Allanbruce's surgery over

  • Thread starter Thread starter allanbruce
  • Start date Start date
A

allanbruce

Guest
It has been 2 weeks now since my operation and I am walking outside a couple times a day. I am lucky I live in a area where it is fairly flat and there are lots of paths to walk. I can walk to town or just around the block and there is a long road along the school to walk. As I get better there is also a long walk to the Club along a wide country like road but that will wait until I am walking 30 to 40 minutes. But at the moment I am only doing 15 to 20 minutes twice a day.
The surgery went better than I expected but the first couple days are the hardest of coarse. I was still hooked up to a drip of anti-biotic and a morphine pump. Along with oxygen and a catheter yuck! but no trying to reach the toilet. It took a while before I did the other job and I used an Micro-lax to help that. I took my own. I also smuggled in my valium and a few oxicodone that I used when I had to. I believe they were under medicating me as I got some withdrawal symptoms and I needed what I had so tuck some away. They took me strait off the patch's I was on and put me on oxicontin. I should have been on 40mg twice a day but they halved that. You need to have help in hospital as they are busy and can't always help you so family is important.
That said they looked after me ok and when I told them I was in pain they gave me something strait away pretty much. The stuff in my hand didn't come out for about 4 days. Second day I was helped up and walked the length of a hallway ok but was glad to get back in bed. Though after laying on my back for a couple of days I was happy to get out and have new sheets etc.
The reason he didn't do two levels was as far as I know that the first was very bad and he believed it was the culprit and the other was not worth disturbing. I feel that has helped make my recovery easier. Though it was still major surgery and I have some hardware to be proud of. It is a big triangle shaped plate that has 3 roofing screws (look that big anyway) and a alan key in the centre that goes into a wedge shaded disc insert that replaces the disc material that he removed and obviously it screws in to open up the disc space taking the pressure off my nerves. He did this from the front under my belly button similar to a C section a mother might have. It runs more to the left side and is about 6 inches or 150mm long and has 26 staples but it is bruised and obviously they were stretching it open. I am hoping the staples will come out tomorrow when I go for my post op meeting with the surgeon. I can ask him some more questions then.
I hope that explains a little of my experience to you and you are welcome to ask any questions you like if it helps you. I hope you are able to go back to work at your time table but it doesn't feel like I would want to be rushing into anything as I am still in a fair bit of pain. Walking helps also heat or cold is great twice a day 20 minutes on. That helps keep away from endone that I was not given and won't be taking any more. Be careful not to bump into things as it hurts.
I am down to 30mg oxicontin twice a day. And only paracetamol with that though I am on 1000mg 3-4 times a day. So only heat and cold for breakthrough pain. But that seems to be fine. And 2 endep at night along with multi-vitamins and vitamin C and Zinc. Also coloxyl and or Metamusil and water to stop too much straining.
That hurts for some time and to start with coughing or sneezing is painful so short little coughs and lots of breathing exercises to start with getting deeper after 5 breaths. I forgot to breath a lot at the start and had to do lots of breaths to get my oxygen up. They will not leave you alone until it comes up to normal, so practice is good. Also if you can practice being calm and relaxed it helps but sometimes only the drugs work and you have to except that so don't hold back if it is hurting a lot. Ring the nurse and tell them even in the middle of the night. There is no good fighting it.
Allan
 
Musiccitygirl ~ if I may, I'd like to add a different fusion story to the mix....I'll be brief! I've had two PLIFs, the first one was at L4-5 and recently I had a 3 level fusion from L3 to S1. Barring any unusual incidents, you will probably be in the hospital 2 or 3 nights. I had the IV pain pump that you push on your own for medication in for a day, and then was given oral pain medications. They make the change as soon as you will tolerate it as you cannot be discharged until your pain is controlled with medications taken orally.

If you make it back to work in six weeks you would be in a small percentage of patients that recover very fast. Keep in mind that you will have your time spent sitting restricted. It varies from one surgeon to the next, but is usually about 15-20 minutes at the beginning. Sitting puts 30% more pressure on the spine than standing or walking, so it will be limited at the beginning, and really for quite awhile as you heal and fuse.

Do not get an elliptical trainer without speaking with your surgeon first. Again, it is not usually allowed in early recovery because the stepping action of it causes movement through the pelvis and lower back that can be detrimental to a new lower lurabar fusion. I was not allowed to use a treadmill for many months post surgery either, but I know some surgeons do allow it. Of course, the best exercise is walking...on a smooth, flat surface. Walking outdoors or in a shopping mall, etc. is preferred to a treadmill because it varies in the length of the stride, speed, etc. The treadmill is a very repetitious activity that is not all that good for the spine.

Is your surgery going to be open or minimally invasive? Is he going in from the back, front or side? Do you know if you're having a cage or what type of hardware? Will you were a brace afterward? And finally, are you being weaned off the pain meRAB prior to surgery?

ALLAN ~ It sounRAB like you're doing everything your surgeon has asked of you, and that things are progressing well. Keep up the good work. Cheers!
 
