TLIF Surgery in Dubai. Day 12 post op. And I am so much better.

Feeling much better, seeing the doctor (first time post op) and my first session of post op Physio

Well. It's been a dozen days since I had my TLIF spinal fusion surgery, and today, I must admit I do genuinely feel better.

My op site pain is less today. Sure there's soreness, sure it still hurts to lie on my back, but it is far better than it was a couple of days ago.

I am on no meds at all. Not even panadol. Honestly? Don't really need any.

I went in to Wooridul Clinic to have my first post operation appointment with the doctor, and met Dr Patrick Choi. He shared my post op xray, pointed out in detail how he felt it was a text book case of success – comparing the before's and after's. Sure was reassuring talking to him, as he went in to detail on the prognosis. He removed my post op dressing, cleaned my incision site and gave me a very small new cover up.

I also had my first PT (Physio Therapy) session. My therapist was Archana – and she is one of those calm, collected folks at Wooridul. The session was mostly about pain management, rather than physical exercises, and I did feel better after.

It is clear that the entire team at Wooridul is professional and the physiotherapists really know what they were doing. Part of the physiotherapy process included ultrasound treatment, electrical pulse therapy which i think is called tense, and infrared heat. At the end I did a couple of simple leg muscle exercises which did cause a little bit of an exertion and stretched me quite a bit. These were simple leg bending and raising exercises that I could do prior to the surgery without even thinking. Obviously, all those muscles that worked towards my core as well as my lower part of the body have been affected and I am now, post surgery, pretty much out of shape.

Also she advised me that a comfortable sleeping position would be on my side, knees drawn up and a pillow between my legs. Tried it. Works.

I was told, incidentally, that going up and down the stairs, the 8-12 times a day I am now doing it is not right. It is excessive and it is a main cause of continuing pain and fatigue.

So here is my end of day late evening summary. Day 12 has been pretty good. My pain is far more manageable. I am tired and exhausted but that is because I have walked in the morning, I have taken a cab for my doctors and physio appointment. I'm going to physio therapy. I have then walked quite a bit to try and find a cab to come back home. And of course getting in and out of the cab has not been easy. Add to this, the stair climbing at home and i have overdone that and it's again something that I really need to watch out for. Overall? A good day.