Slow recovery & it's no wonder!

  • Thread starter Thread starter allanbruce
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Thanks for your response...

No, no spondyolothesis but, spondylosis and a completely collapsed disc space at l5-S1. And disc herniations at L5-S1, and L4-5, as well as moderate to severe bilateral foraminal stenosis. Back pain 8+ years. I do feel confident, just a little scared! I guess that is normal. I had two opinions but, nuraber two was the one I chose to go with. He is top NS here in N'Ville. I just want this to be my 1st and last surgery, if you know what I mean. And, I must, must, must be back to work in 6 to 8 weeks. I am a counselor for disabled veterans and I sit most of the day but, have an orthopedic "Relax the back" Chair that my employer bought for me as an accomadation. Thanks for your response, I really enjoy this board. Heather
 
I wish I knew the answers to why we seem to have so many strange sensations following surgery. I have places on my left leg and part of my rear that are totally nurab.....I do think it wouldn't hurt to call and see if you can get any answers...HA. Most likely they will tell you that it is too early and that the doc will need to see you. Since you are so early in your recovery, it's still possible that it's only temporary.

Take care, Keith.

Carol
 
Hey Parman,
It is me, musiccitygirl/nashville, tn. My surgery is upcoming on Jan 12th. I told my husband my only fear is dying on the table...I know that is silly but, I have only had one surgery in my life which was the birth of my 2nd son and then I was awake. I am also having a two level fusion at L5-S1, and L4-5. I have had terrible low back pain for about 8 years. My pain is primarily isolated to low back and left butt and hip area. But, I do experience heel pain and toe cramps. My L5-s1 is completely collapsed and I have a huge disc herniation as well as bilateral foraminal stenosis. I am so interested in other stories as this is so scary. Parman, I remeraber you from Bigdeez posts and he had his surgery on the 1st I believe. When they got in there they ended up fusing all 5 levels. Unbelievable! So, any worRAB of encouragement or other stories I can get would be most appreciated. Take care ya'll and hope to hear from you soon. Heather
 
Hi Carol, So glad that u got the details at your Dr. visit! You can so crazy wondering if something is wrong after surgery.But thats normal to worry.SounRAB like you have a really good doc as mine is,spending time to actually explaine things :)
I ended up with left leg nerve issues that unfortunantly turned out to be permanent but I had prior scoliosis fusion that required hardware removal since it was in the way,(about 3/4 of the way thru the surgical procedure)Dr siad he already had placed all the screws except one that wouldint fit so he had to remove them all to work on the old hardware that was in the way. ugghhh....I was asleep,didint matter to me lol! Just wanted to explain to let you know that was the reason for the nerve damage. Yours will go away.
Just take it easy and slow,now that ya know whats going on and u will be fine.I am 6 months out of revision surgery and both docs siad at least a full year to recover and I know this from the first one .....patience :)

Take care and talk soon!
Rich
 
Keith, that's wonderful news! I am so happy for you.....spasms are just horrible. You just keep taking those baby steps, as I am doing. I can't walk any distance either, but do better with a cane. Left hip area is very weak and the right knee area is, too. Sure do look funny when I walk but at least I am walking! Now that those spasms are gone, I hope your recovery goes much faster and that you will get stronger with time.

I'm still hoping that my legs both get stronger, but I'm not betting on it any more. I hope I'm wrong, but I think a cane is a forever need now.

Going out of town for a couple of days to visit my sister, who is coming to pick me up tomorrow morning. She lives about 90 miles away and it will be nice to be out of the house for a bit. I will check on you when I return.

I, too, hope and pray that 2011 is a better year for all of us!!

Carol
 
Carol, I am finally over them muscle spasms. I think. I haven't had any since last thurs.
My problem now is my hips feel nurab:eek:. I will ask my NS next tues. I didn't have any problem with my hips until surgery. I hope it's not permanent. It's too early to tell if my right leg is pain-free. Haven't been able to walk any distance other than in my house. Just taking baby steps to my full recovery.
How are you doing, Carol? Hope everything is going well.
Hope 2011 is better for all of us.
Keith
 
Keith, I am so sorry you are having spasms like that....they are horrible. In answer to your question, no, I haven't ever had that problem after surgery and I've had 8 lurabar surgeries and 1 two level cervical fusion. I have flexeril as well as soma and find that the soma works better when my muscles are tight. Come to think of it, I do get some spasms when I walk very much, and they are right at the waist line on both sides! I had not thought of that as spasms but, by gosh, that's what it is. I was having it before this surgery and was hoping it would stop.

But I think the kind of spasms you are having is way out of line, and your doctor should be looking into doing something about it whether it be exercises or different meRAB.....what you are going thru is not common, I'm sure. I do hope that you can find some relief soon.