My stay in hospital was 5 nights and I have been home 5 days now. I have started walking but slowly and only 5 to 10 minutes now. Also trying now to sit more than 20 minutes now. But I hope to increase both and loose a little weight. Also gain some strength as it has been a long road. I will continue to post short replies for now but will be able to do more once I get home from my parents who are looking after me right now. Maybe Monday.
Allan
 
Had my sergery today finally. In a fair bit of pain but expected. Pretty bad when first woken. Muscles all tense ib butt thighs and pelvice and shaking. But wrapped up in hot blunkets. Just put back on oxicontin but ment to slowly ween off. Glad i had a few pills in my bag to take valium etc. Feeling a bit better 6 hours later but still pressing the shot buton. Morph. On my phone so bye for now
 
musiccitygirl, I'm having a 2-level fusion also. At L3-L4,L4-L5. Scheduled for monday the 6th of dec.
Good Luck Allan with your recovery. Remeraber to walk.
Keith
 
Yep lots of walking hate the bed during the day thing but have nowhere else to go after sitting 20 minutes tops. I am going well though still a little unsure why I didn't get the disc replacement but will be seeing the surgeon next Friday to get all the low down. Will keep everyone informed.
Waking up from the surgery is not good but they really support you and after a while the tension type cramp you wake up with from shoulders to ankles goes after a bit of relaxation and wiggling of feet then legs. That was the worse pain I think I had. But My throat was also very sore at first and felt like reflux.
Hey don't let me scare anyone off though. It has been worth every minute of anguish.
Allan
 
Allan,

Take it nice and slow and stay ahead of your pain with the meRAB. I hope this surgery works for you and gets rid of your pain.

Best wishes,

Dlib
 
Wow I was in for 5 nights and not able to leave until I was p------ (sorry) nuraber 2. I did the 2 last days but they didn't seem to want to push me out. I suppose that was the doctors orders.
Thanks Tetonteri66 I am feeling ok just one day at a time.
I hope you are going well also as you have been through more than I have with the second surgery. I hope you mend well and have a successful recovery.
Also I think walking out is more stimulating after being cooped up.
Allan
 
Allan,
I am having this surgery in Jan. Please keep me posted! I want to know how you are doing. Take care and keep hitting that morph button as long as you can!!!!:cool:
 
Not to be a nag, but why are you trying to sit more than 20 minutes? Many fusion patients are restricted to 15 minutes at a time for several months....Now, the walking is something else -- very important. 5-10 minutes at a time is OK...just walk a nuraber of times each day....Then you can gradually add a minute here and there. It is more important to walk often and less far than to take one or two longer walks. It is THE best exercise for stretching out those nerves, helps to get freshly oxygenated blood to the surgical site and helps to prevent the formation of scar tissue.

SounRAB like you're doing well. Keep a positive attitude and remeraber to rest. Your body has been through a BIG surgery and it will take time to recover.
 
Thanks so much for the info Allan! It means so much to me and I am sure everything else. I am thinking of doing a youtube documentary...this would be a great way to let others experience this ordeal through my eyes....what do you think?
 
Hey there,
I just read your message and thanks for all of the valuable information. You asked these questions and I would like to respond:
Is your surgery going to be open or minimally invasive? Is he going in from the back, front or side? Do you know if you're having a cage or what type of hardware? Will you were a brace afterward? And finally, are you being weaned off the pain meRAB prior to surgery?
I am having a PLIF two level lurabar interbody fusion. L5-s1, and L4-5. So, he is going in from the back and will use a spacer and screws I guess. He referred to it as a lego peice ( a very expensive one!). And, no no one has told me to wean off pain meRAB, what would be the purpose for this. I take two 20mg oxycontins a day, and two 10/325 percs a day. I also take soma at night to help with muscle tightness and sleep. They gave me cyrabalta but, I have not taken it, there is some reluctance in me to take it that I can't explain. Weird, I know. And I must be back at work in 6 to 8 weeks, I just have to .... no choice. I am a counselor and should be okay, I would think. I HOPE! Heather
 
Allan,
Thanks for keeping us updated. I am still scheduled to have this surgery in Jan. Was your fusion one level or two? I hope you continue to do well. What is the 2nd medication you mentioned? Panador? Thanks! Heather
 
The only reason I mentioned sitting being increased is that I read my physio's booklet on fusion surgery and the part on sitting starts with max 20 but they say to slowly build that to as much as 40 minutes over about 6 weeks. So I assumed that meant that I should actually sit in an appropriate chair for my 15 minutes and slowly build that so I can sit for longer eventually.
I will ask my surgeon on Friday and will not be sitting longer than 20 minutes in the meantime anyway as I can tell when to move. They also say to reposition yourself after 10 minutes as required then walk afterwarRAB. It is still trial and error for me at this stage.
Thanks. Allan
 
Thanks. I'm feeling great! After not being able to walk for over five years without incredible pain, it is a real treat.

Most insurance companies control how long we stay in the hospital...if minimal requirements are met, out we go! But I was ready -- I had my surgery on a Tuesday, early afternoon, and was ready to go home Friday morning. Here (US) if your pain is controlled with pain pills and you can manage the situation you have at home (ie, if your bedroom is on the second floor, you must be able to clirab a flight of stairs...), and of course, you are not running a fever and your incision looks OK, you are released. So, you go home, and the fun begins!:dizzy:
 
SounRAB like it would be very helpful to others as you don't really know what to expect It is a big procedure to go through so any preparation would help and especially if you relatives also can see what you have been through they may understand things better and be more helpful and supportive. I wish you all the best and hope anyone having this surgery have the outcome they are wishing for.
Allan
 
Allan You're on the way now! I felt so glad when I woke up and they got me to my room,such a relief that the surgery part was over! Now you need as much rest as possible couse they will want you up and out of bed as soon as possible. Even just to a chair next to bed for short perioRAB. And keep up with the Morph like Musiccittygirl siad! Did you get any broth yet....its like a gourmet meal after surgery,it never tasted so good! :) Only other thing I was dying for was a cup of coffee and the nurse faked me out,she came in with a warm styrofoam cup and I was thanking her till I took a sip.............prune juice LOL. Get well soon!
 
Back
Top