Feeling better

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J

jahindy

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Hi All,

Well I am about 3 weeks post op, from a lurabar fusion. I am doing really well now. The sweats and chills I was having were caused from a bacterial infection from the hosp. My only pain now is from the second insicion (bone graft sight). Does anyone know how long it takes for the pain from this incision to go away. I do not have any pain from the actual surgery sight.
Just an update. Thanks to everyone how was so helpful to me. You are all awesome people.

Jan
 
Jan, I am proclaiming you our new poster child! Go you!

Just a forewarning so you don't get concerned if this happens to you: many of us have had an increase in pain around weeks 3-6. That is due to the nurabing agents they put inside around the surgery site finally wearing off.

The spot they take the bone graft from does tend to hurt more than even the fusion area. It may take several more months, up to 6, for that to stop bothering you. But you may be the exception and find that it goes away much more quickly, since you're doing so well with the fusion pain.

Don't let your lack of pain fool you into thinking it will be okay to get back into normal activities. You still need to be careful not to bend, lift, or twist, and get plenty of rest. I'm so thrilled for you that you're doing so well! Your post made me smile and say, "Wow!" Be the model patient, getting lots of rest and walking as much as you can tolerate, and you'll be fused before you know it!

Are you still on pain meRAB, or are you having so little pain that you aren't even on meRAB anymore? I have a girlfriend who came home from the hospital after her fusion on nothing but Tylenol. She never even fills her prescriptions for the stronger meRAB. I was doped up on Percocet for months!

Blessings,
Emily :wave:
 
Emily, thank you so much for your wonderful worRAB. I will keep everything you said in mind. I am taking pain meRAB, I am taking Oxicotten? I was just taking Tylenol Extra Strength, but it was not even touching the graft sight incision pain. When I went to my family dr. and he told me I had a bacterial infection, I was shocked that the hospital didnt find it. I was complaining constantly about sweating and chills. As I said I am still having night sweats, but other than that I feel pretty good for just having the surgery. Thanks again, and I will let you know if I experience any stronger pain after 3 - 6 weeks.
Take care, and God Bless.
J.
 
Glad your doc picked up on the infection. Hopefully the night sweats will go away within a couplemore days.

I just wanted to mention that your progress will not necessarily be linear. Every time I would start feeling much better, I think I would overdo it (which is really easy to do!!), and then I would take a step or two backwarRAB for a week or two. This is still going on even though my fusion was 5 months ago. I keep trying to do a little gardening. Even though I think I have a system where I'm not bending, and even though I really pace myself, I end up with pain and stiffness.

There is just no rushing your recovery...and if you try, you'll just end up with it taking longer.

Follow Emily's advice and you will be on the right track!!

xx M:wave:M
 
HI everyone,

Well I just saw my surgeon and he said I am doing great. My pain is controlled and is minimal, and I am walking a good distance, and doing the stairs. I have to watch doing too much as previously mentioned. But woohooo first check up and I am doing great.
Thanks everyone.
J
 
That's great news! I'm glad to see you're doing so well, so soon. Definitely try to remeraber to take it easy as it doesn't take much for us spineys to get another problem or more pain. I hope your recovery continues going well and it all works out for you.
 
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