from beginning to end on back fusion

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mznell

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LAF ~ I have my first post-op appointment tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes.

Someone asked about pain: I am feeling quite good. I take oxycodone 20 mg and 75 mg lyrica twice a day. I have some otherthings to take as needed, but I haven't taken them since Saturday. Does that sound like a lot of pain medication?

I had a nice experience in the hospital. Everyone was nice, pleasant professional, helpful. From the beginning they kept me sufficiently medicated that I didn't feel much pain at all.

Guess I was very lucky!! :cool:

I probably should add that I kept a journal. I really don't remeraber much about that whole experience -- just little pieces here and there. Maybe they gave me drugs so I wouldn't remeraber!! When I wasn't at PT or eating, I slept. I slept a lot the first 10 days after surgery!!
 
I just had surgery 2 weeks ago -- a PLIF at L4-5. I ended up having the last surgery of the day--went in at 6 p.m. and was being wheeled to my room at 11 p.m. I slept the whole night. I said I thought I was getting nauseated and they put something into my IV line and I was fine.

The next day they got me up and we made our way down the corridor. I had PT in the afternoon. I felt fine the first day. I had a drain, a catheter and my IV pole. Wed. I was in some pain but it was tolerable. (I had the morphine pump thing that I could push every 6 minutes.) Thursday morning they removed the pump, the drain and the catheter. It was fast and easy and didn't hurt at all. I went home at 4 that 4th day.

The aide would come in and crank up the bed when it was time for meals...or if you wanted to sit up to watch tv. I think I mostly slept except when at physical therapy. I got along very well and really didn't have any problems. If I had, I'm sure my nurse would have been able to fix it!!

I put a twin bed in my den so I could be close to the action. I can go up and down the stairs without any problem, but I like being on the first floor with my family and dogs.

I go to the surgeon in the morning for my first post-op check-up. Maybe I'll have more to report in the morning!!
 
to apocolypto.. are you about to undergo fusion surgery.. if so when, and are you having leg pain?
 
can anyone tell me from start to finish everything one goes through for fusion surgery L5 S1 area?Like from preadmission tests to surgery,afterwarRAB etc.thanks
 
hello everybody.hope all is well.I'm not scheduled yet.I have two doctors two different approaches to surgery.and a WC that is hell to get any help from.I had been scheduled last week to get two more radio frequency denervation which helps the back pain but shoots the nerve pain into my legs and feet.I got turned down two days before the procedure cause comp wanted me to see a independent doctor of rehab,which I did see.of course I filled him in on everything,he wanted to know why did not see a ortho surgeon,i told him comp wouldn't let me,still waiting on report which is two weeks now.Getting back to neuro docs here,one wants to do either fron or back,my choice on fusion,hardware all that fun stuff.my other doc who did my first surgery in 95,said i don't need a fusion,even if I did he doesn't use hardware.I always had faith in him,but after he got a bit testy I sort of not certain.like don't know what to believe really.got myself pretty worked up on it,confused,upset,etc.my pain holding at bay around 5,but i do very little.rest as much as possible.only thing in my surgery case,from anesthesia very depressed I get,and insomnia.so i usually up all day and all night for days not tired at all.oh yes the independent doc did say fusion is dangerous,and not always a cure,and rest of levels give way.he sounded like a real fun guy,that real encouragement.
 
That was immediately after surgery. We worked on stairs. He had me doing some very mild stretches. It was nice weather then (I'm in NW Indiana), and we did walking. Basically it was pretty worthless, but the Dr set it up. It seems like the suggestions he had, I had already read about. The toilet seat (raised). I had that gadget, called the grabber. That was wonderful the first few weeks. But, I think I could have gotten by without it.
 
