energy to make it a really good place to recuperate. \u00a0Lots of open spaces define our living areas, and my wife has transformed both front and back yards into an Oasis. \u00a0I cannot think of a better place to Rehab. \u00a0And No. \u00a0We do not rent out rooms, ain&#8217;t gonna happen. \u00a0Don&#8217;t even think about it.<\/p>\n<p>Index<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h4>Recommendations<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=892&amp;page=2#massage\">Massage Chair<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=892&amp;page=2#straight\">Straight-back Chair<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=892&amp;page=3#Occasion\">Occasional Tables<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=892&amp;page=4#organize\">Organizing Your Stuff<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=892&amp;page=5#weigh\">Weigh Your Stuff<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=892&amp;page=5#showerchair\">Shower Chair<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=892&amp;page=6#reacher\">Reacher<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=892&amp;page=7#showerhead\">Hand-Held Shower Head<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=892&amp;page=8#brush\">Shower Brush<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=892&amp;page=9#bp\">What&#8217;s Your Blood Pressure?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=892&amp;page=9#temp\">What&#8217;s Your Temperature?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=892&amp;page=10#clothing\">Clothing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=892&amp;page=11#nutrition\">Post-Op Nutrition<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=892&amp;page=12#irregular\">Irregularity and You<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=892&amp;page=13#emotprogress\">Making Physical and Emotional Progress<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=892&amp;page=14#personal\">My Personal Progress<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/?p=1006\">What Else Can They Do To You?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><!--nextpage--><\/h2>\n<h2><a id=\"recommend\" name=\"recommend\"><\/a>Recommendations<\/h2>\n<h4><a id=\"massage\" name=\"massage\"><\/a>Massage Chair<\/h4>\n<div>\n<dl id=\"attachment_893\">\n<dt><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/SanyoChair.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"SanyoChair\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/SanyoChair.jpg?resize=235%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Sanyo Massage Chair\" width=\"235\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/dt>\n<dd>Sanyo Massage Chair<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<p>For many years I&#8217;ve had \u00a0a Sanyo massaging recliner (remember the one Sharper Image used to sell?) which makes all the difference in the world to someone suffering from back problems.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Really cool tip:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This chair is nearly perfect &#8211; just not quite. \u00a0It&#8217;s a little &#8220;harsh&#8221; &#8211; in that the rollers are narrow enough to HURT! \u00a0Now if I wanted BrrrruuunHilda to tenderize my back into a Main Course, this would free up some of her time. \u00a0OTOH, If I actually want some <em>Relief<\/em>&#8230; \u00a0a simple modification needs to be made. \u00a0The design of the chair back creates a narrow channel down the middle, where the rollers can torture your already-tormented spine. So here&#8217;s yer simple fix, Bubba &#8211; and not a stitch of duct tape needed. \u00a0I know&#8230; \u00a0I&#8217;m sure I could have figured out a place for some duct tape. \u00a0Perhaps in Rev. 2.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what you need:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A nice, new, thick black (or navy blue will work) Towel &#8211; or the color of your favorite team (do NOT tell your wife that was <em>my<\/em> idea!)<\/li>\n<li>Fold it in half the long way, so you have a 54&#8243; long by about 12&#8243; wide towel now.<\/li>\n<li>Drape it from the top of the chair back all the way down the back, so it fills in the channel.<\/li>\n<li>Fasten it at the top so it doesn&#8217;t puddle up at the bottom right behind your back.<\/li>\n<li>This is where you could use that duct tape &#8211; but I prefer a blue 1&#8243; spring clamp.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>That&#8217;s it. \u00a0It&#8217;s completely adjustable from a straight up back to fully \u00a0horizontal, has leg massage (you will WANT this) and has lots of other settings that make it one of the best investments you&#8217;ll ever make.<\/p>\n<p>And speaking of investments&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Did you know you can write this off?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hell Yes<\/strong> you can!<\/p>\n<p>Get your Doctor to write a prescription for one of these and two things happen:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>You don&#8217;t pay State sales tax<\/li>\n<li>You write off the purchase price on the entire chair<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>This applies to other massage chairs, of course &#8211; and there are only about a bazillion different varieties out there (lots that may need no mods at all), so do your research before making this big decision. \u00a0This particular chair was in the $3k range when we bought it, but&#8230; \u00a0We bought the floor demo and saved a grand. \u00a0Never be afraid to haggle.<\/p>\n<h4><a id=\"straight\" name=\"straight\"><\/a>Straight-Back Chairs<\/h4>\n<p>If you don&#8217;t have the budget for a recliner, you MUST have a dedicated \u00a0straight-back chair that&#8217;s COMFORTABLE for long periods of time. \u00a0Some dining room chairs with arms are pretty good for this. \u00a0Either appropriate one from your dining room &#8211; or invest in another for just this purpose. \u00a0Reducing stress during recovery is crucial. \u00a0All of the things you need to make you feel comfortable and speed your healing must always be where you need them and unoccupied by others.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h4><a id=\"occasional\" name=\"occasional\"><\/a>Occasional Tables<\/h4>\n<div>\n<dl id=\"attachment_894\">\n<dt><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Dave-Red.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Dave-Red\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Dave-Red.jpg?resize=229%2C285&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Dave laptop table\" width=\"229\" height=\"285\" \/><\/a><\/dt>\n<dd>Dave laptop table<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<p>What they are the rest of the time is not important, buy when you need them, they had darned-well better be tables.