Cycling after back surgery

Cheers everyone. Day 4, still no poo but do have a sexy new brace fitted.
Suppository tomorrow or I'm going hanford spec and going for a dig myself.

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That sucks. Wishing you a speedy recovery and can second @Aroogah 's recommendation for yogurt. When I broke my sternum, any hint of straining was enough to cause pain and the codeine was bunging me up so having some bio-yogurt worked a treat.

No-one should have to resort to the @hanford method.

In fairness, I have done the hanford method. Much discomfort. Very repress.

How are you getting on ?

Discharged yesterday! They just wanted to see me walking up some stairs before they'd let me go. Still quite sore but brace keeps my posture in a good position. Now got to work out how/when to return to work.
Gut health is currently in a dreadful state but have finally had a poo (if you can call it that)! Off to buy Yakult!

2013..I had a big mtb off. Broken pelvis and lower and neck vertebrae. St George's for 3 weeks. The pain was fucking excruciating, the drugs fucking marvellous. I had surgery, then a long recovery. I crutched to work for half days after 6 weeks. I found black cabs really difficult to negotiate, regular cars easier. Dropped the crutches after 4 months, on a bike in 5 months for short rides, did the Dunwich Dynamo 12 months later and now I'm full on mtb, road, whatever I can get! Looking back issues included shitting, although it appears you've passed that (bad pun, sorry) weight I gained and had to lose, getting off Tramadol...
It's sooo good! Since then I get sciatica periodically but I got older so maybe would have that anyway. I love St George's and the NHS.

Ps. I also love all the people in my life who stepped up when I couldn't.

Did you have to resort to the @hanford method?

Alas, no, would have made for better stories. Just sachets of Movicol.

I’m pleased. I think.

So what's next? Rest until the fracture heals?

No xrays? Booo........

Who was your doctor? Was it Mr Bircher?

Mr Day. An engineer of pelves, or whatever is the plural of pelvis.

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Wow. Amazing hardware.

Ah yes I know him. My dad is Mr Bircher and works (worked) there with him. Crazy what they do

Those are going to be painful to shit out

Wow. Really? Mr Day wasn't interested in my recovery particularly and was more excited about his latest innovative structures for stabilising the pelvis. At my checkup he gave me a high speed lesson in materials science! Amazing.

Not planning that any day soon....

Haha yeah. He is apparently one of the best technically but maybe not as good at the softer skills? So that makes sense!

hope recovery goes well

start making your own kefir, it is interesting to see how the flavour/texture changes depending on the ambient temperature, also you can vary the milk between cows and sheep for added variety

Most surgeons are like that.

Mine was keen to tell me all about his amazing work in the theatre. 6 months later his interest had badly waned.

It's comforting in a weird way. For a while I thought I must be the most interesting patient he'd seen all year. Then I realised I was fine, healed, cured and that I had been wallowing a bit in my own post trauma drama and that other folks had come along with smashed up bones. I do occasionally look at that picture and shudder.

I must be the most interesting patient he'd seen all year

That is always true.....until the next patient comes along, obvs.

Nearly a month has passed now and was back at the hospital on Thursday for a checkup. Will need to be in the brace till the end of January at least. Another scan early Jan.
Was the first time that I had actually been able to discuss with a consultant without being out of my tree on medication.
These scans are pretty amazing. You can see T12 is in a few bits with fractures in the vertabre above and below too. Prognosis is good for a full recovery. Just no trampolining / running / cycling for some time.
Still on a mixture of codeine and paracetamol but back at work for reduced hours but get really tired.
Getting better day by day! God bless the NHS. It really has been there for my family when we've needed it.

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Yeowch! Glad the prognosis is good. How are you doing with childcare? Day to day activity curtailed much?