Hi there. I am a 50 year old female who had lumbar laminectomy at L3/4 eight weeks ago for lumbar stenosis and spondylolisthesis. The surgeon also performed a dynamic stabilisation at this level. As I understand it, this involves the insertion of a flexible and rod and screws, similar to fusion but allowing more flexion at this level while at the same time preventing the vertebra from slipping. Prior to surgery, I was unable to walk or stand for more than 5 - 10 minutes without becoming uncomfortable because of weakness in my legs and a tight cramping sensation in my buttocks. Surgery has relieved me of these symptoms, but I now have aching in my lower back, groins and hips when standing or walking for more than 5 - 10 minutes. I wasn't given any physio follow-up after discharge from hospital, but have had a couple of sessions with a private physiotherapist. She seems to think that these pains are due to the ligaments and muscles having to stretch as my spine as been realigned and my pelvis is now tilted forwards instead of backwards as it was before. Has anyone else experienced similar pains and if so, how long did it take for them to resolve? I am also very stiff first thing in the morning and when getting up from a sitting position. I do not have any pain when sitting or lying down. Many thanks in advance. All comments will be gratefully accepted.
How long ago did you have this done I had a laminectomy, decompression (so they jack up the bones) titanium rods and screws and a fusion from a graft took out my back on the 4th March. When did you have yours done as I'm a week post op. I can't walk any further than the toilet using a walker, I can't stand more than a few minutes and have to lay on my side. I'm on multiple different pain meds including oral morphine. I ache in my lower back, hips and thighs also mine was in the S1/L5 area but the disc above is knackered too.
It is very common for aches and pains to take months, I cannot sit for more than a minute, I cant lay on my back and it's agony.
It takes the resilience of super woman, o can always feel the rods. I tried to cut the pain meds down but ended up in tears. It will get better I promise, my surgeon tells me this is normal. It's major surgery so your body has been to hell and back. I didn't expect it to be this hard either.
Keep yourself busy. I've moved my bed downstairs, got family helping, got freesat fitted in my new bedroom and have started a blog to keep me busy.
Good luck and don't worry unless you get a temperature or extreme pain. Also try a site called spine-health for more info it's fantastic xx
Thanks so much for your reply. I had my op 8 weeks ago. It sounds as though yours was much more comples than mine. I didn't have a fusion as such. The 2 vertebrae at L3 and L4 have been anchored with a small flexible rod and screws but no bone graft.
I wasn't in much pain after the op as I had been given morphine. It was a bit uncomfortable when changing positions in bed and my wound was very sore to lie on. I had a drain in my wound and a urinary catheter both of which came out the following day.
I was walking to the end of the ward and back the morning after my op with no assistance. I took oral morphine for a couple of days after which I was just on paracetamol. However I do have a very high pain threshold and everyone is different.
Your recovery will take longer as you've had fusion with bone graft. I was able to walk up and down stairs by the time of my discharge from hospital. I had my op on Thursday 16th January and went home on the Monday.
My original sciatica type pains and leg weakness have now resolved. I'm still getting aches and pains in hips and pelvis but this is because I'm now walking with a staigher posture and the ligaments are being pulled. I know this will probably take months to get better. I've just go to be more patient!!
I'm going back to work tomorrow after 2 months off. I work as a medical secretary and normally work 37.5 hours a week but am going back on phased return. I'm doing 4 hours tomorrow and then having a rest day Friday. I'll then be working 3 mornings a week for 2 weeks and then 3 whole days for 2 weeks and then hopefully back to full time after that. I have excellent support from my manager and occupational health department,
I really hope you start to feel better soon. Don't rush things and listen to what your body is telling you. For the first few weeks I would suddenly be hit by an overwhelming feeling of tiredness and would have to sleep for a few hours. Thankfully that now seems to have gone.
Wishing you all the best xx
I am due to have an op for stenosis and arthritis in my lumbar spine is this the same op, does anyone know please
Absolutely the fusion is the worst part. Not only do they do the laminectomy (remove bone to get to the flat disc), they jack up the vertebrae then screws and rod it back into place. They they cut away bone from my back and put this into place to firm a solid bone to strengthen the back and 2 vertebrae.
I have to treat ny back like glass for 6 weeks. No twisting, turning, bending, I can hardly walk, can't sit fir more than a few minutes. The pain is slowly getting better but having to constantly lay on my side with a big pillow in between my legs is fun. The bottom disc too and really difficult to recover as everything you do uses the strength from this area. I tried to warm a bowl of food my husband left me in the fridge and couldn't lift it ha ha.
