3+ Weeks Post PLIF - Need Help

J

jan p

New member
Hi, I am new to this forum - just found you. I am so concerned that I have messed up my fusion. I hope someone can help me.

I had a 3 level Lurabar fusion with Screw fixation on 12/1/10. On Christmas Day I reached to hang something on top of doorway. Really stupid thing to do and really regret it. Since then have felt a different pain in the back. It seems different then prior to. In fact, except for leg pain I have been feeling pretty good during the last week or so.

Now sometimes just a simple movement gives me a burning pain on the right side of my incision area. Also, when I am in bed on my back, my back feels more sore. Even just touching my back away from the incision area it triggers a burning pain or irratated feeling

My first post-op appt. with NS is on Jan. 3rd. since he was going to be gone over the holiday.

If anyone has any suggestions, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks Jan
 
Jan,
I am new to the board too but not new to back pain or surgery. have been fighting backpain for going on 15 years now and am in more pain now than ever.

First of all don't get yourself too worried as I have found stressing out about stuff can cause the pain in my back to worsen. Jan.3 is only a few days away. Wait until you go back to the surgeon and tell them what you did and I would bet that they will want to X-Ray your back anyway and then you will know if you did anything bad or if you may have just pulled a little something when you reached. On the other hand if the pain gets worse, get you butt to the Emergency room STAT.

Hope you get better soon.
 
MadmanD - Thank you for your reply and reassuring worRAB. It is hard not to worry, but will do my best. I do not have an x-ray schedule prior to this appt., but as you said he may order one after the appt.
Jan
 
Hi Jan,

Welcome to the board...and welcome to MadmanD as well. As Madman said, try not to worry. Your fusion is made to withstand much more movement than what you inflicted upon it over the holiday. Where you can get into trouble prior to the bone growth setting up and hardening is from repeated movement such as bending or twisting at the waist.

You probably stretched a muscle that has not been used to moving for quite some time. It may have caused a bit of inflammation. When you are still so close to the time of surgery, there is probably some residual inflammation anyway...and it doesn't take much to aggravate it. Same could be said of any nerves that were previously compressed...or any that might have been touched or moved during surgery. It takes everything quite a while to settle down, and a "wrong" movement can be just enough to set things off.

You will find as you recover that sometimes you will feel some new or different "sensations" or pain....The back and spine have some new adjustments to make as things heal and re-settle. Nothing is put back quite as it was prior to your injury or onset of back problems. Fascia has to mend; muscles have to learn a new balancing act; sometimes posture and gait is changed, etc.

Have you tried icing? Unless your surgeon told you to avoid icing, I would think that might provide some relief. But I think you are probably OK. The hardware is designed to withstand a fair amount of stress. If you had taken a bad fall or been in a motor vehicle accident, it would be a cause for concern, but unless you suddenly develop new and very bad pain I would think it safe to wait until your appointment on the 3rd. You can always call your surgeon's office if you are really concerned.

Please let us know how you are doing and feel free to post with any questions, comments or concerns. Many of us have had a fusion and are happy to try to provide whatever information we can pass along. ;)
 
Tetonteri66
Thank you for your explanations and empathy towarRAB my fears.

I have been dealing with this back/leg pain for almost 2 years and now to finally have someone who could hopefully fix me means so much. The fear of not having a successful surgery I know can be a bit consumming.

I haven't tried icing, but that is a good idea.

I do have a question.
I know everyone's recovery is different, and I do have a back brace, but at this point (Wed. will be 4 weeks) how much walking should I be able to do?

We do have a large gravel circle driveway and our road to our home is unpaved (we have acreage in the dessert)
So far I have walked around the circle once or twice aday holding on to my husband but not sure if I should be trying to do more, besides walking around inside the house?

Any thoughts?

I will be getting the walking poles as soon as my husband is able.

Thanks Jan
 
I had a three level fusion (L3 to S1) on June 1st. It was my third spine surgery and I too feel the need to be sure I am doing everything correctly. I understand your fears very well.

Walking is the most important activity for you at this point. It helps to stretch out the spinal nerves and it helps to prevent any scar tissue that forms from attaching to those nerves. Also it helps to get freshly oxygenated blood to the surgical site. It is important to walk several times each day. Distance is less important than frequency. Unless you surgeon indicates otherwise, I would try to get out on your driveway and walk around that circle a bit more often than you indicate, if at all possible. Now is the time when scar tissue is forming, so it is important to walk. You are NOT doing it for aerobic exercise, but to keep those nerves stretched out. (I am assuming your drive is more-or-less level. Some doctors don't care, but mine always insisted on a level surface for walking.) Do you feel unsteady on your feet?
 
tetonteri66
Thanks for the info about walking. I walk around the house most of the day (inside) making figure eights thru dining and kitchen then into/out of the bedroom, limited sitting down, and then I get in bed several times a day to rest for 30-45 minutes. Our circle drive is very large (actually huge), but after reading your email I grabbed my husband and we went for another lap around for today. I will certainly work on increasing this and then some as the days go. My goal is to get out the gate a walk further - fingers crossed for good weather.

Prior to this last lap, I did ice my back during my rest period. Can't believe I didn't think to try that. I think it helped alittle.

I received a call for NS office - he will not be back in town in time for Jan. 3rd appt. so now changed to Jan. 7th. I mentioned my concerns about the stretching to hang that item on the door opening. She will talk with the Doc on call and if necessary my surgeon - then let me know. I do agree with you (hopefully) that it is just a stretch of the muscles.

Once again, thank you
Jan
 
Good for you. Think of all the exercise your husband is also getting. Now just don't get carried away :eek:-- remeraber to increase your distance slowly. The walking will be good for the sore muscle too ( getting more blood to it and carrying away the waste, etc.) so, hopefully, it will heal up sooner.

And you are wise to rest in between times. Walking and resting are the two most important things to do early in recovery. Sitting in a chair is not the same as resting in a prone position. Also when you are walking inside or on anything that is circular, be sure to alternate your circles so you are giving all your muscles a comparable workout. It is very important to think about keeping your muscles balanced when you begin to do more exercise. If you do something to the left, you then want to do the same nuraber to the right.

Also remeraber to keep well hydrated.
 
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