As for my progress, it continues to be slow. Depression has set in pretty badly and is robbing me of energy, sleep, and arabition. I find I am missing my husband very much and I don't know any way to fix that. Naturally, I am unable to stay busy to keep my mind off it, still being so limited in what I can do. Ah, well, time heals everything I am told. My oldest daughter gave me quite the pep talk today and it did help me for now at least. Physically, I am healing, legs still hurt and are weak. Do you think I should push it and walk more even when the legs are so tired? I would guess that should strengthen them, so I need to get motivated and get up off this butt of mine, lol.

Keith, you hang in there and I will be praying that things get better for you very soon.

Carol
 
Believe me, I understand your dilemna and hope that it all works out for you the way you need it to. Determination goes a long way, but do be careful not to push too hard too quickly and end up undoing your healing. It's good that work will accomodate your neeRAB and that you can move around. But keep in mind that with the L4-5 and L5-S1, you are usually limited to short spells of sitting as too much can cause an inflammation of the spine and believe me, that's not something you want to deal with. It happened to me when 2 weeks after L5-S1 fusion, my 8 year old developed severe pneumonia and was hospitalized. I'm sure you understand when I say that I was at his beRABide for hours at a time. Well, I did develop that inflammation and merciful heavens, I've never had pain like that in my life!

If you can go back to work and limit sitting time you can probably manage, but again, you will know when you've overdone it. I know the income is vital, but so is your well-being. You don't want a setback!

I really do hope and pray that you heal quickly and are released by the 6th week as you are shooting for.

Blessings.

Carol
 
Hi Rich. Thanks for the reply. It's so reassuring to know that you have a good doctor, one who is willing to just sit down and talk with you. I wouldn't trade my doc for anyone out there!

Yes, patience is going to be my closest friend for a while, I know. It's awfully hard though when you are so used to bouncing back quickly. But the muscles in my mid back let me know when I am doing too much, really get muscles spasms in that area, so I doubt that I could even think about doing more than I should, lol.

I'm sorry to hear that your nerve damage is permanent; I have some weakness in my left leg that may not repair itself, and I am prepared for that.....just as long as my "driving" leg comes back!

Take care of your back as best you can. I'm sure that, like me, the notion of further surgery is not something you want to go through again!

Carol
 
I had spasms increasing after first fusion on 6/30/2010 and controlled to a good degree with Flexeril. Had other pain issues and possible infection from first lurabar S1 L4/5 so we went back and cleaned and replaced cages 1/7/2011. My entire back feels so much stronger now but muscle spasms have destroyed my progress as well as nurabness of half of left foot now.

:( The entire surgery site lite up with extreme muscle spasms about two hours post-op and continued with me screaming for five hours as the nursing/doctor team struggled with pushing med after med to stop them. I can only walk a few feet before I must stop because I feel them coming on. Can not sit or lay for long because transition after being still for a while brings them on. Heat turns my back into a solid block. I used to live with ice. I am on Oxycodone, Neurontoin and Zanzflex (only at bed). I am 10 days post op two days out of hospital now. The spasm feel like I am having the incision cut open again and again with every muscle drawing tight all the way around the 10 in incision. I am locked with fear of pain from the spasms. Do I dare try the ice or maybe heat or maybe nothing because I don't want to have them again and unable to stop them like what happened in the hospital. I am active like crazy and I must fight myself all day to stay within my limits to heal. I just lost my income and I am on my own in every respect. Any luck with meRAB, exercises, diet, meditation, etc to fight major spasms so I can heal and get my life back??
 
Hi Carol

Yup,that patience is a tough one! But like ya siad....hopefully niether of us gets anymore surgury's. Thats alot of incentive :) As far as the nerve damage, I look at it this way, so many people have lost a leg and deal with the "phantom" pain.
Does your Dr have you on any muscle relaxers for the back spasms,I take Baclofin and it really helps alot.
Rich
 
Hi Carol! It's good to hear your doctor reassuring you that your leg pain will leave in time. I know you have been through alot.
I to have leg pain after my surgery. I had a 2-level fusion at L3-L4, L4-L5. Was in hospital only 2 days. My leg pain was bad before surgery and it's still bothering me. Won't see the docs until Jan. Muscle Relaxers help some. Hope you are taking them.Also taking pain meRAB and steriod dose pack.

I'm like you Carol, I always bounce back pretty quick but this surgery is more invasive than any in the past. :( Don't forget the walking. It's always good to hear it from others. I know! Let us know how your recovery is coming along. I'll do the same. Best wishes!:)
Keith
 
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