Fell flat on my back yesterday, luckily I was already close to the ground being down at knee height. Because I can't bend I'm having to squat and get down to ground level to get things that the gripper just isn't strong enough to get, as I used the bench to help pull myself upright I could feel myself going, I had time to think relax so I wasn't stiff and I just hit the kitchen floor. I lay there flat & than called for help to stand up. Earlier in the day I struggled to get out of the bed & stand upright. Sometimes it just feels as though it's all falling apart - it's the only way I can describe it. I imagine it's the cages between the vertebrae settling into place & of course I'm probably not taking enough pain relief. I'm better this week than last, sometimes I would move & id get this severe pain, severe enough for me to cry out ouch.
Work have ordered an office chair for me at home & it is to be pre assembled & delivered to my home address. I have told them I officially return to work November 10 when I'm allowed to drive & will WFH next week. This week I'll take calls but nothing more.

At the hospital seeing one of my specialists, I've come away with a pile of scripts. He says I'm feeling the hemotoma pulsing because I'm so thin. I don't want to have the nerve injection so he has given me a script for pain patches to put directly on top - it's like an anaesthesia patch and should numb the area. I'm to see him again December 7th and I see the Neurosurgeon on November 7th.

Got home and my office chair has arrived. :)

Your fall must have scared you - I am glad that you coped well :).

That is great that your new office chair has come :).

:hug:

Pam,
What is going to be done about the hematoma? Since the other two were taken care of in the hospital. I thought this one was as well. Sure hope these patches help.

Gerry

They are hoping it will just absorb itself? So long as it doesn't get infected I should be ok. I just wish it would go. They've increased my pain meds and have said they will put a plan in place to titrate me down safely so I don't have withdrawals & exacerbate the work done on my spine... terrifying much! I'm not getting anywhere near the help I need from DB, he caught the flu this week & couldn't go to work on Thursday, he's given it to me and I'm expected to just carry on. He made breakfast this morning & went back to bed, he's slept virtually 20 hrs a day since Tuesday, I had to make my own way to the General surgeon yesterday & while there I went to the Neurosurgeon office to make an appt to see him next week. His wife is his secretary, she looked at me & said what are you doing here, she seemed shocked I was up & about on my own. I told her I had just seen the GS. I'm to see the Neuro on Nivember 7th.

I've been wearing my soft back brace a lot, I got told in 2013 not to use it much because it prevents the muscles developing but sometimes it just feels like it's falling apart. I've got one chair in the house I can sit on, it's a recliner that stands me up & I struggle to get out of bed, the bed feels like it's to low to the ground, but it's higher than other beds. I use the walking frame where I can in the house & rely on grabbing it to pull myself out of bed.

I'm just tired and over it all. I knew it was going to be tough, & I knew DB would be difficult so I can't complain. I guess I'm just feeling fragile, vulnerable and alone. I asked him this morning did he want a divorce, he looked at me & I said well you just don't seem to care, it's like you've decided I'm home & you've completely disconnected. I know you know what I mean xx

Saw my Neurosurgeon today, 6 weeks post surgery. I'm to be admitted to another hospital tomorrow (it's on the river) for strict rest, limited walking & later begin gentle physio. It is a hospital that specialises in post surgical rehab. I'm very fortunate to have such good caring surgeons & specialists. I think this will take pressure off of DB as well, he's been worried as there have been many days & seemingly increasing where I suddenly can't stand up, I freeze & have to call for his help. I've crawled from the bedroom to the bathroom & pulled myself up holding on to the vanity basin just so I can use the toilet. Then crawled back & lay in the floor until someone came along to help..... it's been a tough 2 weeks at home :eek:

That is excellent that you have got into the rehab hospital :).

:hug:

So I'm back in hospital and under a new doctor. Met her today, lovely lady. I'm on bed rest, allowed to walk to the toilet and once down the corridor with the walking frame. My attempts to look after myself insufficient. While someone bought me medication in the morning, it appears I should have had them bought again mid morning, mid afternoon and again in the evening. I shouldn't have been walking around the house at all to get medication, drinks of water, or checking the mailbox. WFH allowed but in moderation, and tbh it's been easy, just sit on the chair, type, print & file, make phone calls. Now I sit in bed, make phone calls, type, hit print (when I go home and the wifi connection ts everything will spew out of the printer) & when home I will file.

I think the break from home will do me good, our lodger is extremely clingy & conflicted. Her up & down moods, the daily tears, the loud shouting & sobbing today almost sent me off the deep end. It was all I could do to calmly say to DB can you tell her to stop shouting, she is triggering me. I know we made a commitment to her & I will not see her out on the street, and I won't, but, there comes a time when straight talking is needed. I took DB for a walk before he bought me here & I explained to him by the time I come home there need to be some changes made & she pick elsewhere to have her Tantrums. Oh and no she is not bringing a pet mouse into the house, I have 4 indoor cats. And ah, the mouse cage and all it's paraphernalia along with the skate board etc just left piled up at the front door entrance, get it moved, I don't care where, but I'll not have rubbish piled outside my front door looking like we're slobs.

I've got so many doctors looking after me now, I feel very well looked after, and the hospital I'm at the staff are marvellous. My Pain Mgt Specialist who did my original stim implant is also involved, he's just left. He has prescribed Norspan patch 20mg, Baclofen 5mg twice a day, I'm still on the temgesic sublingual but I won't need to take the Oxy for breakthrough pain. Well that's the plan, I won't be able to tolerate the norspan for long, I'm allergic to the adhesive, but it might be enough to see me through the next 5 days. So they're not talking about sending me home as yet, it seems I might be here until the weekend & then either home or to rehab, I think it will be rehab because DB goes to Sydney on the 23rd for 5 days & they won't have me at home on my own.... They are also going to do some more blood tests to check my markers seeing as they were over 200 less than 4 weeks ago.

It sounds to me that you are getting good care.

I hope that DB enjoys his time in Sydney :).

:hug: