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bunsen_hI've had a couple of people ask how things are going, so I figured I should probably post an update...
The short version: not so good.
My flexibility is improving slowly. Strength and stamina, not so much. I'm still very limited in terms of how much time I can spend upright (sitting/standing/walking) before I need to lie down. Among other things, this constrains my computer use; I'm behind on my correspondence and a bunch of other communication-with-people things.
My back is sore a lot of the time, likewise my right knee and left foot. The latter are almost certainly nerve-related and will probably get better in time, but they're annoying nevertheless. I also have what feels like muscle cramps in my legs a lot of the time, and that gets into one of the most frustrating aspects of this: I can't tell if it's because of (1) nerves that were compressed getting back into a normal state; (2) nerves cut during surgery reconnecting; (3) underused muscles that need to be exercised more; (4) overstressed muscles that I shouldn't be pushing so hard. I've lost weight and muscle tone over the last couple of months, and I don't know what I should do to fix things. My attempt at gentle swimming a few weeks ago turned out to be a Bad Idea: after I got home, my back locked up, and I had serious muscle spasms and nerve twitches for a week.
There's an area of my back which, if even gentle pressure is applied, causes the sensation of electric shocks to run down my spine and makes my legs jump and twitch. My neurosurgeon says that this isn't unusual and should diminish with time.
I can walk a few blocks at a reasonable pace without difficulty. But my back and legs hurt afterwards. I've started physiotherapy, which at this point consists of some gentle muscle stretches... but even that seems to make my back worse.
I had a general physical last week — it seemed a bit perfunctory compared with such exams with my previous GP. I also had a bunch of blood tests done the following day, and haven't heard back from my GP's office. I just called the office, and was told that they don't generally call me with results unless there's a problem. This is something that I don't like, since I've had several test results go completely missing in the past; I'd really prefer to get a "got the results, everything's fine" confirmation call.
The short version: not so good.
My flexibility is improving slowly. Strength and stamina, not so much. I'm still very limited in terms of how much time I can spend upright (sitting/standing/walking) before I need to lie down. Among other things, this constrains my computer use; I'm behind on my correspondence and a bunch of other communication-with-people things.
My back is sore a lot of the time, likewise my right knee and left foot. The latter are almost certainly nerve-related and will probably get better in time, but they're annoying nevertheless. I also have what feels like muscle cramps in my legs a lot of the time, and that gets into one of the most frustrating aspects of this: I can't tell if it's because of (1) nerves that were compressed getting back into a normal state; (2) nerves cut during surgery reconnecting; (3) underused muscles that need to be exercised more; (4) overstressed muscles that I shouldn't be pushing so hard. I've lost weight and muscle tone over the last couple of months, and I don't know what I should do to fix things. My attempt at gentle swimming a few weeks ago turned out to be a Bad Idea: after I got home, my back locked up, and I had serious muscle spasms and nerve twitches for a week.
There's an area of my back which, if even gentle pressure is applied, causes the sensation of electric shocks to run down my spine and makes my legs jump and twitch. My neurosurgeon says that this isn't unusual and should diminish with time.
I can walk a few blocks at a reasonable pace without difficulty. But my back and legs hurt afterwards. I've started physiotherapy, which at this point consists of some gentle muscle stretches... but even that seems to make my back worse.
I had a general physical last week — it seemed a bit perfunctory compared with such exams with my previous GP. I also had a bunch of blood tests done the following day, and haven't heard back from my GP's office. I just called the office, and was told that they don't generally call me with results unless there's a problem. This is something that I don't like, since I've had several test results go completely missing in the past; I'd really prefer to get a "got the results, everything's fine" confirmation call.
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no subject
Date: 2010-11-26 05:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-11-26 05:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-11-26 05:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-11-26 08:09 pm (UTC)The Jewish Community Centre seems to have very nice facilities but memberships are expensive (they don't have memberships for just swimming) and it's no easier for me to get to than the city pools.
no subject
Date: 2010-11-26 08:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-11-26 09:49 pm (UTC)Have you thought about physical therapy? I know they're not recommending it, but it sounds like you should at least see a therapist or a physiatrist.
*worried*
no subject
Date: 2010-11-27 03:42 am (UTC)