Vitamins and supplements after back surgery?

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I am 5.5 weeks post-L4/5 fusion and have upped my Vitamin D to 800 IU per day, also an extra 600 IU of calcium to help with the fusion. Before surgery I was taking Glucosamine/Chonroitin 1500mg/1200mg) twice daily but stopped after surgery because of all the other pills I was taking, e.g, Vicodin, etc. Is it worth going back to the Glucosamine/Chontroitin? Does it really do anything in terms of accelerating the healing and/or slowing down further problems? Thanks.

By the way, I am doing well and hope to get back to work in a couple of weeks.
 
Good to "see" you and good to hear you're doing well. I am improving as well, doing so much that I'm managing to exhaust myself, which is probably not good. Trying to decide if I'm going to go for a 2 or 4 week return to work. Leaning towarRAB the 4, it's an 11 hour day if I include the commute. I don't have the option of saying "oops, too early" and return to STD. I can't go out on the same issue within 30 days of the original.

Anyway, I don't have an answer for you, hopefully some others will. I do know it's primarily for cartilage lubrication so I don't know if it helps with fusion.
 
Paula, good to hear from you. Yes, I don't want to hurry it either as far as getting back to work but I think in another week and I'll be ok. I can only stay out for so long. One potential glitch is the tendinitis in my elbow that doesn't seem to get any better. I had a cortisone shot this week (ouch!) and developed what is known as "cortisone flare" - very painful and it last upwarRAB of 72 hrs. Long story short, my doc said give the elbow another month but if it doesn't get better, surgery may be the only option. I sure as heck don't want another surgery so I am hoping it responRAB.

Hang in there. I wish you a speedy recovery.
 
Wow Richard, I'm sorry to hear about your elbow. Perhaps the Glucosamine/Chonroitin would be good for that if not for your back! At one time I was given cortisone shots for my SI Joint arthritis, but thankfully my doctor felt it would work well as an intramuscular shot. I shudder at the thought of a joint injection, and know so many on this board get them regularly.

Home care nurse just left, she feels confident the incision will finally be completely healed in about a week. We also talked about my condition - primarily my endurance level, and agreed another 4 weeks would be a good idea. I think working from 7:30 - 4:00 each day and then managing a 40 mile drive home might be a bit too much in 2 weeks. A 3 hour trip out, without someone else driving me, is above my current endurance level. So the call is into my doctor, who left the back to work date as my decision.

I sure hope your elbow is feeling better soon! What kind of surgery would be performed on tendinitis? I've had it in my right hand for years and it's never been an option.
 
It doesn't matter how much vit/minerals you take from a bottle the body will pretty much loose most out in urine. If your food intake supplies your body with the right amount then it will not need your extra. The best form of healing is to move around to build up calcium and to be outdoors for the sunshine vitamin to even convert. There is no science that proves anything about Glucosamine/Chonroitin but you can take that before, after or during surgery. At any rate I am glad you are healing well.
 
I agree with this. I took no supplements and healed from a double fine. as long as you are eating a balanced diet your body will supply all the raw materials for the fusion to take place.

what you definitely need to do is WALK. that gets the blood flowing to the fusion site. its probably the most important thing you can do as far as helping the fusion.

if you smoke, stop.
 
Thanks. I walk a half hour every day. An occassional cigar, doc said ok - strictly for medicinal purposes :)
 
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