I have been using a walker since surgery July 17. Wondering who else has ( don't seem like many or any?) And a four footed cane for stairs now. How long until you began to walk without any assistive device?
With my first fusion (L4-L5) I used a walker for the first two weeks. With my second fusion (L3-S1) I used it to walk from the hospital to the car and never used it again. I never had a cane.
I didn't use a walker until I had contracted a staph infection right after my first fusion(L4-5). I used it for about a month and a half afterwards cause my legs were so weak. Then I graduated up to quad footed cane. After I had my second fusion(L3-4). I used the walker for about three days. Then I didn't need anything else.
Last edited by RTgirl2011; 08-12-2012 at 08:50 AM.
I was told to use walker only before I feel well balanced. See, everyone is very different. I got dropped foot after surgery and didn't have good balance. I needed my walker for a month and than switched to a cane and live with it since.
I was told to use walker since walking with cane, you baby one side only, this may harm your hardware if you have one. Your body will tell you when you are ready.
And I got no back brace. Interesting how different we get treated post op. Also, I Was never told to not sit like I've often read is not good, puts 30% pressure on spine, etc.
I too was never given a brace, and wasn't told I couldn't sit either. I was told no bending twisting or lifting. Also couldn't go on long car rides cause of the jarring effect.
The Following User Says Thank You to RTgirl2011 For This Useful Post: workinmom572 (08-12-2012)
I too was never told not to sit for a period of time, nor to walk, walk, walk. Of course, with the weakness, that was/is difficult. Their emphasis was don't bend, twist, or lift anything over 5 lbs. The walker and cane I've had for over a year and use one or the other most of the time especially if I'm out of range of something to hold onto. After the July 2011 3 level fusion I had to use the walker because I could not put any weight on my left leg, it would just give way. Therapy helped, but still weak to this day. Using the walker was a condition of going back to work also, 2 months after surgery. I still use the walker or cane. I make sure I lift my left foot up because that's what makes me fall, my drop foot, which I've been told will never get better. My pain management dr and my podiatrist want me to get a molded brace to wear, but I won't. One because it's very restrictive and two, insurance will not pay for it. I wore a brace for both surgeries, the first for 12 weeks and the 2nd for only 5 week (different surgeons). I used the bone growth stimulator both times also.
Last edited by kathnite1; 08-12-2012 at 07:04 PM.
The Following User Says Thank You to kathnite1 For This Useful Post: workinmom572 (08-12-2012)
It's a battery operated device that goes around your waist held with velcro straps. I used it 2 hours a day but could be more or less depending on doctor. I'm honestly not sure how it does it, but it helps the tissue grow and attach to the fusion material. I am sure others can explain it much, much better. It does not hurt at all. I went about my usual business while it did its work. It has a "shelf" life and mine has not quit working. It lasted much longer than I was told it would. I need to contact my doctor to see if I need to continue using it. Hope this helps!
PS I don't know what criteria would make it be needed. Both my surgeons just had me use it. Some do some don't, just like the back brace.
Last edited by kathnite1; 08-12-2012 at 07:21 PM.
The Following User Says Thank You to kathnite1 For This Useful Post: workinmom572 (08-12-2012)
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Posts: 701
Re: walker or cane post op ?
I used a walker for about two weeks full-time, then only outside the house for another four weeks. Apart from providing added stability, it told people to keep their kids and dogs away from me! I had no back brace, one-level fusion.
If you feel like you need a walker, use it! Just make sure that it is adjusted so it meets your hands while standing, rather than needing to bend over to reach the handles.
The Following User Says Thank You to SweetPeainSF For This Useful Post: workinmom572 (08-13-2012)
Yes, that's the point. If someone needs a walker after surgery, use it for as long as you feel unsteady on your feet. The last thing you want to do is stumble and fall. A walker is much better than a cane as it spreads the weight equally, which is what is needed to keep things evenly distributed, and to keep from favoring one side.
It is really important to remember that recovery is not a competition with anyone other than yourself. None of us has the same experience, even if it seems like we are having the same surgery.
The Following User Says Thank You to teteri66 For This Useful Post: workinmom572 (08-13-2012)
Yes, that's the point. If someone needs a walker after surgery, use it for as long as you feel unsteady on your feet. The last thing you want to do is stumble and fall. A walker is much better than a cane as it spreads the weight equally, which is what is needed to keep things evenly distributed, and to keep from favoring one side.
It is really important to remember that recovery is not a competition with anyone other than yourself. None of us has the same experience, even if it seems like we are having the same surgery.
