Hey everyone!
Time for another update—these will likely be weekly or bi-monthly as I continue my recovery journey. Overall, things are moving in the right direction, though I recently got a surprise curveball: Bell’s Palsy. I had to rush to the ER when I noticed my smile looked crooked, just to rule out a stroke (thankfully, it wasn’t). I’m now on antivirals for a week to tackle the virus. It doesn’t bother me too much, but spending an entire day in the ER when I should have been recovering at home wasn’t ideal!
The Pain
I’ve stopped taking most medications since Day 5, which feels incredible. The first four days post-surgery were tough due to surgical pain, but I still have no nerve pain like before! The only discomfort now is mild pain in my left glute (my sciatic side), but it’s hard to tell if it’s muscular or nerve-related. What’s amazing is that I have zero pain in my foot, calf, or thigh anymore!
My back and hips are sore, though, likely because I haven’t walked upright for over six months or walked more than 5–10 minutes at a time in the last two months. My body is adjusting, and I’m looking forward to getting my staples out next Thursday. Fun fact: I haven’t been able to wear anything tight around my waist for months because of pressure on my disc—even yoga pants! So, the first thing I’ll do after the staples come out is slip into a pair of leggings.
My Activity Plan
I’ve been aiming for 8,000+ steps daily and doing light physio exercises. Today, I even tried a senior-friendly chair workout with an exercise ball! I skipped anything involving bending, lifting, or twisting, as those are off-limits for the next six weeks. My goal is to avoid losing more range of motion and muscle mass than I already have. But, I am sure glad i have spent years building a solid muscle base.
Playing ringette again will take time, but my priority is figuring out why I herniated my disc in the first place. Many think it’s due to one specific movement or activity, but from my reading, it’s more likely a combination of poor movement patterns over time—how I sit, lift, walk, or play my sport.
I start physio next week, and I’m hoping they’ll create a comprehensive plan for me. I’ve already designed a bodyweight routine I can do, and I’ll run it by them for approval. If anyone’s interested, I can share it here! I’m also allowed to start using a recumbent bike in Week 2, which I’m excited about. It’s going to be all about steps and cardio until I can lift again.
Fear
I’ll be honest—I’m scared. Scared of re-herniating or herniating another disc. Right now, bending forward feels impossible, and exercises like glute bridges or lying on my stomach seem daunting. But I know with time, patience, and proper guidance, I’ll improve.
Gratitude
I can’t express enough gratitude to my friends, family, teammates, neighbors, and colleagues for your messages, meals, kind words, and support. I feel so loved—thank you all!
Other Updates:
I’m still sticking to my healing supplements (see my first post).
My grabber and toilet riser remain lifesavers.
I’m enjoying the downtime—reading more and working less.
The delicious meals I’ve received have been a huge treat.
Shoutout to Amazon and grocery delivery for making life easier.
Best of all, I feel more present with my kids. Chronic pain steals so much joy, and being able to laugh and joke with them again feels priceless.
If you know someone living with chronic pain, check in on them. Let them vent, let them cry, and just be there for them. The mental toll of constant pain and the limitations it brings is no joke. Stress and major life events can also play a role in back issues—something I’ve come to realize in my own journey. Reducing stress and focusing on recovery is key.
Thank you all for following along and supporting me through this. I’ll keep you updated as I take each step (literally and figuratively) forward!
コメント