Pain after laminectomy

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I had a laminectomy on April 15 because I had two herniated discs (L4-L5 & L5-S1) that were severely compressing my nerve roots in three places. Before my surgery, I was in such excruciating pain I could barely walk. The pain ran down both sides, down my buttocks, hips, thighs, knees, shins and calves, and ankles. I also had nurabness and tingling in my feet. My toes had become completely nurab and could not move at all.

After 3 & 1/2 weeks, I can walk! I'm absolutely thrilled about that - I no longer walk like an 80 year old woman (I'm 39). I can move my toes, curl them, etc. It's amazing.

I realize it takes time for the nerves to regenerate, but I thought I'd feel better after 3 & 1/2 weeks. I have deep, aching pain down both legs (it's different because before the surgery it was stabbing and unbearable). My back continues to hurt really badly sometimes. Is this normal? Do I still have hope of eventually being pain-free? That would just be the ultimate dream... I would LOVE to know that it's possible for me to be pain-free one day...
 
Hello. I can't really post about my own experience but just to share that DH had the same surgery on April 29th for the exact same herniated discs. SounRAB like you two had the same symptoms as well (excruciating pain, nurabness, and spasms down the legs, could barely walk, only 34 yrs old). He did say that when he awoke after surgery, he noticed that the leg pain was gone and has been pretty much gone since. There is an area of his back (the left side, which was really problematic) which is still swollen and his back does still hurt but according to the doc, that is to be expected. The doc wrote him a prescription for a 6-day steroid that he assured him would take down the swelling but it hasn't. He actually goes in tomorrow for a follow-up. DH did say that the swelling is causing some tightness and pain in his left buttock. Overall though, he seems to be doing a lot better than he was. He took Vicodin for the first 2 weeks after surgery but isn't on anything anymore. When we go tomorrow, I will ask the doc about the nerves regenerating and try to get a better idea of recovery. take care.
 
Thank you for responding! I'm concerned that I still have leg pain after the surgery (and now it's been 5-1/2 weeks), particularly since your husband's pain seems to have dissipated immediately. However, my doctor didn't seem too worried at my 10 day check-up when I told him I still had pain.

The pain IS different now, which I think is a good sign. Before surgery, the leg pain was excruciating - stabbing, unbearable pain. Now it's more of a deep, flu-like aching and I feel like I've been working hard all day and am just exhausted. The pain pill helps, but I'm disappointed that I still need pain pills. I do have a call into my doctor to ask about it, but if you hear from your doctor as to whether this might be normal, I'd really appreciate it!

I can handle this as long as I know that one day I'll feel better...
 
Funny how we have sorts of questions but when you get to the docs, you forget them. Went with DH today and remerabered you asking about regenerating but like a dummy, I asked about the discs regenerating. Doc looked at me like I was slow, lol. He did say that it is normal to have pain, even the pain going down the leg area, because your body is going to take time to heal. He said that the swelling (feels like a knot now) on the left side of his incision area is a muscle, that he needed to move all sorts of muscles and nerves around to complete the surgery. He wants him to start physical therapy next week, for 5 weeks, then he will have another appointment after. He seems to think that DH should be able to return to work following that. I dont see this happening since DH has such a physical job (he's an electrician) but what do I know. According to doc, physical therapy will build up the back muscles to support the spine. DH is now allowed to drive short distances (he already was driving, :eek:), walk longer distances (been doing that too), and have sex, though nothing wild :bouncing: Still not supposed to twist, bend, or lift more than 5-10 lbs though.

Basically what he said is it takes time. Think of all of the trauma your body has had this long. And as long as your legs don't feel like they did prior (DH said that was unbearable), I think that you'll be ok. Just don't overdo it.

If you have any other questions, just ask. Take care.
 
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