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m particularly fond of IKEA&#8217;s DAVE table. \u00a0It&#8217;s a small, lightweight, adjustable wood table that&#8217;s great for a laptop, dinner tray or a place to organize your meds and such. \u00a0Check them out. \u00a0Dave comes in 3 different colors: Red, Black and White &#8211; and for a whopping $34.95.<\/p>\n<p>Sure there are lots of other options, but these are inexpensive, adjustable and fit almost anywhere due to their triangular shape.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h4><a id=\"organize\" name=\"organize\"><\/a>Organizing your Stuff<\/h4>\n<p>It is likely you will accrue a substantial collection of &#8220;stuff&#8221; (remember what George Carlin had to say about Stuff?) that needs to follow you from place to place around the house, to the doctor, etc. \u00a0It makes life a lot easier if you can find something that will do everything at once. \u00a0Whatever this thing is, it must have certain characteristics:<\/p>\n<div>\n<dl id=\"attachment_896\">\n<dt><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/containerstorebox.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"containerstorebox\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/containerstorebox.jpg?resize=150%2C150&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Stacking Storage Boxes\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><\/dt>\n<dd>Stacking Storage Boxes<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>It needs to look Nice. \u00a0Your Camo Range Bag is <em>NOT<\/em> OK. (ask your wife)<\/li>\n<li>It needs to weigh ++ \u00a0no more than what you&#8217;re allowed by your doctor to pick up.(in my case that&#8217;s 8 lbs)<\/li>\n<li>This number will likely increase as your recovery progresses.<\/li>\n<li>It should be compact<\/li>\n<li>Something on wheels you can roll behind you is a good idea. \u00a0Takes a lot of stress off your back &#8211; and your mate.<\/li>\n<li>The Container Store is your friend when it comes to things like this. \u00a0One of my favorite stacking containers is made by them. \u00a0It&#8217;s a frosted white, strong and contemporary looking box &#8211; with casters as an <em>option<\/em>. \u00a0I have an almost 6&#8242; high stack of the smaller ones with casters on the base unit. \u00a0I can move the whole stack from one room to another easily. \u00a0You could easily attach a lanyard to make dragging it behind you pretty simple. \u00a0I don&#8217;t have an exact weight on each component, but they&#8217;re pretty light. \u00a0The sides are perforated into roughly 1\/2&#8243; square openings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Small Stacking Storage Box (the one I use)<br \/>\n10&#8243; x 20&#8243; x 8-1\/8&#8243; h<br \/>\n371010 &#8211; $10.99 ea<\/p>\n<p>Large Stacking Storage Box<br \/>\n14-5\/8&#8243; x 20&#8243; x 8-1\/8&#8243; h<br \/>\n371020 &#8211; $12.99 ea<\/p>\n<p>Stacking Storage Box Casters Set of 4<br \/>\n371030 &#8211; $4.99 per set<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h4><a id=\"weight\" name=\"weight\"><\/a>Weighing Your Stuff<\/h4>\n<p>++ Exactly how do you know how much your &#8220;stuff&#8221; weighs?<\/p>\n<p>Well&#8230; \u00a0If you have a luggage scale (and everyone should these days &#8211; it&#8217;s a lot less hassle than juggling luggage between bags all over the floor at the checkin counter. \u00a0I know. \u00a0I&#8217;ve done it.<\/p>\n<p>You can certainly buy a compact device that will do this for you, \u00a0weigh your luggage, your cat, your wife&#8217;s purse (when you&#8217;re having another one of &#8220;those&#8221; discussions &#8211; and anything else that you can slip a hook around. \u00a0I recommend this one:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"http:\/\/rcm.amazon.com\/e\/cm?t=harriscreativegr&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=B00468IZRM&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h4><a id=\"showerchair\" name=\"showerchair\"><\/a>Shower Chair<\/h4>\n<div>\n<dl id=\"attachment_883\">\n<dt><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/shower-chair.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"shower-chair\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/shower-chair.jpg?resize=167%2C214&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Shower Chair\" width=\"167\" height=\"214\" \/><\/a><\/dt>\n<dd>Shower Chair<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<p>You can get a perfectly good &#8220;shower chair&#8221; from Kroger, Target, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowe&#8217;s, etc. for 8-10 bucks during the Spring \/ Summer season. \u00a0After that you need to find someone to borrow one from &#8211; and give it a good bleaching. \u00a0Let&#8217;s not get all OCD about how straight the back is. \u00a0If you want to save a few dinero, get the straightest one you can find and then compensate. \u00a0You should be sitting up perfectly straight anyway, so start working on it in the shower. \u00a0It&#8217;s very therapeutic.<\/p>\n<p>Your PT person should have mentioned this during your stay, but lay a towel on the seat. \u00a0It&#8217;s very uncomfortable having bits of your backside squeezed through those slots&#8230; \u00a0<a title=\"Shower Chair at Target\" href=\"http:\/\/www.target.com\/s?searchTerm=patio+chair&amp;category=0%7CAll%7Cmatchallpartial%7Call+categories#navigation=true&amp;viewType=medium&amp;sortBy=PriceLow&amp;isleaf=false&amp;RatingFacet=0\">This particular chair<\/a>\u00a0was a whopping $10.00 from the nice folks at Target;<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h3><a id=\"reacher\" name=\"reacher\"><\/a>Reacher<\/h3>\n<div>\n<dl id=\"attachment_882\">\n<dt><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Sams-Reacher2.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Sams Club Reacher\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Sams-Reacher2.jpg?resize=128%2C221&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Sams Club Reacher\" width=\"128\" height=\"221\" \/><\/a><\/dt>\n<dd>Sams Club Reacher<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<p>This is one of those handy squeeze-handle contraptions that allows short people to reach things on high shelves, except it&#8217;s engineered with rubber surfaces to protect your clothing. \u00a0This will be invaluable just for pulling on your underwear, if nothing else. \u00a0And let&#8217;s talk about dropping stuff. \u00a0It&#8217;s likely to happen a lot. \u00a0Now how the hell are you gonna get to it if you&#8217;re not allowed to bend over for 6 weeks? \u00a0Exactly. \u00a0So you can either leave it there for 6 weeks (not so good if it&#8217;s a container of yogurt) hope your mate, a visitor or the local cat burglar takes pity on you &#8212; or get a Reacher.<\/p>\n<p>The hospital will gladly send you home with one for a semi-reasonable fee. \u00a0I found this 32&#8243; long version for $6.83 at\u00a0<a title=\"Sams Club Reachere\" href=\"http:\/\/www.samsclub.com\/sams\/shop\/product.jsp?productId=146956&amp;refcd=GL05251200010019&amp;pid=_CSE_Google_PLA_Health-&amp;-Beauty-Aids&amp;ci_src=17588969&amp;ci_sku=210410\">Sams Club<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h4><a id=\"showerhead\" name=\"showerhead\"><\/a>Hand-Held Shower Head<\/h4>\n<p>Perhaps more important than any other item you will need for personal hygiene during your recovery is a shower head on a flexible hose.