Hi Saffy, and thank you for jogging us to reply with what about afterwards questions! As I have written in my thread, and it has been a chronology of teh path from surgery through healing to arising again, albeit with struggles. I had to treat myself as having just had serious back surgery on 30 June 2010and take very close care about BLAST-no bending, lifting, stretching, twisting. I was PERSONALLY reminded of the need to "log roll" myself from bed afterward; namely, laying as a log near the edge of the bed, drawing my knees up carefully toward what would be a seating position so they might drop over the side of the bed and using my arms to lever up into a seated position at the side of the bed.
The logroll was learned after having had multiple fusion surgeries. Clearly in a post surgical environment with laminectomy/discectomy/fusion my back had been horrifically invaded. Mere movement made me fear that I could "tear my body in half" or the pain felt that severe at any rate. So the logroll was the method taught to arise from bed.
Once standing movements were taken tentatively and cautiously, until I could shuffle myself to the bathroom. A temporary 10 inch [don't know the metrics, sorry] lift of the toilet seat made it easier to lower myself painfully to take care of necessaries. Standing from that position was quite painful but doable slowly.
Having read these words, do understand that I did not have as severe the pain picture as with fusion when SCS was implanted. The pain was more manageable, STILL very apparent for at least two weeks following surgery. I practiced BLAST constantly and to this day am careful in that regard. For you, ESPECIALLY beware of temptation to reach above your head to Stretch for anything at all for the first months following surgery. The wires, leads, paddles, and the connections to your stim unit are going to scar in securely over time. Stretching to reach will render you susceptible to movement of the hardware installed. So word to the wise. Do not do it until allowed by doc. Then remember our own KZLRogue at the year anniversary of surgery was allowed to play golf-- a sport which involves stretching to swing the clubs. Keep your eyes fixed on the future as you heal. Carefully approach life during the healing. Do not drive Tootle until doc says "Sure Saffy, give it a go!"
So, for first weeks following surgery, do be careful with yourself. If you have someone to look in on you or be alongside during the first couple of weeks, you will be blessed with the means to attend to things difficult at first. Also, you may defer to them for the items you cannot reach. If you do not have such aid, then before surgery move items currently requiring your reach to retrieve to a lower shelf or countertop so you can grasp them. If your clothing requires stretching or reaching to put on, then think instead in terms of loose fitting items which do not require stretching or reaching to put on.... besides which, you will have an incision somewhere on your upper back I imagine for the leads/paddles which will be ultra sensitive to certain undergarments anyway.
Rae has suggested before that people look before surgery into acquiring a reaching tool, essentially a short small pole with a sqeeze grip for your hand and a manipulative claw on the other end by which you may conceivably reach items without STRETCHING yourself. Look into one for yourself.
Allow others to drive you around [your hubby, your daughter] until the doc allows you to drive. Tootle will be just fine without being driven BY YOU for a little while.... instead enjoy being a passenger.
Since washing your hair may involve bending, if possible get assistance doing this over your kitchen sink. Your hubby could do this and it helps with that bond for him to serve you. Just avoid bending the trunk of your body as you bow your head over the sink, and consider flexing your knees to lower yourself to the sink during a hair wash.
Allow yourself to rest, to walk as doc prescribes, to read or watch the telly a little. Heal. Be mindful that healing brings with it ultimate freedom.
Prayin,
Mark56
zzz