surgery in 3 days-2 level L4-S1-can anyone help?

  • Thread starter Thread starter hollienbrian
  • Start date Start date
It seems like it depenRAB on the surgeon as far as recovery time. My surgeon said that I should be 90% recovered at 12 weeks. The cages he is using are his own design and don't allow any sliding downwarRAB. He also won't be doing a bone graft. He will be taking cells from the hip and mixing them with calcium. Thanks, allanbruce, good luck to you too!
 
How did the surgery go - I had the same surgery 4 years ago. Everyone has a different experience, curious to see how yours went.
 
anna3125,
Well, the incision in the front developed a hematoma which I had drained today. I now have left leg pain which the doc says is prob not sciatica and will go away soon. I have had leg pain about the day after surgery when I started walking. Aside from losing a little sleep with the leg pain I am doing well. They told me I can drive as long as I haven't taken any narcotics so I took my 7yr. old daughter to Funset Blvd. where she played games and I watched her for 3 hours. I was talking with 2 chicks for about 2 of those hours with no problems. I could have played with one of them in the jungle jim but I didn't just in case I got stuck haha. I couldn't play with my daughter on these toys there cuz she is so quick and I am like a turtle now haha.

That's great that you went to school and back on a bus. I'm sure that bus rode like a cadillac too right? ha ha! Can you hang out with frienRAB no problem?
 
I guess I should have added to my note that some pain meRAB may add to your comfort level as well and a mild muscle relaxer can help any stiffness or muscle achiness you may feel.
 
In Australia You have to join a health fund yourself otherwise you are treated in the public system and an operation if not an emergency may take 3-5 years depending on the doctor and hospital.
I hope you can find the money to pay your bills ok otherwise what will you do? Borough the money? Or do you have family to help? Luckily my brother is going to fly up for mine and will pay any difference for me and I can pay him back one day. Good luck.
Allan
 
I am so happy to here positive feedback concerning surgery as it is getting close for me 4 weeks now. I am sort of nervous but looking forward to seeing or feeling the results I may have. Though I may have a little longer recovery than others as I have been sick for 10 years and I don't expect everything to come good in a mater of weeks. I have other problems as in depression and anxiety along with my body condition to work on. I hope though to begin walking and swimming as a part of my recovery. Also just getting used to be a social being and trying to fit back in to some sort of normal life, and mine has not been that way for as song as I remeraber. As I am also in recovery from alcoholism I will be doing more AA once I am able to sit in those horrible church seats. Though most meetings are now in halls and communal rooms.
I hope you all have recovery that lasts you and please be careful as there is still a chance of repeat injuries. Don't be lifting or working to hard as these things are not perfect and there is always a chance of damaging the next level of your spine. None of us want to go through this again. Good luck Allan
 
anna3125,

Hi! Man you must have nerves of steel! I think about my surgery so much I am losing a little sleep.

I have sleep issues because of my job. Since day 1 there I get home late and wakeup to early. The surgeons are aware of it and I will continue to take what I already do: 4mg remeron and 3mg melatonin.

Good luck on YOUR surgery! Hope you are feelin much better after surgery!

Brian
 
Hi there!

I have my surgery on the same day as you (October 13th!)
it is so soon. it is almost weird how I am not really nervous yet. I keep telling myself it will be all good. I really believe that pain post surgery would be better than what I am going through now.

I am 20 years old (young, i know) and am really unsure as to what caused this because I havent really been in any accidents or anything like that.

In terms of your sleeping problems is it because of the pain or because you always have hard time sleeping? I have alot of pain but sleep very well, i think because of the tylenol 3s. they make me really drowsy and i sleep alot.

if its due to other problems i think you should ask your doctor for sleeping pills that dont effect your pain meRAB so that you can get some rest. After a good sleep I feel a little better for a bit.

I hope your surgery goes well!
 
Hey Hollienbrian-

I guess your (and mine also) surgery is tomorrow! I want to wish you a good luck-

let me know how your surgery goes and how the hospital is afterwarRAB, and when you get discharged, etc. I was told I should be able to go back to school after 2 weeks (by a nurse) given that I will get to lie down or walk around because sitting would be uncomfortable.

I hope that I can recover faster because I can't miss too much school and because I want my life back! I am sure you feel the same.

I was told that Ill be in the hospital for 2-5 days, and then 2 weeks rest with walking. I am hoping when I wake up after the surgery the sciatica pain and the nurabness on my left leg will go away.

good luck on your surgery again!
 
Hi there. other than the financial question, you should ask your doctors the questions you have regrading your health and sleeping on your back, etc. I say this because my brother is a neurosurgeon/spine surgeon and we work together ... and believe me ... you are not the only one who is this nervous and/or has all these questions. sometime we get patients coming in here several times before the surgery with questions ... contact your doc, is my advice! good luck!
 
jwalk247,

Hey! I am 2 weeks post-op and I am generally able to do anything but lift over 10lbs. If I do the laundry I have to take it down there a little at a time etc. From what I read on the internet it seems like I am doing very well only 2 wks out. I drove my daughter to Funset Blvd. (game park) on no narcotics, of course. We were there over 3 hrs. and it was all good. I just couldn't play with anyone yet. I met 2 chicks there and I didn't wince or anything hahaha. I was able to get up and walk periodically no problem. They drained my frontal incision today cuz it had a hematoma. THe posterior incision is doing very well. I had the surgery done at ThedaClark in Neenah,WI and it went smooth like butter! Many hot nurses who were so sweet and did everything to make me comfortable, well ok maybe not everything but they did an awesome job with me! I really do believe at 12 weeks post-op I will be at least 90% recovered!
 
anna3125,
I finally got to your post "5 days out" cuz I've been at my Mummy and Dad's where they only have internet at the lightning fast speed of dial up.

Glad to hear you are doing so well! Well, at 20 your like a spring chicken, right? haha You also have it twice as good because they cut you open only in the back.

I thought THEY were NUTS when they told me I'd leave the next day and walk, clirab stairs, and sit and lay down as much as I wanted! I told everyone guess what THEY told me! ya know! My own Mother had the surgery back in the 80's and she was in bed for 2 weeks with the back brace. She flipped her noggin when I walked the next day!

Did you have bruising on top of your butt? I did right under my tail bone. And something else was bruised from the bladder catheter too right on the top. My first thought was those nurses are REALLY naughty! :)

Well, you are 2 weeks out now so you should be ready for roller derby now, hahaha!
Take Care!
 
AGIC,

k thanks I will! The nurses(just girls) better be sweet or Im gunna raise a little hell there! lol
 
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