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L4-L5 spinal operation

Posted , 5 users are following.

john0123
john0123

My disc slipped almost 3 years ago.

2 years of it was worst pain i ever experienced,24/7 relentless pain,was unable to sit on chair for 18 months.Only comfortable position was lying on the floor on my stomach.

Have brain condition called Narcolepsy/cataplexy,cataplexy being the worse of them,collapsing everytime i laugh or get emotional.

Live on my own.

6 months ago my driving license was recalled because of the narcolepsy and have had to walk every where.

Waited 3 years for this operation which is due next week.

Dont know what to do,my back feels though it is getting better,has done for last 4 months.

Still get spasms,but lower back pain is nothing like it use to be.

Get occasional pain in leg and foot but nothing i cant deal with.

Now the operation is due,Scared in case i knock it back and the pain returns to what it use to becouldnt handle life like that again.

Dont know what to do.

I am 55 years old male.

0 likes, 27 replies

27 Replies

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  • kathy07828
    kathy07828 john0123

    Posted

    Hi John,

    I'm so sorry to hear of all the pain and other complicated medical issues that you're dealing with. It sounds like the walking that you've been forced to do is a blessing in disguise. It must be building up the strength in your lower back so as to support you better and not put pressure on areas causing your pain. Building up my "core" as my PT calls it, has been very elusive for me. Everything she tries causes other problems, still leaving me unable to stand or walk without substantial pain. I would also advise that perhaps you postpone any surgery until you feel totally convinced that there's nothing left to do. I agree with your concern that it might make things bad again . Sending a prayer your way. Keep us informed please. ~kathy, USA

    • john0123
      john0123 kathy07828

      Posted

      Thankyou Kathy for your reply,yes the walking has done me the world of good.Walked back from shops today and spasms and pain come down my leg from no where.First time for ages that has happened.

      I am swaying towards having the operation.

      If i dont have it,will always regret not giving myself the chance to get back to full fitness,shuffling around constantly aware of my back,extra careful picking things up is not me.

      Though 55 years young,3 grandchildren,i want my life back,climbing,running ,jumping,lol,still a big kid at heart.

      Hope surgery will do this.If not will just have to get on with what ever happens...Thanks for the prayer.

    • kathy07828
      kathy07828 john0123

      Posted

      You're welcome! I agree that you don't want to have any regrets. I would be sure to follow all of Mel's advice in getting updated imaging to see what's what, bring all of your records and review them prior to the visit to become familiar with everything you've been through again so that you can help answer any questions he may have, and bring any questions you have with you. Review everyone's advice in this discussion to help guide you. Like Mel, I always bring a list of questions I've written down so that I don't forget any. I'm not at all familiar with the narcolepsy condition which you suffer from, but would also try and find out if the anesthesia for the surgery would negatively impact this in any way following the surgery. Let us know how it goes and what you've discovered.

      Take Care,

      ~kathy

  • john0123
    john0123

    Posted

    Hi every one,well i woke up,haha that was my main fear.

    Had the operation yesterday disectomy/decompression,think its gone ok,in pain but nothing major.

    Got out the hospital today,just got back from popping down shops for tea bags,feel saw,will have to rest now.

    Will keep you updated on my progress.

    • john0123
      john0123

      Posted

      had 4 hrs sleep,not bad for me usually only sleep 2 hrs.

      Lower back is in bulk,quite painful now and spasms are in both sides of my bum,uncomfortable to sit down even with back sttraight. Been about 40hrs since operation.

  • john0123
    john0123

    Posted

    Wow,pain is pretty bad now,is this normal ?

    Havent been toilety either,lower back is spasims when try to stand up.Think i may have over done that walk.

