Tomorrow will be my 3 week anniversary. I woke up this morning feeling like the pain was centered in my spine instead of hurting on one side and spazing bad. I sat up for about an hour and now am in horrific pain and spasms.

Want to know from anyone who has had a fusion where they were at 3 weeks post-op spasm and pain wise. I am almost finished with the methylprednisone pack my doc prescribed. I really don't feel like I am much better than I was after the first week.

My doc doesn't want me to wear a back brace, I really wish he did, I would feel more stable in one.

I realize it's a slow healing process for a fusion, around 3 months, but need to hear from others how they felt, like at one month, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, etc. I realize everyone is different as far as healing, etc.......but I guess I need a confidence booster. I am so afraid I am going to do damage just getting in and out of bed. I spend almost all day in bed, except to walk around house for water, bathroom, etc. Is this normal?

i cant comment i didnt have fuseion. but i wish u the very best :wave: get well sooon :angel:

:wave: Hi, tomorrow will be 4 weeks for me, and I am still having spasms, though, not as bad as at first. Mostly when I try to turn over in bed, or getting up, and after being still for awhile. I have learned to take a pain pill and a spam pill before I get up in the morning, and wait awhile, and then I don't have such pain. The pain is getting lots better. Just hang in there, I know it is frustrating, but we are going to get our lives back. :bouncing: Valley

valley, did your doc tell you to walk or do anything yet for pt? I find I can't walk much more than up or down my hallway a few times, how is it for you?

Blossom, I am sorry your having such a hard time. I wish I could offer you some advice, but my last fusion was 2 years ago and I still have spasms. I do not think I fall into the "normal" catagory though. Nothing that was supposed to go right has gone right and everything that could go wrong has gone wrong for me. I do know that right after I had my fusion, I would take a muscle relaxer as often as I could and always tried to have something behind me to support my back when I didn't have on my brace.

Good Luck!!! Keep Smiling!!

Tammy

:wave: Yes, my doctor said to walk around in the house, and to use the treadmill, as tolerated of course. And to walk outside when the weather is nice. He didn't say aything about going to PT. Valley

Blossom,

I'm almost 4 months post 10 levels being fused. This was my fourth fusion surgery, but my doc has always promoted not sitting too long nor doing too much walking at one time either. So, from two to four weeks, I walked through the house so many times a day unless I was able to get to a store for a change of scenery. As he had home health coming, I did "exercises" such as they were several times a day, which including squeezing a throw pillow with my knees for 10-15 seconds, repeated about 15 times each, standing at my walker and taking one leg out to the side as far as was comfortable for so many times, and then taking the leg to the back and repeating. They added a few things as I progressed and then at four weeks I began PT at a local therapy place. I did lie around a lot in those first few weeks, but got up and moved around frequently to prevent blood clots. Believe me, getting up from bed was exercise enough at times, but getting that log roll down is important.

The doc has fussed at me in the past because I'm not good about resting enough. This time though, I did take lots of naps with many being in the recliner instead of the bed.

Sounds like you are doing the right things with resting and moving about and the spasms will reduce in time. Muscle relaxers when needed seem to help that process along. I took them regularly on the time table he prescribed the first month, and then began taking them only when I first began to felt a muscle tighten, and not only infrequently. It does begin to feel like that the muscles will never subside, but they do.

Understand the feeling that at three weeks we want to be doing more. Just remind yourself how much your body has been through and do give it plenty of time to heal. It won't be long until you will be able to do a good bit more.

Best wishes for a wonderful and full recovery.

Blossom, I am 14 mos post fusion. The pain and spasms were pretty rough for me at three weeks. I was supposed to walk as much as I was able, and that wasn;t much. I used a walker for 3 mos. I started water therapy at that time, and then I noticed the improvement. Take your meds, and mosve as much as you are able. It did get better for me. Peace and healing, Mary

My doc gave me neither a back brace or a walker. He balked at the idea of the walker. I have such a hard time getting out of bed I use my pick up stick like a cane. I think I will have my hubby get me a cane tomorrow. I feel like if someone tapped me on the shoulder I would tip over! I guess I am paranoid and being hard on myself. It has only been 3 weeks. I am not one to lay around, even before surgery I stayed busy all the time. I hate the spasms, they are the absolute worst!

Thanks to all that have replied to me, and anyone else who has something to offer my ears are listening. Hugs to all! Blossom

Uh oh...I hate to be the one to say this, but you should NOT be taking steroids! No anti-inflammatories at all after fusion surgery; :nono: it interferes with the bone growth. I can't understand why you dr. put you on it :confused: and I sure hope it doesn't cause any problems for you.

At this point you should be sitting for no more than 20-30 minutes and taking short walks...outside if possible. Actually, my dr. told me to stay OFF the treadmill...to either walk outside or around the house. That may be just his own little quirk, I don't know. But I know that walking is very good for you right now as long as you aren't doing a marathon, lol. :p

Take it easy for a few days and rest the back. You might want to try some ice to the area that is having spasms. If it isn't near the incision, you can try heat, too. If it doesn't ease off in a couple of days, you need to call your doctor.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing.

