Second Night and Day Post OP

I slept 4 hours straight and then took a muscle relaxer. My cat was keeping me up a bit. Then I fell back asleep around 6 and slept a couple more hours. Today, it felt like my left arm and shoulder pain was returning. Yet, the pain that I haven't felt in several weeks seems to return. I guess it is due to the swelling and I am going to stay optimistic and believe that that is the case. I will talk to my surgeon tomorrow. Maybe it was a bit premature to be excited about not having any more pain in my left arm right post op... 

I have to stay positive though. I have to rest. Maybe tomorrow, I will lay in bed instead of sitting in the recliner. The neck brace really bothers me. It hurts me. My incision, neck, and the area between my shoulder blades hurt a bit, too. Just cramps, spasms and aches. My staples in my head bother me as well. It's less pleasant today than it was at the hospital and I guess I wished I had stayed a little longer... But I was only approved for 1 night. 

Well, I ordered a wedge for my bed do I hope when that gets here tomorrow I will be able to sleep more comfortably. Also will not work at all tomorrow but rest... 

I have to remind myself: it's just day 2 post op. But I need to be more careful with movements and BLT.

This is not easy. 

E.T. Discharged from the Hospital

E.T. Is in the house!!!

Just in case you are curious, but the breathing tube down my throat was because of the way I was lying during surgery. I was flipped on my tummy and they cut posteriorly.
The breathing tubes in my nose afterwards and over night were because my pulse fell below 40 - I'm an athlete so I have a low pulse to begin with but hey just wanted to keep me safe.
I got an IV because I had to get one anyway for fluids, some pain meds, and antibiotics afterwards. Maybe I got gas to be put under as well and I just can't remember :)
While my pain was high at a 9 right after surgery, I think it was a combination pain and anxiety of shaking, cramping, headaches and being generally uncomfortable.
In fact, pain was not what I was used to from my left arm radiculopathy. I still have occasional pain in my elbow, bicep and shoulder but nothing compared to how t was a few weeks before surgery. My left arm and shoulder pain is down to a 0-3. Thus, my post surgery pain is from the procedure. Headaches from the halo and the staples in my head, stiffness of my neck primarily on the right side and between the shoulder blades, pressure pain from the brace and not being able to relax my shoulders properly. Muscle relaxants help a bit.
Last night, my nurse checked on me every 4 hours. The midnight check was not necessary - I had just fallen asleep. But I was given some more muscle relaxant and took a bathroom break. 4am was necessary for another dose of oxycodone. The nurse said I was doing really well and that most people would call before 6 hours were up to get more pain meds. Not me. Today, pain has been on a 6 primarily, maybe even a 5 occasionally. I was discharged at 10:30am. I did great on strength tests, walking, and stairs. At home I spend time in the recliner and walked around the house a bit. I took a shower and changed the dressing. Incision "looks good" and only my hair and the staples bother me. Don't want to blow dry my hair so that's been annoying. Here is apic of re incision after my shower. Scroll down if it grosses you out. 

 Then I took a nap on the futon we set up for me; and the futon just might not be the best choice but the bed does not work because we have two giant breed dogs that sleep in it as well and I don't and can't deal with them right now. So I was the one who had to move. I slept 4 hours and woke up super stiff which added to my pain and brought it back up to an 8. Now sitting in the recliner. Pain is around a 7. Wished the stiffness wasn't there, but again, generally pain is from the procedure and uncomfortable positions, and the brace. I'm sure I will be fine in a couple of days. Can't wait for being cleared to do exercises that will help loosen my neck up and increase mobility slowly. I might be rating pain higher than it is because it is such different pain and it is my first surgery ever. In sum, I feel like I have been taken very good care of and know who to go to and talk to if I have questions. I have to watch to not overdo anything in moments I feel good. Like reaching up for a glass. I can do it without problems but should not. Little things...

I am very grateful to have family and friends help out and had a delicious paleo lasagna with not-so-paleo cheese today. 

Surgery done: Cervical Foraminotomy

KFirst of all, sorry for all potential typos. I am using my phone and I am on Percocet :), Valium, some anti inflammatory and have the oxygen cord in my nose :)

I wanted to give y'all a brief summary on my surgery that I had yesterday: 

My surgeon cut posteriorly and scraped out the disc material that protruded into the left foramen and pushed on my nerve roots at C5/c6. He also removed 4 bone chips that were floating around. 

Everything went very well, he said, and The anesthesiologist told my husband it was definitely a necessary procedure. (I had doubts I really needed it because I was feeling much better since Auguat).

