I'm home from my L4-5 Fusion

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onyxgates

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Hi, I had the same surgery you had and I am 5 weeks post op. I am still on pain killers as the pain is still there but it has lessen. I walk two miles a day and walking will help with the other issue (BM). Also try taking some Miralax. I did that and I had no issue. If you haven't had one yet that could be adding to your pain. So I would start the Miralax right away. When walking, do you wear your brace? I don't wear my brace at all except for when I am out of my house (either walking or running an errand). Hang in there, it will get better. I am down to 3 Norco's a day.
 
Greetings my favorite backies!

Well I just got home a nap or 2 ago and figured I'd post I know I promised meggster I woIuld and give a play by play!

Things are going good. Even though I'm sore I'm feeling better back there. I was on a diaudid pump for 3 days, with IV line, and a drainage line in my back that clipped to my gown. I stayed mostly on my back or side, and the practice of log rolling for the past 6 months has now paid off like you can't imagine.

The trick with the old log roll at the beginning is- figure out which are your lower back muscles, and DONT use them LOL!

I did request that this time they did not put my IV line where my elbow/arm benRAB, as last time they did and it was painful trying to get my arm under me to my side to get up. So mental note that one and be sure to request one in the forearm.


I woke up good, not very raspy this time at all, and used that little button every time I could for more pain meRAB. I let them know ahead of time that morphine does squat for me so they gave me the dilaudid instead which worked great. I HAD to get a toilet riser for home, clips on like a kiRAB potty seat, got it at the local drug store. Also got a cane, not that I NEED it need it, but its safer for me as I'm home alone. The walker in the hospital with the wheels worked great, the one w/ no wheels was too hard for me to slide or lift and caused pain in my back. Each day does feel less and less painful, even if in the slightest so thats good.

When they took the drain out it was kinda icky feeling but only lasted 30 seconRAB.

I'm home propped with pillows and my laptop on me, eating strawberry essence prunes, and drinking alot. My room mate was rather noisey so I'm exhausted now from the TV on and lights all hours of the night. Tonight I pray for some well needed ZZzzzs.

It isn't worse than I anticipated, BUT as I remeraber some of you are in more pain or wobbly on your feet, do remeraber after my first surgery that increased for me for a week or so, so if you have that I'd suggest just getting the cane/walker now especially for those home with the little ones that may be tugging on your clothes and what not.

I dont know what else to say but I made it through so far. I will keep you updated, no I'm not wearing a brace either so I came out pretty darn good so far.

Will let you know more the more I can do!! Any questions ask away! Surgery was 2hrs long.
They fused one level.
:)
I am on 2 percocets and valium now, it works to an extent but I can't do much of anything course I'm really sore, hoping that will taper down and not haveto taper my meRAB up but we'll see in the next few weeks.

Thank you thank you to everyone thats helped me through my highs and lows thus far, it's been a hard time just getting to this phase of the back issues especially only 5 months post op from the last surgery. You all are a goRABend.
 
I didnt get a brace and my nerve flares have now been so severe i'm up literally dying for 2-3 hours at night, and at times I cannot even put my leg or foot down to try to walk, good think my SO bought me a cane when I came home from the hospital and the toilet riser. I am sure part of the problem is the massaive pressure from no BM for a week and just pressure for sure.

I was told to do absolutlely nothing for 2 weeks at all, and to be honest I can't. I showered yesterday and paid for it dearly, and am now on percocet, nausea med, muscle relaxers, and sleeping pills and I am praying for some steroiRAB soon as I can't take the inflammation back there. the spot where the drain was is red and irritated bothers me on and off alot and sometimes feels like I'm laying on a marble.

I can't walk hardly in my house to the bathroom let alone down the 4 flights of steps to get to the outsside. Today is 1 week post op. I have read your posts and love seeing how you are progressing so well onyx it really gives me hope.
 
Hi Rose,
Sorry to hear you are having such a tough time.....hang in there as it does get better. You are where I was 4 months ago. I was shuffling in the house when I first came home....used a walker for a couple of days until I got my hanRAB on one of those four prong canes then switched to it. Also used the toilet riser for probably two months until my legs got stronger. I still have problems at night but nothing compared to what you are currently going through. I take something at night (pain med and muscle relaxer) now at over 4 months post-op as when I turn in the bed it wakes me up each time if I don't. I still use a warm heat pad for the muscle spasms if I overdo things during the day. We have 10 stairs to access the downstairs bedroom (where I used to spend a great deal of time due to my treadmill being there). I went down once during my first month home from the hospital and had so much pain afterwarRAB that I didn't wander down there for a long while. Now I am able to go down and back up without any problems.

On a brighter note, although still dealing with some pain/soreness daily, I am able to walk over two miles each day. Starting to be able to move better too without looking like a stick person! Down to one pain pill at night and hoping to wean off of that in the near future. Keep your eyes focused ahead when things will be better. I think my first real Ahhhhh moment when things significantly improved was around three weeks and then again at two months. SounRAB like an eternity when your looking at the ceiling.....but you will get there.
Jan.
 
I hope whatever he calls in for you does the trick, and quickly. You'll feel so much better it you can just get it all out!!!