Carol

I can't believe that the doctor prescribed steroids after fusion :confused:

They told us that even Advil was a complete :nono: until my husband is completely fused. He had some dental work a few weeks back and had to stick to Tylenol.

I would question any doctor who prescribed any kind of steroids during the fusion process. You want your body to be inflammed. Inflammation is part of the healing process.

I am beginning to think that we follow our doctors, who are only practicing on us, too closely without question. If I were you, I would research everything that I could in relation to fusion and steroids and then educate your doctor.

take care,

I was on the fence and scared of taking the methylprednisone, but decided to follow his advice, and I took such a turn for the worse pain and spasm wise I just did it. I heard it both ways, that the prednisone for 6 days will either do alot of damage or not at all, that it takes high doses of it. He did tell me no aspirin or ibuprofen, which I can't take anyway due to horrible gastritis. He is the best ortho in this area, works on the famous athletes and such, so I do trust him. I had a failed laminectomy L4-5 13 yrs ago which lead to this surgery, and will be grateful to be out of the pain I was in. I guess I am doing fairly well according to all I have read here today.

My herniation was on the left side, and I have more pain on that side (left sacrum) spasms included. I felt so good 4 days after surgery I went to the store with my hubby, and the next day ended up in agony! I have slowed down now, and am really taking it easy. It's just so discouraging to slip backwards all the time. I guess it's one step forward and two back some days.

Hugs to all, Blossom

Just the words, steroids and athletes would make me run. They have held special congressional meetings in the last few months in regards to athletes and the steroid use. They are just beginning to get a gripe on the full scope of it and the ramifications.

One only starts out with an 80% chance of fusing. I would do everything in my power to keep those statistics up there. Even one shots of steroids can cause damage and a pack is worse than a shots. I hope that you made the right decision.

I would have asked for stonger pain meds and muscle relaxers and refused the steroids.

My husband had double level neck fusion last Oct. He was pushed down outside of a concert last week. He was told, *no Advil, only ice and pain meds and Soma* or his fusion would be set back. Again, I am shocked to read that a doc gave you steroids but the the athletic part doesn't shock me.

You have me really wondering about your surgeon. Epidural and treadmill after surgery? Both no no's. What kind of surgery did you have? If it was a fusion, Quiet and Carol had the same instructions I did after my fusion. No sitting up for more than 30 mins at a time and preferably in a recliner. No taking long walks outside, rather walk around the house at least every time you get up to use the bathroom. This helps prevent blood clotting.

If you had a fusion, do you know you can't bend, twist, or lift anything?

Casey

I forgot to ask you, have you told your doctor about the muscle spasms you are having? What did he say? Has he put you on a muscle relaxor. I took Skelaxin a very short time and they went right away and never came back. There is Flexeril too.

Casey

MORN'N, I HAD A FUSION TOO!!!! YOU SHOULD HAVE THE PAIN , BUT IF I WERE IN YOUR SPOT. I WOULD ASK FOR A HARD SHELL BRACE. TELL YOUR DR. THAT YOU NEED MORE SUPPORT!!!! REMEMBER IT'S YOUR BODY AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW YOU FELL.GOOD LUCK AND STAY ON PAIN MEDS UNTIL YOU FEEL BETTER. THEN THE BEST THERAPY IS AQUA.
:wave:

he had me on flexerils, and when the spasms got worse I called and they put me on Somas and the prednisone. I had the same instructions as you, not to bend, lift etc. Also, recliners are not a good idea, they can be hard to get out of. I spend most of the day in bed with a pillow under my legs. I walk just to the bathroom, or around the house. I tried skelaxin a long time ago, it didn't alleviate my spasms.

Blossom, Try not to worry about the steriods that you dr. perscribed. It probably didn't hurt your healing process at all. I have heard about alot of people being put on steriods after fusion. Every Dr. is different as is every patient. As your healing you certainly do not need to sit and worry about that! We have to much time on our hands as we lay around, think all positive stuff. Keep alittle journal, just quick notes on how you felt, how much walking you did, sitting, how much medication you had to take and in a few weeks you can see how much better your doing. Hang in there! God Bless :angel:
Jean

Blossom, I am so sorry you have problems. I hope ur spasms gets better, i know how they feel, it feels like ur legs is all bunched up like a window shade and you can't get it straighten out. I remember before my surgery I had to get up and walk in the middle of the night and let it settle down. Hope you get better.. TracyAutumn.. :bouncing:

Jean, thanks so much for your words of comfort. It's really easy to let our minds wander and think the worst when laying around. All I can do is pray and believe that it's going to fuse, and be alright. I have been in pain for 20+ yrs, what's the worst that could happen? that I would still be in pain? LOL I think that an improvement is more likely than not.

