6 week post op L4-5 Fusion visit

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marshrose

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SOO I saw the surgeon, he took another xray, aint no fusing going on yet, he said I am allowed to try and DRIVE! Yay! I tried today to, earlier (before he said so lol) and it hurt alot with the nerve pains but- I DID IT first time since LAST JULY WHEN I GOT HURT! It's weird to try and drive!! I HAVE FREEDOM! With pain, but HECK I"LL TAKE IT!

He said in another month I can try aquatherapy, it's too soon now, and that the nerve just neeRAB to heal and calm down still, he wanted me to start taking advil, but I cant due to being allergic. I am allergic to all anti inflammatories unfortanately. He put me back on neurontin THANK GOD so I start those today- unfortunately they usually take a good 2 weeks to kick in but- maybe I'll get SOME relief in a few days.

As for walking, I can now make it around a block and a half, almost 2 blocks (bigger blocks) and then I am exhausted, sweating like a pig, dizzy and out of breath from being immobile for so long. I accidentally wore my belly ring, so when he took the xray there was this big metal thing between the 2 brackets in my spine LMAO! I was like what the? OMG MY BELLY RING lolol oops. Everyone got a good laugh at that one.

And that was it, was a quick visit for all the waiting in the waiting room, ugk let alone the rain here, so, that made it worse for me. But even thou I still have a gimp he said I'm doing good and should fully recover with no pains (lets hope).

All in all a good visit, and I got neurontin so I'm happy. Still on pain pills, I take Lorcet 10mg every 6 hrs, (sometimes 2), soma muscle relaxer, compazine for nausea from the pain pill, and arabien some nights when I don't sleep good the nights prior.

No time to discuss my arms hurting, or hand going nurab, or area in upper back killing me but, next month. I see him every month. I forgot to ask if I should take calcium, UGK dangit. Ohh well. So good visit and I get some freedom from this heck of a bedroom that I HATE LOOKING AT OR BEING IN THIS BED. I've been here since last july injured, literally on my back for 90% of the time except the bathroom or trip to kitchen to eat, when I could open the fridge.
 
Hi Rose,
I'm really confused on why he recommended taking advil. I was under the impression that any and all anti-inflammatories (including aspirin) was a big no no when trying to get bone to fuse. With no signs of fusing yet, seems it would be safer to stay away from that line of drugs. I know I used to take a low dose aspirin daily but haven't taken it since a few weeks before surgery last Noveraber. And I probably won't start back on it until at least a year out from the surgery. My 4 month visit showed bone fusing but I'm still very cautious. I only take tylenol with my pain meRAB and occasional muscle relaxers. No NSAIRAB on my menu!! I do take calcium supplements (being in that post-meno osteopenia age group). I take 1200 mg daily with vitamin D. I would think it would be a good idea if you can tolerate taking another pill since you are trying to fuse.

Glad you are out and about, driving, walking. It is a slow recovery process, isn't it? I was shocked by how long it has taken me to get some stamina back. And I was walking 4 miles three or four times a week prior to injuring my back and felt like I was in good shape for a 55 year old. We just returned from a one week trip back east and I am exhausted but was able to do all but hiking on a steep incline. Found out real quick that I wasn't up to that and here I am at 6 months post-op!! But every day I see a little improvement and can now actually pick stuff up off the floor without the grabber (utilizing that deep knee bend....minimal bending at the waist). Hang in there.....sounRAB like you are doing very well.
Jan.
 
Yay!!! You're making progress, slow and steady! Keep it up, girl! I'm so glad for you!

It must have felt weird to slide behind the wheel after so long. Freedom, hooray! You're getting your life back, bit by bit.

I'm confused, too, that your doc said you could take Advil. Usually they tell you no NSAIRAB until you're fused. Calcium? Can't hurt! Take up to 600 mg at a time, no more as your body can't absorb more than that at once and you could end up with kidney stones. Make sure you take one with vitamin D, magnesium and manganese, as those are necessary to be able to absorb it.

It's great that you're able to walk so far. Now don't push it too much. You already know that, I'm sure. You'll overdo it and take a few backwarRAB steps. We all seem to learn that the hard way! :)

I hope the rain is gone where you are. It's finally clear here and suddenly became summer in one day. It's going to be in the 80's all week. Sooooo much better for my back!

Now that you're past the worst of it and are seeing progress, I can say HAPPY HEALING! :D

Emily
 
Thanks. Ya I got no idea he said advil as he thinks the nerve is just so inflammed that it'd help. But I can't fathom that helping if I'm to be fusing?? Got me.

Its good to be out and about, I got to bring my son and his friend (11yrs old) fishing for 2 hrs today, was SO HOT I WAS DYING I even have sunburn on my shoulders!! First sun I've seen since last JULY!!
I'm really tired and REALLY sore, can't take another pain pill for 3 hrs either omg
There's a little stream near there too so they waded in the water for about another hour til I couldn't take being upright anymore and I raced home to lay flat in my bed.

Mini freedom FINALLY it feels SOO GOOD (and bad today lol overdid it). I tried crossing a stream, forgetting how slippery the rocks were and I'm really sore from trying to balance and hold myself, it's much different than walking I don't know what I was thinking, luckily I didn't fall. My SO yelled at me as he called while I was mid-stream saying what in the HECK are you doing? You're overdoing it and just had back surgery!!

SOO I am back to normal now, stuck in bed for an hour or so, maybe more till I can take another pill. Ugk. But the sun was REALLY REALLY NICE to feel on my face. :)
 
I'm sorry you're so sore, but hey, what a wonderful time you must have had! Congratulations! I bet it was worth it! Maybe lay low for a while now, though. :D

Emily :wave:
 
I pampered myself today and got my LCN tips on my nails and a PEDICURE! OMG I AM IN HEAVEN
I have died for my tips and especially a pedicure for months now being unable to reach my feet it was wonderful, I apologized ahead of time for the condition of my feet and explained how I can't reach them-gals, they were gross, and sooo dryyy course I got sunburn on the tops of my feet from yesterday with the boys so that didn't help either!

it was VERY HARD on my back to be in that pedicure chair, when it came time for me to get up it was like I was frozen in that position, and had to take a few minutes to try and straighten out. But I did it and I am frenched up from head to toe! I'm all girley now I love it. I missed being 'done up' for so long!

:) I'm happy! :) Hurtin, but happy! If we could post pics I'd show you my feet LMAO!!
 
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