\u00a0 This will make rinsing yourself so much more convenient &#8211; and the therapeutic value of just feeling the water coursing over your body cannot be over-emphasized.\u00a0 So if you don&#8217;t have one already, get one and install it.\u00a0 It&#8217;s a 10 minute install (including removal of the original shower head) and if you do it before your surgery, you&#8217;re set when you get home.\u00a0 They come in chrome, white, brushed nickel and various combinations thereof &#8211; and most are adjustable for various intensities and massage-type functions. This is really good for your mental well-being, they&#8217;re not expensive &#8211; and you&#8217;re be nice and clean when you get out of the shower.<\/p>\n<p>I like this one:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"http:\/\/rcm.amazon.com\/e\/cm?t=harriscreativegr&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=B004ROXYBM&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><!--nextpage--><\/h3>\n<h3><a id=\"brush\" name=\"brush\"><\/a>Shower Brush<\/h3>\n<div>\n<dl id=\"attachment_884\">\n<dt><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/shower-brush.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"shower-brush\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/shower-brush.jpg?resize=182%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Shower Brush\" width=\"182\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/dt>\n<dd>Shower Brush<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<p>You will also need a way to scrub yourself from the knees-down. \u00a0And your back. \u00a0And \u00a0let&#8217;s not forget about those pesky nether regions&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Now all kinds of products are made with this exact application in mind. \u00a0From brushes that \u00a0could clean the men&#8217;s room at a Metallica Concert, to average sponge on \u00a0long stick, to amazingly long, thick, wobbly \u00a0sponges, to a pad on a stick. \u00a0&#8211; and the one we selected here. \u00a0The soft bristles of this 18-1\/2&#8243; long brush are comfortable, effective, yet not abrasive. \u00a0Perfect for getting in-between your toes and anywhere else your little heart desires.<\/p>\n<p>Produced by\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.earththerapeutics.com\/\">Earth Therapeutics\u00ae<\/a>\u00a0and sold by\u00a0<a title=\"Shower Brush\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bedbathandbeyond.com\/product.asp?SKU=14134050\">Bed Bath $ Beyond<\/a>\u00a0for a paltry $7.99, it&#8217;s made of a solid wood, has \u00a0a non-slip ergonomically-designed handle and a rope loop at the end to allow for various methods of keeping track of it in the shower.<\/p>\n<p>In my research, I found a variety of reviews. \u00a0Seems some folks have had units with assembly problems. so check yours in the store. \u00a0Give the head a decent twist while keeping a firm grip on the handle. \u00a0Seems they only use a couple of tiny nails and a small amount of glue to fasten the head to the handle in some cases. \u00a0But you don&#8217;t want to be scrubbing your back with sharp nails, so test yours well before you leave the store.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h4><a id=\"bp\" name=\"bp\"><\/a>What&#8217;s your Blood Pressure?<\/h4>\n<p>A lot of things change after major surgery and if you&#8217;re been on m3eidq5ion for hypertension, you may find that changes as well. \u00a0You should check it at least daily. \u00a0More often, depending on your exact situation. \u00a0Ask your doctor.<\/p>\n<p>The is the unit I use:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"http:\/\/rcm.amazon.com\/e\/cm?t=harriscreativegr&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=B004D9P1A8&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><a id=\"temp\" name=\"temp\"><\/a>And What Temperature is Normal for You?<\/h4>\n<p>And even more importantly for those of us with lots of steel, bolts and wombats (not really) in our spines is our daily temperature. \u00a0It&#8217;s not uncommon for us to run low-grade fevers. \u00a0But a low-grade fever can turn into big trouble too. You should probably check your temp at least 3 times a day. \u00a0And remember &#8211; everyone is a little different. \u00a098.6 is not <em>normal<\/em> for everyone. \u00a0I&#8217;m 97.7. \u00a0Therefore, when I&#8217;m running 99.9, it&#8217;s like running 100.9 for someone who&#8217;s <em>average<\/em>, and I Feel HOT. \u00a0It also gives me a headache. \u00a0Even more fun.<\/p>\n<p>By this point in your life you should know what your baseline is. \u00a0If not, find out. \u00a0Here&#8217;s what I do: If I&#8217;m running 2 degrees hot, I take some Tylenol and it it&#8217;s not coming down in 30 minutes I call my surgeon.<\/p>\n<p>I am partial to this unit:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"http:\/\/rcm.amazon.com\/e\/cm?t=harriscreativegr&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=B000LJAEPQ&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h3><a id=\"clothing\" name=\"clothing\"><\/a>Clothing<\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Some things seem completely obvious, while others only surface after you try doing it \u00a0in some \u00a0manner that doesn&#8217;t quite work out &#8211; or requires a call to 9-1-1 to extricate you&#8230; \u00a0Shirts, for instance. \u00a0T-shirts seem like a good \u00a0idea initially. \u00a0Comfortable, simple, easy to get in and out of&#8230; \u00a0Think about it now. Is that last phrase actually true?<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re in top condition &#8211; perhaps. \u00a0But how many Scoli patients are in top condition? \u00a0What if you&#8217;re barely able to balance? \u00a0Also, what if you&#8217;re not to lift your elbows above your shoulders? \u00a0How&#8217;s that going to work out for you, Speedy?<\/p>\n<p>My recommendation is for button-front shirts. \u00a0They&#8217;re easy to get in to and out of. \u00a0And if you miss a button &#8211; or are off by a button &#8211; people just feel sorry for you. \u00a0Could be worse&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Socks<\/h3>\n<div>\n<dl id=\"attachment_935\">\n<dt><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/vibrantsox.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Fun Socks from TonsOfSocks.com\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/vibrantsox.jpg?resize=186%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Fun Socks from TonsOfSocks.com\" width=\"186\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/dt>\n<dd>Fun Socks from TonsOfSocks.com<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<p>For edema (swelling) control, which is common when your activity level is low and you&#8217;ve been pumped full of fluids in the hospital, there are several options available, from\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.acebrand.com\/wps\/portal\/3M\/en_US\/AceBrand\/Home\/Resources\/eNewsletter\/?WT.srch=1&amp;WT.seg_4=6710564816&amp;WT.mc_id=SE_ACE_exact_ace-bandage\">Ace Bandages<\/a>\u00a0(<strong><em>There&#8217;s<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0a fashion statement) to Compression Socks or just plain old dress socks.