I had back fusion on L5-S1 on 9/06. I still have alot of lower left back pain and it is not going away. A year from my surgery I will get my disability rating, and I am wondering what I am looking at considering I still have alot of pain. Also what % rate, anything over 30 and I will be medically retired(law enforcement field). I want to return to work and do not want to be medically retired. I hope to return to work in 3 months and will work with the pain, any info would help alot.
Still take meds, PT and nothing is helping, the cage and screws look great on x ray. Doc said pain should decrease over time????

thanks in advance.

This is what I am trying to avoid...Doc says I need a two level fusion right where you got yours...I am sorry to hear that your pain is still evident...I hope it will begin to subside soon...I can share with you what my doctor said it may help...

When I had my first surgery in 03 at the L4/5 & S1 for severe herniated discs, it was a laminectomoy, and some other ectomoy words I can't recall right now...He told me that my recovery would have ups and downs and over time would stay up...It took me over a year to recover from just that surgery...
Now, in Aug, 06 I woke up one morning with increased pain and in Nov had an MRI that showed hernatied discs in the same spot...He said it was fusion time...I asked him to explain to me what it involved...He said it is a bigger surgery than the first one I had and would take a longer time to recover, he does use cadavor bone instead of my hip bone, a cage and something else...
With that knowledge I am back in water therapy, doing traction 3 to 4 times a week, seeing my chiropractor 3 times a week all in hopes that my disc will slip back into place and the S1 will begin to regenerate over time because it's almost gone...
So, if you just had surgery less than 6 months ago, I am not surprised that your still in pain..Continue to rest and recover....Take the pain and inflammation meds so your body can heal...I hope your begin to feel better soon...