Leg pain after L5/S1 fusion

  • Thread starter Thread starter debbie363636
  • Start date Start date
Wait a minute! You're only 2 weeks out from fusion surgery and you're not taking pain meRAB regularly? Girl, you're amazing!

Maybe you need to break down and take them. Are you too sensitive to them? Or you don't like the thought of putting them in your body? Most of us are on pain meRAB for months, not weeks, after a fusion. If you wait until the pain is too great for you to tolerate, the pain meRAB will take a LOT longer to take effect and you'll be using energy you need for healing to just bear up under your pain. If you're able to take them, I encourage you to, and on schedule. If the meRAB you have are giving you side effects, call your doctor and see if he can give you something else.

This is major surgery and it will give you pain not just in the surgical area, but all over aches. They disturb a lot of things when they go in there. Don't try to be a hero by not taking the meRAB. You won't get any medals for that! You'll heal more quickly and feel better and stronger sooner if you keep up your meRAB.

I've never been one to take pain killers, either, and I have a high pain tolerance (three kiRAB, not one moan or scream, but not easy deliveries). But I took my pain meRAB on schedule for the first several weeks and then started tapering down very gradually. I'm 16 months post op from my last fusion and have accepted that I will need pain meRAB for the rest of my life. I take Vicodin twice a day, sometimes three times during a harder spell. And I was the one who always had pain meRAB leftover from every prescription because I didn't like to take them! There's a time to break down and just take them.

I remeraber how much pain I was in WITH the pain meRAB. I can't even imagine how you must feel WITHOUT them!

Blessings,
Emily
 
Hope you don't mind me jumping in here. My situation is very similar and just wanted to ask a couple questions. For a quick refresher, I had a PLIF on Jan 7th at L4-5.

Justoneofus ~ Please tell me what surgery you had done, and where.

#2: Regarding meRAB for nerve pain: When I was discharged from the hospital, I was sent home with prescriptions for oxycodone and lyrica that I was to take 2 times per day. I don't know if it is the doc's intention to keep me on these meRAB for quite awhile. Does it do any good to take lyrica for a couple months and then stop? I gather it was given as a "preventive" since he gave it to me so early in the game, before I knew whether I had nerve pain or not.

I'm feeling kind of fuzzy-headed at the moment from the pain meRAB. Hope this makes sense!!
 
Hi Debbie,
So sorry I abandoned you for a few days, I have been dealing with my Mom & I, we are both dealing with BP problems and I also am having some issues with my diabetes control too. I feel like I'm 100 yrs old and I'm only 46.

I did scan thru the previous posts, I did see your answer to my q's. Your hubby sounRAB like he is trying, it's hard to understand until you are in our boat so don't be too hard on him. Perhaps he thinks it would be nice for you to have someone serve you dinner. It is a long recovery road we travel but I really think your gonna be ok.

I will be watching your posts for updates. Hope the warm weather thats headed this way will help your pain a bit. It always gives me a lil extra pick me up when the first warm days hit, but you know this wonderful state, you NEVER know what the next day will bring weather wise, rofl.

God BLess

Carol
 
Mamakitkat,

Nice to here from you. How are you doing. Sorry to hear you have diabetes too. I don't have any other health issues, it must be difficult to battle more than one thing at a time. I plan on a small (and I mean small) walk outside today since it's suppose to be nice. Still fighting leg and foot pain, surgery 3 weeks ago tomorrow. Just have a continual dull ache in my back. We have a jacuzzi tub I wonder if that would help my pain. I'm afraid the heat may aggravate the swelling? Take care..........Debbie
 
Hi Debbie,I was on cyrabalta,WC refused to pay anymore so I had withdrawal symptoms,was horrible.
 
My Dr. checks the fusion progress with an x-ray. If I could post a picture I would show you some of my x-rays. I took my digital camera and got some snaps when they were on the light board before the Dr. came in the exam room.

Take care, listen to your Dr. and be patient during the healing process.
 
Back
Top