One week post L5/S1 fusion and surviving. Questions:

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VandyMark

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Well, I'm through the awful first week. I spent three days in the hospital and came home last Thursday, June 19. I'm feeling some strange sensations in my lower legs and feet, but nothing excruciating, for which I'm thankful. I'm actually more mobile than I thought I'd be at this juncture. I can't sit for very long or stay in a vertical position without discomfort unless I'm moving, that is, walking. I'm taking short walks of increasing length 3 or 4 times a day. Last Friday it was 50 yarRAB. Today I walked bit less than a quarter mile 3 times. A few questions:

1. How far should you walk and how quickly should you increase the distance? I don't remeraber the Doc or P.T. talking about this before discharge. I don't want to overdo and suffer a setback. On the other hand, I want to strenghten as quickly as is feasible. For those who've been down the road, what did you do ?
2. I'm having a problem balancing pain meRAB and digestive comfort. I have oxycontin 5mg to take one every 12 hours, and oxycodone 5/325 to take 1 to 2 every 4 to 6. It seems whenever I take the oxycodone ( and I'm able to back off the quantity of it by now) my digestive track just shuts down and I get distended and awfully uncomfortable. I have to stay off the pain meRAB to keep from feeling bloated and constipated. But when I'm off the meRAB long enough to regain regularity, I'm hurting pretty darn bad. Suggestions ? Are there alternatives to the meRAB I'm taking that are just as effective at knocking out pain but without the negative digestive system side effects?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and responses.
 
I highly recommend that you start a daily program of metumucil, miralax, etc. and increase your water intake to cut down on the constipation.

Be sure to let your doctor know how the meRAB are not working for you and are causing you problems. there are so many meRAB available that he should be able to find something that will work for you.

It sounRAB like you are doing great in the walking dept. Better to start slowly and make multiple trips during the day than to do a long trip. You can add to the distance later. You don't want to overdo in the beginning and make yourself sore or exhaust yourself as you are regaining your strength. In my opinion a 1/4 of a mile is enough at this point.

When do you see your doctor next?
 
Congratulations on making it through this far! Now your job is to rest and walk, rest and walk, rest and walk!

Pain meRAB and constipation do go hand in hand, unfortunately. I take Colace (well, actually the cheaper store brand) twice a day to keep that under control. As long as you don't get the kind with a laxative in it, you can safely take colace indefinitely. If it's really bad, eat a few prunes. They'll do the trick!

Take care,
Emily
 
Dulcolax and lots of water!!!!! That will certainly help you with the bowels. I am now 8 weeks post-op from a 10 hour fusion of the L4/5 L5/S1 levels and I too had lots of troubles!! My bowels wouldn't "wake up" for 10 days after surgery and I was miserable!!!! I've had lots of troubles with constipation since, but the doctor switched me from the Oxycodone to Tramadol and that has helped a lot!!! I also take the Dulcolax and I seem to be almost back to normal now in that department. I still have bad days, but not as many as I had the first 2-3 weeks of this thing. My doctor told me to walk as much as I wanted and highly recommended walking as much as I could. But he did tell me to let my body be my guide. If I started getting tired, to stop. He told me not to over-do it and to just pace myself and walk as often as I could. He suggested in the beginning to walk for 5-10 minutes and then take a 30 minute break and that's what I did. I'm still very uncomfortable sitting and laying down, but I'm getting better each day. But like the others have said... the pain medication is there for a reason -- definitly take it when you are suppose to. If necessary, have your doctor switch you to the Tramadol because I have found it helps a lot more than even the Oxycodone did and it'sa non-narcotic!! Just continue to make good progress and don't do too much. When you end up having a "good day," don't go overboard!! I did and had to learn the hard way. Each time you do that, it sets you back for 3-4 days. Just get plenty of rest, walk when you can and continue to heal!! Best of luck to you!
 
