Am I a wimp?

[Chips]

I am now almost three months post lurabar fusion but still feel physically weak and very tired.

I have been given more time off work but am now beginning to question my own sanity and motivation.

Is it normal not to feel ready for work at this stage?
I still need to sleep during the day and my back aches and groans.

I have done things around the house and pushed myself to do as much as I can but do not feel that I could cope at work even part-time just yet. I am planning to retrun to work in late July p/t and then full-time.

I had over 15 years of pain and my op was a difficult one but I am beginning to feel guilty.

 

[ibake&pray]

You don't say how many levels you had fused, but it's normal to have residual pain after this type of surgery. What you need to remeraber is that this is major surgery.

You don't mention your age, but the older you are, the longer it takes to heal, and usually fusion isn't seen until 6 months. The nerves and muscles that were moved around during surgery take time to settle down and behave without pain.

I went in to have three levels fused, had my back break the next day and ended up being fused from T9-sacrum. I went back to work at 5 1/2 months-but it was part time. I worked 4 hours for three weeks, 5 hours for the next three weeks, 6 hours for a week, and then full time. but my boss was also used to seeing me lay on the floor behind my desk when I needed to straighten my back out. It's been 5 years and I still will be on the floor occasionally.

Beflore you go back I would suggest walking as much as possible. The more walking you do the better it is for your back and your healing. Walking is the best exercise that you can do. Start small and keep working on it...and don't feel guilt that you aren't back at work yet. Everybody heals different...

good luck....

 

[deeannek]

I think it took me about 6 months to start to feel better and I was still having more bad days than good ones. If you are a wimp then so am I
Back surgery is a big deal and it takes time and patience. If your me, those are two comodities that I just don't have. Try to keep in mind that you had major surgery and you are doing the best you can. No one can expect you to do more than that. Hang in there it won't always be like this. Try to stay positive-I know it sounRAB cliche but it does make a difference.

 

[joebob254]

I know the feeling. I have been asking it myself alot lately. I had a failed surgery on L2-L3 in 2008. It was not quite a fusion but close. The neuro used flexible metal roRAB to maintain flexability and stability and removed a third of the disk. It was not fused with bone. I went back to work without meRAB and was feeling great for a few months when the pain returned. It was found that the L2 vertebra was slipping into my spinal canal. I had a PLIF in 08/09.

Ive had a much rougher time recovering and I'm now 9 months post op. A lot of muscle pain and I'm still having some pain in the bone. I am now off all meRAB again and am thinking that was not a good idea. I know 6-12 months to recover fully but now I find myself wondering if this is the level of pain that I will be left with for the rest of my life. I find myself in bed a few times a day. It's actually worse on my days off. I have felt the beginning twinges in the back of my leg but it is VERY intermittant right now. I wonder if the fusion took or if now the vertebra above and below are slipping. I dont see my nuero for another month.

You see, I'm with you... Am I a wimp too? I see so many people on here and other sites who have delt with this for much longer and are much worse off than me.

For those of you who have delt with this for so long... you have my admiration.