i mean - literally - did you lie down for half an hour, walk around....etc.
trying to get a handle on what i should be doing...i'm not all that comfortable on my back....or in any one position for too long - i break it up and switch positions. having the most trouble sleeping though.

my hobbies are sewing and gardening - both of those things out reach at the moment. i can't spend any real dedicated time doing any one thing (understandably!). did you start a new hobby? i've been reading a lot, cause i'm really sick of TV. thank goodness for TIVO too, that's helped pass the time.

so i'm just wondered what those of you did while recovering from surgery. (i had a L4/L5/sciatica micro-discectomy last tuesday).

thanks...kara

Hi Kara,
I had an L5S1 fusion and can understand not knowing what to do besides maybe sleeping. When your up to it you may want to write in a journal. You can note progress or scream in BOLD PRINT!! I enjoyed looking at old family pictures and little by little filled another album with loose pictures.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Sally :wave: :wave:

Kara,
I know it's boring while recovering. Gardening and things like that will be many weeks off yet. I am at 5 weeks and I feel like I could do gardening if I wanted to but I would not chance it yet. You get just one chance to recover properly from this microdiscectomy and you don't want to end up on the operating table again.

I mostly laid down for the first week and got up only to get food and do my exercises my doctor gave me. As far as laying down goes. Shifting is good lay on your back for a while with a pillow under your knees. Then lay on your side with a pillow between your knees. Keep your back straight. When you roll over they told me to do a log roll. Just keep everything straight and roll. So what did I do during my recovery. The first week laid in my bed mostly watching TV and going online. The second week switched to laying on the couch in the living room to watch tv. Not too exciting I know. I did not want to do anything to cause it to herniated again. The first six weeks after your microdiscectomy is when you have the highest chance for reherniation. I was back at work the third week just 4 hours a day. I could ride my bike at 2 weeks according to my doctor. It hurt a little to do that but I just kept my back as straight as I could while I did that. I now have no pain when I ride my bike.

Another thing you can do is walk. I was told to walk as much as possible. The physical therapist told me to work up to a mile. So I walk every day since I got out of the hospital. For the first week just up and down my hall and after a week they told me I could go on the treadmill very slow with no incline.

See if your Mom will take you outside for a walk. Just go really slow. Call your doctor to make sure it is ok. Mine encouraged it.

I read.... A LOT!! watched a TON of TV, and caught up on my Zzzz's!
Good Luck!
~M~

How is the peeing thing going? Are you still having problems with that? If you are you really need to check with your doctor about it.

HI. I hope your recovery is a quick painless one. I have a long one and am at 1 year post op and finally able to do more but I have nerve damage and drop foot.

I found that I would lay down for half an hour on my side usually cause I couldn't put any pressure on my back or it hurt, and then I'd get up and pace or take a short walk, not too far, so that if i froze up in pain or my foot gave out, I could get home.

I used lots of ice packs.

My husband rented me movies as I couldn't ride in the car as it caused too much nerve pain. Or neighbor lent movies.

Lots of reading. And when I could, I stood at my computer and typed some on the book I'm writing. Surfed ebay a lot! For loose clothes to wear that wouldn't touch incision.

I would have taken up knitting or something but I could only lay on my side so that ruled out most everything. What do you do when you are on your side?

It's hard. I couldn't really find anything I could do. I went basically bonkers and into a huge depression. Finally, at 10 months post op, I was able to stand sitting again for short periods, so am now driving and OUT IN THE WORLD! yay!

I wish you better luck. Most people recover much quicker. I racked my brain for things to do. Really, you have to be able to recline on your back to do much of anything. Then I would take up some hobby taht I could do from that position. You need something that makes you happy and productive. So much is taken away. Walking is the best therapy plus getting outside lifts the spirits. Later, you can do pool walking and pool exercises.

Had discectomy L3-5 in May. Recovery is BORING for sure. WALK,WALK,WALK, even short distance. Do not sit to long. I am now experiencing lower back pains because of inactivity, I am sure. Had to wait 6 mo. before surgery due to work comp and all the BS. Keep a positive attitude, and walk as much as you can. Started PT yesterday and am I sore in other places, lol, but it feels good to be out and around. IT WILL GET BETTER

Yeah I think I read that walking keeps the nerve moving up and down in there so it does not adhere to the side while healing. Anyone else heard this before?

Hope you are doing well Kara.

thanks for the replies - i'm lucky to have such a great support system - my sister came over and did some gardening for me - planted some elephant ear i had been wanting to put in the ground. so we wandered around my yard, and she did a few things here and there for me. it's nice to just get outside. i had tapered my pain meds and had a few rough days, my doc said not to be silly, and take the meds if i needed them - so the past few days have been much easier - it's easier to stay moving around and that's better for my back.

and EBAY is going to get me into TROUBLE!! i'm not working and money is tight..but OH, look at THAT dress! it's bad news!!

thanks for all the advice - i'm going to have someone get the Friends DVD from the library for me.......maybe a few landscape books too.

hope everyone is doing OK today...kara