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey john0123

      Posted

      Oh dear John, I thought it sounded a bit ambitious to be walking to the shops on your first day out of hospital, after only just having had the surgery the previous day.  It is just possible that any pain killing medication they gave you following the op has now worn off.  Have they given you any pain medication to bring home?  If not, and if paracetamol doesn't help, and you're still in pain tomorrow then do either contact the hospital or your GP for their advice. I think it would be expected to have some post-operative pain though.
    • kathy07828
      kathy07828 john0123

      Posted

      Hi John...I agree that you got a bit too ambitious your first day. What were your dr's post-op instructions? After my fusion, my Dr would not release me until I was able to make it to the bathroom and back on my own, and had my first post op bowel movement. They were giving me stool softeners for this because you don't dare strain in any way. It's very uncomfortable due to pressure and gas pains until this major event occurs. The pain medication and the surgery bind everything up making one constipated, so my Dr advised me to take an over the counter product daily called Miralax which was wonderful. I needed to continue taking it for the next few months following my surgery. My fusion was complicated so I can't relate exactly to what you had done, but I was in so much pain following it that my Dr had me taking 6 10mg percocet per day, Xanax for anxiety from the pain, muscle relaxers and sleeping pills. I was afraid to take the muscle relaxers for fear that all this medication would make my heart stop, and they didn't seem to help anyway. Things were rough for the first month, but gradually I began to get more than 2 hours of sleep per night as my body healed. I found that using a big ice bag to lie on with pillows both in front and back of me, (and sometimes between my legs when I curled up)all really helped. I found that staying in one position for too long would wake me up with pain, reminding me it was time to shift to another side, moving everything around me again and sending my husband to get me a fresh ice bag. Check in with your Dr by phone to make sure everything you're going through should be expected, and remember to keep drinking fluids. A bit of prune juice can't hurt if it doesn't cause you to be too gassy. Please keep giving us updates and hang in there. Things will get better. ~kathy
    • john0123
      john0123 kathy07828

      Posted

      Kathy,thanks so much for your reply,relate to lot of what your saying.

      I was released next morning with similar instructions not to lift enything,how to put my socks on etc,

      Gave me tramadol for pain,have nne left.

      Just took me over hour to get off my bed,into living room at times the pain was unbelievable,lol,feeling really down at moment...oh and yes will have to remind myself about fluids..i tend to drink tea all the time,thats a effort.

      Going to try and change dressing,havent been able to put arm behind back to rip it off,just little things take effort.

      Oh,got letter off my consultant,during op anethetist found liasions on my opiglotis,haha,life has funny way of kicking you..

      Gonna make a cuppa tea...but out of tea bags and garage is long way..looks like coffee

    • kathy07828
      kathy07828 john0123

      Posted

      Hi John....I'm so sorry you're recovery is such a difficult one. Here in the US if you have no one home to help care for you following such a serious surgery, you're sent to a rehabilitation facility to stay for a few days until you're on your feet a bit. It sounds like you really need a bit of help. Do you have any support nursing services there to come over and change the dressing for you? I know that if the weather there is as bad as it has been here in New Jersey this past week, you're going to feel worse then on a sunny day. I've been sitting on the ice bag mysey for the past couple of hours trying to calm things down so that I can shower and start getting a few things done. I find that many times I need to rest just after the effort it takes for the shower. I hope you've been out to get your tea by now so that you can enjoy the little things you like. I hope each day gets a bit better from now on. It sounds like your muscles are all going into spasm following the surgery and that takes a while some times to calm down. Sending a prayer your way. ~Kathy
    • john0123
      john0123 kathy07828

      Posted

      Update,its been 3 weeks since op,think things are beginning to get better,still painful walking but its more muscular.Muscles seem to tighten on left side of lumbar afte a walk bringing me to stand still.I find stretching these muscles by curving my spine releases the tightness and able to walk again...think i may be on slow road to recovery.

      Lump in my throat was a cyst...thank you for your prayers.

  • john0123
    john0123

    Posted

    Update,8 weeks since op,things seem to have settled a lot.

    Able to ride bike go for swim,things are looking up.Still get spasms couple times a day but well on road to recovery.

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