Spinal fusion

  • Thread starter Thread starter jweidele1967
  • Start date Start date
I am doing much better, only using the Percocet one or two days a week!! I typically work from home, but spent the last two weeks in a training class with work. It was tough sitting all day, but I made it through...with some soreness.

I still have more swelling than I expected to at this stage, and occasionally I have pains that are eerily similar to my original pain. I just keep telling myself this is process...Really, I'm only 6 1/2 weeks post op; after 4 years of pain...I know it is going to take some time!

Hope everyone else is doing better!
 
Hi not feeling better going to the dr's tomorrow still takining vicodin 2-3 times a day after 3 months post. hoping it is still just the process but kinda scared about vertabra above fusion it looks like no disc at all.
 
Hi all!

I just had Posterior Fusion at L5-S1 on April 29, so I'm a little over two weeks post-op. I was AMAZED with my daily progress for the first 10 days or so! I have since plateaued.

Having read some of these posts, I would say my biggest mistake has been trying to come off of pain-meRAB too quickly.

My pre-op pain is gone, but it has been replaced by pain in my left buttock and running down my left leg. I'm hoping this is just caused by swelling causing pressure on the hardware.

As a man, the best advice I can give to anybody getting ready to have the surgery: Sit down to use the bathroom. The morning after surgery, while my wife had run home to shower, I had a nurse help up to use the restroom. She closed the door and left room. a few moments later, I passed out and hit the floor HARD! X-rays showed that nothing was dislodged, but it stressed me out so bad that I threw-up the rest of the day! Every time I feel any pain now, I think "I wonder if I messed something up".
 
my name is shannon Iam 39 yrs. old. I have spinal stenosis herniated disks pinched nerves my spinal injections they did have made my pain a 100 xs. worse. did you have trouble with nurabness and cold sensations on the back of your legs? Mine are doing this and its getting worse every day!!
 
Jweidele, I'm sorry you are not feeling better. I hope the doctor will have some answers for you... sometimes I hesitate to say things like this but I'll take my chances: I will pray for you!

I have improved so much I find it shocking to be back almost to normal... I do still have some soreness in my back and nurabness down my left leg ...pretty much like what Kenwill said, "similar to my original pain"... but then the doctor and PT says that it's normal, some areas must be still imflamed so I just wait...

I remeraber being so sad thinking the worst when the pain was constant, now I see it was just part of the process... all will be well!

Kenwill, I'm glad you are doing well... :wave:

Take care!!!
 
SAP2008 - Glad that you are feeling better too! I am jealous that you are in PT. I have 1.5 weeks before I see the Dr again, and then we will start talking about PT. I live in a VERY hilly area, so until this week I was limited to walking back and forth in my drive way. I was cleared to walk on hills this weekend, and my calves are SOO SORE from walking Monday and Tuesday. It is hard to believe I used to run marathons, and now I am dying from a 30-minute walk :)

Keep up with all of the exercises the Therapist gives you. Sometimes they seem silly, but always have a proven purpose!
 
Hi all... it's so good to know that there are other people going through the same and willing to spend time discussing it.

I had anterior fusion of L5 S1 level and posterior fusion of the facet joint at that level on April 15. I was under so much pain meRAB that I don't recall having a hard time with surgical pain but I had much pain on my right leg... the doctor said that the scan showed the one screw he put on my back was a bit too long/big for my bone and was probably hitting the nerve. I had to undergo minor second surgery to remove the screw... it was only after that that the dr. said I would need a brace.

I was off narcotics 5 days after first surgery, i only take Tylenol when I need it but the worst is the muscle spams. It's a month now and I'm having pain in my left buttock (mainly, at times is the right side) and sometimes pain goes down the leg.

I can walk slowly but sitting is killing me, I can only take 3-5 minutes at a time.

I read what Emily said and it's true and good to be reminded, I have to listen to my body and rest when it asks for it... I just feel a bit depressed being in the apt... I try to be positive but this takes a lot out of me...

Can anyone tell me how long did it take for you to be able to seat for at least 15 min.... I'm worrying that I have to go back to work soon and may not be able to ;-( One more thing, did you wear a brace and what kind? I'm not convinced that the brace I have it adequate for me. THANKS

God bless!
 
Well went to Dr. yesterday he said xray looked good but not fusing as fast as it should, so back to not doing to much and back to cat scan to see what else is going on from pain. still hoping its just the process.
 
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