Tomorrow (Monday) will officially be 12 weeks since my spinal fusion surgery. My pain has consistently been a 5 when I wake up and 9 at the end of the day. For the past 2 weeks, I’m having a lot of pain in my ribs. Sneezes are shockingly painful. I’ve been waking up in the night with pain from breathing. Laying down is usually the most comfortable position for me, but now that is also painful. I’m trying not to get discouraged since my surgeon said at about 3 months I would start to feel better than I did before surgery. I’m told my upper body is adjusting to the new alignment in my lumbar spine, so I’m practicing patience.
The pain in my left hip is still gone, so that’s definitely positive. I was cleared to walk outside without my cane on February 19th and I feel like my balance is almost normal. A combo of drop-in-like-it’s-hot squats and genuflects helps me pick things up without my grabber. I still use my cane for balance when I walk the dogs.
The past 2 Wednesdays I went to my weekly support group meeting in Manhattan and was able to sit for the full 90 minutes (with a brace on). On Thursday I was able to stand and sit in alternating intervals and positions that allowed me to cut my hair and Nair my legs, which were both long over due. I did shave my legs using an “extender” tool early in my recovery, and that left me with lots of nicks and missed spots. Nair has come a long way since I first used it circa 1995! It’s up to 62 degrees in Brooklyn right now 😮. Not quite time for short shorts, but I’ll be ready when it is. 😎 I’m back to work full-time and enjoying resuming work with therapy clients. Life is starting to look normal for me.
In April, I’ll be attending the first-ever BioniCon, and I’m looking forward to connecting with other adults living with scoliosis and spinal fusions there! I’m really grateful for the community I’ve been able to access through my surgery journey, and I know it will continue to grow from here.
I think the rib pain I’m having is from my thoracic curve, so I really want to address that. I like my PT but she’s not trained in scoliosis specific exercises. Going back to the Schroth PT doesn’t seem sustainable given the sessions are only 30 minutes and my insurance is not likely to approve more visits since I’ve already had the max. A couple weeks before I went in for surgery, I had a consultation with a physical therapist in New Hampshire that has a nonsurgical scoliosis treatment program. This clinic uses the Advanced Spinal Mobilization Instrument (ASMI) to manually rocks vertebrae back and forth to encourage better alignment. Some people see correction in their curves with this treatment. I’m hoping to get clearance from my surgeon at my 12 week post-op appointment and then head there. I’ll live and work from an apartment in New Hampshire while I complete the 3-week intensive program.
My next follow-up with my surgeon is on March 19th, so I’ll post my new set of X-rays and degree measurements after that. For now, here’s before and after X-rays of my lumbar spine.
And here’s a video I found helpful in explaining the surgery I had.
It’s International Women’s Day today, so I wish all the women reading this a day of recognition, respect, resistance, and rest. My feminine rage has a lot to say lately, but I’m saving that for a future post. Or 60.
Love,
Renée
Renée Gaubert, LCSW 
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