Guest guest Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 Hi! I just learned that I need to have a lumbar fusiom on L5-S1. I've been having problems for about 9 years but this past year has been the worse. After walking 15 minutes I found it hard to lift my right leg (I'm 39 y.o.). My visit last week with my neurosurgeon showed weakness now in my right toes and foot so I can no longer put off surgery. Can anyone tell me about post-op recovery? What am I in for as far as pain and movement the first few weeks after surgery. I will be home bound for 3 months wearing the back brace. I got my back brace last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 I had a lower lumbar fusion in 1999. I am 10 years post op and I'm still recovering. I too had the leg and foot pain. I couldn't stand for more than 10 minutes before my legs would go numb, and they still do. The recovery for me, was hell. The reason I said that is because after my surgery (which was 7 hrs b/c I had had a triple laminectomy 5 months prior) I developed an infection and was released from the hospital to home infusion therapy. It was miserable. The pain for me decreased about 70%. I have 30% nerve damage in both legs and foot and constantly deal with muscle spasms and pain. I am on Neurotin, and Tramadol for nerve pain, as well as a anti anxiety medication. All three I will take for life. I am sure the procedure has changed in the past ten years, but it is slow so take it each day at a time. Did youhave to be specifically measured for your back brace like I did? Tonja ---- delby4 <delby4@...> wrote: > Hi! I just learned that I need to have a lumbar fusiom on L5-S1. I've been having problems for about 9 years but this past year has been the worse. After walking 15 minutes I found it hard to lift my right leg (I'm 39 y.o.). My visit last week with my neurosurgeon showed weakness now in my right toes and foot so I can no longer put off surgery. Can anyone tell me about post-op recovery? What am I in for as far as pain and movement the first few weeks after surgery. I will be home bound for 3 months wearing the back brace. I got my back brace last week. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Hi, I had L4-S1 fusion in May 2008. I'm in the UK, so things could be different over here. Anyway, I was out of bed the next day (apparently, I can't remember, as I had a PCT in - lovely!) and walking up and down stairs the day after, with all my tubes trailing. I was kept in hospital for 10 days, as I had a high temperature, but was ready to go home well before that. I thought about sleeping downstairs (as the bathroom is down here), but made myself, very gently, cope with them. I was on Sevredol (oramorph), tramadol, paracetemol, diazepam, naproxyn and omeprazole. The first few weeks were a bit fuzzy, but I managed to get out of bed every day, even just to sit in front of the tv and walk a couple of minutes now and again. I had to get back to work after two months, as I wasn't getting paid and wasn't able to afford not to. Although I think I wasn't ready and that hasn't helped with my long time recovery. But my job is just sitting at a computer all day, but I have a 30 mile drive there and back to cope with. I still get pain and am still on naproxyn, paracetemol, DHC and omezprazole (for the side effects of the naproxyn), but I am very glad I had the surgery. I could barely walk before and was on Fentanyl patches, which just about knocked me out, so I'm glad I'm not on that anymore. I have more good days than bad days, but when the temperature changes I feel it more. I had very good surgery, with no complications like foot drop, etc. I was given a few simple physio exercises to do, but never prescribed going to see someone. I started acupuncture at the beginning of this year and that really helped to stop the horrendous hot flushes and lessened the pain a bit. I also do some gentle yoga to help strengthen my back muscles and try to tone up some of the rest of my body. I use an inversion table sometimes when my back feels really tight and that helps as well. Although some people do advise against that, so be careful. As with everything, make sure anything you do is right for you and don't push yourself too hard. Recovery is different for everyone and just try to do whatever you feel comfortable with and don't strain anything. Hope that helps. Gareth. > > Hi! I just learned that I need to have a lumbar fusiom on L5-S1. I've been having problems for about 9 years but this past year has been the worse. After walking 15 minutes I found it hard to lift my right leg (I'm 39 y.o.). My visit last week with my neurosurgeon showed weakness now in my right toes and foot so I can no longer put off surgery. Can anyone tell me about post-op recovery? What am I in for as far as pain and movement the first few weeks after surgery. I will be home bound for 3 months wearing the back brace. I got my back brace last week. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 I just had the l5-s1 fusion on the 12th and released the 16th. I have been moving around fine with little problems. Just moving slower and more cautiously. I use a can that helps. Also have access to a walker, but only used that just a handful of times. I wear the brace when up, but also find it helpful for when lying down. It's just a personal choice. Sitting seems to cause problems in hip areas and placing pressure on lower back, so it's best to get up and walk as much as possible. The procedure was anterior and posterior. The posterior staples were taken out 4 days ago and did not hurt. I've given up the Fentanyl patches, and just prefer the Lortabs, just like I took prior to surgery. For me, this procedure and the pain associated was hyped up to be pretty bad, but I find it to be nothing like I was worried about. I will be starting aqua therapy in about 2 weeks. I got a bone growth stimulator, but I think it's all nonsense. Just another way to fatten the pockets of fellow medical personnel. Showering isn't bad as I got myself a shower seat and am more careful. I am able to bend, but try to do it the proper way. Placing on socks is one reason; however, I received a simple device that aids in the placing on of these garments. Hope this helps! dave ________________________________ From: delby4 <delby4@...> spinal problems Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 4:39:41 PM Subject: lumbar fusion Hi! I just learned that I need to have a lumbar fusiom on L5-S1. I've been having problems for about 9 years but this past year has been the worse. After walking 15 minutes I found it hard to lift my right leg (I'm 39 y.o.). My visit last week with my neurosurgeon showed weakness now in my right toes and foot so I can no longer put off surgery. Can anyone tell me about post-op recovery? What am I in for as far as pain and movement the first few weeks after surgery. I will be home bound for 3 months wearing the back brace. I got my back brace last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 Dave, Thank you for the encourgement! Terry From: D Chavez <chavezd@...> Subject: Re: lumbar fusion spinal problems Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2009, 4:21 PM I just had the l5-s1 fusion on the 12th and released the 16th. I have been moving around fine with little problems. Just moving slower and more cautiously. I use a can that helps. Also have access to a walker, but only used that just a handful of times. I wear the brace when up, but also find it helpful for when lying down. It's just a personal choice. Sitting seems to cause problems in hip areas and placing pressure on lower back, so it's best to get up and walk as much as possible. The procedure was anterior and posterior. The posterior staples were taken out 4 days ago and did not hurt. I've given up the Fentanyl patches, and just prefer the Lortabs, just like I took prior to surgery. For me, this procedure and the pain associated was hyped up to be pretty bad, but I find it to be nothing like I was worried about. I will be starting aqua therapy in about 2 weeks. I got a bone growth stimulator, but I think it's all nonsense. Just another way to fatten the pockets of fellow medical personnel. Showering isn't bad as I got myself a shower seat and am more careful. I am able to bend, but try to do it the proper way. Placing on socks is one reason; however, I received a simple device that aids in the placing on of these garments. Hope this helps! dave ____________ _________ _________ __ From: delby4 <delby4 (DOT) com> spinedisorderssuppo rtgroup@gro ups.com Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 4:39:41 PM Subject: lumbar fusion Hi! I just learned that I need to have a lumbar fusiom on L5-S1. I've been having problems for about 9 years but this past year has been the worse. After walking 15 minutes I found it hard to lift my right leg (I'm 39 y.o.). My visit last week with my neurosurgeon showed weakness now in my right toes and foot so I can no longer put off surgery. Can anyone tell me about post-op recovery? What am I in for as far as pain and movement the first few weeks after surgery. I will be home bound for 3 months wearing the back brace. I got my back brace last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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