Has anyone really had a successful L5 S1

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sophie56

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microdisectomy?I am 9 days out and still have a lot of pain. I heard such good things about the surgery and now it seems all I hear is failed surgery How long does recover take. I know it differs but I am really starting to worry!
Thanks for anything you can tell me.
 
Mine was successful for about 3 years. I'm 7 years out now and am going to be fused soon, but I had 2 pregnancies after mine (the first one was 6 months after the surgery) Give yourself some time...it may take your body awhile to recover from the surgery.
 
Hey Sophie,
First let me start on a positive note. Please remeraber that the people on this board are the ones who have had problems. The majority of people having back surgery are out there enjoying life and not on these boarRAB.
Next, it is way too early in your post op course to think about failure. The nerves in your back are angry at being bothered by the surgery. Ken's "car door" story says it well. Hang in there, don't overdo, you can still use ice if it makes you feel better, sometimes the surgeon will prescribe a short course of sterioRAB to decrease the inflammation. The best advice I can give you is don't overdo it.
Now, yes there are those laminectomies that fail. The disc is repaired but the nerve damage/pain may never go away. Most surgeons will tell you that if you still have nerve pain after 1 year then it most likely will be something you will need to learn to control and live with. This is my case......but again remeraber that most surgeries are a complete success once you allow time for healing. Take care and good luck!

Deb
 
HI and welcome, my first fusion lasted 6 years but unfortunatly the fusion never took and i found out that caused my screws to break. I am now 6 and a half months out of anterior/posterior fusion from L-4 to S-1. And at 6 months the doctor released me from his care. I asked about the fusion and he said it all looked good but of course i am going a little crazy cause i have heard this before the first time.
 
Hi Sophie,

I am two years and 3 month out of a 360 two level fusion on L4-S1. It took the first six months to get back to an almost normal routine. My fusion itelf was very successful. I can bend over and plant my pamls on the ground and bend back about halfway. My new pain doctor says that is a sign of a great fusion!
The hitch in mine was scar tissue buliding up around the nerve root. I just had an emg and Praise God there is no permanent nerve damage! It does cause lot of symptoms like sciatica but nowhere near as bad as I was before. I do take regular meRAB for chronic pain but I can say my life if 80% back to normal-which works for me!!!
We also checked the L3 disc to see if it was going to bulge over carrying the load for the fusion but so far so good. Keeping up with exercises that strenghten and support the core are really important!
lET US KNOW HOW YOU ARE DOING!!!
Thats what we are here for!
Blessings,
Momz :angel:
 
hi,i am 8 months post op and i have never felt better,i have no pain what so ever now and can do almost anything but i do watch what i lift and how i bend cos i still think its early days but it is great not to have pain anymore,even straight after the op i was only on pain meRAB for 3 weeks then i didnt need them so i guess i have been really lucky,i had a x ray 2 months ago and was told it is fusing lovely so hopefully iwill be ok,hope this helps
take care kezzo :)
 
I am 5 weeks post op, and can handle walking for about 30 mins, and sitting about the same, still have some nerve irritation on my left foot, but still early days I think. My back already feels much stronger that prior to the surgery. Have some lack of feeling around the incision, but if I massage my back I can feel it is sore. Still hae reasonable flexibility, doesn't stop me from doing anything myself. I expect I'll be able to return to work in another 2 months or so, I'll post again when I am 6 months and again at 1 year post op.

History: I am a normally pretty fit 32 year old, 184cm tall, 72kg, and my l5-s1 space was compressed and the disc herniated more than five times (partially recovered each time)
 
Thanks Alpine and Atwork. Atwork when you say you take meRAB are you talking about pain meRAB?
Thanks again,
Jan
 
Hey sophie check out my last thread. I am 16 days out and having alot of pain. From everything i gather it is the nerve that is still irritated and will take time to heal. The best analagy I have heard was it is like slamming a car door on your hand, Micro d is meant to remove the car door, but once it is removed, you hand is still in pain and swollen and irritated. i am PREYING this is the case with me,..... hopefully you as well...
 
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