Trouble coping post-surgery

R

RidinSolo

New member
I was wondering if anyone else is having trouble coping with life after surgery or if anyone can relate. It has been several months since my microdiscectomy, and I am still having a difficult time realizing the restrictions because it seems as though my youth was taken away from me.

Five days before my surgery I was playing softball but now walking is painful because of re-herniation after 2 months. I miss doing more active things like four-wheeling, water skiing, and riding roller coasters, but I miss normal activities more. I wish that I could go to the movies, or to a party without feeling pain. It
 
Not knowing your age or your full story concerning your back, all I can offer is that you will have to be patient about your back, more so than you ever were in your life. Asking you to be patient is the easy part. It will be one of the most difficult things you will ever have to do. I am 18 months post op and I am still healing and still getting better. It has been an 18 month roller coaster, primarily due to my lapses in patience over that period. I spent a lifetiime, exercising and working my way through sports injuries in days and weeks. To have to now measure progress in YEARS, is quite a challenge.

I wish you the best.

PATIENCE, my friend.

AZ REB
 
Thanks for replying! It is reassuring to know that you can still be healing 18 months out.
Patience with recovery is my downfall which is why I re-herniated in the first place, so I will have to learn to be patient somehow.
 
ibake&pray:

My surgery was done 6 months ago. I had cauda equina syndrome, if that makes a difference. My hospital stay was 5 days instead of the typical overnighter for a microdiscectomy. Even with this, my surgeon anticipated that I would have a speedy recovery because of my young age (18).

I like what you said about not letting the pain control you. I frequently forget this. I know that when I have a more positive attitude, I feel better and have an easier time "ignoring" the pain.
 
hi I understand very well what you are going through i had a revisionon t90-L5 stabbilisation to a ilium with L2 PSO. I have roRAB fron base of my spine to the nape of my neck, Which has now caused prolapsed discs in my neck which is causing nerve pain in my hanRAB i can hardly do anything. I only had the surgery in dec 2009. I think they will have to operate again. That will be my 4th in just over 12 months. The last surgery has made me very depressed. Other people dont seem to understand, because they have never experienced it. They are interested for a while then loose interest. I cant do hardly anything i use to do. It takes a tole on you. Its like looking at a stranger in the mirror. "who is that person". Im not even the same shape anymore. The surgeons dont really understand either, they are just interested in doing the surgeries. You are not the only one feeling lost.
 
You don't say how long ago you had your surgery. That can make all the diffference in the world. It takes a good year to fully heal from back surgeries. If you are just a few months out, have patience. it's a difficult heal and it takes time.

I am fused from T9 to my sacrum. That was five years ago. The initial 3 level fusion I had done was great. But I will live with some degree of pain for the rest of my life. My entire life had to change. I haven't been allowed to hold my grandchild because they felt I was unstable-and I now have three. I have a weight allowance that I will have to live with the rest of my life. I can no longer bowl, ride rollercoasters or most amusement rides. I can't walk our two dogs together because they are too strong for me to manage since my back surgeries. HOWEVER i refuse to let the pain wilch will be with me the rest of my life, RULE my life. I control the pain, not the other way around.
It's alot of work, but it's the only way that I can stay upbeat. Do i miss my old life, Sure! But this is my life now and I have to learn to cope and adjust.

If you feel that you are having issues, talk to your doctor about getting something like Cyrabalta that helps with depression and also the pain. Hang in there, it will get better, but it will take you deciding that you are going to get better..make the choice.
 
Losing a /any level of functioning is a blow. You are entitled to some grieving about what you cannot do -whether temporary or permanent. Grieving is a process, just as is your recovery. Don't feel guilty about feeling a sense of loss. If you are expected to regain most / all of your functioning, continue to tell yourself that this is temporary, and a journey. I've had more major surgeries that I care to count (including a pacemaker). I too have restictions, but continue to hope that I can recover some of what I've lost in terms of functioning. If others do not care, than they are just good time charlies and not real frienRAB. Don't feel guilty, it is they who have a problem (shallowness). Don't be so hard on yourself; you deserve better. Like what is suggested above, focus on day and week at a time, and hour by hour, when necessary. You are facing overcoming obstackles (sp?). As each challenging hour passes, you my friend has just put another hurdle past you and it has made you a better person.
Blessings.
I have my 4th spine surgery this Monday - an ALIF at L5-S1 with sacroiliac anchoring. Feel free to send good thoughts my way for my hurdles. My current hurdle is some anxiousness. We shall overcome!!!!!!
 
New to this so not sure if this is where to post. I can fully understand your frustration. I injured my back when I was 21 and because of my age Drs. felt it was too risky. Well, after 29 years of increasing constant pain and increased pain and nurabness in my leg, work comp finally agreed that surgery was the only thing that was going to prevent further damage. Besides several bad discs, I had bone spurs. In June 2010 I had a left laminectomy and partial facetectomy L3, L4 and L5. So far the only relief is a decrease in pain while sitting. Hope to start PT within the next 2 weeks. Everyone keeps telling me to be patient, but after 29 years that seems a joke. I know its only been just over 2 months, but when the pain, nurabness and sharp needle stabbing is still there, the restrictions on activity are so great (I was thrilled to be allowed to carefully do laundry) and no one can even begin to understand what you're going through, the frustration and discouragement sets in. I was so excited to finally be approved for the surgery as I had almost lost all hope of ever getting better. I'm glad that I've had the surgery and trying to remain positive that I now have a second chance at eventually enjoying life without pain. Sorry this is so long - any tips on how to deal with the frustration and discouragement are appreciated.
 
Hi,
I had Scoliosis back surgery to correct a 61 degree curve on the left side, plus i had all kinRAB of other things wrong with my back. I had my surg 05 Apr 10. It's been a long tough journey, but I would do it again. I'm a 44 yr old female with ostenpenic bones which didn't help, but what can I say. I had the chance to do the surgery when I was like 20, but I said no way. As I aged had two children and some seizure meRAB that I took that made my bones bad, my back started to hurt real bad. I just didn't worry about I figured I was on this earth just to suffer. My hips, back etc felt like they were being electricuted at times (shocked is what I say) kind of like from the sciatica nerve. Hopefully you know what I mean. Anyways it does take alot of patience, rehab, support from family and frienRAB to get through this.
My left side is pain free except for my shoulder is sore from sleeping on it and from rehab. Before the surgery I had chronic pain 24/7. Now the only thing I'm trying to deal with his the nerve regeneration on my right side that causes some of those shocking sensations again. I still take pain pills and was given Lidocaine patches they help alot. I got real depressed a month or two and was given meRAB for that too. That bad news for me is that it could take up to 18 months for the nerves to regenerate. When the doctor told me that a week or so ago. I said no way! That's why I haven't returned to work yet and why like you I don't go out except to rehab. I knew that by having this surg it would take like one year to recover, because the dr told me it was just like someone having a heart transplant. You would be real tired, no energy, etc.. I have no appetite-I only eat, because people tell I have to so that I can heal the right way not, because I want to.
Hang in there you will get better with each day that passes.;)
 
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