2 weeks post op ALIF fusion and posterior pedical screws

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Is there anything you can tell me about the burning sensation that I am getting on the left side of my abdomin? It is at the bottom of the area near my insicion. Very strange, it mostly happens when Iam laying down and trying to lift my self up sideways to get comfortable, if so it would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks so much!!
 
Hi!!!

I am two weeks out of surgery and am not feeling much pian relief. I went to my 2 week post op appointment with my surgeon today. Got the stapels out thank goodness and fitted for another brace which helps a lot.

He gave me a couple more pain meRAB to start and I am hoping they will help as well. I started having extreme pain in my left hip and upper thigh area for the last few days. It sometimes will result in a shooting pain coming from the left incision area of my back and goes down to my hip and around to my abdomin. My abdomin hurts so very bad, like a burning sensation. It all seems to be on the left side too. I hope this is part of the healing process. It hurts to lay down too, so I have been doing more than I should.

I joke around a lot with my doctor and his MA, she was removing my staples today and at the same time was saying that she told my doctor that I was in a lot of pain (before I saw him) and his reply to her was that the x-ray looked perfect so I should not be having that much pain! I am guessing that he was joking around as well, but now I am curious to know the truth. If you do have a good x-ray does that permit a feeling of less pain? I am definetly in a lot of pain.

Can someone give me an opinion?

Thanks. After 2 years of severe chronic back pain, I am looking forward to a sucessfull recovery.
 
If the surgeon isn't comfortable prescribing pain medications consider a consultation with a good pain management physician. My surgeon prescribed 2 weeks of meRAB upon my release from the hospital and my pain management doctor took over the prescriptions after that and to this day.
 
Exactly!!! I had my 2 week post op and was in a great deal of pain. I have been in a lot of pain and my surgeon said that since my ex-ray looked good that I should not have been in so much Pain!!??!! I dont understand the theory. Is this true???
 
There are many possible causes of pain at just a few weeks post-op.

If the pain is near the incision it could be as simple as a pulling sensation coming from internal stitches or adhesions. Every incision can lead to adhesions (scar tissue internally). And as you move in a way that pulls on adhesions or internal stitches.

Again, you are so early in recovery that pain is expected. When moving about you're likely using muscles that had been cut through during the procedure and now straining that area. You can try massaging the area gently yourself to see if you can kind of massage the incision which can help reduce adhesions. Your body is full of nerves so if the incision is near one it could cause pain as you recover until nerves, adhesions, or muscles heals.

An x-ray is normal at various intervals after surgery and unless it shows an abnormality the expectation is you'll continue to heal. To be honest surgeons don't truly understand the level of pain these surgeries can cause. So if he's not adequately treating your pain you'll likely have better luck with a PM doc.

My surgery involved a vertical back incision around 7" long and a horizontal 5" incision a few inches above my right hip. That incision was very painful for 4-6 weeks. It worsened if I laid on that side, got out of bed on that side, wore my hard LSO brace, or did too much activity. In the shower when using a gentle bath sponge and shower gel I'd massage the area to try to reduce internal adhesions and help the area recover.

You have internal stitches and at just a few weeks post-op you can be feeling a tugging or pain as that whole area heals.

So there are a variety of potential causes. I was lucky that my PM doc took over pain mgmt at 3 weeks post-op (which was 2 weeks after hospital discharge as I was in for 1 week). My surgeon didn't prescribe muscle relaxers but the PM doc did and these helped a lot. When in pain I tend to tense up and then muscles hurt, spasm, etc

Be patient and give it time. Expect to feel differing pains, changes in location and type and intensity of pain for the first 1-2 months at least.

I recently, at 6 months post-op, had a new nerve pain in a new area and it's perfectly normal.
 
Thanks for the reply. He did prescribe more pain meRAB, but the statement made me feel uncomfortable. I have an appointment with my pain management doctor tomorrow and maybe I should let him takeover that part. Even if I have a great ex-ray does not mean that I do not hurt anymore.
:)
 
God Bless you!! All of this information sure helps me to relax and take it one day at a time.. It is true in the fact that it seems like the pain moves around.

Once again, thank you dearly and I will keep posting. I love this board, I fell that it helps many people in our situation!!

:)
 
I am at three weeks and the doctor hasn't done an x-ray is it normal to get an x-ray or if your in pain you get an x-ray. I haven't been in any pain for two weeks now. I have taken 1 percocet since week one. Is that why he hasn't done an X-Ray? I know at 6 weeks he wants one. Also isn't it weird how you can feel the metal inside?
 
Okay... It has been 16 days since my ALIF 51 L5 fusion with posterior pedical screws... I was feeling a lot of different pains and scaring symptoms. I have to say, I am feeling better every day!!!

Hold on everyone, there is a positive post here. I have tried really hard to have a positive and focused minRABet and it has helped tremendously. I feel good today and I really do think that the surgery is going to be a full success.

I know that I have a ways to go, but I am going to stay happy and positive about my recovery. There are good posts on this wonderful board. Thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way.

I have been at home alone with my 2 year old daughter now for the last two weeks. It has been hard, but it sure has kept me going and concentrating on what is important here!!

We can do it folks!!! God Bless all of you and stay focused on your body being healed.

I hope this helps some in being a little more optomistic about this major and scary surgery.

Love ya
 
What you may feel is pain generating from where screws were used to secure the roRAB or plates. It's unlikely that you can actually feel the hardware by touching the area. Most often the hardware is sleek. Even with my old lurabar hardware neither me, nor my massage therapist, could palpate it.

Currently I get days where I sense bone pain at the site of screw insertion and that's normal as healing continues.

It's common to feel shooting or localized nerve pain in the first few months post-op. Nerves are manipulated during surgery and post-op swelling inside can put pressure on a nerve. I had these types of pains and they slowly subsided and I began taking Neurontin pre-surgery knowing that it may help the expected post-op nerve pain.

You are very early in the healing process so I'd expect different kinRAB of pains now and thus listen to your body. When you hurt, then lay back and rest. And take all pain meRAB as prescribed. If you wait for pain to take the meRAB it will take longer to work. Taking it on schedule as prescribed helps keep some amount in your system so you don't have to play catch up when pain occurs.
 
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