After I was scheduled for surgery, I had to have an ekg, chest xray, chemistry panel, and a CBC...or complete blood count. I went in to the hospital the morning of. I had a fusion L5 and S1, and dynamic stabilization of L4 and L5. After coming out of surgery, I had an IV, a small drain in the incision area, a urinary catheter, and a Morphine pump. I was pretty groggy that day and evening, and in quite a bit of pain. That first night was a long night. The next day they got me up in the afternoon. I thought they were crazy....... I think they took me to therapy that day too. I had Surgery on Monday and came home on Thursday. They mentioned me staying in a day or so longer, but it seemed like my husband was doing most of my care, so I came home. I think the next week or after 10 days or so, they sent a therapist to work with me at home for 2 weeks 2 or 3 times a week. Really basic stuff. Get a lift for your toilet seat... It will help ! I had my surgery Sept 20th. I'm just now in my second week of PT. He didn't want me to start therapy until 15 weeks or so. So thats where I'm at now. Good luck.
 
Hi Pamela,
Does it hurt when the drain tube comes out?Are you really sick afterwarRAB,kind of wonder if you get sick how that hurts the incisions.I heard its painful first time up too?when in hospital bed,how are you able to watch TV or eat if you can't sit,or they keep you laying flat moost of time?
 
Hi Apocalypto,
I didn't feel any pain when they took my drain out. The surgical sites hurt, no lying, and that probably covered up the minor pain of the drain being pulled out.

They can raise the head of the hospital bed a little bit without hurting you. The TV is way up near the ceiling anyway, so it's not hard to see. The rolling table will fit right over you for eating. Ask for a towel to put over your chest if you want to catch the drips and crurabs. They'll get you up the same day or the next day and you'll walk the halls a little. You'll sit for a short time, but they don't want you sitting for long at first, so you'll be mostly just lying in bed and resting/sleeping.

I did have some sick moments in the hospital. The not-so-nice nurse I had that night never even looked at me when I told her I was feeling nauseous. She just kept adjusting the IV pump and said in an I-don't-care-voice, "Don't worry, honey, you're getting something in your IV for that." Then I threw up. That got her attention! She backed up against the wall and cowered, while the aide who had just come in grabbed a basin for me. I was holding the basin in one hand and pressing on my front incision with the other to keep it from hurting so much, so she was obviously upset that I was coughing towarRAB her. Understandable, but if she had helped me when I told her I was nauseous, maybe I wouldn't have aspirated vomit and choked! If she had held the basin for me, then I would have had another hand to cover my mouth when I was coughing after I aspirated!

If you have a front incision, keep a folded up blanket or towel over it and press down whenever you need to cough, sneeze, laugh, or turn. It "splints" the incision and you'll have much less pain.

Hope this helps. Knowing what to expect goes a long way to relieving anxiety!

~Emily
 
Hi just,yes I mainly get feet pain,bottom and tops of feet,toe area,heel,sometimes behind calf.its more a burning sensation,like you stepped on a lit cigarette
 
I'm 58 and with this recent back situation where I've seen many different docs, I'm really beginning to see a difference in the way they relate to patients. The docs that have trained more recently are much more willing to include you in the decision making process, more willing to help educate you and like the fact that you are doing your own research...trying to learn more about your own issues. There are other docs who feel threatened and simply want the patient to do whatever it is they want to do to you, without having to give lengthy explanations or be questioned. But then I'm not having to deal with WC or anything like that.

Regardless what you're dealing with, remeraber, it's your body and you will be the one living with the consequences...so you have a right to ask questions and access information.
 
oh yes,this nerve pain,is it both legs and feet?or a sciatic type or more of burning feeling and does it start right away?I had sciatic once,I thought I die,its an awful pain and that was one buttock down to my legs,imagine both sides
 
Hello Apocalypto22.....

When is your surgery? Mine is Feb 5th....Decompression and Posterior lurabar fusion L3-L4 ( Higher than most people)....

Thank you all for these timelines..it's so helpful what to anticipate....Today I donated my first pint of blood, and the second will be next Tuesday..Did you all do this as well........my Dr. said it's best to be safe should they have to do a transfusion...It was easy....taking my extra iron tablets and tonight suffered through calves liver and spinach.....Guess it can't hurt..

Hey MM...how was your first post-op Dr's visit...SounRAB like you are doing really well?

Thank you all.

Warm regarRAB...LAF
 
Hi,I'm 53 feel like an old lady.tough getting old,yes you right,these docs like to rush you along
 
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