<\/p>\n<p>Ace Bandages have the advantage of being reusable for lots of things (misbehaving kids, barking dogs, bedroom games&#8230;) \u00a0But pretty they are <em>Not<\/em>. \u00a0And if you wrap them too tight, you can easily do more harm than good.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Compression-Socks-Highest-Satisfaction-Rating\/lm\/R3IHRSC5HFQ3PN\">Compression Socks<\/a>. \u00a0These come in a variety of colors from several manufacturers, like\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.futuro-usa.com\/wps\/portal\/3M\/en_US\/Futuro\/Global\/Products\/Product-Catalog\/~\/FUTURO-Product-Catalog\/Compression-Stockings?N=5051191&amp;rt=r3&amp;WT.srch=1&amp;WT.seg_4=4953248570&amp;WT.mc_id=SE_FUTR_exact_futuro-socks&amp;gclid=CIPUvtvjzbACFS7DtgodShhZZA\">Futuro<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.soap.com\/p\/maxar-graduated-compression-mens-cotton-socks-34-cotton-black-lg-238636?site=CA&amp;utm_source=cse&amp;utm_medium=cpc_S&amp;utm_term=ZQB-11881&amp;utm_campaign=GoogleAW&amp;CAWELAID=1323145922&amp;utm_content=pla&amp;adtype=pla&amp;cagpspn=pla\">Maxar<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.mcdavidusa.com\/store\/item.asp?ITEM_ID=527&amp;DEPARTMENT_ID=913\">McDavid<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.jobst-usa.com\/\">Jobst<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.frommonline.com\/cat4x2.aspx?id=24601\">Fromm<\/a>\u00a0and several more. \u00a0Now while these will certainly reduce foot, ankle and calf swelling, my experience is that it will take 3 people, a chain hoist and a fair amount of cussing to get them on. \u00a0And getting them off? \u00a0A pair of scissors works best. \u00a0But at a price range of $11 to $58 bucks each, that can add up pretty quick.<\/p>\n<p>And then there&#8217;s my approach: \u00a0Good old-fashioned (well not in my case) snug-fitting dress socks. \u00a0Get them in over-the-calf length and they will provide enough compression to keep the edema in check. \u00a0I&#8217;m a big fan of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tonsofsocks.com\">tonsofsocks.com<\/a>. \u00a0Their selection is really fun, prices reasonable and quality superb. \u00a0I own dozens of them. \u00a0Double check all this with our Doctor before making the big decision, of course.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve also found that once the swelling is down, flip-flops, while not my usual fashion statement, are easy to get into and out of. \u00a0However&#8230; \u00a0You <em>do<\/em> need to be careful you don&#8217;t trip over your own feet when wearing them&#8230; \u00a0And they&#8217;re not terribly practical in Winter (most places).<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h3><a id=\"nutrition\" name=\"nutrition\"><\/a>Post-Op Nutrition<\/h3>\n<p>One of the common dichotomies that accompany major surgery of most kinds is that<br \/>\n<strong>a:<\/strong> your body needs a steady flow of good nutrition, especially protein to rebuild damaged tissues, calcium to help bones knit and carbohydrates \/ sugars for energy.<br \/>\nand<br \/>\n<strong>b:<\/strong> You may have little-to-no appetite at all.\u00a0 this is pretty common, especially if it&#8217;s taken several days to get your Gut functioning again.\u00a0 As you&#8217;re recovering, your nursing team is on pins and needles waiting for that first good FART from you.\u00a0 Sort of the opposite polite society has conditioned us to do.\u00a0 They will be whipping out their stethoscopes every time one of them gets near you to listen to your stomach &amp; intestines for any sign of &#8220;activity&#8221;.\u00a0 Now while a big, noisy FART is going to result in a not-inconsequential degree of excitement, an actual TURD will get a gold star placed on your record and some actual FOOD coming your way in pretty short order.<\/p>\n<p>To this end, the nurses \/ doctors will be supplementing your diet (if that&#8217;s what you want to call what&#8217;s dripping into your IV) with all kinds of substances designed to wake up your gut and get it moving.<br \/>\nOnce you get your gold star and some real food, there&#8217;s another series of complications to work around.\u00a0 In my case it was 4 days with no food of any kind (unless you want to classify Miralax mixed with apple juice as food).\u00a0 As you might imagine, my stomach had shrunken to the size of a hackey sack.\u00a0 When this happens, you need to consume your food in multiple, but small, doses.\u00a0 I also discovered that as soon as I pushed food in one end, &#8220;something&#8221; (primarily gas) wanted to come right out the other end.\u00a0 A very clear cause-and-effect relationship had been established.\u00a0 And while what was coming out was 95-100% pure vapor, it&#8217;s not like you want to gamble with that 5% or more&#8230;\u00a0 So I needed to plan for a rapid relocation to the bathroom after any food intake at all during the first few days.<\/p>\n<p>Once you&#8217;re on your own (home) you need to figure our how to slowly increase your diet to the &#8220;new normal&#8221; levels your GI tract will tolerate.\u00a0 Back when I was running 5 miles every morning, my favorite breakfast was (roughly)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1 cup orange juice<\/li>\n<li>a handful of frozen strawberries<\/li>\n<li>2 scoops of SOY protein powder (I&#8217;m a vegetarian)<\/li>\n<li>1 banana<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Put all this in a blender and puree into a frothy-yet-delicious liquid breakfast.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s easy to prepare, consume, digest and very healthy.\u00a0 It also doesn&#8217;t contribute to the constipation that&#8217;s common with post-surgical patients on fairly high doses of pain killers.\u00a0 Unfortunately, one of the less-deisrable side-effects of many narcotics is &#8220;cloggage&#8221;\u00a0 and not the dancing kind, either.\u00a0 There&#8217;s nothing the least bit rhythmic about this.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h4><a id=\"irregularity\" name=\"irregularity\"><\/a>Irregularity and You<\/h4>\n<p>I find the best things for me in resolving this rhythm-free problem is to drink lots of water, add <a href=\"http:\/\/www.metamucil.com\/\">Metamucil<\/a> or generic fiber capsules and maybe some <a title=\"Costco Magnesium gel-caps\" href=\"http:\/\/www.costco.com\/Browse\/Product.aspx?Prodid=11504208&amp;search=magnesium&amp;topnav=&amp;Mo=0&amp;cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&amp;lang=en-US&amp;Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&amp;N=5000043&amp;whse=BC&amp;Dx=mode%20matchallpartial&amp;Ntk=Text_Search&amp;Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&amp;Ne=4000000&amp;D=magnesium&amp;Ntt=magnesium&amp;No=0&amp;Nty=1&amp;Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial\">Magnesium<\/a> gel-caps if things are still not cooperating.