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Devon07
Guest
Alpine....I got to thinking and you may really be to early for any stretches.....try massages only.
Devon:dizzy:
Devon:dizzy:
I had a PLIF of L5/S1 on Deceraber 30th. I have been surprised by the minimal back pain. Unfortunately my leg pain is pretty bad. Some days are better than others and I can take a few short walks on those days. Other days it's painful to walk to the bathroom. The pain is a corabination of cramping in my calves and sciatic pain on my right side. Anyone had this experience? Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Lisa
Thanks,
Lisa
Thanks Devon - The leg pain is getting better and I have been muscling through it. Taking the percoset before the walk does help. I am starting to decrease the dosage which makes me feel better. My parents are leaving soon and I'll need to drive. I'd like to be off the pain meRAB so I'm not driving my kiRAB around with pain meRAB in my system. Anyway, I was really happy to measure my walking this morning (I've been walking on the ranch where we live and it's kind of hard to measure distance). I determined that I'm up to 1.5 miles a day...I break it up into 3 small walks, but still! I'll have to talk to my husband about the massages. I'm getting a professional one this Thursday and am really looking forward to it.
Have a great day!
Have a great day!
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BlueAtlas
Guest
Hi Lisa,
The cramping could be from muscle weakness, or it could be that you need more calcium. Some here have found that those cramps are relieved by adding some extra calcium to their diet.
Did you have this sciatic pain before the surgery, or is this new? I had a great deal of hip and leg pain after my hardware removal. It was because of irritated nerves and took a long time to calm down, but it finally did. During that time, I found it helpful to use a cane on that side. There are also pain meRAB specifically designed for nerve pain. Talk to your doctor about it and see if he thinks one of those meRAB might help you.
How are you doing otherwise? Are you sleeping okay? Are you able to walk some even with the pain in your leg?
I wish you the best as you continue in your recovery,
Emily
The cramping could be from muscle weakness, or it could be that you need more calcium. Some here have found that those cramps are relieved by adding some extra calcium to their diet.
Did you have this sciatic pain before the surgery, or is this new? I had a great deal of hip and leg pain after my hardware removal. It was because of irritated nerves and took a long time to calm down, but it finally did. During that time, I found it helpful to use a cane on that side. There are also pain meRAB specifically designed for nerve pain. Talk to your doctor about it and see if he thinks one of those meRAB might help you.
How are you doing otherwise? Are you sleeping okay? Are you able to walk some even with the pain in your leg?
I wish you the best as you continue in your recovery,
Emily
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BlueAtlas
Guest
1 1/2 miles is great! Keep it up and increase slowly as you're able. Go you!!! 
I understand about the driving kiRAB with meRAB in your system. That was a concern for me, too. I made sure I timed my meRAB so I could be back home for the next dose and didn't take any near the times I would need to drive. You'll work it out. As your need for the meRAB decreases, it will get easier to handle everything.
I hope your recovery continues most excellently!
Blessings,
Emily
I understand about the driving kiRAB with meRAB in your system. That was a concern for me, too. I made sure I timed my meRAB so I could be back home for the next dose and didn't take any near the times I would need to drive. You'll work it out. As your need for the meRAB decreases, it will get easier to handle everything.
I hope your recovery continues most excellently!
Blessings,
Emily
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Pick of the Litter
Guest
HI Lisa,
I also had PLIF L5/S1 on Oct. 1. I had sciatic pain in left leg before surgery. Doc put me on Lyrica for nerve pain and it does help me. Also, the stretching exercises really seems to help me if I'm having a bad day. I am still doing the stretches 3 times or more a day & up to walking 2-3 miles daily now on a treadmill. I am still having some tailbone pain now that I am hoping will be able to get worked out in PT. The pain is definitely more tolerable now then pre-surgery. It took about a month before I noticed relief of the sciatic leg pain though.
For the strectches they have me doing I lay flat on my back and either pull one knee toward my chest & hold for a count of ten and do this 10 times per leg. Or the other stretch is lay flat then raising your leg straight in the air as high as possible and holding for a count of five. The second stretch helps me the most. If I am having trouble I have my husband help and hold my leg up and gently push upward.
Best of luck!
I also had PLIF L5/S1 on Oct. 1. I had sciatic pain in left leg before surgery. Doc put me on Lyrica for nerve pain and it does help me. Also, the stretching exercises really seems to help me if I'm having a bad day. I am still doing the stretches 3 times or more a day & up to walking 2-3 miles daily now on a treadmill. I am still having some tailbone pain now that I am hoping will be able to get worked out in PT. The pain is definitely more tolerable now then pre-surgery. It took about a month before I noticed relief of the sciatic leg pain though.
For the strectches they have me doing I lay flat on my back and either pull one knee toward my chest & hold for a count of ten and do this 10 times per leg. Or the other stretch is lay flat then raising your leg straight in the air as high as possible and holding for a count of five. The second stretch helps me the most. If I am having trouble I have my husband help and hold my leg up and gently push upward.
Best of luck!
