10 weeks post spinal fusion.....

Posted , 7 users are following.

Has anyone been through this,how do you feel now .I have lower back pain that I didn't before...can anyone tell me what they experience my surgery was 1.7.16

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  • Posted

    Hi Cassandra

    Sorry to here you had spinal fusion, which lvl did you have done.

    You are in the very early stages of recovery of a fusion, What sort of pain are you feeling?? I had pain for about 6 months after, and a lot of that pain is where they sliced open the muscles in my back and the healing process starts, lots of pain when laying or sleeping and horrible sharp stabbing pain when standing and found lots of weakness that I didn't expect it had been prepared for.

    Let us know more details on the pain you have and the level for fusion and might be able to help or advise further.

    Regards

    George UK

    • Posted

      L4,l5,s1...most of the pain is in my buttocks and right hip

      I can't sleep at night and get comfortable . I have numbness in my two right toes.....does it get any better.....

    • Posted

      Hello

      I had L4, L5 and S1 fusion, sadly mine has failed and I am awaiting a spinal cord stimulator which will help with some of the pain but not all.

      The pain your experiencing sounds very normal, especially as it's at night, I found sleeping awful after the surgery, I did find a way to relieve some of the pain buy either putting pillows under my knees when on my back or I had a v pillow which sits between your legs when your on your side and it just helps open those muscles a little, it might work for you too. I have spoken to lots of people on here and many who this type of surgery has worked well for, so please feel reassured it can and hopefully for you will get better.

      What they don't prepare you for is the healing process and the time this takes, you have had major surgery and it will take probably 6 months for your muscles to heal, bind and any swelling to go down, then the fusion can take 2 yrs to actually fuse from the date of surgery. Keep as active as possible but remember little and often is far better than trying to push yourself.

      I hope this helps a little, please keep me updated and if you have any questions just ask.

      All the best

      George :-)

    • Posted

      Thank you....I sleeping with pillow doesn't help....I going to try

      Sleeping on my stomach with pillows under me...I hope this

      Will help...also will start PT soon.....

  • Posted

    Cassandra 21392,

    Is it like pain when you stand and walk? Shooting or just pain pain? I have pain constantly, my battery is clearly pushing out of my skin, my unit is off cause I couldn't get our of pain and now I have the worse pain in my hip were the battery side, and both my knees are killing me, thank god I go to the Dr's and actually see the Dr on Thursday, I'm wondering if my body is rejecting this stimulator, I'm in so much pain its unbelievable, I just don't and can't do anything because every thing hurts, this is so painful there are days I cry and rock myself to sleep, ever joint in my body hurts, I just can't wait to find out from the Dr what's going on.

    I hope you get some relief soon

    Let me know if you feel any of the pain I described and I'll let you know what my Dr says

    Take care

    Cindy ( Cynthia)

    • Posted

      No....not that kind of pain. It's more like an aching pain...never felt this before...at nite it's worst.......
    • Posted

      Hi Cynthia,

      It's Linda - still following you.  You need to get that battery out.   I've heard of other people where the battery cut all the way through their skin! I'm so sorry you are going through this!  It's ridiculous!  They are trying to get me to get this battery - but no way! I also talked to my old Medtronic Rep, and she couldn't say much, but I told her everything I heard and she pretty much confirmed it.  So even though the Medtronic SCS I have is not working right, I'm not going to the Nevro! Just know that you have saved at least one person from going through what you are going through.  I saw a posting from another guy the other day who just got his permanent Nevro and is going through the same thing now.  How could they release this to the market when it is so clearly causing so many people pain.  I hope you are able to get the battery out soon and at least get some release there.  So what's up with your knees though?  Arthritis?

      Take care.  I'll continue to follow you where I can.

      P.S. I am getting a little relief from the RFA I had.  I still mostly have bad days, but once in a while - like today, I'll have a good day. I never had good days before, so I'll take it.

      Take care,

      Linda

    • Posted

      Hey Linda,

      Yeah I'm getting worse, my knees are hurting my hip on the side where the battery is, my ankles are not bending, I'm a mess but go to the Dr on Thursday. So I hope he makes a date he can take this out.

      It's so nice to hear from you I will keep you updated.

      Cindy

  • Posted

    Sorry few errors I couldn't get out of bed from pain, ugh to early for me and this pain drives me insane sometimes. Sorry for the errors

    Cindy

  • Posted

    Oh yes Cassandra,

    Your pain can be a lot worses for now.  It hasn't been long.  They won't do another MRI for like 6 months, but you should definitely follow up in 6 months for another MRI - my fusion was L2-S1 and the L5-S1 fusion has failed twice, so I have the low back pain as well.  Now I can't get a doctor that wants to mess with me.  I'm waiting to see a neurosurgeon.  I'm not going back to the surgeon who faiiled the fusion twice!  He knew the first one was going to fail right away because he didn't get the screws in right!

    In he meantime, when you are laying down, put a pillow between your legs.  Also try laying on your stomach with a piillow under your stomach. And when you lay on your back put a pillow or two underneath it. 

    In the meantime, the only thing you can do is be patient.  Well, no not really - you can get a TENS unit to use on your back. - That might help.  I also use lidoderm patches in addition to pain medication. 

    Best of luck to you!  Keep wirting.

    Linda

    • Posted

      Also, look up piriformis muscle and exercises that migh release it - for the pain in your right hip.  And sciatica exrecises.  Believe it or not - they do help, and they are very simple to do. 
    • Posted

      Thank you....I guess I am impatient . .when you ask the doctor they really can't say what to expect...maybe they take all the information we as patients provide and discuss it among

      Themselves I havetry to sleep with pillow between my legs no help....now I will try sleeping on my stomach....I need to get some sleep...still taking Norco 7.5/325 with 50th Tylenol some help but not for long....will start PT this week I hope it will

      help....will keep you posted

    • Posted

      Hi, I see you are on Vicodin  That is pretty good stuff.  I remember it could make me feel a little silly too.  Now I take oxycodone, and I don't feel anything at all.  I can't feel when it "kicks" in.  It takes about 45 minutes, and I will notice the pain is better.

      I guess the doctors can't really say what to expect because everybody is different. But I wish they would be more honesst with us instead of sa ying you ma be a little uncomfortable for a day or two.  How about, It's going to hurt like hell for 3-4 weeks!  Now THAT would be telling the truth.  Hey do you want to communicate by email? Let me send you my email address privately.

      Linda

    • Posted

      Oops, I hit the reply button.

      I was going to say that I really enjoyed my PT at the hospital. I got sent to a PT Rehab hospital.  YOu may have to ask the doctor to temporarily up your dose of pain killers as the physical therapy can make you sore.  Be sure to tell the doctor that it's only temporary - like maybe your first 6 weeks of P T or something so they don't freak out tha tyou are increasing your pain meds. 

      Linda

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