I am less than one week post lumbar Micro-discectomy on the L-5/S-1. Other than some surgical pain...I'm feeling pretty good. :bouncing:

Before the surgery, I could barely walk, dragging my foot behind me due to how badly the nerve was crushed. I've described myself on these boards as "walking like a stroke victim". Now, maybe, the nerve just hasn't "woken up" yet, but all in all, I feel great in comparison to how I felt before my Dec. 10th surgery. I had terrible deep pain in my hamstring (I referred to it as Charlie Horse on STERIODS), and terrible pain in right butt cheek, tailbone felt like it was broken, and the ankle and foot were numb.

The ankle and foot are still numb, but as for everything else, I woke up in recovery only with pain in my back at surgical site....<counting my blessings here>.... :D

Doc did tell me that about two weeks after surgery the nerve "will start to wake up and could be mad as heck"...and I could experience some of the pre-surgery symptoms, just not as severe... (Please NO LORD! :nono: )

My question is this....IS it too EARLY for me to try to take a short walk?? I want to get out SO bad....I live on a cul-de-sac...so it could be a very short walk,....or is it just too soon?? My doc has not returned my calls.... :o

Also...does anyone know how long the steri-strips have to stay dry??? The stitches are internal..so they will disolve on their own...but the doc came in to see me and it was 6 am, and I was still pretty out of it...and was discharged later that day....I don't see him again until January 4th...
I'm just not willing to do ANYTHING to compromise the success of this surgery, so if that means staying put,....so be it! :D

Any help is greatly appreciated in advance.

I hope you all have as Wonderful a HOLIDAY SEASON as is possible for you. And as someone else said in another post, may everyone have less pain in 2005.

Blessings, Peace and Prayers for All
:angel:
Bg

Hi bgsigns, Glad you are feeling as good as you do. All I can say is caution to the conservative side this early. You defenitely dont want to over do it, and have any set backs, even though your are feeling pretty good. See what your doc has to say about it. I know my neuro didnt want me to get the teri strips wet at all, and to keep them on til I saw him my 1st post visit. It was kind of difficult showering/ washing hair but I managed. Then on the 1st visit to him ,he took them off and wanted to see how it was healing and it was fine !! Good Luck & hope you continue to get better !

Thanks for your response danagc! :wave:

Yes, the doctor told me to put saran wrap over them, so it's not difficult..just aggravating! Grrrrr. :o

My hubby has to help me obviously....but he puts the saran wrap over the surgical site, then uses hospital tape on all sides: top, both sides, then has to leave a little space in the butt cr**k :D OKAY, a little TMI, sorry.... But it works,...then I make sure I face the water in the shower! (I only have a shower, no bathtub, so this is perfect, and shower has a seat in it ;) )

Again, thanks for your reply. I live in the Deep South, so it's warm during the days, and I'm dying to get outside, but I see your point of not pushing it. As I said, I'm just not willing to do ANYTHING to compromise a SUCCESSFUL (so far) surgery!

How far along POST OP are you???

Take care, and good health to us all!

:angel:
Bg

I can only share what my docs told me... and of course, your situation would be different. They had me up walking several yards (even without a walker) while still in the hospital (days 2-5). Then I walked in the house as often as I could, building up my distance, from the first day I came home. I was told I could walk outside, but the weather was not permitting it. Both my surgeons have said walk, walk, walk, as much as possible.

I was told I could shower from about the 5th day after surgery. While I had my sutures, I was to shower with the bandage on, then have my husband remove it and apply antibiotic cream and put on a new bandage. (He used my blow dryer on low to help dry my back before putting on the new bandage.) After my sutures were removed and I had the steri-strip or butterfly bandages, I was told to go ahead and shower with them on, pat them dry, and wait for them to get loose enough to fall off in about 7-10 days.

I had been told that I might not be able to shower or wash my hair for a while after surgery, so I purchased a rain pancho before surgery... never did use it... but it might be easier than saran wrap.

Best wishes, Mary in Texas

I was told to walk as soon as I felt like it. The sooner the better. I walked to the end of the road and back the day after (.5 mile). Be careful about moving to fast, I would feel so good I'd get moving to fast and would feel some back pain.

