:confused: I am new here. Forgive me if I ramble. I am 26 yrs old and just found that I re-herniated my L5-S1 disc again. Last year at this time I had an emergency microdiscectomy because the size of the herniated disc was massive (13 mm ) 3 days ago I found that it is back and the same size so my only option is a fusion. Among the obvious problems I am going to face there is one that I'm hoping anybody can shed some light on. I work in a call center, so I sit for 8 hrs (sometimes longer) a day. Has anybody ever recovered from this surgery and gone back to job which requires sitting for this amount of time post surgery?? Is there anyone near my age as well that has had this surgery that can give me hope for a faster recovery? The reason I ask that is because I want to have children in the near future & need to know if anyone has been pregnant post surgery. Luckily it wasn't the other way around. I am looking for all the help I can get. I have read others questions and response & believe that somebody here will be able to help me out. Thank you so much for listening:)

Hey Pepper here!! Just wanted to welcome you to the board!! Cute user id!! I am glad you did not use Dr. Pepper in pain!! Cause everyone would be confused. LOL

I am 6 months out on L5/S1 and had a previous fusion at s1/s2. Unfortunately if I wanted I could not sit 8 hours a day at this point but I found out a couple months ago that I am now having problems with L4. As a rule of thumb, it generally takes about 3 months to recover from this surgery but it can take up to 6 months to a year to recover fully.

I can't answer your questions about pregnancy but I know there have been several threads on this topic. If you look up above you will see a Advanced Search button, click on that and type in pregnancy, and then back problem board and you should be able to find some information.

When you go back out of this thread, if you look at the top of page, you will see a thread pinned entitled post surgical tips that is a wealth of information.

You have found a great resource of information and a bunch of friendly people to chat with who are very honest and down to earth. So go ahead and ask any questions that you may have we have discussed it all at least once before.

Hey Pepper,

Im 26 and 8 weeks post op for a fusion & double stabilisation and looking to procreate in the next few months/years.

I also sit at a desk for 8 hours or more a day and I find sitting a big problem and has been the main reason for not returning to work yet. I spoke to my occupational health nurse, as most companies these days have to help you with any problems you have. They are looking into getting me a desk I can move up and down so if I get too achey sitting, I can raise the desk and stand while I work. Perhaps your company can do the same for you?

My doctor is apparently one of the best orthapaedic surgeons in the UK and he said I can try for a baby from 6-12 months post op, even with a high twin pregnancy possibility, my physiotherapist has agreed with that.

I think I am recovering very well, I am off all painkillers and anti-inflammatories, I only take the occasional painkiller when I have overdone it. I do get tired if I stand or walk for too long so I try to do everything in small doses. But everyones rehabilitation is different.

I hope my post has helped you, please feel free to ask me more questions if you have them.

Hodgey
xx

Fusion at L4/5
Stabilisation at L2/3 & L3/4.

Thank you for the warm indtroduction!!

I'm glad you like my user name, I saw yours and thought it was cute too. Pepper is actually my last name so I kinda cheated;)

Thnak you for the info. I have to admitt that reading some of the stories on hear made me a little more nervous. There were some stories I read that said you can't sit for more than 4 hurs a day at 2-3 months post op. I'm just scared all together since this came to be a suprise, I though I fixed it last year:mad: Well thank you again for the lovely welcome & I will have plenty more questions for everyone as time goes on. Thank again, I will check the pregnancy portion you told me about too. Talk to u soon:wave:

Thank you soooo much!!!!!! I am so glad to hear from someone in my situation, down to the age and job. I will talk to my employer about the desk. I try it now but it just makes it worse because I end up bending at the hips (not good) I'm am thrilled about what you said about pregnancy. That take a lot of stress off my mind. I will definetly be asking more questions to everyone as things occur. Thanks again!!!!!

This is a huge surgery and to be honest the surgeons don't always tell you exactly how it is. That is the beauty of this forum - we are real live spinneys who have been there and lived thru the surgeries. We tend not to sugar coat anything.

Does that mean that you won't be able to sit for 4 hours at 12 weeks? Maybe and maybe not. We all heal at different rates and each case is unique with their own set of circumstances.

When I had my first fusion at 18, I was back running the streets within 4 weeks.

Now that I am a tad bit older, 42, things have been a bit slower in the recuperating department.

