Day 30 post op., and I woke up at 4 a.m.. I did end up having to take muscle relaxers throughout the day yesterday and my last one was yesterday at 5:30 p.m.. Otherwise, nothing eventful about yesterday's recovery except phone call follow-ups from my health care provider and the state of Washington. Otherwise the day was uneventful. 

Yesterday, in my mind was a significant date in my post op journey. I don't know why, but in my mind it was supposed to be a make it or break it date. It was neither. It was just 28 days after my surgery. It was met with muscle relaxers, a message to my provider stating that I can not sit for any longer than five minutes without my left leg going completely numb. Which had never happened before. I had strange left side abdominal pain and woke up with sharp pain in my chest. Which I searched the sharp pain and decided that it was heartburn and went to sleep after I said a prayer.

I can't believe it's almost been a month since my surgery. In a way I can. For a good part of it, you are all drugged up and in pain that you don't really remember a lot of the time that goes by. Which is funny, because I am there for all days, I just don't remember a lot of them. The days really do blend together. 

The past two days were rest days. I hurt myself getting dressed on Tuesday and there wasn't anything that I could do to alleviate the pain but rest. I stayed in bed 85% of the day and ended up giving myself a neck/shoulder cramp and had to take some Tylenol with my muscle relaxer to help me rest. 

Today, I woke up with energy and vigor. To be fair, I am always excited for the start of a new day, even before surgery I loved the newness of a new day. The energy and excitement didn't last long, as I got up and had some coffee and ate some breakfast. I seemed to have forgotten that I am still healing and that yesterday I hurt myself getting dressed which caused me to stay a good portion of the day in bed as walking, sitting and standing is unbearable after a few minutes. It's frustrating at times. But healing takes time and I must be patient. 

No one tells you what to expect day by day as you heal and recover from a spinal fusion. Trust me, I've Googled it many times and all I can find are what medical clinics are sharing on the professional websites about what you can do (broadly) and what you can't do. Today, I will do my best to clearly and articulately share my experience as a first time fusion patient in recovery.