My surgery was on a Wednesday and I was told I could shower by Saturday. I took off the large gauze pad and bandage after about 3 showers, do this slowly. The doctor took the steri strips off when I went back 2.5 weeks after the surgery. Don't submerse the wound (tub, hot tub, pool) until after you follow up appointment.

When you start feeling better be careful not to over do it. I was feeling really good and I think I may have reinjured myself as some tingling has begun in my foot and hamstring; hopefully it is just part of the healing process but if it continues I'm going to give the Dr. a call.

Good Luck.

I had my L5-S1 micro. done in July. But my first symptoms were low back pain for quite awhile before my legs started giving me problems. My legs went numb and toe aches. So my legs/ feet felt much better instantly and havent had much probs with that. Its my low back pain/ tailbone where myself & Ortho.doc seem to disagree. He thinks chronic back pain is from scar tissue & I think its from L4-5 disc thats 3mm hern. with annular tear all the way through. Heck it could be both I guess. But either one, cant do much about unless I want another surgery, and that doesnt guarantee anything. So I plan on riding this thing out however long it takes to get better. Its discouraging as heck, because I was very active before this, and now its a total different world for me. `I know I need to lose some weight and would pobably help me, but that is so difficult when you cant be active and you are home alot. So frustrating sometimes... :)

Danagc,

I had surgery also in July wiht same problem as you and an annular tear top to bottom. Did your doctor say how long til that tear heals? Mine told me to be extra careful wiht my movements and told me my back will only be 50% for the rest of my life. I was told I could get a disk replacement if it tears again. I'm terrified to do anything and it's 5 mons post op.

On the walking BG, my doctor said to walk immediately, but to take it easy. Flat ground, no hills. Build up a little at a time. Around the house or yard or down the street a little. He said walking is necessary to get the blood flowing so the disk can heal. It's tricky to not overdo it though, or you pay for it for a few days. You'll learn what your limit is when you overdo it.

Thanks ladybird:

I decided to "go for it" only two doors down as far as the neighbors driveway on the sidewalk. I made my daughter walk with me. Before I could get to the 2nd drive way, my back told me to "TURN AROUND" :eek: ...so I know what you mean.

I feel it some in my back....maybe I should just start with the mailbox..LOL..

I've been doing a "circuit" around my house....but I've been wanting to get outdoors, and the street has just the slightest incline to it...so I think that's what did it.

I was so winded by the time I got back....couldn't have been more than a few hundred feet...but hey,...I'm not even a week post-op yet...so I guess that's a good thing...HUH?

Anyway...guess I'll let my back be my gauge!

Take care!

:angel:
Bg

Danagc,

I had surgery also in July wiht same problem as you and an annular tear top to bottom. Did your doctor say how long til that tear heals? Mine told me to be extra careful wiht my movements and told me my back will only be 50% for the rest of my life. I was told I could get a disk replacement if it tears again. I'm terrified to do anything and it's 5 mons post op.

On the walking BG, my doctor said to walk immediately, but to take it easy. Flat ground, no hills. Build up a little at a time. Around the house or yard or down the street a little. He said walking is necessary to get the blood flowing so the disk can heal. It's tricky to not overdo it though, or you pay for it for a few days. You'll learn what your limit is when you overdo it.
The nuerosurgeon that did my micro D. told me I would be a good candidate for an ADR in 5 to 10 years, and later briefly said a 2 level when I asked him about it. The thing is at that time my MRI didnt indicate the torn disc w/ HIZ in L4-5, just showed herniated w/ ddd, which is bad enough, but My post Mri w/ contrast indicated a grade 4 tear in the L4-5. When I discussed it to my Ortho. doc about it he just kind of shrugged his shoulders and said there's not much to do, unless I want to get " cut on again". I was just trying to figure where my back pain is coming from, and he thinks its the large amount of scar tissue. The thing is to me is the pack pain is real similar to prior surgery but worse. I believe its the torn disc, but I am going to seek another doc.'s opinion. Ladybird, your disc thats torn is above the one you had a microD on ? And the doc says once it heals and if it tears again, possible ADR ??? Just curious cause my doc. wasnt full of much info. !

I was told the same as most the others...start walking as soon as possible but start out very short distances and work up to any real amount of distance. Be really careful. It is east to go over board when you are feeling well.

