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

44 Days post op. spinal fusion L5-S1 with interbody fusion cage. I was so focused on the fusion, I forgot to mention they inserted a cage between my vertebra where the disc was. So, in essence, I am taller than I was pre-surgery, but as tall as I was (at least in my mind) before the herniation and deterioration of my disc. 

There are a few things that I've noticed with my fusion so far, one is that if I do a large amount of walking when I go to lay down to rest my back, I can feel the screws protruding out it seems. It goes away after some time of laying down, so I am thinking that it's just the muscles all tensed up around the area. I've noticed, I don't get as many headaches as I used to before the surgery. I've noticed my feet are more sensitive, the feeling has returned. This is going to sound odd, but I am not as gassy as I was before. I attributed the excess gas to my intussusception surgery (where they removed a portion of my intestines when I was about 6 months old), that left me with a gassy tract. I've noticed my gait has changed and I am still working on adjusting to the new gait. I am still fatigued from the surgery and get fatigued more easily. 

I am 12 days away from my return back to work date and am a little apprehensive about the whole situation. It really takes away from the focus on healing and being able to fully embrace the small changes in your progress when you now have to focus on whether or not you are able to commit to a full days work, both physically and mentally. All I know is that I am not there yet and to remind myself to not go there. To face it when the time comes. To take a deep breath and to stay in the moment. 

I would like to eventually have an Amazon Storefront that is able to sustain a lifestyle that doesn't involve punching a time clock 5 days a week, so I am working on my Amazon Associate links and sharing them on my Pinterest account. Which I have linked on my website. Also, when the time comes to pair up with a non profit, or start my own (which was another dream of mine) to help out women and families in need. Since I was a recipient of many donations as a child (my mom's co-workers would donate their old clothes to me when I was a teen) and I loved it. I loved that I could pick new to me clothes out that were pretty cool and wear them as my own. Just a few more goals I have in mind. If you have a chance and see an Amazon link in my Pinterest or FB page, please click on it, if you like the item, purchase it, and from your purchase through my link, I'll make a small commission (ranges from 1%-4.5%) per item. Which adds up after a while. I know I have to keep working on it and to be consistent about it. 

For now, it's early. It's almost 7:30 am and I have EWTN adoration playing in the background as I type. I have Mass at 8 am and will pray The Holy Rosary at least twice today. 

I do owe you more back story about insurance and the whole debacle that happened before my surgery, but that will come another time. 

Thanks be to God for all His glory and mercies. Prayers to all those who are currently in the tsunami zones from the underwater earthquake near Russia.