Both of these show normal spines, with open spaces for the nerves. The x-ray the surgeon showed me had the whole thing squished together, putting pressure on the nerves, which caused the pain.
Jill is with Mom today in the hospital, after a whole day and long night there with her. She reports that Mom is feeling good and has walked up and down the hall and up stairs and had breakfast and is basically feeling much better than yesterday after the fresh surgery (done between 7:30 and 9 a.m.) and after effects of the anesthesia made her very uncomfortable.
If you want to look up the surgery, it's called "posterior lateral fusion of lumbar 4-5." The surgeon also fused two higher vertebrae that were on their way to ruin. Here's a link to the general surgery (which includes a note about how fusing in more than one place can be troublesome -- hope the surgeon knew what he was doing):
http://www.spine-health.com/Treatment/Back-Surgery/Surgery-Overview/Lumbar-Surgery/Lumbar-Spinal-Fusion-Surgery.html
And here's the smoking reference:
Smoking cessation. It is generally advisable to quit smoking prior to a spinal fusion surgery, as nicotine is a direct toxin to bone graft and will prevent the bone from forming.
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Limited motion. Bone forms better if motion is limited, so patients are advised to avoid bending, lifting, and twisting for three months after spinal fusion surgery.
The occupational therapist, Florentina, was investigating Mom's possibilities and capabilities and the motions she routinely performs. She asked how, when Mom stood in front of her stove, to heat water for tea, for instance, how she had to turn.
I don't drink tea, Mom answered.
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