Like all trauma recovery, surgery recovery is not linear. My back pain has returned to an 8/10 the past week, which has had me pretty down. At my 6-week follow-up with my surgeon on Friday, x-rays showed my hardware’s still in place and many of my restrictions were lifted. My surgeon said my incisions have healed well and the scars look great. She said the pain in my feet is likely the nerves still adjusting to their new position. She suggested I put lidocaine patches on the tops of my feet, since that is where the burning and shooting pain is localized when I point and flex my feet. She added Tramadol as a step-down from Oxycodone, and said starting outpatient physical therapy should help reduce the pain. It doesn’t look like I’ll be able to resume working with my Schroth PT just yet, so I’ll have to find a new PT for now. I took the subway home from the appointment and was able to navigate that pretty well with my cane and bag. I’ve been able to tolerate sitting for longer periods of time, though I still find I need to lay flat on my ice pack to manage pain throughout the day. I’m cleared to use a heating pad and take baths again, so hopefully that will help, too. My hip pain is still at a 0, so I am very happy about that. My next follow-up with the surgeon will be May 1st.
More good news- my repeat CT scan showed the blood clot in my lung has resolved. My cardiologist recommended I stay on the blood thinner for the full 3 months and follow up with a pulmonologist, just to be safe. He reviewed the heart rate data from my Oura ring and talked with me about my recent stressors. He said the rises are consistent with anxiety and ordered a Holter monitor, which takes continuous ECG readings for several days, to confirm. I also had a telehealth visit with a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) to review my psychiatric medications. She put me back on Vistaril for anxiety since I can’t take Xanax with my pain medications.
Speaking of anti-anxiety medication, the vet increased Rex’s Prozac. He still bit the trainer (for the second time), so we are using treats to condition him to wear this lovely muzzle.
Silence of the Lambchop
We also had a family session where Ryan and Aubrie practiced using the “consent cue” that the trainer developed with Rex during his “boot camp” last summer. We reach out a hooked finger to Rex and wait for him to bow or step forward and touch us, which lets us know it’s okay to touch him. Y’all know how I love consent! Rex is still going to daycare about once a week, and he got a glowing report card last Friday. Progress over perfection!
I never have to worry about Bella!
In other news, we got about a foot of snow last Sunday!
I am on track to re-open my psychotherapy practice tomorrow as planned! I’ll begin responding to emails and taking care of other administrative tasks over the next 4 weeks, and should have my full availability open for scheduling by March 2nd. I’ve loved reading all the messages I’ve received while my practice has been closed, and I’m very excited to get back to work! I am curious to explore how this experience (closing my practice to have surgery and blogging about the surgery) impacts the therapy process on both sides.
I plan to continue posting on my blog regularly because I believe that surgery, like all trauma, is not something you get over, but something you move through. I’ll continue to share about how I’m moving through my traumas in hopes it helps my readers, whether you know me as a therapist or otherwise, move through yours. Thank you for being here.
Love,
Renée
Renée Gaubert, LCSW 
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