You will also find that the majority of people who are on the forums continue to have problems after surgery, are soon undergoing surgery, early post op patients and a select few continue to come around who have had successful surgery. The majority of people who have had successful surgery do not come around that often because they are out enjoying and living life to its fullest. So you might want to keep that in mind when reading the forums.

Again welcome!!

Not to be negative here, but six months post op getting pregnant does not sound like a great idea. But I am no doctor I just play one on the internet lol.

We were all scared to death of fusion. I started coming here about a year ago, and everyone here helped me through all of it, the pain, the depression, the loosing friends, the loosing income, family not understanding, the isolation, doctors treating you like crap, med problems, my insurance calling me pre-existing and I couldn't get help, couldn't work anymore....tests more test...finding a surgeon, pre-op jitters and questions, all the way till now at five months post op tlif fusion of L5-S1. Now without this place and all my spiney buddy's i really don't think I could have made it this far, and most certainly wouldn't have had the knowledge to get through it, the doctors/surgeons sure do leave alot out.

Most anything you will go through, most of us or a majority of us have been there, and that greatly helps. Because although our family's try to understand they really don't have a clue.

you hit the jackpot here.

As far as the fusion goes, we are all different, no two outcomes are the same. In general sitting is not good all day, and myself personally at five months out, really don't know what is good lol. i am trying to figure this out myself. Sitting for long periods wouldn't work out for me, and probably irritated your back even more.

however there are programs out there to help you learn a new profession, which I will be attending, its called vocational rehabilitation and its free if you qualify and if you have fusion you will.

Just hang in there and take one step at a time, making sure you have several opinions, and getting all the education you can on the surgery and recovery. There are lots of tips at the top here that were lifesavers for me.

We will be here to hold your hand. Think positive and ofcourse do all you can possibly do to avoid fusion. But, if you already have and have made the decision to go through with it....then think positive, and don't let the negative people and storys scare you.

hugs and best wishes vette

I am really grateful for the postive reinfrcement from everyone. I know it's natural to be scared of such a huge surgery, but it just sucks:mad:

I do have a question for anyone that may know. I am a contract worker, meaning I work through an agency who contracts me out to different jobs usually about 1.5 yrs at a time. My agency who actually writes my checks, says I might have to quit when I get my surgery. I have gone through this before and did not have to do that, and now I am scared I will not qualify for any kind of state aid. Anyone familiar with anything like this?

Well as of now my surgery is scheduled for Spet. 18th so that gives me a month to strengthen my bcak through physical therapy as much as possible before then.:eek:

Thank you again for making me feel so welcome and I know that I hit the jack pot with you all. I really appreciate it!!!!!:angel:

Will keep everyone informed:wave:

Welcome......

I started with a three level fusion...which turned into a much more complicated ordeal, but I am an EA and I sit for 8 hours a day more or less. I am up and down alot, but my primary job is a desk job... It can be done with a good support chair, riser for your feet, a knowledge of your body, what you can endure, a smile, a sense of humor, great pain meds, and a boss who nags at you to take it easy and behave.... He even fussed at me when he found me on a chair....

That being said, you learn to listen to your body and you have to learn to live with it also. But the surgery requires healing and rest. Don't try to push yourself before your body is ready to go. That is probably the worst thing that you can do not only to your body but to your brain....

hang in there!

Better listen to IBake&pray she has a mean ole cane she call's Ella . She has ways of tracking people down and punish the folk who don't listen . :D


Shawley

I do have a question for anyone that may know. I am a contract worker, meaning I work through an agency who contracts me out to different jobs usually about 1.5 yrs at a time. My agency who actually writes my checks, says I might have to quit when I get my surgery. I have gone through this before and did not have to do that, and now I am scared I will not qualify for any kind of state aid. Anyone familiar with anything like this?



I live in your state and went on disability for the 6 months before, during, and immediately after my discectomy. I don't see any particular reason why you wouldn't be eligible for SDI. It's not much (mine was about half my income), but it's something. I'm pretty sure that California has a law that prevents employers from firing employees for taking time off to deal with health problems, but, unfortunately, I think it's maybe only 12 weeks, and you'll probably need a bit longer to get to the point of doing your job as you describe it.

One thing you DON'T want to do is try to push yourself to get back to work before you're ready! You can always get another job, but you can't get another back!

I love this board! Thanks to all and thanks, pepper, for joining us.

-David