READING MADE BEARABLE

Reading was an issue for me. I started with books on tape and then advanced to using a book holder. Holding a book was too uncomfortable for me.

I still use the book holder and will always. It's tough on your neck to look down and read.

I learned to set up my computer so I was looking straight ahead with my book stand next to it so when I type I don't look down.  I also learned to keep my arms down while typing and using my mouse.

My chair is one with all the bells and whistles so I can adjust it to my body. My feet are to be flat on the floor. I was taught to have lumbar support and arm support. I love my chair!

It took about 2 or 3 months before I could work on my computer. Then I only was able to sit for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. I needed to lay my head down after that to rest my overwhelmed neck muscles.


Lynn Hahn    www.getrealfit.org

TIME FOR A LITTLE EXERCISE

At my 6 week extremely restricted time, I was able to go to a physical therapist.

I was given neck exercises and they gave me exercises for my transverse abdominus muscle. That's the muscle under your pelvic floor. It's really important to have a strong TA muscle.

The TA muscle helps to support your back. It's like a girdle holding everything together.

One exercise I was given required me to lay on my back and put my feet on an exercise ball, engage and hold my TA muscle by contracting like taking a bowel movement and holding the lower abs tight while I rolled the ball toward me and then back 20 times. I had to do 3 sets.

You'll want to get the okay from your doctor or PT before you do any exercises. You might want to ask them about this one. 

I was given lots of exercises using the ball. It's a great thing to have!

Lynn Hahn   www.getrealfit.org

WALKING AND BONE FUSION

Walking a lot does help with bone fusion!

I started to walk around my house a few days after surgery. It was tough. I felt like my head was going to roll off my shoulders.

My doctor did not like me to wear my soft collar. I had to sometimes so I could walk.

I didn't like taking pain pills so I stopped them after about a week and used Tylenol. I was told not to use Ibuprofen because it slows down fusion. I wanted to fuse as fast as I could.

I did take pain pills at night if it got too painful for me.

I worked up to 2 half hour walking sessions a day per my doctors orders. I wasn't able to walk fast until I was at least 6 months post surgery.

I walked the neighborhood so I knew where all the pot holes were. I didn't want to fall down or get chased by dogs.

The kids made fun of me sometimes because I walked so slow. I didn't care for that much but hey kids are kids.


Lynn Hahn    www.getrealfit.org

BONE STIMULATOR

I was give a bone stimulator prior to my surgery. I was lucky because I got a representative that was very well informed as to the short comings of the device.

She told me to wait until I stopped having spasms in my back to wear the stimulator.

I waited 5 weeks before I wore it. The back spasms were still there just not as bad.

I hated that thing from the day I put it on! I'm really small so didn't fit right. It dug into my shoulders and made me cramp worse than I already was.

The representative told me to put a towel under the device and to squeeze the back of it together so it fit better.

I had to wear it 4 hours a day. I was told an hour at a time was needed, anything less than that was not effective. I split my time into 3 sessions.

They told me to wear it for 6 months so I wore it for 6 months and then had a chocolate party when I got to take it off!

I have no idea if it helps with the fusion but that's the theory.

Lynn Hahn  www.getrealfit.org

A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME

Before surgery I was in great shape. I'm a fitness specialist and a lifestyle and weight management coach who lived what I spoke of.

I was told I would be "de-conditioned" right after surgery.

Boy were they right. My body was so angry it just gave up. I actually lost 10 pounds of muscle!

My only form of exercise was walking for 6 weeks. I wasn't allowed to lift weights or work exercise bands.

I came up with isometric exercises and my favorite was just squeezing my exercise ball. I squeezed every muscle I could lol. I was so weak it was crazy.

After 6 weeks I was able to do some more bed exercises but nothing extreme. I'd never seen "love handles" on my waist before the surgery. I sure did afterward.

I'm so glad I kept trying to get strong and I'm so glad I respected how slowly that needed to happen.

Lynn Hahn  www.getrealfit.org 

IS IT GOOD TO USE A RECLINER?

A lot of people told me to sleep on a recliner. I learned that wasn't such a great suggestion.

Your spine uses surrounding fluids for nurishment. It doesn't make it's own. Your spine needs nurishment to heal.

A recliner doesn't allow you to lie flat so that fluid is sent away from the area that needs to be healed.

It's also very hard to get out of a recliner. I wasn't able to do that for a few months.

My sweet husband got a special "zero" gravity recliner for me. It really helps me now.

When we're watching movies ( which I love to do) I sit in the recliner. I'm able to get through a whole movie. I wasn't able to hold my head up well enough to sit on a couch or chair that didn't have head support for several months.

I was not allowed to wear even a soft collar after 6 weeks. They put a big plate and screws in my neck to support the structure while it healed. The plate and screws will hopefully stay with me forever.

