Long-Term Laminectomy Recovery

[Guest guest]

I would like to hear (privately) from any of you who may have gone

through a repeat laminectomy surgery on your spine, where the

recovery period was longer than maybe you thought expected. I am a

42 yr old female, achondroplasia dwarf.

I lost my ability to walk, due to extreme weakness and severe

compression in mostly my lower lumbar area, 3 months leading up to

my last surgery. Surgery date was September 10. I am still at that

position, although I am able to stand for a short period of time

without my legs turning to jello and giving way on me. But of

course that's with the support of my walker and under supervision of

a nurse. I am unable to take but more than a few steps at a time,

although PT informs me that I am improving, but very slowly. There

are some days though that my legs won't want to do anything, except

give way at the knees.

I am still in the same amount of leg and feet pain that I was in

before surgery, although I am now off the muscle relaxer that I was

on, due to what I think its complete long term ineffectiveness. I

also felt that it was making me too sleepy. I hear good things

about other muscle relaxants, but they all seem to make me extremely

fatigued.

Maybe I'm being impatient, as it was always like me for most of you

to see me hopping all over the place at past conventions on my

walker. I am told that it can take anywhere from 6 months - 2 years

to expect a full recovery. My goal at this time still is to be able

to transfer from the scooter or wheelchair to my walker, so that I

can regain some form of independence and thus go back to living

alone..hopefully. Although I will be eligible for someone to come

in to my residence each day and assist me with daily living needs,

but not at night.

At the present time I am waiting to get reapproved to have more

physical therapy time here at the rehab center, where I am still a

resident. If I should have to wait more than a couple of weeks,

then I'm probably going to opt to check out of here and apply for

some more therapy time from my home. I am wanting so much at this

time to be home by Christmas, but I'll do whatever it takes to get

the therapy time that I need here in rehab. I can still get a pass

to leave here over the Christmas period, and will return soon

thereafter the break.

Anyway after all that rambling, I am hoping to hear from any of you

who may have experienced a similar recovery, with you not being able

to walk with limited ability before surgery. What I am probably

trying to ask, is all of this normal and thus am I on track with my

recovery? Was " your " surgery a success? And is there enough of us

out there amongst LPA circles, who may have the desire to form a

support group for disabled lp's, whether wheelchair, scooter or bed

bound?

There seems to be more and more of us out there, especially as one

reaches middle-age, when our bodies want to seemingly start to give

way on us..or to most of us anyway! lol I see more lp males than lp

females who are in this position, or is that just my imagination?

In the meantime..have a good day,

Ann