I hope that with the arrival of the new grandbaby, good things keep on coming your way from now on!! Congratulations to the granddaughter and have a wonderful time. It is so special the first time you hold that precious grandchild. I was fortunate and was there at the birth of my first grandson. The second one I almost had to deliver myself hahahaha But I did see the head come before the ambulance took off with them. Lucy

"I kept my cool and said nothing. At the end of the session he did tell me that I had to be the most patient person he had ever worked on. I do not consider myself a patient person." Same here. I swear I kept waiting to hear a snap or crunch of my nose from the pressure the person on my left put on my nose. I kept thinking 'does she think my nose is a handle to move my head around?' I'm surprised I didn't end up with a headache just from that! I only got 6 pain pills I think. the 2 types together were only 10.00. I told them at my check up that I'd keep them in case I break a leg or something, ya never know. that could be a time that I couldn't get out to the pharmacy. Haven't even looked to see what they actually are! I'm very careful taking things like that. I seldom even take Tylenol anymore. I think I'm always in enough pain that I think it is normal - lol! I was on tramadol for yrs (for fibro) but stopped those last fall. that was really bad - mostly because of the restless leg syndrome that came with the withdrawal. I survived that and don't want to depend on anything like it again. I do hope you get those pain pills and antibiotics into you for this healing process. And do take some 'friendly flora ' type stuff after the antibiotics are done to get your intestine tract back in order. Antibiotics will throw it off and cause many other problems for you. I take a capsule will each meal. They did tell me to keep the incision moist, to coat it with Vaseline or some such type thing. they gave me some samples of a dermo recommended ointment. It's about 30$, so I've used Vaseline so far (after samples ran out), but think I will be buying it because it didn't have the greasy feel that Vaseline does. My surgery was very, very close to the tear duct - and that worried me. I go in next week for another check up and then in mid Aug I go in for a check up on my right eye cataract surgery (that was done at the end of January). I hope you get pain free quickly!

Sherry, I jjust saw this post……I am asuming you had back surgery? Fusion? I understand completely as I have been through 3 spinal fusions myself, 2 lower back 15 years apart and one in the neck as well. Did doctors harvest your hip bone or was a cadaver bone used? My worst pain was where they harvested the hip bone, but I remember hating wearing that back brace everywhere for 3 months! And yes, rehabbing is very difficult. You are in my thoughts. debra

DH had his surgery 2 weeks ago. I am a huge fan of his doctor and the joint center he and the hospital have put together, but I can't send you that. Each doctor and place will have their own preferences and ways of doing things. DH had a partial nerve block in his thigh for the first 2 days, or nearly -- it ran out a bit early. That helps with the period of greatest pain -- apparently very well. DH really hasn't had many complaints of pain except the stiffness that comes with swelling. His other concern is that he wants to get off the oxycodone as soon as possible but he's still using it. He handles it pretty well, but I can tell he's a little loopy at times. They did suggest taking a dose an hour before PT. The powered icing machine seems to have a lot of fans, but here they sent us home with a Cryo Cuff and that was more of a pain than it was worth. We use a few ice packs in rotation and it has been much easier (we have an XL gel one like they use at the PT office and some Igloo Natural Ice sheets of Target (sold in the camping/outdoor section (where they have lunch boxes and thermoses year round). If her doctor wants her to wear compression stockings, I would have 2 pair and get them in the size for her legs now plus at least one larger size (1 and/or 2 sizes larger) and practice putting them on before the surgery. DH has thigh high stockings on both legs -- not sure if that is until his 6 week check. I don't know how widely available they are, but there is a "baby" company (her words) called ROMTech. The ROMTech is an interactive version of a cycling machine that includes passive, active and resistance pedalling in 6 different circles. I was a skeptic and thought it was just something more for them to bill, but it has been great and DH is swearing by it. He is nearly to his 6 week range of motion goal at just past 2 weeks, he's taking short walks and getting back to near normal activity levels around the house -- he just can't be out and about very long. He credits the ROMTech for helping him get there. I would recommend it to anyone having knee surgery -- if it is available where you are.