6 days out--some questions

That is EXACTLY where my pain is, Vicki! I attributed it to posture simply because I knew I should have gotten an adjustment prior to surgery, but I just seemed to run out of time for all of the things I needed to do before I joined the loser's bench. My usual back pain is in the cervical and lumbar/sacrum areas.  Thoracic spine pain is unusual for me, but I figured my spine was already so out of alignment, it had to be because of all of the stress I was putting on my back to keep from pulling at my incision points. (No stitches or staples for me. The doc used glue/steri strips.) My lower and upper back muscles are constantly pulling my spine out of alignment. I even get a knot in my muscles (it's rubbery, like the muscle has cramped up into a knot), on both sides of my spine, in the L1-L2 area.  I just figured I've been putting added pressure on the thoracic area now, too.


Note  For those not familiar with the spinal segments, cervical is neck, thoracic is middle, lumbar is low, and sacrum is the tailbone area. You usually hear cervical and thoracolumbar, but I truly almost never have pain in the middle of my back.

I wanted to update everyone.  The dizziness has gotten worse as the day has progressed. I finally gave up thinking that my roommate would check on me (I didn't hear from her at all today until after 7 pm, she just assumed I would be fine and/or contact her if something was wrong. I did contact her, but she didn't even realize she'd missed a message from me until after I told her that I'd texted her). So, that lead me to the decision that I need to go spend this next week with my parents.

My mother is retired due to disabilities related to rheumatoid arthritis, but, at least she's capable of driving me to the ER if something goes seriously wrong, or just being there to call 911 if she can't get me to the car. I will be calling my surgeon tomorrow morning. Mondays and Tuesdays are his surgery days, but, short of him sticking me in the hospital, I expect to be at my parents' in McKinney for the remainder of this week.

I will do my best to be online to update, but my parents' internet has been spazzing for the last month. Mom doesn't have the technical know-how to fix it and Dad has been working 10 hour days 7 days a week, maybe even longer than 10 hours, I'm not sure. If it's fixed, I'll be updating. If not, I don't expect to be online. I have a 214 cell phone that I will have with me, but it does not have texting. It's a family plan I share with my parents (free to contact the 'rents!), so I don't have any say in texting since I don't get the bill. However, if you'd like to PM me, I'd be happy to give you my number in a PM if you want to call to follow-up. However, I ask that you do so before 8 am tomorrow. I'm not sure what time my mother is planning on being here, and I'd like to have any messages answered before she gets here so we can load up the van and go.

Mel...I don't have anything to contribute to your experiences. But I've been reading Sarah and Vickie's responses and I gotta say I think we're both gonna be in great hands in Dallas!!!

I'm sending you a PM but in case you miss it, that's OK.  Take care of yourself and check in when you can.