I am now without taking any pain medication with the exception of an extended release Tylenol for the day and again for the evening. I do feel stiff and sore but it is tolerable. My surgery was June 27th. I also recently started PT and while that makes me tired, it does seem to help. My shooting pain seems to have disappeared but I continue to have severe leg cramps. In fairness, they weren't completely sure if that was spine related or not. My PT seems to think it may be a combo of not enough water intake and lower strength and flexibility in my legs so we are working that angle. Each surgery is different but it does seem to slowly get better. My hip aching just recently stopped (like last week) and even now it is there on occasion. I am 47 but I would not say I was active - my issues before prevented me from even walking so I hope to become active over time.
Oh and yes - My tolerance in any one position is still only 20 -40 minutes (longer sitting than standing)
Hi Sandra I had my lower lumbar fusion before this I could walk 3 miles a day now my legs are numb and I had the top surgeon at rush downtown Chicago not only I'm screwed but now he tells me he does these operations no more I know what you are going through I'm getting a lawyer and getting this crap out of my back also I own the Chicago loop News newspaper which is on hold because of this doctor
Any here is my cell if you want talk more my wife is just been ok since I can't walk unless I have a death grip on her I'm sure your husband is mad to thanks Steve and
312 376 5844 Steven
I had my surgery, L4-5 S1, along with moving L4 which had moved toward my spine from a spondylolisthesis that worsened as I aged. Bone shaved, vertebrae moved, baskets of bone material in between 3 vertebrae, 2 titanium rods, 6 screws. I was 66 when I had the surgery at Barrows Neuro in Phoenix, AZ.
I have to tell you all that the first year isn't fun. If you had a full invasive surgery, with screws and rods, this is a lengthy recovery. But you do recover. I no longer have any pain where the surgery was done and 90% of my terrible sciatic pain is gone. I do still have muscle issues - periformis muscles and hips and prolonged sitting isn't a good thing. I take tramadol and a muscle relaxer when I need them.
This surgery changes your entire walking gait and calls on muscles, tendons, ligaments - all connective tissue - to adapt to the new you.
I have no regrets even tho' at my age it was close to 2 years until I felt like the new me. I was warned on one of these forums by a couple people that this would be true for an older patient.
It's super important not to push yourself. I was told a fusion can easily take a year or more to totally fuse. I listened to everything they told me - my surgeon is a big believer in walking as therapy. Today I am so pleased to be about 80% pain-free. Years ago, I broke my tailbone and it still causes problems now and then, so I deal with that too - nothing there that the Barrows neurosurgeon could fix.
My advice is to be patient and very careful. You all seem to be only a short time past surgery. I was told this could be the case by my surgeon, but sometimes they don't prepare you for how long the recovery can be and then you can hurt yourself. I also did physical therapy, but not extensive and not the painful things. Listen to your body - it will tell you what is good and what is not.
I HAD a laminectomy on may 3 2016 my back is 3 times worse. I'm still in therapy and it's been a nightmare. I sleep 3 to 4 hours a night in a recliner.
I'm going to.keep it short. They the surgeon calls and says I seen on your mri that I missed something. That I have spondylosis l and need 8 screws. I WAS LIVID. I told my fiance and therapist I knew something was wrong. I got my ssd approval the first time around but I've been working since I was 16 years old this was devastating news. So, I'm in the middle do I have surgery or not. He also says it's not a guarantee fix. I mean wtf, that pain after surgery was the worst pain ever. Please anyone do not have anybody operate on your back. If over weight work out lose weight exercise take mild anti inflammatory's and walk a mile once a day
I KNOW someone who had the same surgery and lost 103 pounds they weigh 198 pounds now and can do anything with just mild spasms. Stay away from the knife please
Good morning,
have you had a second opinion. Did a neurosurgeon do your surgery or an Orthopaedic spine Doc.
Definitely get another opinion before you have another surgery!
i had a PLIF at L three four End of May. I have four screws, two rods and a titanium disc with bone graft and am doing great. I ride the recumbent bike six miles a day and went to PT for core strengthening, doing pretty well so far.
Good luck and God Bless you
I just don't know what to do my surgeon just pasted me off to another hospital saying they don't take my plan no more so for now I have to lawyer up as far as weight I'm 60 and weight 165 and my usual day is around 5 miles a day we own a Chicago news paper and very seldom drive now I'm lucky I can walk a block I walked in for surgery and never walked again
Hi had laminectomy in Feb..chose not to have the fusion but even with just this.. please believe it takes a long time to recover!
Be slow, mindful of movement and have your Physio. It takes a year to recover please just takes things slow.
