43 Days Post Op Spinal Fusion L5-S1 and Cage Insertion

It's Tuesday! It's been 43 days since I've had my surgery! I've come so far and yet have so much more to go! 

People ask me how I'm doing and it's tricky for me to answer, because, it will literally take up to a year for full healing, maybe longer. I was never good at answering questions like those when I'm asked. 

I made appointments for physical therapy. I would like to hone in my walking, sitting, laying down skills and later down the road figure out when I can maybe bend down to grab something, put socks on, or just cut my toenails again. I do miss all of that. Getting dressed has been a re-learning challenge as well as just facing the monotony of each day with an added struggle of figuring out how to live your life again. I can see why people with long recoveries face mental issues, simply because of their whole life change and how to deal with it in such a short period of time. Well, it's been some days, but you never fully regain what you had before when you have spent this amount of time alone and dealing with the healing. 

I've come up with a list of things that you can do while you are healing in bed, or learning how to walk, bathe, or just take care of yourself that doesn't include bed rotting. Amazon Associate link.

1. Download books on tape 
2. Gather items that you may need after surgery to assist with daily functions such as a grabber and my favorite a roll bar for your bed
3. Coloring books, pens, paper
4. Bed desk, or something that will help prop an iPad, or phone up so you won't have to hold them up
5. Slip on shoes
6. Dresses, or clothes that you can easily slip into and out of

I've found that you adapt quickly to things you need and don't need on your own. I am still adjusting to not being able to sleep on my stomach, as that is not doable for the foreseeable future. 

Getting in and out of the car is extremely tricky and I've hurt myself a few times just trying to get in. I do not like it and am having issues with that. 

I am walking more and have consistently been out walking more and more each day. I can feel when I've done too much when there are strains in my back and my legs when I take a step. I even walked to the lake and did a lap, which is about a mile total. I will take that as a win! I am happy about that! 

Today, I attended online Mass, and prayed The Holy Rosary twice. I am blessed beyond measure and would like to give all my struggles and glory to God today for all His wondrous works and amazing graces He's blessed me with!