Anyone else have the same problem?...I can only really sit for 5-10 minutes at a time and feel SO restless...CAN'T GET COMFORTABLE.....sitting in a firm chair but sometimes it's torture.........Then I get up and keep walking until I'm exhausted.....Laying flat with ice pack seems the best remedy.

ALSO.........Where I had the sciatica pain (before the surgery) from my knee to my butt...is numb and tingly......my surgeon said since the nerve was so compressed/compromised for so long it will take time to come back..

Wonder if a "nerve pill like Lycria (Spelling??) or the other that starts w/ a N will help....??

Any suggestions??

Many thanks......

Hi Laf,
Only 2 weeks post op, you sound like where you should be in your recovery. Sitting isn't the best thing to do now anyway.

Are you in a brace?

What meds are you on now? Do you take them as prescribed not as needed? For the best pain control you need to take your meds as the label says to, if it says every 6 hours take them every 6 hours even if you have to set an alarm to do it in the middle of the night. This will keep your meds at a constant level in your body and thus keep your pain at the lowest levels possible. If you are already doing this and your pain is still pretty bad then CALL YOUR DR.! don't try to be tough and struggle thru the pain, pain causes tense muscles and that is not helping you heal well. Also dont' be afraid to call your dr. about your pain, it's his/her job to keep you comfortable at this point. Your going to feel like you had surgery but you shouldn't be having high pain levels. Ask your dr. what you should be doing at this point in time. Everyone has different directions from the doc depending on what is wrong with them.

If the nerve pain in your leg is really bad ask for some nerve pain meds, the nerve pain meds dont' like stop your pain instantly but within a few days of taking them you should feel some relief. The nerves do take up too 18 months to heal completely but you don't have to suffer from the pain while their healing so ask your doc for nerve pain meds if it's that bad.

Making yourself exhausted isn't going to help your pain levels too much either, rest, rest and more rest, that will help your body heal much faster than exhaustion will. If you can't find a comfortable position to rest in then I would call my doc and ask if the meds can be increased or changed until you do get relief. You really shouldn't be in pain to the point that you can't rest.

I think most here would agree that you probabaly shouldn't be sitting for long periods of time right now. You had major surgery, it's just as major as heart surgery, it will take time to heal from this so don't rush things. Rushing thru a fusion recovery can result in a nonfusion, so follow your dr.'s orders to the letter and if your not sure call him and ask before doing anything.

I hope you get some relief from your pain, and rest as well.

Keep us updated if you can.

God Bless

Carol

Thanks SO much Carol.............I think you're right I'm trying to do TOO much...Yes I'm in a brace.......

I'll just walk a bit and then lay down and listen to some music..Thanks for the encouragement...I am staying on top of the pain meds.....every 5-6 hours...and do take 1/2 an Ambien to sleep which they said was ok....

This board is great.......everyone has been great.WHen was your surgery? And how are you feeling??

Is it snowing where you are.....it's beautiful outside today.....

Have a nice weekend....

Hi LAF,
I had a 15 minute sitting restriction for the first month or two. Maybe it depends on what levels you had done, but sitting does put stress on your lower spine. I was only able to sit for 5-10 minutes at a time for quite a while, much longer than 2 weeks. I wouldn't have known that was normal if not for this board! This is just the kind of post op question that people here can help with.

Keep resting as much as you can, and when you get up, walk for as long as you're able to tolerate. Hang in there! It will slowly get easier!

Take care,
Emily

Hi LAF ~

Sounds like you've received good advice. When I left the hospital, I was given prescriptions for oxycontin and lyrica which I am supposed to take 'round the clock. I have no way of knowing if the lyrica is helping, as I've been taking it ever since I left the hospital. It certainly hasn't made any difference with this weird new pain I have across the front of my thighs.

Before I had surgery, I tried neurontin for a while, to see if it would help the sciatic pain I had...and it didn't help at all.

I have been comfortable sitting ever since I got home from the hospital. My problem is that I sit longer than I know I probably should.

I agree that it sounds like you're doing too much. We've set aside this time to recover, so you should listen to your body and rest as much as you can. You'll have plenty of time to sit up later, when you have healed!!

