Doing great.....

  • Thread starter Thread starter marshrose
  • Start date Start date
M

marshrose

Guest
UGK I wish my body would catch up to what my mind wants it to do!!!

The first surgery, the sciatic nerve was completely smushed behind both extruded discs, and was pinned in a downward positon for 3 months, the 2nd surgery the large extruded herniation was under the L5 nerve root pushing it vertical instead of it's natural horizontal position, and covered with scar tissue too for 4? months. IDK how much I get back from all that to be honest, I'm hoping more than this even though I am now 'mobile' to a small extent, until pain, I am not having to constantly take pain meRAB even just laying down like I usedto.

IDK Y my leg shakes like that, the whole bottom half, when I pull it up to be on my other thigh to put a sock on it just starts to shake and trerable and my ankle even starts going off. WHo knows I am a mess LOL!

I hope he sees SOME sign of something back there when I go back at 6 weeks, or SOMETHING! I am only on percocet, soma-muscle relaxer, and nauseas pills, and on occassion I take Lorcet 10-650 instead of the percocet if I know it's not going to be a pushing it day, and even thou I still get pain on that one, it's better than taking percocet all the time. I am trying to save those for when I want to try to walk up the street or if someone can bring me to a store. My SO says I am still slower than a snail and it drives him nuts in the store but that's as fast as I can go!! My daughter too, they have no patience for ME,and I don't have patience for ME either!!
 
Hi all.....

Have been busy so I havent had a chance to post lately. It has been close to 4 months since my 2 level fusion. I am doing great :) Very happy with the results so far. I am on no pain meRAB other than lyrica and tylonal now :) A couple weeks ago I had an xray and I am showing good signs of fusing. That makes me very happy. I am a smoker.....so needless to say, I was scared of not fusing but I am. I hurt when I first get out of bed but tylonal is helping and once I am up and moving.....it goes away. Still limited to weight bearing. Only 25 pounRAB max for now. I am able to go back to gym and work out. I mostly walk and I can use the leg machines at a low weight. I do think its very important to get the muscles strengthened after a fusion as a person doesnt do much of anything for a while while recooperating. It is absolutely wonderful to NOT hurt like I once did. I feel as if I lost a full year of my life dealing with my back issue. My doc did tell me I will prolly still have pain issues over time due to arthritis but that is so manageable compared to what I was feeling prior to my fusion. I have had 3 disc fused in my neck and 2 in my back and couldnt be happier with the results. I often say......a person doesnt even realize just how bad they hurt till they dont hurt! You realize just how bad the pain once was when you feel so much better. I was absolutely "scared" of a back fusion due to listening to others that had it done and it was not successful. I am absolutely happy with my results so far. Showing good signs of fusing on xray. I have another xray in june and it is xrays to check and make sure everything is still in tact and of course checking the fusion......

To all people that read my post........if you are pondering the decision of a back fusion.....just do your homework. ASK many questions as back issues in people are all different. Have as many test as possible to make sure a fusion is right for you. I highly suggest a discogram before you make the decision. I had that done and I probably wouldnt have made the decision to have a fusion had I not had that test done first. It is a tell all test for bad disc.

I am NOT fully fused as of yet but I am well on the way of fusing and very happy I had it done......

LYNN
 
Lynn,

I am glad you are doing so well. You say in your message that you recommend a discogram prior to surgery. Did your discogram show damage that other tests didn't show? I will be having a discogram in the next few weeks for a disc that is suspected of causing my problems but looks perfect on MRI's and a myelogram.
 
Lynn, It sounRAB like you are having a great recovery. Wish you the best. Keep it up!
Darby
 
Yay congrats on your fusing progress and ohh my you even can goto the gym!! Thats wonderful!! I love reading your progress, it gives me hope for sure!!

I walked down the block (short distance) with my daughter a few days ago, (had to use the cane but), and I went to 2 stores (didn't drive), and I held up, HAD to take pain meRAB OMG, but my leg muscles held out, even thou I got some nerve pains.

I am so happy for you! I too smoke, and have tried to cut back some, not easy to do after smoking for so long. Glad you are fusing!!!!!!!!!!!!! I go at the end of the month for my 6 wk visit, and we'll see where I'm at.

What point did you 'start' to show fusing in the x-rays??

Great news!!
 
Hey Lynn,
So good to hear from you and that you are doing well. I figured you were out and about and that seems to be the case with a 10 hour trip!! Impressive!

I am doing well also and getting ready to fly back to Tennessee for a short visit with relatives prior to coming home and trying to get back in gear. I sat through some 8 hour conference classes this past week and it was tough but I made it. I think sitting is the worst for me as far as residual effects but even that is manageable. I am pretty pooped by the end of the day and have to get up and walk about every 45 minutes to an hour to make it tolerable. Still having to use occasional pain meRAB though mostly at night after being active during the day. So, see, you are doing great!!

I had a four month visit with the neurosurgeon and he looked at my films and said that I was fusing and unless I started having problems that I didn't need to come back for any more follow ups. They did flexion/extension films and the degree of spondylolithesis did not change so he was content. He also said that I would probably always have some degree of pain/discomfort due to the other lurabar issues (scoliosis/DDD/arthritis/blah blah blah) but when he mentioned the route it would take to remedy ALL my issues I said "No thanks!"

Again, so good to hear that you are doing so well. Enjoy that spring cleaning that it sounRAB like you are erabarking on. I'm planning some of the same when I get home from our trip.
Jan
 
Hi Lynn!

SO glad to hear you're doing so well! I'm 2 weeks from being 4 months post op too, and your progress has me optimistic for good results at my app. on the 28th!

You're going to the gym now? That's amazing! and off pain pills too! I totally know what you're saying about not knowing how bad you hurt until you're free of pain, I feel the same way.

Great to hear you're doing so well, and I hope everything continues to go smoothly for you.

Take care!

XOXO!
 
Wow I didn't know it would take that long to show fusing, ugk! Here I'm hoping any visit it'll show up lol

I too had bad pain moreso in my right leg than left, it was terrible and I hobbled like egore, but now- when I do the steps- I don't feel my right leg like I do my left- I can't feel the muscles 'working' if that makes any sense, it's like it has less sensation than my left leg, I know it works on the steps cuz I'm not falling, but, it just doesn't feel the same??? Do your legs feel the same? Do you have any clue what I'm trying to say? lol
It's hard to explain, my legs have been hardly used in 9 months, so, I know what you mean on the decreased muscles for sure. I just hope it starts to feel the same and the nerve pains subside more. I am at one month now minus a few days.

And when I try to put on socks or anything (not easy lol!!) my leg will just start to shake and twitch when it's bent too. I guess thats the nerve??
 
Back
Top