\u00a0 You do NOT want to be backed up for more than a couple of days.\u00a0 After that, the strain you can put your guts through trying to get some results can rip out your doctor&#8217;s carefully-placed stitches.\u00a0 Getting ahead of the problem is a lot better than being stuck &#8220;behind&#8221; the problem if you get my drift&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>The quantities of these supplements you &#8220;need&#8221; will be directly proportional to the amounts of painkillers you take each day.\u00a0 If your painkiller requirements go up &#8211; or (preferably) down, your supplements will need the same kind of adjustments.\u00a0 This will be pretty obvious in short order if you miscalculate &#8211; or forget to recalculate&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Coffee is one of those other marvelous inventions that has the effect of getting your GI tract working in the morning.\u00a0 Also, exercise helps a lot.\u00a0 Make sure you clear any exercise through your doctor \/ rehab \/ PT people first.<\/p>\n<p>For emergency nutrition when you either don&#8217;t have time for a &#8220;real&#8221; meal or you still don&#8217;t have the appropriate appetite level is <a title=\"Ensure shakes\" href=\"http:\/\/ensure.com\/\">Ensure<\/a> &#8211; or <a title=\"Boost Nutritional Drinks\" href=\"http:\/\/www.boost.com\/nutritional-drinks\/boost-original?gclid=CIbM1umm4LACFaVdTAodYXJw0g\">Boost<\/a> (gluten free).\u00a0 Both come in a variety of flavors, provide balanced nutrition in a small package and are good sources of protein. I am particularly partial to Ensure.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h3><a id=\"emotprogress\" name=\"emotprogress\"><\/a>Making Physical and Emotional Progress<\/h3>\n<p>Exercise is critical. \u00a0Start out with the Theraband exercises given to you in the hospital<\/p>\n<p>Also, if you&#8217;re having edema, you must keep your feet elevated at least 2 hours a day. \u00a0You want this excess fluid re-processed out of your system as quickly as possible. \u00a0You&#8217;ll be a lot more comfortable.<\/p>\n<p>Remember: \u00a0If at\u00a0<em>any<\/em> point, you don&#8217;t feel OK and think something is wrong &#8211; or you&#8217;re not progressing the way you think you should be &#8211; <strong>CALL YOUR DOCTOR<\/strong>. \u00a0They <em>Want<\/em> to hear from you. \u00a0You have had <em>Major<\/em> surgery. \u00a0Things can go wrong, but it&#8217;s much better for everyone if any problems are caught and rectified early on.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m still working on this as I go. \u00a0Stay tuned for updates regularly.<\/p>\n<h4><!--nextpage--><\/h4>\n<h2><a id=\"personal\" name=\"personal\"><\/a>My Personal Progress<\/h2>\n<p>June 19:<\/p>\n<p>Just to complicate things a bit, my main workstation decided to lock up yesterday while I was editing something.\u00a0 This is very uncommon with a Mac.\u00a0 PC users may find this to be no big deal, but if you have an Apple computer and it&#8217;s locking up, something is very wrong.\u00a0 So I ran a quick hard drive integrity test, and just as I had suspected, one of my 4 drives was about to die.\u00a0 Did I mention I made my living as a Troubleshooter for decades?\u00a0 Anyhow, time to power off the computer &amp; order a new hard drive.\u00a0 By tomorrow, the new drive should be in and about 20 hours of restoring data to one drive should be in the works.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile I&#8217;m working off my MacBook and I&#8217;m now ready to bring y&#8217;all up to speed on what it&#8217;s been like during recovery so far.<\/p>\n<p>We came home from the hospital on Sunday, June 10.\u00a0 We got everything pretty well arranged for my convenience and things were going pretty smoothly as soon as I got a routine down.<\/p>\n<p>Things to keep in mind:\u00a0 Take both your Cane or walker and your Reacher to the bathroom with you.\u00a0 Sure, you can chase a dropped roll of toilet paper all over a bathroom floor with a cane &#8211; and eventually corral the sucker &#8211; and drag it back to you.\u00a0 But why?<\/p>\n<p>Get all your medications and your Spirometer in a nice tub so when guests come over you don&#8217;t look like a shut-in.<\/p>\n<p>When I went into the hospital I was up a few pounds to 170.3 (and 5&#8217;9-1\/4&#8243;.\u00a0 I&#8217;d been in the 163-167 range for awhile, but I guess my system knew I needed some extra weight to work off of in the hospital &#8211; like a squirrel preparing for Winter.<\/p>\n<p>When they weighed me prior to discharge I was 180.4 lbs.\u00a0 I&#8217;d definitely picked up a lot of fluid weight.\u00a0 I mean, why else would my frikkin&#8217; thighs rub together &#8211; after not eating a thing for 4 whole days.\u00a0 Right?<\/p>\n<p>So Monday through Thursday I&#8217;m feeling pretty over-medicated.\u00a0 Going for occasional walks and outings, but definitely having a hard time keeping my eyes open.\u00a0\u00a0 Weight down to 177.4 lbs<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p>June 16 &#8211; Friday I&#8217;m 174.4 lbs<\/p>\n<p>I was feeling pretty over-medicated at 3 MS-Contin 30mg per day and falling asleep sitting up, which was just wrong.\u00a0 I was clearly over-medicated.\u00a0 I&#8217;d figured with the post-surgical pain I might need more painkillers than usual, but neglected to factor in my very high tolerance for pain.<\/p>\n<p>So instead of taking the 30 mg Morphine 3 times\u00a0 a day, I brought it down to twice a day.\u00a0 NOW I feel a lot more awake.\u00a0 I can throw some Norco at the pain as needed and I&#8217;m feeling a lot better.\u00a0 But this is the day things start to go downhill.\u00a0 Normally I would have taken Morphine at 0600, 1400 and 2200 hrs.\u00a0 I skip the 1400 hrs dose &amp; take a nap from 1400 hrs to 1715 hrs.\u00a0 I wake up Ffffreeeeezing, took a Norco to balance the lower Morphine dose &amp; checked the house thermostat.\u00a0 76 degrees, which is a couple of degrees colder than we usually keep it.\u00a0 Check my temp.\u00a0 99,2, which is 1.5 degrees high, so I take some Tylenol.<\/p>\n<p>After dinner, it still seems cold &amp; my temp is down to 98.4 &#8211; around 1 degree high.<\/p>\n<p>Then at 2200 hrs I had a lovely little burst of the Liquid Shits.<\/p>\n<p>Swell.<\/p>\n<p>Off to bed.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p>June 17 0405 hrs:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Made the mad dash out of bed &amp; across the house for 20 minutes of Liquid Shits.\u00a0 Then back to the bedroom for some clothes&#8230;0423 hrs<\/li>\n<li>Then <em>right<\/em> back across the house for another 10 minutes of Liquid Shits.\u00a0 0443 hrs<\/li>\n<li>Exhausted at this point, I make some coffee.