When I went for 8 wk checkup(360 fusion/L4-S1) I was told that I could increase my activity level as tolerated. Well I have and my pain level has increased. Most of my pain is in sacrum and hip region. I also have begun to experience leg pain when laying down on side it doesn't matter which side I lay on. I had almost weaned myself of the Vicidon but have had to increase it again. Also, I was wondering about not being able to lift my hips off the bed when laying down. I try, but they just won't move. It is like that region of my body weighs 200 pounds. Lastly, what is the average time pain medication is needed after surgery? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Hi ~ Welcome to the back board;)

How much are you able to do comfortably now??

I think the leg/hip pain is still within normal range for your recovery unless your pain is increasing rather than just slowly decreasing I wouldnt be too concerned with it - I would be concerned with the leg pain you've described. Especially the way you said, You BEGUN to experience this ....
Did you mention the leg pain to the Dr?

as for the length of time coming off meds EVERYONE is different they have diffent pain thresholds, different degrees of healing occuring. It's really hard to say, sadly a LOT of people never come off pain medication ~ some stay on the same ones (and usually more) they were before surgery for extended times and for some, a lifetime. That's why some people ask, "If your still gonna have to LIVE on pain meds, WHY go through with the surgery?"

Well the difference is that at least they are (post operatively) ABLE to now manage their pain from as much success as the surgery offered along with their pain meds.

On the other hand many many successful diagnosis and recoveries happen daily - and for those lucky ones NO MEDS are needed.

Here's hoping we all end up lucky!!!
BW

Been a year for me since L4-L5-S1 fusion, Hip and leg and back still very painful. Good luck :)

BionicWitch
Thanks for the feedback. I have mentioned the numbness in thighs and leg pain to doctor. Unfortunately I feel my surgeon is not as concerned about my after surgery condition as he was before. Actually I have had a few problems since my operation on 2-1-2005 and have had difficulty with him returning my calls. I even went to er when my abdomenal incision became infected and began to open. He did not even return their calls. I am very disappointed in the degree of attention postop. He is the best surgeon in my area for spine conditions, but lacks in patient care. Anyways, I have not seen him only his assistant. If I had a clue it would have been this way i might have found someone else. There has even been insinuation that I should not be needing pain medication anymore. I have had such intense pain with this surgery and at times I feel as though it is letting up only to have it return. I am hopeing that this to shall pass and I might be one of the lucky ones..
Hope you are too!

My doctor told me when I left that hospital that he was happy to pass on my pain meds prescription writing to my family doc. I was pissed later when I thought about it. They just don't seem to care that we are in pain. If you go to a pain management place you sign away your rights, and they treat you like a druggie. Give us a break! I bet none of these doctors has had back surgery, maybe if they did they would understand. They seem to forget that I have a T7-8 herniation and the pain isn't going anywhere just because I had a L4-5 fusion, duh!

I hope you find a doctor who will take better care of you. That is horrible about your incision. What is wrong with these docs? I guess they forgot about the hypocratic oath, and instead pledge their allegiance to the almighty dollar.

Sorry if I seem bitter, just tired of dealing with these doctors. Hope you find relief.

Thanks again... You don't sound bitter, no more than I am. I believe you have a point about the dollar thing though. Before surgery it was anything I needed, call right back, ect. Now I can't get a return call at all. I wish I could fire this Doctor. His reputation is so strong though in my area(Toledo) that I bet no one else would touch me. If they did it would only be to discredit him. Anyway, I am glad to have touched base with someone who understands.
Hope all is well with you. Peace and Blessings

I am so sorry for the "situation" your in with your Dr.

I had an Ortho once that was exactly the same way with me. Before surgery he was "Johnny on the spot" (acted) concerned and compassionate, ANYthing I needed I was to "just call him" he said, "His goal was to keep me as comfortable as possible" well he did. He was wonderful for 2 years prior my 1st surgery and fine another year til my 2nd. After the second surgery (fusion) he became quite distant and downright nasty at times when I complained of continued pain.

Please don't EVER think you are forced into a corner seeing a Dr like this. YOUR NOT. While sometimes it IS VERY difficult to get a reputable surgeon to see you after you've been operated on by another, it IS POSSIBLE.

Please don't loose hope and by all means start looking for another Dr if this one is as you say - there is NO excuse for his behavior when your incision came open, his indifference to your pain is also not impressive.


Wish you luck ~ please keep us posted
BW

klcobourn,

Hello and welcome to the board. Sorry that you have the back problem though.

