How do you feel after back surgery? - Back Problems Message Board

Raiza · 08-19-2003, 05:59 PM

Hi everyone!

I have some questions for those who would like to share their experiences with me. I just under went back surgery 5 weeks ago. L5-S1 herniation. Well, even though it is much better than before surgery, I still have pain.

This is how I feel right now: I don't have the arthritis/rheumatoid pain on both of my legs, that is gone. And the horrible throbbing buttock pain is gone also. I have now a different kind of pain, still the nerve pain and the right buttock hurts (and sometimes left) but is not that horrible throbbing sensation anymore. The pain is lower in my buttock tho. Before surgery was coming from higher. Don't know If I am explaining right. Basically goes bellow my right buttock and then goes down to the back of my thigh... and every now and then I feel it a little bit lower down the leg. The first two weeks after surgery, I felt my right foot in pain as if I had twisted my ankle. That is gone now. So I don't know. I thought the nerve pain would be gone after surgery but is not.

I am still taking pain killers. The doc told me to start swinging the pills, such as extending the period of taking it. Right now is every 6 hours, he wants me to take it every 8 hours and then longer until I drop it. But right now, I can't wait two more hours the time I am supposed to take it. I don't understand, perhaps the surgery didn't take? I don't know. Some people say it take months after surgery to start feeling better because of the damaged nerve. The doc says that the nerve had been pressured for 2 years and it will take months (up to a year) before I start feeling better. Perhaps I waited too long to have surgery? Is this familiar to you? How long after surgery did you stop taking pain killers? I have a friend that had back surgery only 10 days ago and he is not taking pain killers anymore. He feels fine. I am 37 years old. I don't have children. My hubby and I were talking about having kids when I was 35 and then I got this herniation. I can't get pregnant if I am still taking pain killers. My doctor is a Neuro Surgeon also and someone recommended him to me. Please let me know if it is normal that after 5 weeks I still have pain. I must tell you though, surgery has made feel such much better.

God Bless you all, and I hope he is healing you as well

.

[This message has been edited by Raiza (edited 08-19-2003).]

VPG · 08-19-2003, 06:34 PM

Raiza,

Hey hon sorry that your hurting, Glad to though that some of your pain is better than before.

I have been told by my doctors and my PT that it can take months to year to heal nerve damage if it heals at all. So 5 weeks out is not long at all, My last surgery was 4/03 I still take pain killers every couple of hours.
Have you started PT, if not ask your doctor to let you. The heated pool therpy is great, it will get you moving again. And it can be a great help on the pain. Please just don't overdue it.

I am sure you will be back on your feet real soon. Keep your chin up and keeping looking to the future of lotsa kids.

BEST OF LUCK

VPG

TexMich · 08-19-2003, 08:01 PM

Hi Raiza,

5 wks is still really early in recovery. Docs (mine was a neurosurgeon too) say it's normal to experience occasional pain up until 150 days or so. The sciatic nerve is healing & nerves heal slow. Also, there was a lot of trauma (to the muscles,etc.) in the incision area during surgery. There will be swelling in that area on & off which causes pressure on the sciatic nerve & therefore sciatic pain radiating downward. Are you 'icing' the incision area? (using a bag of frozen peas works great)- over your shirt for about 10 minutes time - as needed. You can just lay on the flattened out bag of frozen peas if that's comfortable-really helps w/inflammation - & Vioxx or E-Strength Aleve or Advil (etc) WITH food to prevent ulcers- helps w/inflammation too. Ice is great tho because it has no side-effects if used as described above. Also, my experience was that when the inflammation was down (from 'icing' my back- or from Vioxx)- It wasn't long before I didn't need the pain killers at all. My pain was coming from inflammation - maybe most of yours is too at this point?
Are you being very careful & not bending, twisting or picking anything up? (Not taking clothes out of washer/dryer - dishes out of dishwasher, etc? (Do you have a 'grabber' device to pick things up from the floor w/o bending?) You may want to check out the L5-S1 Hemilaminectomy/Microdiscectomy thread (many pgs long)(look up the first one rather than #2 for specific post-op advice- very lengthy but informative)
Lastly, as VPG mentioned, Physical Therapy- at the right time in your recovery- really helps with strengthening & flexibility. It's v-important to strengthen your back muscles & abdominal ones so that your spine doesn't have to do all the supporting- esp in it's current weakened state. Lastly, & forgive me if you already know all this - but proper body mechanics- from now on - is the key to preventing this happening again- for all of us!

Much luck to you!

Laura

[This message has been edited by TexMich (edited 08-19-2003).]

DSH54 · 08-20-2003, 03:22 AM

Hi Raiza,

If it helps, I had a microdiscectomy five weeks ago too. The really severe pain has gone, but I've still got nerve pain down my butt and leg - which sounds very similar to yours. It's worse if I sit down (especially in a low / soft chair). The advice from my surgeon was to walk at least a couple of hours a day, and to avoid bending and sitting as much as possible (he suggested 'perching on the edge of a bar stool' (hence the new bar stool which looks very odd in our living room!). Otherwise, I've found ice really helpful. I've also bought a kneeling chair, which is brilliant!

I've only managed to cut out the painkillers this week (ice is more effective anyway for me).

My doc gave some good advice - don't forget that you've just had major surgery and these things take time, and don't expect the rest of your life to be like it is today.

Hope this helps!
Best wishes
David

------------------
Back pain since August 2002
PT, TENs, Acupuncture, Massage, Epidural etc - no relief
MicroDiscectomy July 11th 2003- Recovering...

Raiza · 08-20-2003, 11:46 AM

Thanks Guys for all your advises. I will do so.

VPG: thank you. I haven't started PT, but I have started walking. No much though. My doctor say I don't need PT (which is weird) just follow a decent plan for working out. He pointed out the things I should not do. Do you know what are those PT exercises?

Laura: thank you. You know, I don't have any pain on my back, actually my incision is fine, no pain or swell, it has healed wonderfully. It just itches every now and then. My pain is on my buttocks and legs. Specially the right one where I feel the nerve cable. Doc said the hernia was on my right. My muscles hurt on both legs, I compare the pain with arthritis/rheumatoid (eventho I don't suffer from that but that is how I can explain the pain). I can tell you is better than before surgery but yet is painful. No throbbing pain on buttocks anymore. I will try back the ice like you advised..... I think I haven't been careful so much, I bend too much to pick up stuff. A couple of days ago, I just got the "grabber" you mentioned. I will start using it more.

David: thank you. Yes, I notice walking helps. I will do it more. Do you have a book where it shows the PT exercises I should do?

I know what all you guys are going through. I guess it will help for me also to stop thinking I want to have a child. I think I get desperate that I won't be able ever to get pregnant if I am one of those unlucky people that won't heal even after surgery and keep taking pain killers.

Again, may God continue to help us all.
Raiza