The muscles in my neck were so weak daily tasks were not possible for quite a while. Not all people have as much trouble as I did with weakness. My neck is really long. One of the doctors said I had a "giraffe" neck LOL . She's right!

So think twice before you decide to sleep on a recliner after surgery.

Lynn Hahn    www.getrealfit.org

SATIN PJ'S DO THE TRICK!

After I had surgery I was shocked at how heavy my head was! My body did not appreciate the intrusion and my muscles went limp...

One of my doctors made it clear that the best way to sleep was flat on my back using a flat pillow or one with the cervical support. I chose to use a cervical supporting pillow.

She taught me to approach my bed from the side, hold the back of my head and roll into bed. Yeah right!

I would stick to the sheets! I wasn't able to roll my dead weight onto the bed very well. I learned a great trick on line! Satin sheets!

I tend to toss and turn at night which was a problem before I purchased my sheets.

Satin sheets made my life sooo much better :)

Lynn Hahn      www.getrealfit.org

DIET BEFORE SURGERY

I went on line and looked at several ideas on what to eat the day before surgery. I compared notes and came up with a simple low fat diet which was pretty boring LOL but I stuck to it. Here's the site that I used.

http://www.hss.edu/conditions_your-diet-preparing-for-surgery.asp#7

My surgeon wanted me to fast for 12 hours before my surgery. I did so.

I didn't do very well after surgery despite the bland diet. I'm very small and they gave me too much anesthesia so I threw up when I got home. (My surgery was done out patient)

I hope that if I was given the right amount of anesthesia that would not have happened. Who knows but I tried to set myself up for success. As you know that doesn't always happen.

So on I went anyway.


Lynn Hahn   www.getrealfit.org

PREPARING YOUR HOUSE

I put as much as I could out on my shelves. Bending over is not advised or comfortable. It took me a few months before I could even start to bend over.


I bought this gripper at the drugstore so I could pick things up off the floor without bending over.

I put my food on the countertops and on the high shelves in the refrigerator. I put my plates and silverware on the counters.

I put my cosmetics on the countertop in the bathroom. I bought face wipes so I wouldn't have to bend over to wash my face. I put a glass in the bathroom so I could brush my teeth and rinse without bending over.

I put clothes out on my dresser. I bought tops that zipped up because putting clothes over your head is painful. It took me about 6 months before I could comfortably put clothing on over my head.

I'll keep adding to the list. For tonight I'm tired so time to go to bed :)

Lynn Hahn    www.getrealfit.org

PREPARING FOR SURGERY

I'm a real prepare freak! I found out as much as I could about this surgery. I couldn't find a complete walk through of anyone's experience, which is why I decided to do this blog (:

One forum I found was helpful...  http://www.spine-health.com/  they can get pretty rule oriented on the site. Be warned! They don't like folks talking like doctors. They just want people to be able to talk about their experiences.

The forum has great info and not so great. Some people get into the muck. My back ground in fitness training has taught me that some people are not willing to do the physical work needed to get better. So keep that in mind if you visit the site and get "scared". Some folks just like to be miserable.

I found out what to eat before surgery, how to set up my house after surgery, what help I'd need after surgery, how long my recovery could be and much more...

I'm going to share that info with you step by step.

Lynn Hahn www.getrealfit.org

WHY I NEEDED SURGERY

Choosing to have a cervical disc fusion is the last resort.

I suffered from a sport injury about twenty years ago. I was left with very little use of my left arm. They wanted me to have surgery back then but I had a small child and my family needed me to work. I declined the surgery.

I worked very hard to get the use of my left arm back. I got most of it back and did pretty well most of the time. I would have pain off and on but I was able to get over it.

In May of 2009 my world changed. I had never done much computer work and found myself in need of "lots" of computer work. I spent way too much time with my head and arm in bad positions.

I woke up one day and all I could do was scream. I was in so much pain. I had to keep my right arm over my head.

I went to several doctors and did physical therapy but nothing worked. My MRI showed 3 of my disc were shot and my neck was off slightly between two of my vertebras.

I struggled for about 6 weeks and my husband finally said, "you NEED to see a neurologist!

He told us he could help me with my neck issue but he couldn't fix damaged nerves...that was his way of saying I was going to have some real damage if I didn't get surgery.

I scheduled an oppontentment for July 27th 2009.

Lynn Hahn   www.getrealfit.org

THE BEGINNING

I wanted to share with others that have gone through cervical disc surgeries or who are soon to be undertaking the challenging surgery.

I had my surgery July 27th 2009. I was not prepared for what followed.

I had always been in top shape so I thought I'd just fly by this but "surprise" I didn't. Each person is different and each surgery is different. I had 3 levels done so mine was on the ugggg list.

It's taken me time but I'm doing well so I wanted to share my story with you in hopes it will help you on your journey.

Lynn Hahn   www.getrealfit.org