<\/li>\n<li>0443 hrs take 1 Norco for lower left back pain &#8211; temp is 98.7 &#8211; 1 degree high<\/li>\n<li>0538 hrs take 2nd Norco &#8211; pain in lower back still about a 3<\/li>\n<li>0600 hrs take 1st Morphine dose<\/li>\n<li>165.5 lbs<\/li>\n<li>0835 hrs took Imodium<\/li>\n<li>0843 hrs took Norco + Valium for back spasm<\/li>\n<li>Went out to breakfast with my daughter &amp; wife for Father&#8217;s Day.\u00a0 Exhausted &amp; not much appetite.<\/li>\n<li>Back home to watch movies &amp; sleep.\u00a0 More sleeping than watching&#8230;<\/li>\n<li>1520 hrs mini-squirts + I&#8217;m freezing even though thermostat says 80 degrees.\u00a0 This is NOT right.<\/li>\n<li>My temp is 99.9<\/li>\n<li>Take Tylenol &amp; back to sleep.<\/li>\n<li>1700 hrs &#8211; more Liquid Shits.\u00a0 Drank an Ensure just to have some nutrition.<\/li>\n<li>1800 hrs &#8211; Liquid Shits<\/li>\n<li>1827 hrs &#8211; temp 98.8\u00a0 and another Ensure<\/li>\n<li>2245 hrs:\u00a0 prep for bed, took night supplements + Norco.<\/li>\n<li>2250 hrs: Mini Liquid Shits + more Imodium<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Probably slept 16 hours today&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>What a fun day.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p>June 18<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>0415 &#8211; up<\/li>\n<li>0600 &#8211; Morphine<\/li>\n<li>0632 &#8211; Norco &amp; Valium for spasm &#8211; rt side of spine mid-back<\/li>\n<li>0812 &#8211; walked park loop twice for a total of 25 minutes<\/li>\n<li>1135 hrs took Valium + Robaxim for rt side spasm<\/li>\n<li>weight 164.5 lbs<\/li>\n<li>Generally feel much better today.\u00a0 Perkier, not sleepy.\u00a0 had visitors, got out of the house, etc.<\/li>\n<li>1420:\u00a0 mini-shits = Norco + Imodium<\/li>\n<li>Spoke w\/ Nurse @ Doctor&#8217;s office &amp; she felt this was pretty normal\u00a0 in the overall scheme of what has been done to me.<\/li>\n<li>1800 hrs Morphine<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p>June 19:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>0412 up, make coffee, settle into living room to work, since main workstation is waiting for a new hard drive.<\/li>\n<li>0415: Norco for pain in lower left back radiating down back of left leg<\/li>\n<li>0600: Morphine<\/li>\n<li>Work on blog until 0727 hrs.<\/li>\n<li>164.1 lbs<\/li>\n<li>0814 &#8211; 0852 nice 38 minute walk around the development under dramatic, cloudy, ominous skies with birds and bunnies galore.\u00a0 We even saw another baby Mockingbird sitting in someone&#8217;s driveway looking terribly confused.<\/li>\n<li>0859: Robaxin &amp; Valium for muscle spasm in upper mid back.<\/li>\n<li>Have I mentioned I&#8217;m 5&#8217;11&#8221; since the surgery?\u00a0 That&#8217;s a huge improvement for my psyche!<\/li>\n<li>Also, my pain levels and mobility are excellent I feel so much better than I expected to for only 2 weeks after such a major surgery.\u00a0 Trying to keep my pain meds to a minimum, get a little exercise and even though my Doctor doesn&#8217;t want me on any major Rehab program for another 3 months (downside of RA is we take a lot longer to heal bones&#8230;) I insisted I wanted to get my brain re-calibrated so it knows when my spine is straight.\u00a0 So it&#8217;s off to my 1st Rehab eval this morning!<\/li>\n<li>Rest of the day goes pretty well.\u00a0 I think the 38 minute walk + Rehab was a bit much.\u00a0 So I needed a couple of cat naps during the day.\u00a0 Need to take it slower until I&#8217;m up to more exertion.<\/li>\n<li>Looking forward to regular rehab so I can re-educate my brain about my new structural condition.\u00a0 I desperately want to be properly aligned and not compensating for a twisted spine like I did for so many decades before.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p>June 20:<\/p>\n<p>0515 up and working on my blog + reading.\u00a0 Feel pretty good except for some pain in my lower left back.\u00a0 Also there still seems to be some loss of sensation \/ numbness in my left quadriceps.\u00a0 Hopefully this will improve as I heal.\u00a0 If not, it&#8217;s no big deal.\u00a0 Hoping to get the replacement hard drive I need for my main workstation today so I can get down to replacing the drive and transferring the data.\u00a0 Much easier to work from my office rather than my MacBook.<\/p>\n<p>From June 21 on:<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve been walking with my wife every morning for 25-30 minutes or so. \u00a0We get out of the house every day and go somewhere for errands, visiting with friends, dinner with friends, etc. \u00a0At my insistence I cajoled my doctor into ordering rehab \/ PT for me, as I felt like I just needed to do <em>something<\/em> in terms of physical conditioning and now I&#8217;m \u00a0going to Baylor Rehab in Frisco 3 times a week. \u00a0I love it. \u00a0It&#8217;s hard work and really shows me how far I have to go in order to get back to where I came from 10+ years ago. \u00a0But that is absolutely OK. \u00a0I like working out. \u00a0I love the effect of Pilates and I&#8217;m really glad I instituted some Pilates into my daily stretching almost a year ago. \u00a0I&#8217;m convinced that had a big impact on how fast I healed up after surgery.<\/p>\n<p>My pain medication use is very low. \u00a0Some days I can get away with one Norco. \u00a0On bad days I&#8217;ve been known to need 3 or 4 of them. \u00a0But that&#8217;s after overdoing it the day before&#8230; \u00a0Generally I take one or 2 a day. \u00a0Trying to keep this to a minimum as I&#8217;d like to get off all the narcotics in no more than 3 months. \u00a0Everyone needs a goal and that&#8217;s mine. \u00a0Nothing would make me happier than to no longer be living on narcotics. \u00a0At least now I&#8217;m attentive and wide awake all the time. \u00a0I&#8217;m not drifting off when company is over and falling asleep in front of the TV.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m still very light for my new height at 166 lbs. \u00a0That will go up another 10 lbs or so as I become better conditioned and can add muscle mass. \u00a0But it feels wonderful to weigh what I did in my Sophomore year in high school.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">July 5 update:<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\nAccording to my Physical Therapist, we start losing muscle mass at 3 days of hospitalization. \u00a0I was in for 6 days. \u00a0 It takes roughly 6 weeks of conditioning before I will start to see any muscle mass gains. \u00a0Up until that time, the brain spends that time re-routing it&#8217;s signals to make the best use of the available muscle.<\/p>\n<p>When I show up for PT, I arrive in workout attire, as I expect to work up a decent sweat and intend to work hard to get back to the condition I was in before all this started. \u00a0This will not be easy, but I&#8217;m not willing to sacrifice any functionality where I personally am in a position to improve the results. \u00a0We also walk at least 1.5 miles every day and I do my PT exercises, ride my recumbent bike and do upper body routines at home.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve also found that the more active I become and the more I work out, the more I find new pain developing here and there. \u00a0It was confirmed by my Physical Therapist that this is to be expected, so I&#8217;m not concerned.