Hang in there! Hopefully help is on the way!

Emily :wave:
 
Hi Roses, and welcome home! Congratulations on your Grand Opening (and Closing)!

You sound good! Does it feel like the surgery did what you had hoped? I know you still have surgical and healing pain, but is the other pain gone? I hope, I hope, I hope!!!

Are you walking as much as you can? Is your roommate a help to you? Now if roomie could also just be a little more quiet... But I'm glad someone is around. You'll be less lonely. And good for you that you can prop your laptop on top of you and be connected to the outside world!

Take it easy and give yourself as much time to heal as you need. And yay for prunes! :D

Keep in touch and let us know how it's going.

Blessings,
Emily :wave:
 
Eternity at the celiling LOL!!! Thats where I'm at I'm so freakin bored or dying in pain its one or the other, I truly can barely move or do a dang thing, I dread getting up to pee most of the time it's driving me crazy, amazing how much farther away things seem when you're hurt bad thats for sure. My kitchen is becoming too far away if its flaring back there, but I adore having my window open and hearing the birRAB finally starting as spring is coming and I can't wait to be to the point soon to walk in great weather and get there alittle more. I'm just hurting real bad alot of the time. Percecets don't touch the pain when its here full fledged. Dr calling me in something so I can goto the bathroom finally cant take it and i'm bloated and a painful pressured mess over here.

Little by little I keep telling myself, cept I only listen to myself when I'm not hurting so badly. lol
 
Please hang in there I am hoping that you will be feeling better sooner vs later. It is amazing how quickly the difference a day makes. Just keep doing as the doctor tells you. The one thing I think you should do is to call the doctor about that red area. It's worth a call.
 
Hi Rose,
Welcome home!! And so glad to hear that things went so well. You sound great!

I can identify with the noisey roommate issue. I was in for three nights and had a roommate who not only kept the TV on all night but actually talked to the television (non-stop). At night she whispered in her dialogue with the TV and I was so loaded that I kept thinking that she was whispering in my ear. It was kind of creepy at times. My first night home was wonderful with the quiet.

I had a four pronged cane post-op and didn't use it that much but it was a security type thing for me when getting in and out of the shower. Also used that toilet riser for a couple of months!

Thanks for posting and letting us know how you are doing. Keep on walking!!
Jan.
 
Rose,

Yes, things will get better! Just take the best care of yourself now as you possibly can. And do not hesitate to ask your loved ones for help - doing so will make all the difference in the world when it comes to healing and FUSION!

I'm ten weeks out from my ALIF and the contrast between week one and now is astounding. This, too, will happen for you!

Be well,

JDot
 
Walking HAHAAHH surely you jest, I can't walk much at all too much pain the percocets and muscle relaxers don't do the job for me and I'm getting alot of nerve pains today. I am hoping tomorrow will be better, I'm just so run down. I really think a brace may of helped me but we'll see how it goes over the next few days it's very hard to get in the upright position once the body weight kicks in. I'm on my side or back only, and can only go to the bathroom (course no BMs yet ugk!)

I am hoping tomorrow is a better day, with no sleep in the hospital for 3 days I'm rather whooped bigtiime. I keep icing my back on and off as its just so sore but the inital weird leg pain that haunted me I don't feel as of yet. I do get nerve pains down my legs but they should phase over time. I have a 5" incision. No staples, just stitches so that's probably more comfy back there than staples would be.

I've just been catching up on well needed sleep when the pain pills kick in for now.

Hoping tomorrows a better day for me! But things do feel 'better' back there, even with the surgical and nerve pains it does feel 'right' now and no more clicking and grinding when I try to get up anymore.

Thanks eone!!!
 
Thanks again so much everyone week one started out okay and ended going into week 2 as really bad nerve pains in my leg especially, I truly if I'm up for more than 5 minutes get severe pains where I can't move my leg or put it down it's flared so badly, they called in the steroiRAB so that extra anti inflammatory I am sure will really help me out and that just what I need at this point. Harder than I expected for this phase, and after that shower 2 days ago I paid so horribly dearly for that OMG I am having everyone in the family on a hunt for a shower chair for me I truly am in need of that.
I'm waiting now for the steroiRAB and the new perscription get you going BM med they giving me hope that works cuz aint nothing else working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hay maybe I'll lose like 6 lbs once I go?? lol
 
Hey Rose!

I haven't been able to get on the last couple of days but I have been thinking about you! Sorry you are so zonked out and sore, but I'm glad over all something feels better. Just rest all weekend and let everyone else wait on you hand and foot! I hope you are getting a big breakfast in bed every morning! I hope I have stitches too instead of staples. Staples sound so painful. And 5" is bigger than I thought it might be. Just rest rest rest and walk walk walk to the bathroom and keep posting when you can!

Megs
 
Rose, you could even just use one of those plastic deck chairs if it's hard to find a shower chair. I had a hard time showering, too, for a while. On those days when I just didn't have the strength, I used those wet wipes to wipe down my torso, arms, etc, so at least I felt a little cleaner. We sure take a lot for granted, don't we?

Feel better,
Emily :)
 
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