I had my back surgery on May 6th - I was in the hospital for 5 days - came home with a back brace I have to wear all the time except when I'm sleeping, a bone growth stimulator to help grow the new bone in my back (they had to break out the back of two vertibra, then I had a bone marrow transplant and the two were fused together with a titanium plate and screws. I have a year and a half recovery time. I can sit up but not for long since I have intense swelling in my feet and legs so I am laying down most of the time with my feet propped up above my heart to keep the swelling down as much as possible. I was on morphine injections every 3 hours when I was in the hospital, now I take 6 morphine pills a day but will be decreasing that dosage as I heal. I was taking 3 a day for years so I'm hoping to get to maybe one a day or even down to something like percecets (spelling?). I had an appointment with my surgeon today and now since my right hip is so painful still - he is having me get it x-rayed then an MRI next week to see what the problem is since it is not related to my back problem... ? The incision is about 5 inches in the middle of my back right below my waistline. The surgeon couldn't believe how great it looked today - he said it looked like I had the surgery 2 months ago :) !!! Anyway, other than that, I'm doing great.

Linda

Check out the photo of my scar :) Not so bad for just having been cut open...