Welcome to My Journey
Hi everyone! My name is Erin, and I’m a 43-year-old researcher, ringette player, wife, health and nutrition coach, and mom to two incredible girls, aged 6 and 11. Over the past eight months, I’ve been navigating a challenging journey with my back health, and after some encouragement from a friend, I decided to document my experience through this blog.
This space will be a mix of reflections, updates, and insights as I work through recovery and beyond. I’ll be sharing the story of what led me to back surgery (spoiler alert: it’s been a wild ride!) in an upcoming post, but for now, I wanted to start by recapping Day 1 post-surgery. I also took notes before and on the day of surgery, so stay tuned for those posts as well.
Day 1 Recap
Sleep
Surprisingly, I slept okay, but I was up a lot during the night. Looking back, I should have taken my painkillers—I didn’t think I needed them, and honestly, I got lazy. But here’s the silver lining: no nerve pain in my leg or calf! After months of discomfort, this felt like a dream come true.
I did have some occasional glute pain and my back incision felt stiff and burned at times, but the biggest win? I could sleep on both sides of my body for the first time in months! No more awkward, curled-up positions. Small victories like these make a world of difference.
Pain
The big news: zero nerve pain! It’s hard to describe the relief that brings after struggling for so long. The trade-off is significant back pain and discomfort while sitting or lying down. But standing and walking? They feel amazing.
I hadn’t walked for more than 10 minutes in two months, and now, I can stand up straight. It’s been a huge boost for my mental health and given me so much hope for the future. Things felt bleak for a while, but now I can see progress on the horizon.
Activity
I managed to take an incredible 30-minute walk after my pain meds kicked in! I also did some bed exercises, which I highly recommend. These small movements are empowering, even though I can’t lift anything over five pounds for six weeks.
For now, my routine is simple: walk, lie down, and avoid sitting for more than 30 minutes at a time. Physical therapy starts in two weeks, and I’m excited to see how I can build on this foundation.
Nutrition
My focus is on protein and collagen to support healing, plus staying hydrated and loading up on fiber. I’m also supplementing with B12, magnesium, turmeric, omega-3s, creatine, and zinc.
Since my activity levels are so much lower than usual, I’m tracking my macros to ensure I don’t overeat. Nutrition is such a key part of recovery, and I’m determined to fuel my body the right way.
Work
I took today (Friday) off to rest, but I’m planning to ease back into work on Monday. Thankfully, I have a standing desk and can alternate between 60-minute work intervals, walking, and resting. Working from home and having a reduced workload until the holidays is a blessing.
Help & Support
Recovery is a team effort, and I’m so grateful for mine. My family, friends, and teammates have been incredible—organizing a meal train, sending gifts, and checking in with supportive messages.
I’ve also enlisted some practical help, like a cleaning service three times a month, and I’ve mastered the art of using grabbers and picking things up with my toes (pro tip: plies from barre classes come in handy here!).
Saying “yes” to support has been tough, but it’s made all the difference. Feeling loved and cared for has helped me stay positive, even on hard days.
Essentials for Day 1
Here are the must-haves that made my first day more manageable:
Toilet raiser
Grabbers (lifesavers!)
Healing supplements (collagen, protein, greens powder)
Grippy socks
Lots of pillows for support
Protein shakes and fiber-rich fruits and veggies
Dry shampoo (no showering for a few days)
Face wipes and small rinse cups for brushing teeth
Pain meds—don’t skip them!
Some items I thought I’d need (like a shower stool and sit-up pillows) weren’t necessary for me, so I returned them.
Looking Ahead
If you’re going through something similar, know that there is hope. Recovery is a rollercoaster, but every little milestone counts. I’m excited to share my fitness and health plans as I work toward my comeback—it’s going to be a journey, but I’m ready for it.
Thanks for joining me on Day 1. Let’s see where this road takes us!
Stay tuned,Erin
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