May I recommend that you IMMEDIATELY find yourself another doctor, preferably a spine specialist. At eight weeks, I don't believe that it is normal for you to be in this situation, and certainly, I would be extremely concerned with a doctor who has responded the way your has. I do not believe that a spine specialist would do this.

I'm a veteran of 8 spine surgeries, with 4 fusions, a min of 3 levels at a time. The last fusion was in Dec and was 10 levels, and honey, I've been working out in my yard for some time now. Realizing that every person heals at a different rate, and it depends on the severity of the problem, for your surgery, at 8 weeks, this does not sound reasonable.

You can check your state's web site for licensing of doctors and other medical professionals. It may be found in its own department, or might be under the states health department. Look for ortho or neuro's who have had a spine fellowship. I would also suggest that when you call any doctor's to set up an appointment, you ask the personnel if the doctor would accept a patient who has already had surgery and is wanting to find a doctor willing to work more with the patient. Be sure to get your films and even your file to take with. However, as long as you check out your films from the hospital, the doctor or other sites where you have had test, you can sign a form and the doctor can have your file faxed to his office at no cost to you. Sometimes, but not all doctors try to discourage patients from getting copies of their files by charging per page for copies. Still, I think it is worth having.

Do hope you will seek another opinion or more and find someone you can rely on for improved responsiveness to your care. Please let us know how you are progressing.

I am so sorry that you are in such pain. It seems we write those words quite alot on this board. I have not slept since the new spine doc yesterday gave me the shot that was going to help me, I am losing my mind with the pain from my hip and leg so I do understand. The muscle spasms are getting to be too much.
It seems once they make the maximum they can on us (surgery fee) they don't want to talk to us. They have no pride in their work. My opinion now is that they feel this is a concept that does not apply to their profession. You get better service from the pizza delivery person. They will call back if you aren't satisfied with your pizza. Maybe that is a stretch for an analogy but it seems to fit right now. Pleas keep in mind I am sleep deprived and wanting to give you some comfort or at least a smile.
My surgery was last August, I am in more pain today than yesterday, and I don't know where to go for help or another opinion.
I wish I could help you, I keep telling myself this will pass and we will get help, we just have to keep believing that it will. In the interim take another pain pill and get 20 minutes of relief
Thinking of you and praying for you
gcb in pgh

I am 10 weeks out of my 2 level fusion L4-S1. I have the same type of pain when laying down. It's horrible and interferes with my sleep every night. My PM doc told me I was rushing things, that I had had a major surgery, and it would be a minimum of 6 months before some of the pain resolved.

I have weaned myself off of Norco, but still on Duragesic patch, and sometimes I just have to take the Norco to take the edge off, but don't take it everyday.

It's sitting and laying down that hurts the worst. Standing and walking make it better.

My family expect me to be back to normal, but that isn't going to happen this soon.

Give yourself some more time to heal, that was the advice given to me.

Hi,
I just wanted to comment on your not being able to move your hips when laying down. I had the same problem and it was due to no muscle function after the surgery, But I was taught some relaxation where I have to go into a quiet room and lay on the floor and relax everything, then bring one knee to my chest for 30 seconds, then the other, then both (like rolling into a ball), Then raising one leg straight up into the air for 30 seconds, then the other. After 1 week I had muscle tone back and could lift my lower back and bottom again. You have to get the muscle tone back from the surgery.
The BEST of luck to you.
StarDust

Hi and welcome to the boards!!! I am sorry to hear about all of your problems, and wish I had a magic wand to wave over everyone so that their pain would go away and their doctors would be the greatest in the world. Sad to say that once you have surgery, it seems that the doctors seem to think they have "cured you". That is not so in alot of cases. Some people have great results after surgery and don't need their doctors or meds, but some people do not have such good results and need their doctor to understand that and provide whatever they need to keep the pain level down until something can be done to stop the pain. Hopefully you will find someone here that can offer you some good advice and it will help you out. I don't feel like any advice I offer is much use to anyone. I had my last surgery 3 years ago and I am worse off now than I was before I had it. I will tell you this........I exercise when I feel up to it. I have days when it doesn't hurt to the point that I want to pull my hair out, and I go for a walk. On days when I want to pull my hair out, I am lucky to get out of the recliner. I push myself to do things, but I also have learned that if I start hurting "bad" while doing it....STOP!!! It only gets worse when the muscles start settling down and I start having muscle spasms.

Good Luck!!! And Keep Smiling!!!
Tammy