February 24, 2009

Finally I feel I can post some good news. I have had less nerve pain for a couple of days. It hasn't lasted a whole day yet but at least there have been several hours in a row where the pain is quite a bit less. So I feel we are crossing the threshhold and going to start having better days and more healing. I'm hoping that Dr. Hansen says we can try to go down on the meds when we see him tomorrow. Even if it's just a little bit, that's ok. We have to start somewhere and it'll take quite a while because we won't be able to go down quickly. We did learn a lesson, though, and that is that I am not ready to use the hot tub yet. My surgical tissues must not be healed enough yet for the hot water. Dr. Hansen said we could try it and we did but then I had really bad increased pain over the night and for most of the day. We had to increase the meds and get it under control and now things are back to where they were so we'll just wait a little longer for those tissues to heal before we try hot water. The cold packs still work wonders so we'll stick with that. Still thanking everyone for your prayers - I know they are what's helping. We are so hopeful that we are going to get much better after this surgery heals. I can stand upright now and that is a big plus. So please keep praying because, even though we've got a long ways to go, it's what is getting things going in the right direction. JAN

Update

Mom wanted me to post a quick update for everyone, since she hasn't felt well enough to sit at the computer to type something up. It has been quite a struggle trying to stay on top of the pain. It is difficult to find a balance between keeping her pain at a comfortable level, but not being so sleepy that she can't function throughout the day. She and Dad are so appreciative of everyone's support, through your thoughts, prayers, and meals! She asks that you continue to pray for her through this difficult time.

Jennifer

Return Home

We are finally at home - got her Friday night. It was a tough trip in the car but so worth it not to be in the hospital or a hotel room. While in the Hotel, I got a bladder infection, which sure didn't help matters much. We have been so grateful for all the messages and words of encouragement. They have really helped. The pain has still been very sever, even with the pain medication and muscle relaxants, expecially in my legs. But the doctor said not to worry about it too much yet because he had to work around the nerves and tissue surrounding the nerves and make more room for them to flow easier where they were meant to go. Also, he told us he tought there was spinal fluid leakage that was putting pressure on my spine and if he got in there and it was a problem, he would take care of it. He said it was a problem and there was pressure so he took care of the leakage. He said I now have much more of the correct curvature to my spine so I should see relief from that. He had to cut wedges into the lowest facet joints (I now longer have joints there now) and packe them with bone growth material and spacer so that it would push me back into the right spinal curvature. He removed the disk and put spacers and bone growth material in there. Then he removed the old hardward and put in new hardward from the top of the old fusion all the way through the new fusion. He said he thought my bone was strong enough that he didn't have to go all the way down to putting screws in the pelvis so it's not as low as we were expecting. Now I'm on the road to healing and I know it will be a long road. But I can't thank you all so very much for your faithful prayers - please don't quit - I still need you!! Some day I will be able to do the same for you. We have had prayers all the way from Sioux Falls to Florida to California to Montana to Wyoming (and who kows where else). It has been amazing. Thanks you, thank you, thank you. God Bless each and every one of you. JAN