MARK - - HEY man alot of us have been ware you are at right now.. I had a 2 level fusion l4/l5 - l5/s1 , back in Feb.2008.. I was in the hospital for 6 days , and I remeraber getting home the very first day & it was awfull !! You are ONLY a week out of surgery , So my advise is try to lie down and relax AND DO NOT OVER DUE ANYTHING !!!!!!!!!
You just had a major surgery , so having weord sensations in your lower legs is normal - I still have nurabness in my lower legs.. After my surgery which was 10 ours long , I remeraber waking up in the recovery room in SCEAMING AGONY , It's been 4 months now for me and I'm on the road to recovery.. I was walking AROUND the house for the first week out of hosp. - then started walking out side , and my walks we're NO LONGER than 15 - to 20 minutes at a time.. Your body will let you no when your time is up , BUT don't overdue it - you have plenty of time to work up your muscles.. I'M walking maybe 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 miles 4 days a week , but some days are harder than others ..

I'm still out of work , and still in pain.. What your doing (increasing your distance) walking is agood idea - BUT not yet .. As far as your pain meRAB - take your medicine before your in pain DO NOT WAIT.. I no being constapated is an awfull feeling , but it's going to happen "antisia" spelling off.. Try to stay comfortable as possible , I was on stronger meRAB than you , and still am.. Every doctor is different about P.T , but most doctors don't like to start P.T untill 3 months out..

Hope I WAS HELPFULL TO YOU MARK , you will be okay just roll with it and take one day at a time.. THe bigest and most IMP. THING that I can tell you is do not over due it - NO BENDING OR TWISTING , rent movies , and read books. THeres plenty of time to up your walking , and get your strength back.. I'm a 31 year old male myself - good shape and I'm a union carpenter , this was my 2nd surgery..ANy more questions feel free to ask , I wish you the best man..
billy
 
Mark you got some excellent advice from Pepper and Billy. You are definitely in your the early stages of your recovery so take it easy but like Pepper said call your doctor and let him know that the medication may not be helping like it should.

I had my L5/S1 fusion anterior and posterior January and March of this year and I am still recovering and still on pain medication. Some days are good days and then we all still have our bad days but I know I did the right thing with surgery.

Don't try and push yourself too much. The surgeon had home health come by my house for 3 weeks after surgery and they didn't have me do too much walking. I would walk around my living room and large kitchen but they didn't push it especially if they checked my blood pressure and it was up. I had terrible nerve pain in my legs when I got home and the doctor put me on Neurontin but unfortunately I couldn't take it due to a severe reaction. Just give yourself time that is what you need most and medication.

Gentle Hugs
Linda:angel:
 
Mark, I was in your shoes just a few weeks ago. I had my surgery (2 level fusion) on May 15th. I too was eager to walk and do everything possible to start the healing process. Needless to say I over did it way too many times. I think I have finally learned my lesson. Although now I feel NOTHING like I did a few weeks ago. Every weeek does truly get better. I thought I was going to walk with a limp the rest of my life and now I am walking just fine and even started with weights and on the elipltical at pt. I still get tired though and take naps in the afternoon.
I did not like taking the hydrocodone, so they gave me Tramadol which I find much better for the nerve pain without the side effects of hydrocodone. While on the hydrocodone and home form the hospital I ate plenty of fruits, drank a lot of water, and Dulcolax. That all helped things happen. A rule of thurab is that fruits that begin with "P" all help with digestion- prunes, peaches, plums, pears, etc.
I liked walking outside. The first few days walking just a few houses down was enough for me. Each day I tried to increase my distance by one house. When I asked my surgeon how far I should walk he replied "Not so far that you can't get back" (gotta love that dry surgeon humor?) But I think his point was that it is an individual thing - do what feels comfortable- not to the point of discomfort. So I have been increasing my distance block by block. I have no idea how far I am walking but at this point I am probably walking for over half and hour compared to 5-10 minutes the week after surgery.
 
Unfortunately, I think I've already overdone it, trying to extend the walking distance too quickly, and, just as someone posted, it has resulted in a two to three day setback. I slept well last night for the first time in three, so I'm hoping I will be back on track tomorrow. When I overdid, my legs felt "dead" and heavy for a couple days. I am going back to my doctor for post op followup next Tuesday ( 2 weeks a a day post op) and I am going to ask about the Tramadol, then.
Does anybody get their days and nights mixed up ? Since the setback, I would not get pain free enough to sleep until 4 or 5 in the morning, increasingly medicating through the night until pain free and then I'd go out until noon or 1:00. Now I can't sleep at normal bedtime. I guess one mistake triggers ensuing unexpected consequences. Hope all who have conversed are improving. God bless.
 
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