Everyone is different. We all heal different. I was uber fit prior to this working out 6 days a week, even with a degenerative back doing a mixture of yoga, weights, insanity and interval bodyweight training.
It's certainly a life changing op. Taking 2 years to fuse, if it fuses at all. I'm well excited as I have no sciatica and numbness or leg weakness.
If you are having any back op you need to research research research find out all the pros and cons, you need to get healthy and fit. I only eat Paleo no processed foods at all. You need to make an informed decision why are we being offered an op. My surgeon refused to operate on my sciatica, spinal stenosis or knackered discs as it's a big op, life changing and a fusion should only ever ve performed if ypu have spinal deformity. When I moved under x ray my spine was starting to deform, so he performed the multiple ops.
Thanks for the replies and goodluck everyone.
Hi Lynn. I would imagine that you will be having either a laminectomy where they remove some of the bone covering the spinal cord to make more room for the nerves. If your spine is unstable they will probably put in some sort of metalwork to make it more stable and reduce the amount of movement.
When is your op due?
it's a long story....started with the pain and weakness in my legs and only able to walk for a few mins and not able to stand for more than a min. went to see a neurosurgeon who did various tests, MRI ex ray nuclear scan, came to the conclusion that I had severe arthritis of the spine and stenosis both lumba and cervical, after trying injections, physio, tablets, all not working, so he suggested the op, but since then have arthritis of the right hip and left knee, so now have to have hip replacement first and maybe knee replacement. hopefully having the hip done when I come back from the States, they do say you can't fly for 12 weeks so will have to have it done in July when I come back, so the spine surgery will have to be later.
I am a big wuss so dreading it, but we live in france in a ski area and have not been able to ski this year and last year only once, so hopefully will be skiing next year.
the only thing is I am 63 and have high blood pressure and type 2 diabetic, hate old age.......
Hi Sandra , I had a spinal fusion six weeks ago and had the same pains two weeks after. Now I just have stiffness and a very hard abdomen . Don't know what that has to do with the back surgery.i feel the rods all the time and sometimes it is painful .
Wonder if the feeling will go away?
How are you doing now?
I am 6 months post op from a laminectomy with spinal fusions L-3-5. Very tough surgery and recovery. Went to hell and back I think. I went back to work after 10 weeks. I'm an elementary teacher. I still can feel pain from the bone grafts and the rods. I continue to wake up with stiffness and weather plays into it as well. I also feel spasms when I over do it. I no longer have the leg pain or numbness that I had before the surgery. I still cannot stand at a sink and do dishes without low back pain and I cannot vaccumn, pull weeds or anything that requires a lot of bending, twisting, pulling or lifting. It's all a little frustrating but I'm not very patient in this healing process. I'm a little overwhelmed to say the least. I wore my back brace for three months, removed the plates from the brace and wore the soft brace for a month. Now I wear no brace but feel like there I times I want to put it back on. I made strawberry jam today and the standing and smashing of berries may have been too much. My back went into spasms and was very painful. Guess I learned the hard way not to over do it. Ugh!
Hi, this is my first time blogging on this site. I feel for all you with back surgery.
I as well had a laminectomy 8 weeks ago. Fusion and bone graft. No more nerve painin my back or legs. It was the hardest thing I have done in my life. I am a 55 year old woman. I am very active. I am a runner andoutdoors person. My full time job is working in a warehouse. I went back to work after 6 weeks. It is so tough for me. I am supposed to NOT lift things more than 25 lbs. I am constantly moving about all day. I am so exhausted after work and my back gets sore so I ice every day and take Advil and tylenol. I am able to run some but since going back to work, not at all. The hardest part I found was getting of the pain med.(Hydromorphion) The dr. didn't tell me to taper so when I ran out I went into withdrawl for 7 days. It was awful!!!Sever depression,anxiety nausea,sweating.
i had no idea how certain pain killers can effect your whole bodya nd mind. I called the Dr. when I was 4 days without med. He said he could perscribe some more of the same med. but taper down. I said I do not want any more of this drug,for i knew once I got back on I would not want to get off of it. I decided to just go woth out for the 7days.
Hi Sandra… how are you feeling these days? I have also been told by a physical therapist that because of realignment, all of the muscles, ligaments, nerves have to stretch and adapt to the new structure. I feel straighter and I like that... I have less Lordosis (swayback). Even looks different when I stand sideways in front of the mirror. I do not feel the rods and screws, but that area is flatter on the outside since some of those bones had to be removed.
