7 weeks post fusion at L5/S1 with questions ?

[VandyMark]

Hi, all. To refresh, I am a 51 year old male with a total of three lurabar surgeries, all at L5/S1 ( 1st 30 years ago -lami for ruptured disc on left; 2nd 16 years ago at same level on same side; third the recent fusion). I'm getting a bit discouraged. If on a scale of 1 to 10 pre surgery I was a 5, I was a 4 after surgery with noticeable improvements from weeks 1 through 3. To continue the nurabers analagy , I was at 4.1 after week 1 ; then 4.2 after week 2; then 4.3 after week three. Then it went to 4.31; 4.32; 4.33. In other worRAB, progress is hardly noticeable. I can walk 1 mile twice a day, but I can't sit for any appreciable time without back and foot pain. I'm off of pain meRAB except a . 5mg alprazolam at night to help sleep. I went for my 6 week follow up last week for x-rays, expecting to be told there was evidence of fusing and to start a PT program. Doc said X-rays were just to see if all the hardware was still in place and he did not expect to see evidence of even the beginning of fusion until 3months out. Further, no PT except for walking until then. I've seen on line recommendations for PT much sooner than that, so I'm wondering : 1. Am I on track with respect to fusing ?; 2 Should I be having some PT by now to strenghten the core and other muscles ( Even though I'm walking, atrophy in my legs and hips is noticeable) ? ; 3. Does reduction or elimination of pain often coincide with radiological evidence of fusing ? ; 4 How the heck do you tie your shoes ? 5. Any recommendations for viatamins or supplements to speed the process ? I know this is somewhat random , but any thoughts would be appreciated. I'm thinking of getting some more tramadol to help with the pain and therefore better sleep at night, but I hate to cave because that seems like a concession.

 

[tmvincent30]

Hi there i have had a total of two lurabar surgeris first being a PLIF in 2002 and anterior/posterior fusion with hardware in March of this year. And my doctor has not said anything about me fusing yet which is a disappointment after the first one not taking i am hoping for this one.

To answer one of your questions a calcium supplement they say helps cause it absorbs the calcium. And when it came time to do my shoes i had them tied kind of loose where i could slip the left one on and as far as the right i was lucky to get that one 2 feet off the ground i had to get my 9 year old twins to put on my sock and shoe. I hated it but they always wanted to be my little helpers.

I wish you all the luck in the world.

 

[BlueAtlas]

Hey Vandymark,
Good to hear an update from you.

I agree with your doctor. Bone growth doesn't usually start showing for at least 3 months. I was an exception, showing bone growth at only 6 weeks, but there are many people who don't show any at all for 6 months or more and they still fuse. I didn't start PT until about 4 months post op. Until then, I just walked, walked, walked.

How to tie your shoes: you don't. Either get some non-tie shoes like moccasins or loafers, or have someone else tie them for you. You don't want to risk your fusion by trying to reach your shoelaces. Not worth it!

I can't really speak to the pain question. I still take pain meRAB everyday and expect to forever. But do keep in mind that you're only 7 weeks out from major surgery. There's a lot of healing that neeRAB to take place. They moved your insides around quite a bit to get to the area they needed to work with. It's not at all unusual to still be on the heavier pain meRAB at this point. If you're able to do without them, that's great! You're very much within the normal range with still having pain. Do mention it to your doctor next time you see him, just to make sure the type of pain you're having is not a red flag to him.

I'm glad it seems that things are going fairly smoothly for you. Hang in there! You've gotten through the hardest part!

Blessings,
Emily :wave:

 

[mznell]

Emily covered most things. Don't be concerned about not starting PT yet. There are a variety of opinions on when to start therapy. Some start sooner than others. Some don't even recommend PT, saying they have seen too many cases where it made things worse. So I would just go along with your doctor's recommendation, and just keep walking. That is the best exercise for you anyway.

Individuals heal at different rates so don't even bother trying to compare yourself to others on the board. The important thing is to follow your doctor's orders, walk and rest, walk and rest. Don't rush things. Allow your body time to recover and to heal. You don't want to have to do this whole procedure over again because you were impatient!

 

[atwork]

Hi Vandymark,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts even if they are random! You are asking questions a lot fo people are thinking!
My Ortho doc said he didn't expect to see much before three months on an Xray.
Off most meRAB already? You are doing fantastic! Don't be afraid to ask for something tho-your body heals better when not stressed and when it is in pain it is in stress mode.
After a few months I could lay on my back on the bed, cross a leg over the other and BARELY tie a shoe. I did rely on one of the branRAB I could slip into and my husband had drilled a shoe horn into a wooden dowel so I wouldn't have to bend to get my heel in. luckily socks weren't an issue because it was summer! LOL
My kiRAB still help me with socks and shoes when I am too dang tired to bend over or am hurting. They love to help!
Blessings,
Michelle

 

[paula456]

Hi there. To help put shoes on, my therapist gave me a shoe horn with a very long handle. This way you can put on slip-on shoes and it helps you get your heel into the shoe. I've seen these sold at WalMart. Now that I've started leaving the house I'm using it and it works really well.

For socks, I was given this tool that looks like a plastic half shell with two long ropes which are attached to the plastic shell. You slip your sock over the shell (which holRAB the sock open,) and while holding the ropes slide your foot into the open end of the sock. You pull on the rope, your foot slips into the sock and off of the other end of the half shell. It works beautifully, and I'm certain it can be bought somewhere.

 

[BlueAtlas]

I had one of those socks tools. The hard one was difficult for me, but I found a terry cloth one at my local pharmacy, which has a large durable medical supply section. It was great, and it sure was nice not to have to ask someone else to put my socks on for me. Some things I had no choice but to ask for help with, but I wanted my independence as much as possible. They also gave me a dressing tool, a long stick with different little hooks on it, but I found my grabber much easier to use. Some of those tools are great, but some are just gimmicks to make a few more bucks off of us. (Just my opinion...) I had fun shuffling through my pharmacy looking for new "toys" to make my life easier. The grabber is still nuraber one, of course.

Take care,
Emily