Hi,
This is my first time posting, although I have read alot of the info on the boards. I had a fusion on 8/15/06 from L3-S1,with rods and 8 screws from the back only. I am wondering what is normal at this point in terms of recovery. Prior to this I had 5 knee replacements from 2004-06(I had to have several revisions), so I have been pretty much been recovering from various surgeries for the past 2 1/2 years. At this point I am a little more than 3 months out from the 4 level fusion. I still need to take pain meds fairly consistently if I am up and about. I cooked Thanksgiving dinner today for about 25 people and was in a ton of pain by the time it was dinnertime. I put my legs up for a little while and was then so stiff I couldn't clean up. After some meds and resting for about an hour I was able to get up, but was fairly uncomfortable. I am supposed to go back to work part time next week, but am not looking forward to having to sit at a desk! At this point what is considered "normal" is terms of activity and pain? Also, is it common to still need pain meds at this point? My surgeon was great ahead of time,but not much help now that the surgery is done. Should I be concerned that something is wrong that I am still having pain in my lower back and legs when I do much activity wise, or is 3 months still pretty early in the game? BTW I am 42 if that matters. Thanks very much, Cindy

Hi Cindy and welcome to the board,

Wow, a 3 level fusion! I had a one level fusion and thought that was horrible. Everyone heals differenty, and depending on the individual's body to be able to heal fast or a long time out. I personally was able to do quite a bit by three months, but not by any means healed, and I was still on pain meds. I still take them occasionally when needed. I was told by my dr. that by 12 months, either I would be fused or not. But, I've heard some say they have fused in as little as 3 months, while others as long as 18 months.

Don't worry about taking meds at three months post op, If your in pain, and need them, take them. You have to keep your pain level down and as comfortably as possible for your recovery.

As far as work, try it, and if it's to much then tell them it's too soon and hopefully they will be understanding and give you more time.

Please come back and let us know what Doc says.
Bernie

Cindy, I had a 2 level fusion L4/L5, S1 and Laminectomy (sp?). I'm 10 weeks out. I'm due to go back to work December 11th. I'm still in pain. I'm going to therapy. The surgeon told me that I go back to work when I am 100percent ready and not when he thinks I am ready. He said he will sign whatever I need. He said no one can tell me that I am ready except for me. I'm glad for that. Work may not be happy. I sit all day. I answer the phone all day. I get up and see clients all day. So no way am I ready to go back in two weeks. I see the surgeon Nov. 27th. I just had an xray today so he can check the progress. Thanksgiving was my big day out to visit family. Tonight I was in terrible pain. If I sit around all day I am fine. As soon as I do anything there is pain. Therapy kills me. I've read so many different things about healing. Some say 3 months fused others say 12. Can you see the surgeon again? I know where I work it would be harder to go back and then go out again. It is easier to stay out. It screws up Family Leave, Disability etc. I stopped the Percocet and are taking Ultram. I don't think it does much for the pain. If bad enough I would still take the Perocet. I don't think there is any problem if you are still on pain meds if you have pain. In my opinion you need to control the pain so you don't get worse. I'm also 42 (well in 3 days I will be) so I feel like I'm on the same page as you except your surgery was bigger. Hope you feel better.

Cindy the fact you took on such a huge task of cooking a Thanksgiving feast for 25 or so people only being 3 months out from a 4 level fusion.. WOW!!! Of course you are hurting! Did you take this on by yourself, or did you get lots of help on this I hope? Either way.. it's done now. But I don't think you should repeat history at Christmas time. It's a bit early for you to be doing so much right now, and your pain level can easily attest to it.

Yes, it's perfectly normal for you to still be on pain meds and you should continue to take them if you are having pain. I am over 7 months fused only at one level and though my pan meds are greatly reduced to lack of need only, I still have the pan meds and the doctor readily perscribes them as I need them. Everyone heals differently. Some get lucky and pain is gone and stays gone. Then there are some it just goes slowly in diminishing. Then some it makes no changes and pain management comes in.

So don't beat yourself up about needing pain meds right now. You had major surgery and a big one too! Be kind to yourself and take what you need. And also be good to yourself through the remainder of the holidays and let someone else cook this time!

Your activity level can usually be increased after the 3 month mark, as then fusion is "supposed" to get a good foothold by then and actually working the back helps to build bone and strengthen it. Has physical therapy been ordered for you? If not, I would asking for it. You really need this, to learn to exercise properly so you are strengthening your entire body not just your spine, but also learning to work with your new hardware and dealing with the changes in your spine.

I would pay attention and respect the pain and maybe journal it so you can track it. It might be healing pains and then it could be something that needs to be further addressed. If it is annoying you and overly bothersome and the meds are not helping it.. I would call the doctor to discuss it.

Hang in there. Be well. Tammy:wave:

Thanks for all of the replies. I had some help with Thanksgiving, but probably not enough. It was my husband's idea to host this year because my mom had been sick and he was going to do everything. That of course didn't happen, but I made it through and I guess what doesn't kill us makes us stronger;)

I have been on pain meds for so long because of my knees first and then my back, I would just really like to be off of them. My OS sent me to a pain management specialist. He was surprised that my OS sent me since I was only 3 months out, but said he would manage and didn't seem to think I was on that much for all the surgery that I had.

Another interesting thing is that I have never had any restrictions, except to be guided by pain. From the beginning I have been allowed to bend and turn as tolerated. My OS said that the instrumentation stablized everything and I could not mess anything up. After reading a lot of the posts I am somewhat worried because most people have had restrictions for 12 weeks.

I have been in PT since about 8 weeks. I walk on the treadmill and do some core exercizes. On the days that I don't go to PT I try to walk for about 1/2 hour. My surgeon has never given me any guidelines on this. I do tend to walk slow!!!, but I have been able to increase my pace on the treadmill over the last few weeks.

A question for those who have had problems with the fusing...did you suspect something was wrong because of increased pain? I wonder if your pain is better, what they would do if there were no signs of fusing? I saw my OS at 3 mos and he did xrays, he thought he saw some change, but my old xrays were at his other office so he couldn'tbe sure. I don't see him for 3 more months so I am just a little worried about the whole fusing thing! I feel like I am getting better, and a lot of the pain pre surgery is gone so hopefully that is a good sign.
Thanks, Cindy

I still believe in the human condition and going with your gut feeling. They usually dont fail people too often. If you feel things are good, I would go with that.

I've mostly felt things were going pretty good until this last flare up and it made me think something was broken, but I really didnt think I had a failed fusion, though the doctor' office mentioned it and then my PT said she thought along the same lines also. So it got me a bit scared.

But as scared as I was.. deep down.. I really thought I was fused and this pain was simply something else. What the "else" pain could be.. no clue.

Well, it took a CT Scan to prove the fusion had taken and also showed it was solid as well.. and I am 7 months post fusion. The scan was done because the xray showed very little.

I say go with your gut. And my doctor said the same thing about letting pain be my guide.

Hope this helps. Take care. tammy:wave:

Tammy,

Thanks so much for your reply, It makes me feel alot better that you were also told to let pain be your guide. From the beginning I have been bending and turning, so more as I recovered more. Then I read on here, where so many people were told no B,L,T that I got really nervous that I had been doing more harm than good! I know I can do more each week, so for now I will just remain positive that all is well. Thanks, Cindy