8 weeks post-op fusion am I on track in my recovery?

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marshrose

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Sooo I'm 8 weeks post-op L4-5 fusion. I have been pushing myself as much as I can.
I don't really 'walk' or go for walks, just doing day to day tasks. I am on Lorcet 10-650mg about 3-4 times a day, approx every 4-5 hrs, sometimes I can spread it out alittle more if I am not doing much for the day.

I am driving now, for about 2 and 1/2 weeks, I can finally bring my kiRAB to school and pick them up and I goto the stores and shop (daughters bdays coming) but I can't drive one way more than 20 minute max, or I hurt when I get to my destination, and then by the time I am done, the drive home is torture.

I only lost like 5lbs, and am still 30lbs overweight. I am trying all natural stimulants to help me lose weight- I don't know if they're working or not and I'm living on lean cusines and weight watchers snacks.

I sometimes still haveto take my muscle relaxers, and by mid-day to evening, I am hurting alot, and some days even being on the Neurontin 2x at night (supposedto be 3x but it makes me beyond groggy, tired, and WEIRD dreams), the nerve pains bust right thru the neurontin, and some nights I am in terrible pain, whereas my arms and hanRAB are even killing me.

I can go up and down my steps good now, more than 5x a day gets to me thou- it's 4 flights here. I am up for a total of 2-4 hrs a day, the 4hrs is me pushing myself WAY too much, but I had shopped for daughters bday and mothers day too.

I can't carry any grocieries much, only a gallon of milk or some of my lean cusines in a bag, more than that I hurt. I tried carrying body sprays (about 4) from a store, and just carrying it thru the mall KILLED me, I was dying to put it down and kept alternating hanRAB just to try and make it to my car. I guess they were over 5lbs cuz that's my limit, and one that my body also tells me is my limit still!!!

I sleep thru the night for the most part, cept the days I do TOO much, then I am waking waiting for the pain pill to kick in, alot of eves I nap from about 7 till 11, then up for an hr, then back to sleep again.

I goto the surgeon in 2 weeks for another xray and check up, and maybe he will let me try aquatherapy or PT or both. Has anyone had either? How was it? Did it kill you?
I am looking foward to it, but in the same breath worried I won't be able to handle it.
I get winded if I am walking alot thru a store, but I am slowly getting alittle bit of stamina now at least. I was bedridden for about 7 of the 9 months since my injury.

I get alot of bad back pain besides the nerve pain, sometimes to the point of being worrysome it gets so bad. I try not to twist or bed at all, I can load my dishwasher now, just not unload it, I kinda drop things into place when I load it. (the chips on my new dishes are proof Ugk!).

Just wondering where anyone else is/was at for 8 weeks post op from a lurabar fusion.
Thanks! :)
Sorry so long!
 
I stilll have alot of pain. I'm walking almost a mile. It hurts to lift a gallon of milk. Sitting seems to be the hardest for me and will really flare everything up for a couple of days. I keep wondering how I'm doing too compared to everyone else. My surgeon told me at 9 or 10 weeks probably most of his patients don't have much pain. That really depressed me! I find that really hard to believe. It sounRAB like you're doing good.
 
Ohh me too I mean a half gallon LOL not a gallon.

I am curious what the drs going to say when I see him this time, now that the neurontins kicked in and I'm doing better and less of a gimp if not hardly at all unless its the end of the day. Thats great you're walking so far! Keep it up! I dont know if I could walk a mile straight without a rest or laying down, I do all things in intervals and lay down for a bit inbetween still.

Thats so good you walk so far! !
 
rosepetal
You always sound so upbeat. I was like that after the first surgery, but this go around I've had major depression problems. You also have young kiRAB, don't you?
 
Hi Queenie and Rosepetal!

I have had 5 surgeries and I think you both are doing well. Although, I must admit that Rosepetal, you scare me a little. It sounRAB like you are trying to be superwoman. Remeraber that this is your chance to heal and is an investment in your future. Please be careful you sound very active for 8 weeks in my opinion -- out shopping, carrying things thru the mall and driving more than 20 minutes.

This is the time when you beginning to develop scar tissue. Scar tissue is not a good thing so you are doing the right thing by moving. It keeps the scar tissue stretchy and not tightening up. By lifting or pushing too hard, you can create scar tissue as well. Just some food for thought.

I have done lots of water therapy and it is the best. I have a lurabar belt that I purchased and it is so helpful. It keeps you up in the deep in the pool so that you are able to move your legs around and run completely submerged from the waist down. The bouncey of the water helps you to move alot more than on land and you don't have the pain. Do not try to swim because you will use alot of muscles that are to fresh out from surgery.

I also use the spa 3 to 4 times a day for pain control and it is simply heaven.

Take care and if you have any questions, I will be more than happy to offer my 2 cents/experience. Remeraber we all heal differently and the final opinion is best to come from your dr because they know the ins and outs of your condition and what is best for your case.

Blessings, Pepper
 
Queenie- yea I am trying to be upbeat- I could only get out of bed to goto the bathroom for 7 months, so even thou its my 2nd surgery, I CAN WALK finally now- I know the neurontins helping that tremendously and IDK what lies underneath it all but- this is the best I've been in almost a year so I gotta be upbeat and hope for the best!
ANYTHING at this point, is an improvment- for how bad I was truly. My kiRAB arent young thou- my daughters turning 17 this week and my son is 11. They are thankful to have my legs back and their mom back thats for sure so Im tryign to make up for alot of lost time.

123drpepper- I know I do alot, but as I told queenie I am finally mobile, if even only for 2hrs max before I hurt real bad and lay down before I head out again, this is the first time I GET to be out. there was times I did not see outdoors at all for a month- then to only see the dr- and be home in agony again stuck in bed. I didn't know about that with scar tissue thou- I will try to slow up alittle, it's just hard now that I can do things finally even if only in intervals. Course I'm up hurting terribly tonight from bringing my son fishing for 3 hrs today and not being able to sit well nor lay down so the nerve pains are back, I am starting to just try the 3 neurontins again and hope that helps.

I was just so bedridden for so long, I cant help it. And my leg is not atrophied anymore and sickly looking and Ican finally use it, I could barely use it for almost a year since i got hurt.
 
123 Dr Pepper..... What did you think of the comment my surgeon made to me. When we went in last Monday I was in terrible pain. He said that 95% of patients that many weeks out don't usually have that much pain. Isn't he a little off on that in your opinion? Hes always said the 2 years preceding my surgery with all the norco and Morphine, is also going to affect how I perceive pain. He was talking about the pain receptors. That made some sense to me.
 
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