Susan Adair (2025)

02/10/2024

My 'sexy' brace!

Hands down, the most important part of recovery after my second fusion.

I'm nearly 4 months post op and in a much better condition than I was 4 months post op last time.

Wearing the sexy brace throughout a Cypriot summer has been difficult, but it has really helped manage my pain levels and my ability to move.

Maybe I'm imagining it?

I can walk longer distances when I'm wearing it, and my leg doesn't feel like it's going to fall off when I've been in the car for a long time.

I resisted a brace or support belt for *so* long. I didn't want to be a 37 year-old who relied on anything.

I find it hard to adjust to and accept the fact that my body isn't the same as other people my age, and I do rely on equipment and support to live my best life.

Don't be like me. Too stubborn and crazy to -at the very least - TRY something that could potentially make your life easier!

(P.S. please don't judge its position. I've just gotten out of the car, and it needs to be readjusted!)

05/07/2024

*1 Month Post-Op*

Today is 1 month since I had the revision of my spinal fusion. You're very cool this afternoon. I've spent the best part of the last month staring at the ceiling, not bending over, not lifting anything, and being pretty much bored out of my mind.

All my pre-op pain is now gone. And I don't think I've ever been so grateful because whilst the back and the leg pain was bad, the pain in my pelvis was beyond anything I have ever experienced.

Week 3 was pretty rough as the nerve pain in my left leg was constant for most of the week.

Whilst Week 4 has been the opposite and allowed me to think I've recovered enough to drive. This, however, left me in so much pain yesterday. Chopping off my leg would have caused less pain

I've been terrified to do anything for fear that the screws might break again.

I've been scared that every ache or pain that I've not expected is something going wrong.

But recovery isn't linear. And I find that hard to accept. I have another 8 weeks of no bending/lifting/twisting and months of physiotherapy to strengthen my core and help reduce the nerve pain in my leg.

The surgery has made such an improvement in my day-to-day life, but it's just the beginning.

(I used a filter on this picture because no one needs to see my sleep-deprived face!)

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21/05/2024

Did you know that there is a process - or ladder - that you need to follow when it comes to pain relief and how to use it?

The analgesic ladder was originally developed in 1986 by the World Health Organisation to treat cancer-related pain. However, the theory behind it works well for any type of pain management and as a result, it is now used to manage ALL types of pain.

takes place in my group, Living the Chronic Life every week and yesterday we started with the analgesic ladder. I will be going live in the group later on today to discuss the benefits of the ladder and why it is important to learn about it before we start discussing medication and its role in managing pain.

Hope to see you there!!

04/05/2024

Today is World AS Day, but I bet you don’t know what AS is. AS or Ankylosing Spondylitis is a form of inflammatory arthritis that causes damage to the ligaments and bones of the spine and the sacroiliac joints of the pelvis. Long-term, the condition causes the bony parts of the spine to fuse, leading to reduced mobility and in some cases a hunched-over appearance.

Psoriatic Arthritis, the condition that I have, has a similar presentation as AS and they both (along with other forms of inflammatory arthritis) fall under the umbrella term of Spondyloarthropathy.

Unlike many other forms of inflammatory arthritis, AS is visible on X-rays and other imaging studies like MRI. It is important to note that just because AS is visible on tests, doesn’t mean other forms of spondylitis (arthritis that impacts the spine) are less serious.

Spondylitis is a relatively common condition with 1 in 200 people in the UK diagnosed. That is more than Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Even though it is a prevalent condition, it can still take at least 8.5 years to receive a diagnosis. It is suggested that part of this reason is due to the condition being common in people in their 20s - 40s. 1 in 4 people who have the condition, see 5 or more doctors in search of a diagnosis. By the time the condition is diagnosed, irreparable damage has been done to the spine.

As with all inflammatory arthritis’, AS impacts more than just the spine and pelvis. It can cause damage to the eyes, skin, heart and lungs. It also causes fatigue, mental health issues, reduced range of movement, morning stiffness and issues with the bowel.

Treatment is usually methotrexate (a low dose of chemotherapy that is taken every week) and/or a biologic. Biologics, along with methotrexate, alter the immune system and the way it responds to inflammation within the body. Steroids are commonly used. Non-pharmacological interventions include surgery, physiotherapy, psychological support and improvements in diet and exercise.

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