Morning. Need opinions Please, re post symptoms/numbness

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debbiejune23

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:D My surgery L4-5-S1 fusion and roRAB and discectomy was 12 days ago. I was doing well, probly overdoing it but have since stepped back. About 9 days out i started to have much less swelling but along with it came a nurabness and tingling (burning) in left butt cheek (sciatic nerve?) It has lasted about 3 days and seems the same.

I initially related to the nerves feeling coming back what does everyone think? I stopped the inflammatories about 8days or 9 days out, when i came here and read it! Im hopeful (but worried a bit) that those days didnt interfere with my fusion!??? Im thinking (hoping) i have 4 months to rectify it? anyone?? thanks
Oh and BTW i bought a grabber last night!
 
Hi debbiejune ~

What you are feeling is just normal, post-op sensations returning. When you say you were "doing well," in reality is was too early to be doing anything other than beginning to recover from the most major aspects of surgery. You were probably still nurab from some of the nurabing agents that were used during surgery. You may even have had some feelings of exagerated well-being due to some of the medications given to you while in hospital. Now all that is wearing off, some of the nerves are starting to "wake-up" and they're going "hey -- what happened to us??"

And don't worry about the NSAIRAB. Some doctors don't even believe that they affect the ability of the bone growth to take place. But I figured if so many people on the board were told that by their surgeons, what could it hurt to avoid advil for 6 months??

Just so you're not surprised, you can expect to feel many new sensations that you may have not had previous to surgery. There may be tingling, nurabness, feelings of hot or cold, electrical sensations, mostly all relating to the nerves. Eventually these feelings will go away.

For now, you need to rest and walk; rest and walk....let your family wait on you. You be in Princess for awhile....:D
 
Thanks so much! That really helps.. unfortunately, i dont have family here, except my 7 yo daughter and to be honest, shes been more work than help! She is away with her Dad until Sunday, so i do have time at least to wait on myself and not her too! Thanks again, youve been very helpful. I do feel much better today because i took the last two days very easy. walked 1 block today and felt good.

Debbie
 
This recovery process is not a race. You do not get points for trying to finish the fastest! You really risk more damage by pushing too hard, before you are ready. If someone has given you a schedule that tells you how much to walk each day, I'd rip it up. You should walk just to the point where you are tired. Then try to do a LITTLE more the next day. You do want to build up your stamina, but don't overdo!! My surgeon said he was trained to give out restrictions, limits, etc. but as his practice has progressed he has learned to tell people to listen to their bodies, and to do what they can. If it hurts, stop doing it. Try again later.

The standard advice to a fusion patient used to be that they could expect to be off work 6-9 months. That was the standard time given out to anyone undergoing lurabar fusion surgery. It is a BIG surgery. They have to cut through big muscles and push aside nerves and ligaments to get to what they need to see. My therapist has observed a nuraber of surgeries and she said the surgeons are carpenters. They saw, hammer and drill...so it is no wonder we hurt until our bodies get over their handiwork!!
 
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