Well, going to a different physical therapist now and was told yesterday to stop using my quad cane. I am favoring the right side too much, putting it down too far out in front of me and it's too difficult to keep the weight spread evenly, too stressful for my right arm. I tried out a single cane and was so awkward, I couldn't use it. She said at this point, it would be better to just use the walker all the time. I'm doing lots of balance exercises. One is just standing for 30 seconds with both feet together. I could only do it twice due to weak muscles; I had to sit down. During my 45 minutes of therapy I had to sit down 4 times to relieve severe muscle cramps in tops of legs. I think the exercises were too aggressive; only 2nd time I've been there and I think they think I should be doing better than what I am considering surgery was April 18th. Have therapy tomorrow night; will wait and see what happens.
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Posts: 701
Re: walker or cane post op ?
I have seen folks with rolling walkers. The walkers often have a pocket so you don't have to carry things, along with a small seat incorporated if you need a quick rest. If you had a long period of time pre-surgery when you were unable to do much, your muscles will be deconditioned and recovery will take longer. But, it's your recovery and not the physical therapist's recovery, so don't let them rush you. Steady progress is the most important thing.
I have seen folks with rolling walkers. The walkers often have a pocket so you don't have to carry things, along with a small seat incorporated if you need a quick rest. If you had a long period of time pre-surgery when you were unable to do much, your muscles will be deconditioned and recovery will take longer. But, it's your recovery and not the physical therapist's recovery, so don't let them rush you. Steady progress is the most important thing.
Can't sleep; having muscle cramps in legs and have to walk it off. Probably no work tomorrow, make that today.....
my walker has 2 pockets for stuff but no seat. I've looked at those, but that's it. I did have a long period of being unable to do much, years in fact. Muscles wasted away, and are so very weak. I do notice that I am able to do the exercises better now than last week. And they stay with me mostly, instead of walking away to help others; that fall risk is always lurking. It's not going to be a short term recovery with me. Exercises are tough and wear me out but I get them done, all but one; I cannot do is a bridge. I just can't raise myself up, I get pain in my buttocks, back of legs and have to stop. I will keep trying though; it will happen!
For the first two weeks I used a walker and (obviously) needed to use a cane to get up and down stairs. I used the cane, steadily decreasing usage for the following six weeks.
When I needed to get up from sleep in the middle of the night, I always had my walker handy because of being more unsteady.
Don't shy away from using both, -whatever will keep you from falling.
As far as using a spine stimulator (pulsed electro-magnetic field) I'm wearing one right now and use it 4 hours per day as prescribed by my spine doc. They say that small amounts of these pulses really assists in the fusion set-up. All I can say is so far, so good. There is no sensation of any kind associated with it"s use. Two things it will impact are: am/fm radios, -you can hear a small beep with each pulse; credit card readers, like at the grocery. It makes those things go crazy.
The spine stimulator is expensive and there was a question as to whether my insurance would pay.
Best of luck.
The Following User Says Thank You to CTWsr For This Useful Post: workinmom572 (08-25-2012)
Lol on radio or credit card machine interference. Does it ever make the store door alarms go off, like when they leave a security tag on a pair of pants, lol? I wonder then if It's only necessary for those whose bones are slow to fuse then?
I didn't use either a walker or a cane after leaving the hospital but I didn't ask for one nor was I released with one so assuming it was something my doctor felt strongly about...I guess I really didn't even think about it until this post.
@workinmom572, I think I remember seeing in another post that you would be home alone either yesterday or today?? Is that right?
If so how are you doing, I have been thinking about you. I really do think the thought of being alone is much scary than actually being alone...hope you are doing well!
Last edited by imharleysgirl; 08-25-2012 at 01:41 PM.
The following user gives a hug of support to imharleysgirl: workinmom572 (08-25-2012)
The Following User Says Thank You to imharleysgirl For This Useful Post: workinmom572 (08-25-2012)
I woke up to an empty house, was only alone for maybe 3 hours, and it was nice, not scary since I just had that Aweful visit from my mother I welcomed the.quiet. then my husband came home, son home from football game, and my doggie back as She had to be boarded due to mother. All is good, I'm so much more mobile and independent now, I hope they let me get rid of walker soon, I feel I am ready to transition to just cane. Monday I will be alone from 630 am.to 630 pm. But except.for loneliness, I think I'll manage esp since I have you all to talk to.
The following 2 users give hugs of support to: workinmom572 imharleysgirl (08-25-2012)
