AL5/s1 discectomy/decompression surgery 12 days ago!!

Hi sar2017,

I'm glad to hear that you had success with your discectomy, I unfortunately didn't when I had mine 22 months ago. Once I had that procedure it led to my sciatica problems and more back pain than I had before. Several months later I ended up getting a fusion at l5/s1 and that was my cure all for my issues.

Aquatic therapy is what I did after fusion and it was incredible. My advice is to just trust the process and learn to be patient with your healing. Don't give up your hobbies and interests but approach them with a little caution. Take care of yourself and take the time necessary to heal.

Brent

Hi SAR2017,

I had the exact same procedure in 2010. One thing I would note that I've heard other people say in the past (and I too experienced it): right after a lumbar surgery like yours you can expect to experience what folks call "the glory week," meaning a week, maybe ten days, where you suddenly feel like Superman. The pain is gone and you are super-excited that you have been "cured."

But often that is the result of a couple of very temporary things. First you received anesthetic in those areas and you may be pain-free because of lingering benefits of any anesthetizing procedures done. Also, fresh surgical areas are always less painful right away and get more so as things start to heal and grow together. This absolutely happened to me - I thought I was completely cured the first week I went home and I may even have over-did it just a bit. But at about the ten-day point a significant amount of pain and stiffness returned. Some of it was surgical healing pain but much of it, I could tell, was a return of my prior pain.

The surgeon noted that the benefits of the surgery could actually take MONTHS to manifest, and that I should engage in physical therapy to speed up the arrival of those benefits. Remember he has traumatized the nerves in the area where he operated (not to mention cut through muscle and tissue). They are inflamed and angry, and will take time to heal.

I agree with the individual who recommended aquatic therapy - that worked wonders for me. It took almost nine months of PT and recovery but eventually, while I didn't become pain-free, I was able to get off of all my pain meds. And that benefit lasted a bit more than four years (studies have shown that more than half of all back surgery patients have their pain return in about five years, so that wasn't uncommon. But at least I got four years of relief).

I would just say relax, do as much physical therapy as you can, and don't be afraid to take pain medications during your extended recovery period. Pain meds help keep you active and ward off depression, both of which will help you. You will know you have recovered when you stop needing the pain meds. But don't try to push through it, or to act like "I shouldn't NEED pain meds, I had surgery!" It doesn't work that way. Your recovery will take a lot of time...

i had l5-s1 fusion 6 months ago . about 1 month post op i developed excrutiating muscle cramps thru rear end. Ended up back in hospital for 2 days on steroids and muscle relaxers. Then I started physical therapy in a pool. It was wonderful. The warm water helped with stretches. I still do stretching exercizes every day. I can walk as far as I want now. Just an occasional twinge. Very happy with surgery results.

I had surgery in 2012 on L4/L5, L5/S1 and had 2 cages, rods, screws put in. My sciatica calmed immediately it was present ever so slightly in my buttocks. I still have it a bit, not terrible. Consider taking alpha lapoic acid or R lapoic acid (purer and more effective) to help with neuropathic pain I use life extensions R Lapoic Acid, one of the few supplements I will continue to take. Yes, I do still have some discomfort but not terrible. good luck