Now a bit about my experience and the pain: 

I got up at 5am yesterday and arrived at the hospital at 6am, checked in and everything just happened smoothly. My vitals were checked and then the first nurse tried to do my IV. She tried 3 times but then gave up. She blew my veins Which was so far probably the worst pain. My anesthesiologist then came in at 7 and took over. She numbed the area if my left hand (since my right was poked a bit ;) ), and  had no problem putting the IV in. My surgeon and neuro-monitoring guy came in to check on me and share positive words, and I signed my consent. While rolling through the halls  to the surgery area I was talking about my giant dogs and crazy cat, I rember getting in and out an elevator and having a hard time keeping my eyes open in what seemed to be a surgical "waiting room"- I think there were other people too so I don't know if that's where surgery was or not - don't think so but it was bright and white :)   - that's all I remember. 

I was out. Then I remember waking up in the wake-up area. My legs were shaking and I felt some pain all over, but most of all in my throat from the breathing tube. 

I was givien some pudding and Percocet and slowly woke up. Then I was brought to my room. 

I was very sleepy and it was hard to keep my eyes open. 

My hard brace was pushing in the back of my neck a bit and I had some trouble finding a comfortable position at first. Taking Percocet with pudding every 6 hours worked well. I have also been given anti inflammatories and antibiotics through the IV. And Valium later the day. I have not been nauseous and even got up to pee around 11am the first time, then walked on my floor and took five stair steps with the  PT. The OT said my strength was normal. 

I took another few laps  with my husband around 5 and before bed - actually felt not too bad - just slow, but helped done if the pain. Speaking if pain the worst pain I felt was on the right side if my head from the staples they put in for the halo. I had read about this before so it didn't shock me. 

Dinner was pretty good and more manageable than lunch (hummus with pita). I had Chicken Parmesan, spinach and whipped potatoes. And an edible flower - lol

In sum, my pain has decreased from 9 right after surgery to about a 7, occasionally a 6. I have been able to sleep 2 hours before my nurse came in at 12:30am this morning/night to give me more pain meds and check vitals. My heart rate has been stable but in the low end at 98/55 and my pulse occasionally fell under 40 which is why she plugged in oxygen tubes. Just in case. I am an athlete though so my pulse is ba rurally low. 

Then I slept till 4:15 and went to the bathroom, had another vitals check and got anti inflammatories. More Percocet at 6m. I had the option to leave yesterday but believe it was better to stay one night just in case. 

I should be home around noon today. 

I'm going to make it a point to walk every hour and need to be more careful with not twisting and turning. I'm pretty stiff right now and hope it will get better soon, 

Here is a pic of me from yesterday around 11am

From here it will only get better :)

Last day before surgery

I vacuumed the house one more time, washed a load of clothes and dishes and was surprised with a giant dish of paleo lasagna from a friend! I am so grateful for the friends I have made here in not even a year. Before crossfit I was not good at meeting people and making friends, so this is a blessing and shows how awesome crossfit (or the people who do it) is :)

I stopped at the gym for a quick WOD and went swimming with another friend later today. My husbands mom arrived to help out around the house a bit, and my husband took off the next two days. I will be fine. It feels good to nein good hands and surrounded by good people :)

Iron scap

Bench

10-10-5-5-3-3

45-65-75-75-88-88#

10x10' Lsits on p-bar

1' plank

4x 10/10 ghd

10rds

10/10 tire step ups

10 44# kb swings

4x7 ring rows

Mobi

45' swim with kick board 

In 24 hours it's over. I am hungry. 

Countdown to Surgery

I have 3 more days before my cervical spine surgery on Tuesday. I'm not nervous yet, but have a lot to get done still which may be why I am not feeling anything. 

I'm trying to get some workouts in, too, just to not get too depressed. I've been failing lifts at numbers below my maxes and it's somewhat getting to me. I am also feeling like I am gaining body fat and just losing muscle mass. It's not going to be easier after surgery. 

On the bright side, I finally got a team together to do little filming projects. We call it "Faces of CrossFit" and we document people who crossfit. It's a fun little documentary style project. 

Here is a teaser: 

https://vimeo.com/m/103500201

I'll post more about it soon!

Here are my last two days workouts: 

Thursday

Iron scap

Mobi

5rds

5 Ring rows

5sec Ring holds

10 rds 

10/10 step ups

50m 70# farmer carries

3rds

15 Leg raises on p-bar 

10/10 ghd

25 push-ups 

Mobi

Friday

Iron scap

5rds 

5 ring rows

5 sec right holds

1' leg raises

1'plank

Front squat

5-5-5

45# - 88# - 110#

3-3-3

132# - 154# - 165#

1-1-1

176# - 187# - failed 198#

Bench

10 at 35# 

3-3-3 at 77#

3-3-3 at 88#