1 month post op L5-S1 TLIF

[muskegonmatt]

Hello all,

First time on this board, and have some questions. I have DDD, and had a blown disc at L5-S1. I had extreme pain in my lower back for about a year.
I tried PT for 2 months, and then decided on the pain clinic. Had Facet injections and nerve root injections for my scatica. It was pretty bad. I couldnt get my PCP to prescribe me anything stronger than motrin. She thought it was just muscle... But anyways....Now I go see a Neurosurgeon---MRI---Myelogram----CT scan---Holy cow, you need to have surgery. Pinched nerves, and your facet joints are rubbing together. He recommends a TLIF---screws and rods. 2nd opinion says the exact same thing. They put the TLIF in and remove part of my facet joint at L5-S1. Cadaver bone and fusion also.

One month later. Still pain, but every day gets better in a way. I feel really good in the late afternoon. I try not to take anything during the day (weening myself off) and i take all my meds at night to sleep.

I try to walk a mile a day...its gettin cold in Michigan, so treadmill is next...Im curious as to how long before I am gonna be 100%? How did having this surgery change your life? Was it a good thing? My Neurosurgeon thinks I will have a full recovery because Im only 35. Will I ever be able to play golf? I just have questions as to what to expect a year from now.

I am in a full corset for 3 months and go back to the Dr in 2 weeks for X-rays to see the fusion.

If anyone can answer some of my questions, that would be great! Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings....

Matthew



I

[jam317]

With Backpain... most people never are at 100%.

There are times when you can be close to 99%.... but even that is considered lucky. After the recovery period, there will be great days.. 3 yrs after my 3 level fusion i still have bad days. I have back pain everyday. but i have not stopped living my life. Just know how to pace yourself and you should be able to play golf again. Dont do it prior to your dr. saying ok though.

Remember, everyone is different. Everyone heals different. YOU maybe one of the lucky ones.. and i hope that you are

[Catfish824]

Jam
After decades of pain, I had a 3 level (L3-S1) done in 2005 rods, screws the works. In 2006 I went back in because not only did I have the old pain return but a new one. There had been an overgrowth of the material used for fusion and it was scraping my nerve bundle. In 2007 I went back in with serious issues still and the hardware on the painful side was removed but I was left with nerve damage. Last month (10/09) I started going to a massage therapist who specializes in myofascial work and can not believe the difference. I still can't believe I feel as if I have no back pain at all.. wish I could say the same about my leg but we're working on it. As for 100%, not sure you should look for that and if someone told you to espec that they weren't being honest.
Anyway don't give up; it took me all this time but man, am I glad I did!

[BlueAtlas]

Hi Matthew, and welcome to the board!

You'll always need to be careful of your back, but in time you should be able to golf again. Since you're not supposed to twist while you're fusing, please don't jump the gun. You don't want to ruin your surgery!

At only 1 month post-op, you're still very early on in your recovery. If you're able to stay off your pain meds during the day, that's great, but if you need them, don't hesitate to take them. Many of us have taken pain meds way longer than 1 month. You'll heal better if you're not in pain.

For me, 3 months was a big turning point, and again at 6 months. It really did take a full year to recover, but I did have a lot of levels done, so you'll probably feel better more quickly than I did. Being young, you'll recover more quickly, too. Just take it easy and don't rush it! It'll be so worth it!

Do you have other questions or anything more specific? We'll do our best to answer from our own experiences. Been there, done that!

Emily

[JCW247]

Thanks for coming onboard Matthew and becoming a more
educated patient with your back issues. Being that you're
young, it looks like you'll have a good recovery and be able
to move on. Seems like your surgery went well.

I had a LAMINECTOMY L5-S1 (Fusion with the implant, rods and screws)
September.2, 08 and am still in pain, because the surgery wasn't done
right, I now have nerve impingement with sharp electrical shooting pain
down my left leg, problems with the feet. My age was 64 when I had
it, but if the surgery was done right I probably wouldn't have these
medical issues now. Screwed up surgery can be corrected with very
risky surgery. NO MORE MAJOR SURGERY FOR ME. Will continue taking
painkillers and live one day at a time.

Hope you get well soon.