Recovering from Spinal Fusion Surgery - Back Problems Message Board

DAJ819 · 04-22-2008, 04:43 PM

Hello Everyone. I'm new here and this is my first post. I'm in my third week of recovering from spinal fusion surgery where I had two levels fused (lumbar). In 2003 and 2006 I had a lumbar laminectomy because I ruptured disks in L5/S1. I ruptured again this year (L5/S1) and the MRI showed that L4/L5 became unstable and after two opinions, spinal fusion was recommended.

The first 10 days after surgery were virtually unbearable, but luckily those days have passed. I no longer have to use a walker, but still have to use a cane. I'm also having trouble managing the pain as well as sleeping for more than 1 hour at a time. Some of the numbness in my toes on my left foot has gone away, but I still occasionally get heal pain in the left foot. The right leg is a whole different story. I have numbness in various parts of my right leg, especially from the mid-thigh down and I virtually have no strength in this leg.

My dr. tells me to be patient and that I will have physical therapy, but not just yet, but still I'm extremely worried about this right leg.

Has anyone had this problem before and if so, how did you deal with it? How much physical therapy was involved and how much time did you have to spend being off of work. I've been off since February 22 (surgery was March 31).

Thank you in advance for any advice and comfort you can give me.

BlueAtlas · 04-22-2008, 05:59 PM

Hi DAJ819, and welcome to the board!

Did you have any problems with the right leg before surgery? It sounds like nerve irritation. Nerves do take a long time to calm down, but they probably will in time. Like your doctor said, try to be patient. I had some numbness, not as much as you're describing, but it has completely gone away. I had my last fusion in Sept 2006 and a hardware removal in Sept 2007. The hardware removal actually caused more numbness than the fusion. Go figure.

Is your doctor giving you enough pain meds? Are you taking the max you're allowed? If what you have isn't covering your pain, you do need to talk to him about it. Once the pain gets ahead of the meds, it takes much longer to get it back under control. Are you using pillows at night to prop your knees or to prop your whole body when you're on your side? That might help. Are you in a lot of pain at night or just can't get comfortable? I find that I have to regularly turn from side to back, then to the other side for a while, all night long. Otherwise I'm really sore.

You've made it through your first three weeks! Go you!!! That's great! Keep listening to your doctor, no BLT's unless it's a sandwich (no bending, lifting, or twisting

), and walk as much as you can tolerate. Walking increases blood flow around your spine, which is essential for bone growth. But don't overdo it. You don't want to increase your pain, but walk as much as you're able. Most of us don't start PT until 3-4 months post op. Then you'll start working on your core muscles and just getting general strength back.

Even though you've made it through the first three weeks, you might still benefit from some of the suggestions in the thread at the top called, "Post Surgery Tips." There are tons of great tips there.

If you have other questions, please ask. We'll do our best to help you from our own experiences. We're not doctors; we're just ordinary people like you who have a variety of back issues, and a lot of us have had fusions.

Hang in there. It gets easier, but don't rush it. Your job right now is to LAY AROUND BEING LAZY!

Watch a movie, walk around for a bit, read a book, walk around for a bit, watch another movie, walk around for a bit, etc.

I wish you the best as you continue to recover,
Emily

Moldova · 04-22-2008, 06:00 PM

Welcome on boards!
I am happy to hear your surgery was OK and you are doing fine.
When it comes to nerve pain and symptoms your DR is absolutely right: takes a long time for nerves to heal, it can take for some up to 2 years, believe or not.

Healing process is totally individual and it takes different time for everyone to heal. For example i had my first fusion on 03/14/06 and still on disability not by choice. Some people who had their surgeries same time as me maybe back at work in a couple of month. Hard to go by someone else's experience. Don't get discouraged, patients is your best friend for a while at this point. You will have plenty ups and downs during your healing time, this is normal.

My right foot was affected after my first surgery. I got dropped foot and very weak numb leg and foot. Now I have same thing happened to my left leg and foot.
I still wait and see maybe I will get better, my first PT was for 8 month. Now I start another PT, 3 month after my second fusion. I love the fact that they have warm water walking pool at their facilities, which helps a lot to develop muscle strenght.

Good luck to you, you are at the good place to be!

ms_west · 04-22-2008, 08:46 PM

You sound like you are progressing well - maybe not at the speed you want - but you are doing good. The previous posters are correct we all recover at our own pace and it is dependent upon your physical and mental condition prior to surgery as well as the complexity of your medical case.

Stay on top of your meds and don't try to be a super hero and not take them. If you need them, you need them. Take them. Once your pain becomes uncontrolled, it takes you twice as long to get them under control. Set that alarm clock at night to take your meds if need be. I do that every night or my pain takes forever to get back under control.

Do they have you on lyrica, neurotin, topomax, elavil, palemor, or cymbalta? These are some types of nerve medications that are often very helpful in controlling the nerve pain. Narcotics do not really control nerve pain.

Do you have access to a spa or indoor pool? If you do, call your doctor and ask if you can go in one just to sit and move your legs a little. I have found this to be extremely helpful with pain control. Tell him you don't want to swim, just sit and soak in the them and maybe walk in the water. You can buy a lumbar belt to wear in the deep in the pool and it will keep you at waist level so that you can walk in the deep end. If he says go ahead, start with soaking in the water for 10 minutes, then go in the deep in the pool and walk for 5 minutes - set a timer - then go sit down and soak again for another 10 minutes. If you can handle this with no increased pain, the next week move your 5 minutes up to 10 minutes. If you feel increased pain, drop back to the 5 minutes. The key is to listen to your body and if it sends messages of increased pain, you are doing to much and need to back off.

Keep telling yourself that this nerve pain and numbness after surgery is normal due to the manipulation and moving of the nerves during surgery. This pain is normal. We don't like it and it hurts like heck but its normal at this junction in your recovery.

Good luck and I will be lifting you up in prayer.

Pepper

tmvincent30 · 04-23-2008, 06:41 AM

hey and welcome to the board, I had anterior/posterior surgery with pins and screws and a fusion onL-4 to S-1. I had a PLIF surgery in 2002 and the fusion never healed causing the screws to break. So the only other option was to refuse and the broken screws lodged into L-4 causing them to do that level also this time. I had my surgery on March 28 just a few days before yours and i had left leg pain prior to surgery now i have no left leg pain but let me tell you the pain in my right leg is sooo unbearable. Its mainly in my buttocks to the thigh. I have started taking omega-3 fish oil which helps alot not 100% but takes alot of the pain away. Incisions are doing fine hubby and 9 year old twins took rest of the tape off last night cause i was thinking they would fall off like steri strips well they werent loosening up so he moistened it and they came off easy. Didnt want infection under them now i can clean them good.

Sorry about your pain but we are just a few days away on our dates and i am going through it also. Hopefully both our pain goes away soon. And i cant suggest anything about the sleeping i dont really have a problem with that i have CFS and i could sleep almost 24/7. Hope you feel better soon.