Good luck,

Lorie :angel:

So much for a good thing lasting! :eek:

Well I woke up this am with just a hint of an "evil" reminder of the pain down my right leg. And my back is much more sore this morning too. I'm scared now too. Is this just because of that SHORT walk I took yesterday? I've done NOTHING else. Should I just rest today, or PUSH thru it?? Is this my body talking to me as one thread stated?

It's funny, b/c my doc warned me about my nerve "waking up" and it could be "angry" and I could feel "similar" symptoms that I had pre-surgery (just not as severe)....yet here I am, asking you folks the same thing. And I've even given out the above statement in posts trying to make folks feel better....
Now I'm crying,....I'm scared....Lord knows I hope I didn't do anything to hurt myself worse....I think I just need to breathe.....and RELAX...

Sounds like good advice...Right!? I'm just scared. Guess I won't be giving out any more advice here too soon till I know what's going on! :confused:

Hope everyone else is okay!

Bg

Bg,

I'm in the same boat (you probably know from reading my early posts). I have had what I'll call ghost pain and numbness since Monday ( a month after my surgery). I called the doctor today and left a message with his nurse. I'll let you know what he says when they call back.

rbishop

BG-If all you have done out of the ordinary, was your walk yesterday...I am sure you are just experiencing the nerves waking up. I was told by my Dr. that it would take a car accident or something major to do any damage to the hardware or fusion. I fell at 6 weeks post op, hard enough to tear my rotator cuff in my shoulder and my back was fine. (I made them do an xray jsut to be sure.) If you are still in pain, I would suggest walking less distance, even if it is just to the mail box and back. And try to rest until the pain lets up. I know it's hard...good luck,

Lorie :angel:

I agree with the above. Your walk will not have done any damage, the nerves ae probably waking up which is a good thing. I had a discectomy on Tuesday (L5 S1). I was on my feet walking a little the next day and by Thursday was walking up and down the hospital, went for a shower etc. Came home today and have been on my feet for a few hours, walked to pick my daughter up from school etc. I'm suffering from a bit of pain now as I've done more today than previous days but that is normal.
I had a fusion at L4 L5 18months ago and had much the same thing only longer recovery. My leg pain was gone almost immediatly as it is now but it began again after a while and then settled down, it is as your doctor said, the nerves begin to wake up but should settleagain.
Walking is about the best thing you can do as long as you are not in pain. Walk as much as you possibly can until your body tells you to stop. And make sure youdon't do any bending/sitting/twisting for the next few weeks and you should be fine.
Good luck and all the best
Regards Andrea

BG:

My Grandfather told me: Pain is nature's way of letting you know where you're at.

Take it easy. listen to your body. take things in small increments. Healing will take time. you will have good days and some not so good days. sometimes you'll think your operation was a failure.

I am 9 weeks post-op discectomy of the l-5. I am fairly young, 34, and was in good physical shape prior to surgery. I am walking approximately 6-9 miles a week on my tread mill. I can definately feel a positive difference on the days I walk.

one more bit of adivce, be careful with pain meds they can be dangerously addictive.

Take care
Chad

Chad: :wave:
Sounds like Grandpa is a very wise man!

Thanks for the warning of addiction. I've been in PM with my Doc's care and am in the process of weaning off of the pain meds....It's not a matter of addiction, with chronic pain...it's a matter of dependency in order to function..... Let me try to explain where I'm coming from:

I was in the middle of a semester of College and I had no option but to continue for lack of someone to substitue my subject area...SIGN LANGUAGE...so I was taking Percocet 10/325 3 times daily from Oct 13 until my surgery Dec. 10th....for me that was a long time...for others that may seem relatively short, but I was concerned about what the effect the med would have on my body after surgery....I discussed my concerns with my doctor and he came up with the following plan:

My doctor has me taking Lortab 10 the first week....1 every 4 hours (but I've been stretching them longer to 6 and 8 hours)

2nd week begins tomorrow....Lortab 7.5 1 every 4 hours (will also try to stretch them to 6-8 hours)

3rd week Lortab 5 1 every 4 hours then I'm done.

It's a safe way to avoid any possible withdrawl symptoms....