Annie
Hello Ann I'm do glad you took the time to reply to me and give me some encouragement. I certainly appreciate it. BUT here's the thing.
Had my surgery in may, started physio in June and I'm currently still in physio, thinking about pulling the plug on this thing. IN August at my surgical follow up with my Dr he explained to me that the reason things may be getting worse is due to the spondylosis I have in my lower spine. He wants to go back in and out some reason and rods in and he says that this may help me. MAY HELP ME, is the words I don't wanna hear, so he referred me to a pain management specialist that could possibly relieve some pain with injections. I know what they are and had them before and they've done completely nothing for me.
It's so psychologically disheartening for all this to go wrong for me. I sleep 4 hours a day including the night, and spend most of it in the recliner. I Should be upright not bent over still. Even my physical therapist realises that something is still wrong and after trying to build up my core, we decided to just stick with a little stretching and heat with stem.
My surgery in the first place was the most painful thing I've had, and to to this other thing I still need time to decide if I'm going to roll the dice and see if it works. The surgeon gets paid either way. Me, I stand to continue to suffer. Thanks again and hopefully by the end of November I'll get some answers and a plan forward to have some relief.
So sad since I've been working since I was 16 and now 51 and cannot pick up either of my grand daughter's, both who are e years old. I have put this in God's hands and thank him I'm still alive. In any case thank you once again and if anyone has a suggestion or a recommendation, please send it through I read them all.
I am so sorry this has happened to you! If you're spondylo is serious (they grade from 1-4 or 5), you will likely need it fixed as it can continue to move - and who knows what he's done in there. Mine was a level 2, but it was very painful with sciatic pain. I needed 6 screws with the 2 rods. 8 sounds worse. Can you get another opinion from a well-reputed neurosurgeon on an emergency basis? There is no reason this should have happened if they gave you the right MRI's and you had a good surgeon.
Steven - I used to live in Chicago and Rush was one of the go-to places. I'm sorry this happened. I have friends there who have gone to Univ. of Chicago and Northwestern for a variety of issues - they are very good. Yes, it sounds like you need an attorney...so does BREALL7. Since I've gone thru this difficult surgery, I feel badly for anyone who does too - let alone have such bad results! Will you insurance cover you in AZ? The neurosurgeons at Barrows are state of the art from all over the world.
Hi Donna I applied for sis in Chicago I owned the the newspaper Chicago loop news for 32 years and after this operation I'm ruined this is hell but I hope you are better you sound like in good spirits me my life is ruined
Also I'm oak park Illinois
I know Oak Park. I used to live in the city near the Hancock, but many years ago. We go back to Indiana to visit friends and always stay a few days in the city. I know I have picked up your paper. This is terrible - you definitely need to see an attorney. Do keep the universities in mind - along with Barrows. I know at least half a dozen people who have had surgery there and all are doing well. I wish you well...
Hi Donna we use to live on lake shore Drive before we moved to oak park and as Indiana we go to Madison there for the hydroplane races today I find a lawyer it's getting worse my back also I filed for ssi which was easy over the phone
Hi Donna also did you ever attend celebrate state street our news paper sponsored it Chicago Loop News
Hey Sandra38042
I'm 52 yr old female and I had spinal stenosis twice. 7 was ago I had a laminectomy on my L-3 l-4 and instantly felt healed until a week later. Same complaints as u! I'm just laying here in bed waiting for someone to bring me some ice packs or something. My lower back feels like it pinched the hell outta my nerves all across my back both sides and my legs are cramping up and involuntary muscles are spazzing in my legs. My norco don't seem to be working at all. This is the second time this happened to me since my surgery. I requested another MRI & did find out that I have edema fluid sacs in my spine & it's makes it more swollen. Try to lose top weight I need too. I get a lot of rest too but this pain keeps happening. All we can do is pray cuz I don't want to end up in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. My surgeon said the edema fluid is normal. I hope! I also broke my femor bone when I was 16 yrs old. That leg grew longer causing my S-1 l-5 & l-4 l-5 to wear and slip their disc and I have to live with those bones touching.they have gotten to degenerteated & too late in my life to fuse them. WEll Sandra, I'm just as miserable as u. Hang in there. God bless us both!
Hi, I'm 50, and just had an L5/S1 lumbar fusion with laminectomy. I also have cadaver bone to help support my discs. I was in terrible pain for about 3-4 weeks after surgery. The next few weeks seemed to be getting better a little at a time. All of a sudden, the numbNess is back in my right thigh with a vengeance. This is so annoying. I thought I was on my way to recovering. Now I have trouble standing up again without assistance. So frustrating! !!
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