Yes, you read that correctly. I’m having a second spinal fusion surgery. I had my L5-S1 Vertebra fused last year, on January 30th. In short, I’m glad I did, because the constant pain I’d been in for nearly 21 years went away. You can read more about that experience here…….
I was terrible in keeping up with that surgery, but while it took away the pain, it added this weird instability to my lower back after being active. Basically, it was really hard to stand up from sitting, or roll over if I was laying down, because my back muscles wouldn’t engage. I figured that would go away as I recovered from my surgery, but it didn’t. After 15 months, Dr. McPherson did a CT scan that showed I didn’t fuse. A battery of tests revealed an extremely low vitamin D level.
The endocrinologist I am now working with said that is very common in people with Celiac Disease, and though my bone density is fine, she suspects my years of fairly heavy steroid use has contributed to my lack of bone growth. Steroids for what? Oh, ya know. Just asthma. And allergies. And my knees. And my shoulders. And my hip. And my hands. And my back. And weird viruses that wouldn’t be kicked. And things like that. I can’t remember the last time in the past twenty years I didn’t have at least three different kinds of steroids in my bathroom. So I can’t say I’m surprised that may have some deleterious effect on my ability to fuse two vertebra. But more on my endocrine system at a later date.
So here I am. Exactly one week before my surgery date of September 24, 2019. And I am freaking out. What the hell, you guys!? I’m doing this again?! It’s not absolutely necessary for me to just be functional. But I’m sick of just being functional. I’ve been just barely doing that for the last 30 years. If one or two- or five- more surgeries will reasonably make me able to do more hardcore workouts without shutting down, and make me able to do multi-day hikes, and hike a fourteener, then I’ll do them. I’ve spent most of my life as an active person stuck in a broken body, and I’m going to do everything I can to change that. Including another fusion surgery. Even though it makes me want to puke.
The last month has been a flurry of working extra hours, pre-op appointments, CT scans, blood draws (I just got my really important ones done today, which, seriously, don’t try this at home, kids), EKGs, and a million other things. Making sure I have everything I need: the right clothes, a new body pillow (since I wore my old one out), etc. I’ve also been figuring out what I had last time that I really did’t need, and what I did’t have that I really wished I had.
It’s been a lot of stress, and a lot of extra work. But, surgery is almost here, and it’ll all calm down soon enough, one way or another.
Let me know how you deal with preparing for major surgeries or procedures! What is it that makes you decide to go ahead and have a surgery done, versus going without? I’d love to know. Let me know in the comments!
Dauntless In Denver 