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ll sure be happy to get all these infernal staples out of my belly tomorrow&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">July 6 update:<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\nJust had my first follow-up appointment with the doctor and I&#8217;m far ahead of typical scoliosis surgery patients. \u00a0Great news. \u00a0I&#8217;m cleared to drive, travel and do most of the things I need to do. \u00a0Yippeeeee!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1062\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/cmf_spinalogic_round.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1062\" data-attachment-id=\"1062\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/scoliosis-surgery-recovery-at-home\/cmf_spinalogic_round\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/cmf_spinalogic_round.jpg?fit=480%2C396&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"480,396\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-title=\"cmf_spinalogic_round\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Bone Stimulator&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;CMF Bone Stimulator&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/cmf_spinalogic_round.jpg?fit=480%2C396&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1062\" title=\"cmf_spinalogic_round\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/cmf_spinalogic_round.jpg?resize=300%2C247&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"CMF Spinalogic Bone Stimulator\" width=\"300\" height=\"247\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/cmf_spinalogic_round.jpg?resize=300%2C247&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/cmf_spinalogic_round.jpg?w=480&amp;ssl=1 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1062\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">CMF Bone Stimulator<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Today I received my very own <a href=\"http:\/\/www.djoglobal.com\/our-brands\/cmf\">case-o-bone-stimulator<\/a>to take home and use every day for the next Nine Months. \u00a0Fascinating device &#8211; easy to use &#8211; 30 minutes a day and you wouldn&#8217;t even know it was working if it were not for the countdown on the controller display.<\/p>\n<p>So I just set a reminder on my iPhone to alert me every morning at 6:00 am and off we go.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I also had a meeting with my pain management provider and requested to come off my regiment of painkillers. \u00a0I&#8217;d like \u00a0to get all of this out of my system and get back to being &#8220;me&#8221; again. \u00a0It&#8217;s been 8 years of living on painkillers (since the <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/COX-2_inhibitor\">COX-2 inhibitors<\/a> were taken off the market in 2004). \u00a0So now I&#8217;m on a reduced dosage and in 3 weeks I&#8217;ll be off the time-release product altogether! \u00a0Apparently it&#8217;s uncommon to have patients requesting to be weaned off the narcotics. \u00a0Seems it&#8217;s frequently the other way around. \u00a0Go figure.<\/p>\n<p>And now for the real show-and-tell. \u00a0The before and after X-Rays.<\/p>\n<p>The image on the left was taken one year ago.<\/p>\n<p>The one on the right was taken today.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1056\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/WPHSpine-Before-After.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1056\" data-attachment-id=\"1056\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/scoliosis-surgery-recovery-at-home\/wphspine-before-after\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/WPHSpine-Before-After.jpg?fit=2400%2C2301&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2400,2301\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-title=\"WPHSpine-Before-After\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;WPH Spine Xray.  Before and After Scoliosis Surgery&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;WPH Spine Xray.  Before and After Scoliosis Surgery&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/WPHSpine-Before-After.jpg?fit=1024%2C981&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1056\" title=\"WPHSpine-Before-After\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/WPHSpine-Before-After.jpg?resize=300%2C287&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"WPH Spine Xray.  Before and After Scoliosis Surgery\" width=\"300\" height=\"287\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/WPHSpine-Before-After.jpg?resize=300%2C287&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/WPHSpine-Before-After.jpg?resize=1024%2C981&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/WPHSpine-Before-After.jpg?w=2340&amp;ssl=1 2340w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1056\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">WPH Spine Xray. Before and After Scoliosis Surgery<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>July 9 update:<br \/>\nI find it interesting that after not driving a car for 30 days, I notice some stiff muscles in my pectorals \/ armpits after driving for awhile. \u00a0Curious that those muscles lose their capacity after such a short time of not performing a routine function.<\/p>\n<p>I also find my stamina is improving considerably. \u00a0I don&#8217;t tire as easily now, but I&#8217;m still not seeing or feeling any significant change in my muscles in spite of fairly heavy workouts. \u00a0Apparently that will take another several weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Having 2 new high-energy and very affectionate kittens in the house is very therapeutic &#8211; and amusing. \u00a0They have appropriated my desk chair as their mapping spot:<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1059\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/kittens.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1059\" data-attachment-id=\"1059\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/scoliosis-surgery-recovery-at-home\/kittens\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/kittens.jpg?fit=1404%2C1214&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1404,1214\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.4&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 4S&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1341771172&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;4.28&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;800&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0666666666667&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"kittens on my chair\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Kaboom! and Julius appropriate my chair for their naps.