Two months ago I had my surgery. L5 spondylolisthesis, Fusion of L4, 5 and S1 (which for me looks like an L6). Involved moving L5, 2 rods, six screws, titanium baskets with bone inside for fusion (some my bone, some from bone bank). Doctors say I'm doing well and next check up September 11. Like some of you have written here, I am now free of stabbing pains but still pretty sore in hip and buttock region with tweaks and spasms there and in legs occasionally, can't sit too long without getting up and moving, standing too long causes pain, but I am able to walk outside and some days can do only a block or two, some days more.
Still being very careful about bending, lifting, twisting (BLT as the professionals here
. I have one of those picker tools in each room and even in the car. Wonderful gadgets. At 66, I plan to keep using them to take good care of my less than perfect spine. I think I'm doing okay and have excepted that this will take likely many more months.
Still taking meds for nerve pain, muscle spasm, and a mild pain pill or naproxen daily.
I hope that's normal…?
I also have two minor thoracic scoliosis curves and 30 years ago a bad fall and fractured coccyx. Coccydynia (ongoing pain) since the fall. I am the cushion queen... one in every chair at home, one in the car, and carrying a cushion into restaurants, movies or anywhere I will have to sit for a while. The fall exacerbated congenital spondylolisthesis, which has slowly worsened each decade. Nothing to be done for the coccydynia, so I'm told.
Once I found a well recommended surgeon who said he could help me, I decided to go ahead with the surgery since the last couple years had become more and more painful. The surgery went really well, but of course I still have the coccydynia.
Overall, I'm pretty pleased with how it's going and so glad I had this done before I got any older. I too recommend doing plenty of research and making sure you get to the right clinic and surgeon. Mine was a neurosurgeon and I wouldn't have had it any other way.
Like you, I appreciate any comments.
Lynn,
Your remark that "It's a long story", your age as I was 64 when I had my surgery (two 9" rods, three stablizers and about nine screws) put in me on my birthday 1-5 of 2014 and have type 2 diabetic, arthritis of the body, etc., "hit me inbetween the eyes" as we say here "accross the pond"
I am tell you the following story not so others will feel sorry for me, but to let you know that I/we can relate to you somewhat, although each person walks their own path of pain in life.
In May of 2014 I had surgery on my right wriste, CT its call as my right had was going numb a lot from my 20 year battle with type 2 diabetics. The game plan was to do the right hand, then 4 to 6 weeks later do the left hand which never happen. About 4 or 5 weeks after the surgery I noticed like a bruse (mid July now) starting at my spine running in a line around to the center of my chest. As I had had a shingles shot, I just endured the disconfort for sever d said that the shots did not always protect someone who's system might be weaken by recent surgery. I though that the pain of the wriste surgery had prepared me for the pain and discomfort of the shingles. It usually takes about 8 to 10 weeks for the shingles to run their course on you body. Little did Iknow that the shingles was preparing me for a major surgery the first part of October.
The first part of October my family doc sent me to a cardivasclar physician as I was having "funny" heart beats and problems breathing. I went into the hospital for some test and woke up a day later flat on my back with all these tubes. I was told I had to have open heart surgery with 4 bypasses. I was in the hospital for about a week when one evening I felt that I should check myself out about 1 AM in the morning.
Hope is a substance that we sometimes can not see or feel at the time, but I have come to believe that as long as we believe in tomorrows we can have hope for a life with less pain and disconfort. And I hope we all have many tomorrows....
Best Regards,
Ron
Lynn,
I am not sure what happen to my reply, I hope lol, you got the first part as the best is yet to come. So I was home resting from the open heart surgery which the doc said could take 6 months to a year to recover from. We had a nic holiday, on the evening of December 29, 2013 I was upstairs prepairing for bed when I smelled something. Turning around I saw a thick smole and as I walked to my door saw the upper loft and stairwell were in flames. I went back into my room, opened the window as I was on the second story of my daughters home to breathe. I had seen t v newsclips of people leaping out of window to excape a fire but it seemed so unreal. Finally the hear from the fire was such that I got up in the window and leaped for the ground. I don't remember much entill I woke up in the hospital the next afternoon. Straped down and told I could not move more that 9 degrees for a few day until I could be stable enough for back surgery. Seems I passed out from the force of hitting the ground. Was taken to the trama center then had 2 rods, 3 stablizers and about 9 screws put in me. After surgery I was told that I now could move up to 15 degrees, there was a meter on my bed to keep me in line. Whenever I moved much I had muscle spasms, as many of you know that was a new kind of pain for me. After about a week I was taken down for physical treatment. I had feelings below my waist but found I could only saffle my feet using a walker. I was fitted for a front and back upper body brace which I ended up wear for 7 months. I have learn to walk again, sit up and lay down but my nighttime leg cramps now are with me during the day and into my right hip. (I am told I landed on my right leg) and my right leg is now 1/2 inch shorten now...lol My driver license expired on my birthday when I had surgery. I had to learn to use those back, hip and leg muscles again. I took my written driver test about a month ago and am scheduled to take my driving road test next Tuesday the 23.