Take good care,

xx M;)M

Thanks much all..MM so sorry you are experiencing new pain.........I hope it improves soon.........

At least we can look at the beautiful snow..........can't wait for the trees to start budding...

Hi Laf,
WE got a few inches of snow here, supposed to get more tonight they sya.

I had 4 fusions surgeries first one oct of 04, second one nov of 05 and then 3 & 4thin dec of 06 the last 2 were 4 days apart front & back. The fusions didn't fuse completely. I am not fixed they had to stabilize me at a grade 2-3 splondy with rods, screws & cages.

I'm glad your in a brace and the meds are helping. It does get better after about the 4th week or so. You will be amazed how quickly things go after that first month. The music will help alot, it's very soothing and good to get your mind off of althought I do love the snow. I know who likes snow, well I do I love to watch it falling. it really does give me a very peaceful feeling inside, I know I know, corny huh. But it does.

Well hope youall have a peaceful, pain free night.

God Bless

Carol

I should be feeling REALLY peaceful...we've had about 80" of snow this winter. The piles where my husband has shoveled on our deck are about 6' tall. It is the worst winter we've had since the 70s!

and we won't have buds on the trees til the end of MAY!! or maybe the 4th of July!!:D

xx M:(M

WOW! MM, I would be in my glory with that much snow. I know most hate it and as long as I don't have to drive in it I'm lovin it. By now the buds will be resting on top of the snow piles, lol.

God BLess

Carol

Yes yesterday was beautiful.......it was soft and fluffy and not that ugly freezing rain.........Today it's just cold and gray....I was enjoying short walks on the driveway but now not for a while...........

Enjoy your weeeknd........everyone and don't forget the Academy Awards tomorrow night...

MM...any better today?????????

No, LAF, I'm just the same.

Is the PT still coming to your house? What does she have you doing? You mentioned walking side-ways -- do you take a step and then draw the other leg up to it or do you do a cross-over type step??

I hope I'm kind of at a cross-roads here because I am starting to get bored with the current program!! We're also waiting to hear from grad schools that my son has applied to...and that is causing some stress :dizzy:.

How are things going at your end??

xx M:cool:M

Yeah, I did that side stepping, too. No cross over, just meeting up and take another step. I did backwards walking, too. And 'around the clock', planting one foot and stepping out with the other to each clock position, then feet back together. (1:00, feet together, 2:00, feet together, 3:00, feet together, etc.) That was harder than it sounds.

I guess some of these exercises are universal. :D Keep working up that sweat!

Emily :wave:

Hello all.......yes MM.......No cross-over........instead of walking forward....just taking one step to the left, then another, then another etc...then the same to the right...all the while keeping the feet just a few (4 inches) apart.....I suppose you would call it a sidestep.....I guess it uses different muscles..Doesn't seem too strenuous....

The round the clock sounds good too..thanks Emily.....

My PT gal only comes one more time.....apparently I had 10 home visits and that included the home nurse who only came three times...just for vitals and to see how I was healing to be sure no infection etc....

Tues.....we will do stairs......only did them at the hospital in there PT room...My parents home is a ranch and only a few steps here and there..

My "numb" butt and thigh pain has changed a bit..........yesterday it felt like my butt fell alseep after sitting too long today it's more of a burning...I suppose the fact that it's changing is good perhaps it's coming "alive" again....I had had severe pain for so long...my Dr. said it was very compressed.....ALso walking is something I really haven't done in months...

Mom's making meat loaf and mashed potatoes...gotten run (yum...yum) .......Unfortunately my appetite has been too good....

Ciao for now....

Laurinda

Sorry to be dense, but I don't understand the "round the clock" exercise. Could you try explaining it again?

Sure, and you're not dense. I didn't really fully explain it.

Stand with feet together and imagine that you're standing in the middle of a big clock. The number 12 is directly in front of you and the 6 is directly behind you. You're going keep your left foot planted right where it is and step with your right foot to the 1, bending your knees so that your weight is mainly on your right foot but your body is completely upright, not leaning into the step. Put your right foot back in the middle of the "clock" next to the left foot. Repeat for each clock number, then switch and step with your left foot.

Maybe this was just hard for me. The backwards steps were harder.

Hope this works some good muscles for you!
Emily