I don't think I was "ADDICTED" as when I was taking the Percocets, I never took the 4 per day prescribed, most days only three, sometimes only two....but I was concernced about the LENGTH of time my body had taken or used that type of drug...I was not used to it....But in order to FUNCTION in my job...I had to use the medication....And just to let you know,....it barely touched the pain...I lived in pain 24/7 for almost 3 months.

Addiction leads to drug seeking behavior, and over medicating, and doctor shopping, using more of the drug than prescribed...etc....

In the beginning when I first started taking the medicine I was VERY UPSET at having to take that CLASS of drug...so I went to the PAIN MANAGEMENT board...and got a very good explaination there regarding the difference between addiction and dependence....and the one statement that really hit it home for me and helped me to understand Chronic Pain was "Would you call a Diabetic an "Addict" because he HAS to have his insulin? No! He is dependent on his Insulin to function in his daily life."...and that made so much sense to me. That made me see things much more clearly....

Sorry to have gotten on a soapbox here, but this was a VERY SENSITIVE issue with me for many weeks, and I didn't even want to take the meds...I wanted to go some type of non-invasive, natural route....but I tried several and NOTHING worked, and my symptoms got very bad...I was not sleeping...if I got one hour I was doing good...That went on for 6 weeks, and I was so fatigued...and when I saw the doctor, he asked what my pain scale was and I said an 8 he looked at me and said...I think you're at a 10.....and that's when he put me on those meds...That was on October 13.....
Then I began that miserable foot drop/drag that made me walk like a stroke victim...which I was told were signs of possible PERMANENT NERVE DAMAGE! That's when I really started listening to the NS and we scheduled the surgery for Dec. 10th. It gave me 3 weeks to finish up my students (had to really double time it, and with sign language, it's not paper and pencil type tests, but EVERYTHING is done on VIDEO TAPE)! But it all worked out perfectly...There is a MASTER PLAN for sure!

Having lost a brother to Alcohol Addiction...I was scared to use the meds....but I had to realize...It was HIS problem, and not mine... :nono: I eventually came around...and the meds did take the edge off so I could go to work...my students were a great assest as well....they helped me focus on other things other than pain...I could have stayed home, with the doctor's blessings...but I would have just been at home alone in my pain..., and at the same time I would have been letting down 34 students majoring in Interpreter Training, of which 9 needed to finish THIS semester in order to Graduate NEXT semester...So all in all I was blessed....

And now, I'm doing much better... :)

SUPER NEWS today............. :bouncing:
Even though I was sore, I went to Wal-Mart...can you believe that??? One week before Christmas...OMG....I must be NUTSO! ;) I thought that I could walk till I got tired then get a wheelchair and Hubby could push me around for the rest of the time....but, alas...no wheel chairs to be found! So I bit the bullet...and walked the whole time about 2 hours...and I don't feel too bad...I was tired as heck when I got home...and napped for about 3 hours... :p

We'll see what tomorrow brings....hopefully more...I didn't find myself fatigued at Wal-Mart...took it nice and slow...I WAS scared to death that some of those last minute shoppers would bump into me with their carts though! YIKES :eek:

I have a Christmas Party tomorrow night that some students are putting on so I am looking VERY forward to that! I'm ready to get out of sweat pants and into something a little more shall we say "lady like"! ;)

OMG...I have written a novella....If you've read this far...God Bless YOU! Thanks for taking interest in my story...and again Chad...I appreciate the warning...but wanted you to see where I was coming from too!

Peace and Blessings to All. Once again, my apologies for such a long read!

Happy Holidays...I did all my shopping on-line, (with the exception of the few things we got today at W-M) and saved a BUNDLE ;)

May we all have less pain in the VERY NEAR future! Here's hoping 2005 is a GREAT year for us ALL!

:angel: Bg

Way to go BG-I am very happy for your progress. I know I am not the first, nor the last to say this...but please don't over do it :) We want to keep hearing about positive progress from your end :D

Once again, congrats on getting out and having a little bit of life again! Were all here with you on this road of recovery. (and yes, I read your whole story...I'm alway intrigued by peoples progress. I find it very encouraging.)

Have fun at the party,

Lorie :angel: