Is this normal after a laminectomy?

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kak251

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I had my laminectomy on July 8th. It was originally for a herniated disc at L-3 L-4 causing severe pain and nurabness in left leg. At the operation my disc was found to have ruptured.

I know I am only 3 weeks out from my operation but when I sit for any amount of time when I stand up I am stuck leaning over until I walk it out a few steps. Normal?

I also keep getting really bad muscle spasms that make me cry out.When does this stop?

I also cannot get up when I am lying on my back. I have to roll over. If someone where to help me up by pulling me up I still can't get up because the pain is so intense. Did others have this too? When does this go away?

I see so many on here who felt great right after surgery but I still have alot of back pain. My back actually hurts more now than before surgery. Will this get better or am I one who didn't have a great outcome from surgery? (it was 7 months from injury to surgery)
 
Hi, first off it's very important that you do only roll over to get up from laying on your back -that's how it's suppose to be. Do NOT try to sit straight up or allow yourself to be pulled up. Always sit on the side of the bed then lay down on your side, roll to your back -and do the reverse to get up. I am 10 weeks out from my laminectomy and can choose (am physically able) to get up straight or lay down without rolling, but I still elect to roll instead, even now. As for having to lean forward when you get up from sitting, are you sitting well-supported? I still have to sit with my legs up, not hanging down, and a little reclined if I want to sit for any notable length of time. I CAN sit in a 'normal' chair with my legs down, but if I do so for 45 minutes without having stood up at some point to lessen the pressure (for even a minute or two), I will have nurab legs when I go to stand up. Everyone is different, but that's how things are for me at this point. At your stage, 3 weeks, I couldn't sit for 15 minutes before going nurab (in a 'normal' chair without leg support or reclining). The muscle spasms --are you taking something to counter that? I was taking flexerill for mine (no longer am.., um but am taking one today b/c of something stupid I did). Muscle spasms are not abnormal and, especially if you are trying to lie down without rolling and get up without rolling, I can see how your muscles would cry out. Try taking it easier than you have been and just baby yourself for a while. It's okay and you deserve it (and need it, too).
Oh, and I felt like I'd been run over by a truck after my laminectomy, had a hellish time at first and my back hurt much worse than it did prior to surgery (my legs, however, were finally free of the horrid pain shooting down both of them --that was nice). My back still isn't feeling 'great', but is much, muuuuch better than early in my recovery --and I feel great about how far I've come and how much I can do now (ahem, minus my stupid mistake today). I know how rotten it feels when you are in the 'truck run over' feel of recovery and I'm very sorry you're there.., but you'll get through it and move on to feeling so much better in just a matter of weeks --but baby yourself on that road to get there. At 3 weeks, where you are at, I felt rotten. It DOES get better.
-Meghan
 
When I had my first laminectomy, I was told not to sit for more than 15 minutes or to go up and down steps. I think these spasms and the stiffness is because of sitting too long without moving around.

As for the problems getting out of bed, Meghan if absolutely right. NEVER let anyone pull you up. Roll to your side and using your elbow and hand push upright to a sitting position. Sit there a few seconRAB before getting up.

I hope you dr. gave you a list of no-no's and that you are complying. The rules about sitting should have been in there and you should have been taught how to get out of bed.

If these symptoms don't get better in a few days, call your surgeon. Reherniation is always a possibility as is inflammation of the spine due to too much pressure from sitting.

Carol
 
Thanks I guess I need to be more patient. Sometimes I feel really good and then I'll have these horrible pains. I guess I'm just anxious to know if I'm finally healed.
 
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