I am getting a wireless mouse/keyboard combo this week, so I will be able to surf etc. instead of being bored!!!

Does anyone know how long before I can spend time sitting up, doing whatever, basically not worry anymore about hurting fusion?

:D Tracy, that's perty funny! I feel all bound up like an accordian or sumpin'!

Hi Blossom,

1st let me say I'm so very happy that your surgery is over:)

3 weeks is not that long a time in the scheme of fusion recovery time. Your body has been through the mill - especially all the muscles. I'm sorry, I don't remember the type surgery you had posterior/anterior or other? I know at 3 weeks I was not doing a lot of sitting for an hour.. and if then, it was on a soft couch. I assume the reason for the Medrol was an increased pain level....(I'm very sorry I will re read your previous posts after posting this)
Just wanted you to know that at this stage I was not much further than you in my pain I tended to think I was doing better (which I was) then I'd get sooooooooo happy I'd overdo and backslide & so on. I did not have PT, I did exercises at home and Surgeon had me on a treadwill (NO tension) 3 weeks and stationary bike @ 6weeks.

The Dr that did my fusion was not one to like braces either and to this day ...I feel that was a mistake, for me anyway. I know that I did things I should never have done as soon and as frequent as I did. The docs who don't support the use of braces usually state their reason as being to keep all muscles moving and unrestrained. I know people who've fused with one and many who fused without. Of course ask your Dr 1st but perhaps he'll let you wear a girdle ~ that helps a little if your incision won't be irritated by wearing one.
As for doing damage - I wouldn't worry to much about doing little light things, just be careful when your getting in/out of bed you may just have to do it a new & different style - like many of the other's will tell you the biggest no no's right now are lifting, bending, twisting etc..and pushing yourself to far too soon.
>> VACUM >>> BIG BIG BIG No No!!!

Think positive & try not to worry too much ~
a little restraint now is a small price to pay for a good solid fusion!!

Valley, did you receive any fluid (operative) , the drug hespan was given to me for fluid replacement and it gives terrible paain and side effects.

ok,

I'm gonna jump back in

I think you REALLY should have been discharged and STILL be using a walker. The brace is one thing - but I even had a walker for my Lami!!!!!

maybe I am wrong ~ but I really think you should call Dr and make sure he will not Rx you a walker (for insurance) if not I'd buy one.

Bionic

im having trouble learning how to chat, any help out there/ PAIN AFTER SURGERY DUE TO A FLUID REPLACEMENT CALLED HESPAN. TERRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

I didn't have anything for my lami walker or cane or brace, altho a different doctor. I am going to have my husband get me a cane, I feel fairly steady on my feet now.

My doctor's office just called for my follow up apt. April 20. I asked her about the methylprednisone and it affecting fusion. She said a small amount like that would have no affect on fusion. I am relieved!

Hi Everyone, Hope Everyone Is Having A Good Day. I Am 3 Wks And 3 Days Post Fusion. My Dr Didn't Prescribe A Brace For Me Either, But I Do Have A
Walker. Dr Doesn't Want Any Pt Yet Either. I Had 2 Setbacks (painwise) Since Surgery And Since The Last One I Am On Bedrest With Walking In The House Only. No Sitting Up Either. Also. I Had The Medrol Dosepack After The Last Pain Exacerbation. I Do Feel I'm Getting A Little Better In The Last Couple Days, But Still Having Problem With Constipation. Anyway, I Guess It's Not So Unusual To Have Steroids And No Brace, From What I've Read Here. I Do Hope Your Spasms Subside. I Had One Bad Episode While Still In The Hospital.!!!!!!! I Couldn't Breathe And Thought I Was Gonna Die!!!!!! But It Passed And I Haven't Had Any More Spasms Since!

:wave: better late, I am having the same problem with constipation, it's hard to go when you have no muscle control down there. Glad to hear you aren't having spasms. I have had some bad ones today, radiating from my left sacrum into my hip, but I reckon that's from the horrible pain I had yest. with the constipation. I too had a setback in the hospital, and I had the epidural which helped for a week exactly, then had another horrible setback. Then he prescribed methylprednisone pack which has helped somewhat.

I'm almost 5 months post double fushion. I was pretty much bed riddin for 2 to 3 weeks, I did have a back brace I had to put on when I got out of bed for about a month. One thing I did do was hook a chain with a handle at the end of it, I put it on the ceiling about 2 feet above my shoulder on the side of the bed to help me get out of bed without putting to much strain on my back. Every ssince the op it's been a rollercoaster ride. I still have severe pain in my righ hip for some reason. Anyway just take it slow and give yourself time to heal. I am 47 and came to the conclusion about a month ago, if I was 22 I might be doing back flips by now((:>). I would say take it easy for at least 2 months and go from there, Good Luck and take care