Post-op Foot Swelling

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I am almost 8 weeks post-op from a 2-level 360 degree fusion at the L4/5 and L5/S1 level. I had foot swelling after surgery, but within a week or so it was gone. Over the last 3 days, I have had severe swelling in both feet. It is very painful to even walk at times. Sometimes it feels as if my feet are going to split open. I tried elevating them and even putting cold compresses on them and nothing seems to be helping. I am reading around and hearing that this is "normal" after this type of surgery, but I do not see any suggestions for what to do to relieve the swelling or the pain. Does anyone have any suggestions?? Thanks!
 
Hi there! Are you taking neurotin/lyrica/topomax by chance? If so this is a side effect to have swelling with some of these.

Do you have any of these other symptoms: Swelling, gradual onset of pain, redness, leg cramps, bluish or whitish discolaration of the skin, or worsening leg pain when bending the foot? If so, I don't mean to scare you but please go to the ER immediately, this could be a sign of a blood cloth which is not that uncommon after spinal surgery.


Good luck and please keep us posted.
 
Do you still have those stockings they give you in the hospital, those tight anti-erabolism ones? It helped me to continue to wear them. When I weaned out of my brace at 5-6 months, the swelling immediately disappeared! But the stockings did help in the meantime.

:wave: Emily
 
I was on Neurontin and my legs and feet swelled terribly and I was taking 1 300 mg 3x's a day. The Home Health nurse was the one that called my surgeon and told them about my legs and then I had to be slowly weaned off the medicine. A lot of the medication can cause swelling and my Rheumatologist but me on an anti-inflammatory pill and it swelled my legs up also. You just never know about medicine. I would definitely talk to my doctor before I take that much.

Linda
 
Wow Welcome "another" Virginian! I really think it's our water or something!

The swelling is normal, but there are some things that cause swelling that are not. You need to look for any signs like Diet mentioned, and if so, you need to get seen by your doctor right away. You dont want a blood clot.

I had to have a doppler sonogram done on both of my legs twice in the first few weeks post op. I had a very negative reaction to the neurontin and the Lyrica both.

Did they use BMP on you, which in a bone growth protein and put into the disc space? If so, this is well known to cause swelling in the body including the feet and it varies per person as to how long it takes for this stuff to really get absorbed by the body. So this may be part of your issue as well.

The stockings are annoying as all get out and quite frankly impossible to get on by yourself at this stage, but they really can help control things better for you. And keep those legs elevated.. it's all to the good too.

Hang in there and keep us posted on how you are doing.
 
I am currently on Tramadol (50mg.) which I take one tablet every 6 hours or so. I also take one Hydrocodone tablet at bedtime. I have been on these exact meRAB since my release from the hospital 8 weeks ago and am just starting to have these problems (about 4-5 days now). I do not have any redness there is no bluish or whitish discoloration of the skin. I have leg cramps sometimes at night, but feel that this is due to my Restless Leg Syndrome. It is painful when I bend my foot, but not always - only when it is swollen.

Yes I do still have those stockings. I did not even think of them. I will certainly give that a try. Thank you!!
 
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