I feel I am blessed as I am alive after two surgeries within 2 months of each other, and I have feeling and pain..lol from the waist down.
Please wish me luck on my driving test and lift up a pray for me as I will for you.
Ron
hello Ron,
It sounds like you have been through the wringer, I hope things are improving amd that you get you drivng permit. I have had my hip replacement 8 weeks ago and doing great, although finding it difficult to come to terms with having a titanium rod in my leg, and seem to be having panic attacks when it gets to about 7 pm, but thats me wortier about everything. Hope things can only get better for you. big hug, Lynn
Morning Lynn,
Nice to hear from you, what is the time difference as I am on Centrol Time Zone Sunday here 10:57 AM I take my driving test Tues. 23 of Sept. With both of us having metal in our bodies we might set off the metal detectors at a airport...lol...you think? Tell me about your panic attacks, might those be a built up from the tensions of the day. I have had those and find doing something physical or , like working on my family genealogy seems to take my mind off stuff for a while. I have been teaching my tree grandkids to draw, two grandsons 8 and 13 and a grand daughter 5 who has me wraped around her finger... Also before I go to sleep, I lay in bed on my back (I had to learn to sleep on my back) I fold my arms, hands over my rib cage and hum with each breath. Its pleasent to me and I can feel the hum vibrating from the top of my bald head to my toes. I talk to myself..I say "Self", funny...I tell my body how well it is doing and that my body and mind will get a good nights rest and wake up refreshed. It surprises me when it happens.... My daughter had to have a hip replacement about a year ago, she does very well now. Thanks for the hug, as hugs can carry a lot of positive energy depending on the person sending it out. So heres is a big one back, have a nice day.
Ron
Ron
I have two rods about 9 " long in my spine with three stablization supports and about nine screws done in Jan. of 2014. I had to learn how to walk starting with a walker, I walk well now, but have discomfort sitting and bending. Have leg and hips muscle cramps. I was told the same things about the muscles adjusting to the trama as our house caught fire and I had to leap from my second story bedroom window to excape the flames and my life. Wore a front and back body cast for seven months. I went to rehab for a month, then to physical therapisty for three months. That help me a lot to increase my flexability in my lower back and hips. I wake up stiff in the morning also, stritching helps a lot and just getting up and moving around. I do not usually have pain from sitting or lying down on my back,,I do sleep in a small size hospital bed with rails. It just takes time for those ligaments and muscles to stretch back in shape, I will always have one leg 1/2 inch shorter.All of our bodies heal at different rates so hand in there. I have not tried to go through an airport metal detector yet....lol
Blessings, Ron
Good sfternoon Ron, you made me laugh, talking to yourself, I do that, I say get a grip, if things are going to happen worrying isnt going to help!!! but still do...lol. I live in the French Alps so wouldnt know what time Central Time is, my daughter lives in North Chicago and they are 7 hours behind us, so 12 noon there is 7pm here.
I have no idea why I have them but I start thinking all types of things, like what happens if I have allergic reaction to thetitanium, what happens if i get a sore throat and the infection goes to my hip!! and tgey have to open me up again, do all on all its everything, but in the morning I feel fine, I wonder if its something like people suffer after they have had a major trauma in there lives... but its not nice, its like post traumatic stress..
I wish I lived closer go my family and grandchildren they are a true blessing and add so much to our lives, I miss them like mad. think its just old age...
Your daughter must have been young when she had her THR.
Thank you for your hug. I went to PT this afternoon and he gave me a massage which was really wonderful.
Going to try the humming tonight... Not long now for your test, let me know how you get on, hope its good news. x
Massages are nice and healthy for you as it help with what one PT called "skin hunger" the hunger to be touch by another person.
Let me know how the humming goes, I think I might do a lot of humming this evening for tomorrow.... I test at 3 PM my time tomorrow. Thanks for you support... do some humming for me....lol
Ron
Lynn,
Well........I did not Not pass....lol I passed thanks for your humming, maybe you could be a H.T. ....The photo on the diving lincense is bad, I look like needly person from a 4th, yes 4th not 3rd world country. But I am still blessed to be walking, etc.
Ron
Congratulation and celebrations..... my humming worked, bet ypur pleased, you cant get anywhere in the states without a car... IThink photos on passports or anything look as if you should have a number under them!!!!!
Have a great day.
Lynn