My Recovery Journey
In March, I had spinal fusion surgery to align and stabilize misaligned vertebrae and reduce pain from stenosis. And so begins another “organ recital” — a sharing of my aches and pains that come with the territory of aging body parts that don’t function the way they used to.
It’s not my intent to bitch and moan. I know I’m not alone. But challenges to seeking and following through with timely elective surgery can be made easier. How? Consult with friends and the grapevine; do internet research about standards of care; expect a long timeline; be mindful and maintain a positive attitude; and get physical help from friends and family.
Most of these factors are not affected by where we live. But living behind the Redwood Curtain, with its physician shortages, makes access to health care especially challenging. Some of the conditions Humboldters seeking health care share:
• long wait times for initial appointments needed for diagnosis and referrals to specialists;
• out-of-the-area travel for specialty care not available here;
• out-of-town care requires overnight lodging arrangements and transportation;
• a lack of post-surgery services and a critical need for more physical therapists and home health care services.
In Humboldt, this means everything takes more time, from diagnosis by one’s provider, researching and choosing a surgeon or specialist, scheduling a procedure and being accepted for physical therapy (PT).
It’s best to initiate the testing and diagnosis visits sooner rather than later, to avoid waiting too late and ending up in the ER. After learning that many PT practices in our area were either placing new patients on waiting lists or not taking any new clients at all, I started calling for appointments the week after my surgery, even though it would be four to six weeks before I was ready to start treatment.
But most of the intangibles that facilitate healing and recuperation are NOT diminished because we live in a rural area:
The grapevine. Talking with trusted friends who had had excellent results after the same surgery not only gave me names of surgeons I could see but also provided valuable insights about how best to prepare for the surgery, and what to expect afterwards.
Internet research provides information on what the state-of-the-art techniques are, where they are being done; and, when seeking alternatives to surgery, researching the science behind “miracle cures.”
Research shows that getting into a positive frame of mind and engaging in mindfulness practices about the surgery and its outcomes produce better surgical outcomes compared to non-meditating patients. The UCSF Spine Surgery Center provided free guided meditations for patients to reduce anxiety and promote healing.
Lastly, if food is love, then food is also healing. Through an app to schedule and provide meals, we have feasted on the healthiest, tastiest meals, home-cooked by friends and family members or delivered from restaurants. The love and care baked into those dishes is the secret sauce, the special ingredient that has sped my recovery.
From homemade ice cream made with Dick Taylor cocoa, Creole red beans and rice, Asian chicken — the smorgasbord has been the best medicine!
Terry Uyeki is recovering from her back surgery in Bayside.
