I've neglected The Belly Blog for a very long (l o n g) time.  It seems time to pick it back up again with a "here's what been going on around here" post.  In short, my family has relocated to southeast Louisiana (my home state).  The move took what seemed like for 'eva, but we finally got settled into a routine.  And then...I needed back surgery.  I wondered what it would be like and if dance would still be a "thing" for me after the recovery.  I really couldn't find much first hand information from other dancers about their experience with dance after back surgery.  So I decided to blog about my procedure, recovery and eventual return to dance.  If sharing helps even one person make a better informed decision for themselves, then it's worth it.
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(TIP: Use the "Back Surgery" category on the right to see just those posts.  Then scroll down to the bottom for the first post dated 9/20/23)

Whoa! I got lost on the blog here because I have been feeling so well overall.
I had my 4 week checkup and X-ray today. Not much bone growth at all yet. My PA didn’t seem alarmed at all. Will recheck again at the 3 month mark with another X-ray.
The bump above my scar (my “egg”) is still present. She said it’s stuck. Could be a stitch that hasn’t absorbed yet. At any rate, she said to start massaging it to encourage it to break up and let go so it can start gliding over the other tissues.
The right leg numbness is still present. It’s about a 3-4” long line over the lateral side where the nerve runs. The pain still fires there when I press on it. This is expected to move upward and disappear over the next several months. Could be caused by some nerve stretching as the surgeon really had to work to get the vertebral space opened up enough to cram the cage in between the vertebra. They were pretty much touching when he started. No wonder it hurt so much before this procedure. My jelly donut was completely shot.

I got the go ahead to begin PT. I am ready to get strong. I asked about dance movement and was told I can do whatever I want….at three months. So that’s two more months of waiting and no twisting 😀
I have been forgetting to take any Tylenol and Gabapentin for the past 2 days. That’s a good sign. We’ll see how that continues.

I can not BELIEVE that this hardware is now a part of me. I should have asked if I could get it in "sparkles".  But here it is…

I am truly reaching the height of the ups and downs in this gig I think.  One day it’s good, really moving forward, no real pain meds needed.  The next day, I’m sucking swamp water and wondering when (if) I’m ever going to be fully recovered.
I have begun experiencing powerful muscle spasms in my back when laying down and changing positions in bed.  It’s like an attack that temporarily immobilizes me during each increment of shifting positions.  It’s a very bizarre feeling that I hope will cease soon.
Last night, I took a Flexeril to see if I could ease that sensation.  It must have worked, because I don’t remember having those sensations as strongly.
The downside of Flexeril is that it makes me sleep for much of the next day as well.  It’s not sustainable. That would make me a greyhound 😂
(But look at the cute butt!)

I felt SO great yesterday, that I figured I’d try going without my back brace today.  It was probably not the best idea since I’m supposed to wear it for 4 weeks.

My back muscles in the center near the incision are feeling very tired and weak.  At least I “think” it’s the muscles.  It could be bone pain where the hardware was installed. I don’t know.

I’ve also developed a second “fold” of skin at the top of the incision where my “egg” was.  It’s like everything is sinking down and getting caught on whatever is holding the top of the incision to whatever it’s being held on TO.  This does not please me. 🥹. I’m hoping for a suitable resolution in time.
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I’m taking it easy today.  Rex did get his 1.5 mile walk this morning.  That seemed to help alleviate my stiffness.  One more day forward in recovery.

Today I feel GREAT!  My biggest challenge is NOT overdoing it.  I’m still not allowed to bend forward or twist and I’m doing pretty well with that mostly.
I got discharged from the home health nurse and home PT program today.  I’m supposed to keep up with the PT at home on my own until the 4 week mark when I can begin outpatient PT.
Rex and I walk at least a mile every morning, so that’s really GOOD for my PT and exercise.  Weight bearing exercise builds bone.  Then there’s the squatting down to pick things up. It’s getting easier and easier.
I have been able to get by with only using Tylenol for pain.  I will take a muscle relaxer at bedtime for easier resting.
If I had this to do over again, I would do it in a heartbeat!  Not having the original pain (haven’t felt it once since the surgery) is golden.  The surgical pain is settling down.  I’m able to sit for longer periods of time (probably too long sometimes) now thanks to the Gabapentin and time.

The shape of the numbness on my leg has changed.  Instead of being a line of numbness about 3-4” long, it’s now shorter, but has changed in width.  It’s now more like a square.  It’s moving, which is a good thing.

The incision looked really great today and seems to be flattening out just a tiny bit.
Today is a GREAT day!

In the interest of cutting down on the pain meds, I decided to forgo my bedtime dose of Percocet. That was a mistake. About 4:00 am I was awakened by a shooting pain down my left left to my foot. This was a totally new occurrence. I rolled onto my back and thankfully it subsided. I rolled myself out of bed, limped to the bathroom and took that Percocet. Thirty minutes later, relief came.

I’m thinking it may have been a muscle spasm that caused the leg pain as all of the nerves were released by the surgery and not impinged anymore. Or, it may have been “an awakening” from a nerve that was previously impinged and healing.  🤷🏻‍♀️

Whatever it was, I’m happy to report that I am having no trouble sitting today. 
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Tomorrow is my last in home PT with Brad. I was all excited to get myself set up with outpatient PT. I called the doctor’s office for a referral and was told I would need to wait until my 4 week appointment to get cleared for that PT. Bummer!  So I’ll keep up with the home stuff for two more weeks.

​Rex got his walk this morning (1 mile). Today is a good day ❤️ (Click the photo, it's a video)

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Appointment with nurse Rachel at Dr. Koga’s office to remove the remaining steri strips. It took a while to get called back. I was able to sit in the waiting area for almost an hour before needing to stand up.

[Sidebar: we met an interesting retired Marine SgtMaj who had come in to have a deep brain stimulation implant hooked up. My Marine and he had some good conversations while we waited. ]

The incision site is a little over 3.5” long and is healing well. It’s a little bumpy and puffy at the top. I’m hoping it’s just an absorbable stitch that will dissolve allowing the skin to smooth out. When I’m not wearing the back brace, I can feel that puffiness back there when moving. It’s totally weird.
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Was prescribed Gabapentin to combat the nerve pain on the right side.  Things should settle down in the next month or so.

PT today with Brad. I’m walking longer distances. Today was my first walk off of our property. The world doesn’t feel so big now like it did when I left the hospital. Anesthesia really plays some tricks on your mind while it’s working its way out of your system. We walked about 1/4 of a mile. No pain. 😀
Sitting is still giving me back and right glute trouble, but it takes a little longer before I need to stand up.
I’m operating on half of the prescribed pain medication during the day and full doses at night.
I’m noticing all of the little holes on the tops of both feet and insides of each heel where they attached the nerve sensors that alert the surgeon if he gets too close to a nerve. Those are healing just fine.
Progress is being made.

Status quo - nothing new to report today :)