[Sambouka74]

Maybe a few of you folks on here might have some helpful suggestions. Background: 34 yr F with scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, and very active fibromyalgia. In November T7-8 herniated disc was pressing on my spinal cord, so they did an emergency fusion of those discs, with a piece of my rib bone, and a rod and 2 screws. In March, 3 months ago, the same disc herniated out the other side, but worse, and they did another emergency fusion and fused T7-T11, now I have 3 rods and several screws. The doctors say it can take up to 2 years for full bone fusion to occur. The healing is going very slowly. It hurts to sit for long periods of time, usually more than an hour and I'm done, I have trouble bending forward to reach my toes, it hurts to get in and out of bed and the car. I am not starting physical therapy till the 2nd week in July. I tried doing some stretches and gentle excercises and I ended up in bed in agony. I am so depressed! How am I supposed to figure out where to stop? I felt no pain when I did the exercises, the next 2 days I can barely move! Any suggestions? ~Crystal

[mistiis]

So sorry you are having such a hard time Crystal. Have you tried water therapy?? Heat therapy?? Cold therapy?? What kind of bed do you sleep in, and have you had a therapist work with you on positioning, and how to get in and out, and up and down, etc?? I hope you can find some better help.

[Sambouka74]

Hi Mistiis; How are you? Thanks for taking interest. Some days are better than others, I'm not sleeping well, so I'm tired, I've had horrible memory issues these days, and I am getting easilly confused these days, so I'm getting frustrated. I start pool therapy at the second week in July and I use heating pads or patches, Tiger balm, Lidoderm, icyhot type stuff, whatever works at the moment. We have a full size mattress, with one year old mattress set, and 2 temperpedic mattress pads on top of that.
As far work with me literally, no, just verbally told, ( she was sitting right next to me), ya think she woulda helped?! I just hope I come through it with my husband still loving and patient and accepting as he is now! Talk to ya soon, I'm going to bed.

[bbuhlman]

Hi,
Saw your post, have you tried any pain management?

Bill