I felt in my skin, or rather, in all my ribs, the pain from scoliosis surgery. I wish it were just the ribs. It hurts everything, the whole body, every little piece.
At the beginning of my first book, I wrote more about what I went through with this pain:
"The incision on my back was about 20cm long and 4cm deep, in addition to the incision on the hip, from which they took bone to graft onto the spine. If I spoke, more air would enter, and the pain would be worse, if that was even possible. They explained to me that the button in my hand was the morphine pump. Every time I pressed it, I received a controlled dose. There were only ten pumps in the entire hospital, reserved for the most painful post-operative surgeries. When I pressed the button, I felt a wave wash over me and immediate relief from the pain."
I know that many of you are going through or will go through this difficult moment, which, in reality, doesn't have a defined timeline. The post-operative pain in the body will depend on each person's reaction. In my case, it was 7 days of incredibly intense pain, even in the hospital. Later, at home with medication, things started to calm down, but still, it took about 2 to 3 months for me to have no more pain.
So, let's get to the tips about scoliosis surgery?
Follow all medical instructions regarding medication, the right times to start movements, and when you go home, rest! I've always been restless, and it has harmed me at home. Rest and respect your limits.
Find ways to distract yourselves. In the hospital, in the midst of the despair of pain, I asked my mother for paper and a pen and started writing. From there, my book emerged, after years. At that moment, I could have surrendered to sadness or reacted by doing something that pleased me to clear my mind and thus forget my body a little.
Take the opportunity to read a lot! It's a great way to travel to other places, relax your mind, and educate yourself.
As soon as you can, talk to your family and friends. Find in them the support you need for this phase. I'm sure they will share stories and make you forget a bit about the harsh reality. This really helps pass the time. I received countless visits to the hospital and at home. You can be sure that I made the most of each one.
Take very good care of your wound cuts to ensure they heal healthily without any major discomfort.
When you are cleared to do so, invest in good physical therapy and specialized post-operative exercises for scoliosis. Pilates can also be very helpful.
Last but not least: don't compare yourselves! Each body is unique and has its own time to recover. Focus on the instructions of the professionals who are taking care of you and trust the process. It will pass!!!
Ah, exchanging information with other people who have been through this also helps a lot. It calms you down, and you understand that it's just a phase, which, like everything in life, will pass.
Did I help in any way? Leave your comments here for those who need support! I count on you all!!!