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Kittens on my Chair&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/kittens.jpg?fit=1024%2C885&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1059\" title=\"kittens on my chair\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/kittens.jpg?resize=300%2C259&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Kittens on my Chair\" width=\"300\" height=\"259\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/kittens.jpg?resize=300%2C259&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/kittens.jpg?resize=1024%2C885&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/kittens.jpg?w=1404&amp;ssl=1 1404w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1059\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kittens on my Chair<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>July 30 update:<\/p>\n<p>It has been nearly 2 full months since my surgery and now comes the fun part. \u00a0Detox.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve been working out a lot in PT and regaining some strength and stamina. \u00a0I feel just fine &#8211; more or less like the &#8220;old me&#8221; except for my stamina. \u00a0If we&#8217;re out too long and I&#8217;m on my feet or driving too long, I&#8217;ll &#8220;hit the wall&#8221; with little to no warning.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s really not bad. \u00a0I no longer wear a back or neck brace and \u00a0people that don&#8217;t know me would never guess I&#8217;ve just had major surgery.<\/p>\n<p>But back to the topic at hand.<\/p>\n<p>Detox<\/p>\n<p>For anyone who has been on a serious pain management protocol for any time, you will be dependent on these drugs to keep you pain free. \u00a0There will come a time when you will want to be rid of these toxic chemicals. \u00a0It could be post-surgery when you know you shouldn&#8217;t need them anymore. \u00a0It may be when you realize you&#8217;ve graduated to addiction. \u00a0It may be when you&#8217;re cut-off from either your Doctor, Pharmacy or Family as a result of your addiction.<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind this important fact: \u00a0Dependency is unavoidable. \u00a0Addiction is optional.<\/p>\n<p>If you are over-using your meds to get high &#8211; you&#8217;re an addict. \u00a0Period.<\/p>\n<p>The best way to eliminate your dependency or addiction to narcotics is to wean yourself off slowly, reducing your usage every week until you&#8217;re clean. \u00a0You will still go through some <em>real<\/em> Detox. \u00a0This is unavoidable. \u00a0Your body WANTS these drugs now. \u00a0It LIKES them a lot.<\/p>\n<p>Detox is the best gift you can give yourself after years of pain and medication. \u00a0The world will be more vibrant. \u00a0You will have more energy. \u00a0The &#8220;old you&#8221; will re-materialize and your family will breathe a collective sigh of relief.<\/p>\n<p>A plethora of good information exists on the Internet to help you with getting clean. \u00a0Your pain management Doctor should be your first stop for help. \u00a0They can put you on a schedule to wean you off the drugs. \u00a0They can also prescribe some non-addictive drugs to help with the detox.<\/p>\n<p>The protocol below is one used by a commercial detox clinic operated by a family member. \u00a0It may be educational for you:<\/p>\n<pre>Opiate withdrawl protocol.<\/pre>\n<ul>\n<li>750 mg. methacarbamol (Robaxin) 1 every 6 hours for muscle cramps\/aches.<\/li>\n<li>50 mg Hydroxyzine PAM ( Vistaril) 1 every 6 hours for anxiety.<\/li>\n<li>800 mg Ibuprofen 1 every 8 for pain.<\/li>\n<li>50 mg Trazodone 1 at night for sleep.<\/li>\n<li>Clonidine 0.1 mg for anxiety (hold off if Blood pressure is 90\/60 or lower)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<pre>This is all guidelines based off any allergies or other medications prescibed. Check with a physician.  We prefer using holistics for sleep, like Gaba, and Melatonin.<\/pre>\n<pre>There are a couple of popular formulas for detox as well<\/pre>\n<pre>A forum post with the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.medhelp.org\/posts\/Addiction-Substance-Abuse\/Thomass-DeTox-Reciepe\/show\/43542\">Thomas Detox Recipe<\/a><\/pre>\n<pre>Another forum post for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.medhelp.org\/health_pages\/Addiction\/Protocol-for-unassisted-opiate-withdrawal-\/show\/659?cid=66\">Unassisted Opiate Withdrawal Protocol<\/a><\/pre>\n<pre>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.opiates.com\/?utm_source=medhelp&amp;utm_medium=cpm&amp;utm_term=opiate%2Btreatment&amp;utm_content=blue%2Band%2Bwhite&amp;utm_campaign=medhelp%2Baddiction\">Waismann Method<\/a> for Rapid Detox<\/pre>\n<pre>My personal observations:<\/pre>\n<pre>The worst thing about detox is RLS or Restless Leg Syndrome.  I'm sure you'e seen TV ads for this and snickered as did I - right up until I felt like all my nerves were \"live\" and my legs wanted to run out of the bed, dragging me behind,<\/pre>\n<ul>\n<li>This is a classic symptom of detox.<\/li>\n<li>So is having the shakes, sweats, always feeling cold or alternating rapidly cold to hot.<\/li>\n<li>Then there&#8217;s the sneezing. Seriously. Sneezing. Loads of fun.<\/li>\n<li>And then the runny nose, aches and pains and all the other fun tricks your body plays on you just to get you to take another pill.<\/li>\n<li>You will feel like crawling out of your own skin.<\/li>\n<li>Many people describe detox as having flu-like symptoms.<\/li>\n<li>It&#8217;s not a lot of fun &#8211; but it will pass.<\/li>\n<li>Stay hydrated. \u00a0Drink as much water and sport drinks as you can hold.<\/li>\n<li>Green tea is supposed to aid in detoxing &#8211; and it tastes good.<\/li>\n<li>Exercise as hard as you can.<\/li>\n<li>Sweat out the toxins in a sauna or hot epsom salts bath.<\/li>\n<li>Watch movies &#8211; it&#8217;s very distracting.<\/li>\n<li>And you will feel so much better than you have in months &#8211; or years.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<pre>Unless you have the willpower of a Monk in an all-girl school, I highly recommend flushing all your meds before you start detox.  Success is much harder than failure and if you simply cannot backslide, the odds of coming out the other end \"clean\" is much better.  And besides...  Do you really want to ever go through detox again?  I know I don't.<\/pre>\n<p>If any of this is helpful to you, or if something important to you is missing, by all means, leave \u00a0a comment.<\/p>\n<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0;float:none;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/warrenharris.net\/blog2\/scoliosis-surgery-recovery-at-home\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"true\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Segment 3 of this blog picks up where The Big Day left off And to reinforce what I&#8217;ve said before, I am NOT a medical professional of any kind. \u00a0Consult a doctor or at least a physical therapist before undertaking any suggestions found on this blog. \u00a0You take full responsibility for using any of this<span class=\"post-excerpt-end\">&hellip;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link\"><a 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