Hi Carol,
I had a lurabar laminectomy on May 21 this year. It was to remove bone spurs and drill a hole in bone to relieve compression. I was miserable before the surgery, couldn't walk or stand without excruciating pain and was using a cane or walker when I did walk. I was told the surgery would be a few hours (and it was) and that I'd be in the hospital for 2-3 days (and I was). I feel I was released before I should have been, though, needed an extra couple days, but that's water under the bridge now. My initial/earliest recovery was really hard because I didn't get that extra time in, but I was still able to manage with a lot of family help. One thing that helpeld tremendously was renting a hospital bed (for our living room) for my recovery. That was essential for me and I used it for 2 months, would have used it longer but I was tired of not having a living room anymore and missed sleeping next to 'the husband'. Also, the raised toilet set with bars on the side was also essential, a real help. I continued to use my walker for early recovery even though I felt immediate relief with walking and standing --from the first time I got up out of bed in the hospital after surgery even. I did have a short-lived setback with sciatic pain about a week or two after surgery, lasting about a week or so and have recently developed a 'new' sciatic pain (not the same, old one, a different one that doesn't impede my walking at all, but my sitting instead). I'm hoping that this is temporary as well, although it has been about two weeks now. My PT has been helping me with it. (I started physical therapy in recovery at about 7-8 weeks post-op --strictly pool therapy to start). I have back pain now and am not use to that (only felt sciatic pain beforehand), but I think it may still be because I'm recovery from my back being cut open, of course --not a permanent new pain. Sitting is very difficult when recovering from back surgery and it still is for me, although I can sit in supportive furniture quite nicely most of the time. I cannot sit in 'regular' chairs and such without trouble. I carry a special pillow to use when I go out and know I'll encounter 'regular' chairs and such. It helps, but I still need to get up and walk to stretch my legs if I'm sitting too long. I managed a 6hour day at the State Fair with my husband and son last weekend, using a wheelchair to rest when I couldn't stand or walk anymore, and getting up to walk when the wheelchair seat (with special pillow in it) became too much for me. Without the chair, I would have needed to leave after an hour, maybe an hour fifteen. I never use aiRAB such as that, but knew I'd need it for a long day out like that (needed it for our son, too, who neeRAB rest breaks for his legs between walking, too). I can walk a good 45 minutes straight before I need to rest, longer sometimes, but never more than an hour. If I get in a good 20 minute rest in a chair I can actually get some relief in, I'm good to go another stretch walking before needing to rest again. I do not regret my surgery. It gave me back a degree of what I had before my pains took so much away from me -and I hope to have even more back as I continue to recover more. Recovery has been slow and sometimes very 'step forward, step back' and, honestly, frustrating in that aspect. But, it's a huge improvement from where I was. I've told my husband that even if the new back pain IS permanent, it's still better than the debilitating pain down both of my legs that left me unable to function as I was before. I do hope, though, that the sitting issues abate eventually, or at least lessen. They make some things very tricky. I still take meRAB and that was a disappointment, wanted to leave them behind entirely (and have stopped repeatedly, only to restart when I needed them again). I prefer to rely on OTC pain meRAB whenever I can, but I do still sometimes take Rx meRAB for pain and muscle relaxants. What I can DO now makes up for the disappointments. My surgery didn't make me 'perfect' again (me, perfect --lol, my sisters would snigger at the suggestion), but it made my life much better, muuuuch better.
You will need a lot of help in early recovery. Set things up ahead of time as much as possible. Whether or not you rent a hospital bed, definitely follow the sit, lay sideways, then roll into bed 'rule' --without fail. Follow the "no BLT -bending, lifting, twisting" rule religiously. Definitely get a 'reacher-grabber' tool and have things in the kitchen and bathroom (bedroom/dresser, too) set to your height as much as possible -beforehand. Just 'let go' of having a perfectly clean and kept up house and yard for a while, don't even think about it (or hire out). Focus on you, your recovery, and ways to distract yourself from the boredom that comes with recovery. Also, get up and MOVE as much as you can, walk a few strides at first if that's all you can manage, but keep getting up to do the few strides, then add more and do that multiple times during the day, too. Don't push yourself, of course. Just do what you are able to, but keep adding to it as you can. I think dietdrpepper already said that, though. I'm redundant, but it IS a key part to recovery.
My incision is about 4&1/2 inches, not as long, plus the two little dot scars from my drainage tubes. I joke that my back is now in morse code with dots and dashes, lol. I thouht my incision was uuuuugly at first, thick and ropy and soooo red and raw. It's only 3 months since now and it's almost perfectly flat already and a light red or dark pink -not exactly 'pretty', but quite nice for a scar, imo. I started using vitamin E to rub in at about 6 weeks, gently at first. My scar and incision site were very tender for awhile and I didn't like the area touched. It's fine to touch now. OH! My PT told me that deep-heat ultrasound can help break up scar tissue or even help stop it from forming. I get this done once or twice a week in my PT sessions. Oh, and if at all possible, schedule your surgery right after your menstrual cycle, so you wont' have another for as long as possible. Taking care of 'female neeRAB' while recovering from back surgery is as far from delightful as a person can get. There is no way to avoid bending forward to take care of 'certain things' and that hurts! It's also not necessarily something you want a loved one helping you with in the bathroom, so just try to work the date well, if you can. Sorry if that was TMI, but if it helps you, I wanted to suggest it. And, sorry I've been in such a chatty mood.. I get like that sometimes.
Take care, good luck, God bless, and may the force be with you --and your neurosurgeon,
Meghan
. Now you just have to learn to pace yourself!