leg fatigue

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hearts4120

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I had a question.. after my ALIF I had pretty severe nerve pain in both legs and significant weakness and nurabness in the left leg. I have some improvement over the last two months but somethings still leave me a bit baffled. For example, if I go out to the store and walk for a bit my legs are totally exhausted and feel like stone I am carrying around. Plus, they will hurt the rest of the day. What causes this? Is it still a nerve issue? Will pt help to build up the strength in my legs?
Thanks...
Lori
 
Yes to all of your questions. When was your last follow up with your surgeon? PT can help you improve your flexation and get more strength back. You should discuss this with your surgeon.
 
I saw my surgeon at six weeks post op, no talk of pt. Honestly, I get better results from my PM doctor. I see him on the 14th so I will talk then about pt and leg fatigue, it just bothers me to have my legs get SO tired still after what I consider not much effort. Walking around the grocery store is not much work in my opinion. My hubby keeps reminding me to take it one day at a time, I have no patience. :)

Lori
 
Lori, some surgeons do not believe in pt after surgery and strongly encourage walking, walking, walking. My surgeon is one of those; however, how do you walk with all this nerve pain and loss of strength. I have actually found the pool to work wonderfully for me. When I say to use a pool, I do not mean to dive in or to swim across a pool. Simply make sure you are in water over your waste, and start walking. If you want to go over your head, put a lurabar or waist intertube around the center of your body and walk in the deep end. I will also run in the deep end and move my legs slowly like the jumping jack position or the scissor position. Just be sure not to twirl your body or twist it. I also use a spa and boil my body and do some stretches in them. You might give these a try and hopefully that will help you.

In my heart, I don't know if I will ever be able to walk. I just pray that if I keep at the water therapy that one of these days I will suprise myself and be able to walk to my mailbox 200 ft away from my house.

Take care.
 
Hi Pepper,

I had a one level fusion 4 weeks ago. My doc is very non-chalant about PT; his attitude is basically "your body will tell you what you can and cannot do" Philosophically I understand what he's saying, but it isn't very helpful. I have access to a therapeutic pool and am eager to start going there. At what point do you think I would be ready to go there for simple walking?

Do you know, "generally speaking," when the incision is closed? I don't want to risk getting an infection.

Thanks Hearts for letting me pop on your thread to ask a question. ;)
 
the pool is a great idea. I will see what I can do since we don't have one.
Thanks for the ideas.

Lori
 
I would run it past your doctor. Once my doctor gave me the okay that everything was healed incision wise, I was in the pool and spa.
 
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