Thanks for the support! To answer your questions Emily, I am sleeping okay and am walking quite a bit. Most days I can take three 15 minute walks, but when my sciatic pain is bad I have a hard time walking 1 block. I did have this sciatic pain prior to fusion (actually I've had it since 2001) but it's worse now. I'm starting to have more good days than bad. I take calcium supplements and I eat about 2 servings of dairy a day in my diet, maybe I should increase that. I take neurontin and my doctor just increased my dosage. He also gave me a medication for the leg cramps. So, I guess I need to be patient and keep up with my walking. I have been lucky with the weather, we've had above normal temperatures and we've had no snow.
My doctor hasn't sent me to PT yet. I assume he will at my next appointment. I'm afraid to do any stretching yet, but I know it will help once I do.
Thanks again!
Lisa:wave:
My doctor hasn't sent me to PT yet. I assume he will at my next appointment. I'm afraid to do any stretching yet, but I know it will help once I do.
Thanks again!
Lisa:wave:
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Pick of the Litter
Guest
Way to go with walking 1 1/2 miles. :bouncing: Were you able to walk that much before your surgery? I know my leg pain was so bad before surgery I didn't even want to stand for five minutes let alone walk.
When is the next time you see the doc? I guess every doc is different. Mine had me start on the light stretches in my previous post before I even left the hospital. I am supposed to do them at least 3 times a day. If I was having trouble with them my husband or daughter helped me lift my leg. Also, he wouldn't let me drive until my 6 week check-up & then he didn't want me driving more than 15 minutes at a time. That is kind of hard when everything is at least a 15 minute drive away! Walking has really made a huge difference with me & I usually feel better after walking as long as I don't over-do it.
Keep up the great work & follow your doctors orders. It sounRAB like you are going in the right direction!
When is the next time you see the doc? I guess every doc is different. Mine had me start on the light stretches in my previous post before I even left the hospital. I am supposed to do them at least 3 times a day. If I was having trouble with them my husband or daughter helped me lift my leg. Also, he wouldn't let me drive until my 6 week check-up & then he didn't want me driving more than 15 minutes at a time. That is kind of hard when everything is at least a 15 minute drive away! Walking has really made a huge difference with me & I usually feel better after walking as long as I don't over-do it.
Keep up the great work & follow your doctors orders. It sounRAB like you are going in the right direction!
D
Devon07
Guest
alpine....after bragging about how good ive been doing I had a few bad days and thought I was going backwarRAB....(I was scared) but it was just a few dad days is all....It still continues to get better....Im much better then I ever thought I would be! I just got back from my 1.5 mile and I out walked my wife and some people that met us there...I started a walking frenzy....:wave: lol anyway you will have some bad and some good.....at this point I dont feel as though any more bad days are coming because of how great I feel now.....I think you and I are very lucky to be where were at....as far as getting off the percocets....I didnt want to but I tried for one day then I did two days and next thing you know Im done with them....I keep em handy for any bad walking days.....Keep it up!
Have you tried to see how you feel without the meRAB at all?...test the waters and know you have them if its not time.
keep me in the loop!
Devon
Have you tried to see how you feel without the meRAB at all?...test the waters and know you have them if its not time.
keep me in the loop!
Devon
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Devon07
Guest
Alpine....the stretching is in the legs and you need to do at least a little before walking or you will have calf pains....I did and do...stretch lightly walk a little....take your pain meRAB before walking as it will help with the pain....you need the walk...you and I have that in common and I just kinda muscled through it...just dont go against dr.s orders!.....I have my wife massage my legs prior to and after walks and this is the best help....I also use a new massager when I do my own legs.....it will lessen after a few weeks....just walk but dont over do it.....Im holding big hopes for you!
stay possitive and give it time...your still Wayyyyyy early!
Also what blueAtlas said may be the direction to go...either way the cane is a great help and I take the calcium regardless...ask the doc if it dont get better with some good massages.
keep us posted and good luck
Devon
stay possitive and give it time...your still Wayyyyyy early!
Also what blueAtlas said may be the direction to go...either way the cane is a great help and I take the calcium regardless...ask the doc if it dont get better with some good massages.
keep us posted and good luck
Devon
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kmw224
Guest
I can't be too much help - Just had mine 1/28/10 and have only been home 2 days. I was pain free in leg for 2 days in the hospital and then it started up again. Not so much pain as nurabness that is now going all the way to bottom of left foot. Most nurses in hospital, as well as PA (Surgeon went out of town evening of surgery for mtg) and PT are telling me the nurabness is due to swelling and will "more than likely" go away. They did a fusion of L5/S1. The PA said the disc was hard to get to so they really had to move things around.
I will not have PT now at home. I am having a lot of muscle spasms in my back. I know I'm supposed to keep my body aligned (log roll while in bed etc.) I just hope and pray the nurabness goes away soon. I know it's early but I'm impatient. Good luck to everyone else
I will not have PT now at home. I am having a lot of muscle spasms in my back. I know I'm supposed to keep my body aligned (log roll while in bed etc.) I just hope and pray the nurabness goes away soon. I know it's early but I'm impatient. Good luck to everyone else