Kristen,

I'm sorry you are in so much pain still.

Recovery from a spinal fusion can take quite a bit of time and you are only 4 weeks into the recovery period.

It can also be individual as well. Some people will recover faster than others.

It can also depend on factors such as how long nerves where being compressed, how weak you where before surgery etc.

When you see your surgeon for your post op visit, have a list of questions to ask him/her and also have someone else with you when you see the doctor.

Be sure to tell your surgeon everything you have said in your post about your pain level, how miserable you feel etc.

You didn't say why you are waiting for a bone growth stimulator or why you would need one, but ask about that.

I would suggest that you ask about a muscle relaxer as well. You have had lots of muscles pulled aside to move them out of the way for surgery and many times patients are given, not only pain meds, but also muscle relaxer to help decrease pain.

I know it's hard to be patient during the recovery process, but a fusion is more involved surgery than a disectomy and the recovery period for a fusion is much longer.

discuss all of this with your surgeon to get the answers that you need.

Good luck and let us know what the surgeon says and how you are doing.

Fran

Thank you. I am waiting for the bone growth stimulator because I need to get financial aide, my insurance only covers part of the cost and its not a lot. I need one for the fusion I'm assuming, I have donor bone.

I do have my list and I am on muscle relaxers also.

I have this awful burning pain on my left side. Its new and started a few days ago. I did call and am waiting for a call back from my surgeon. Thursday can't come fast enough.

My doctor did warn me, and I totally trust him, that this was a very painful surgery, I was so scared, but never prepared for all of this.

At least I do know now that four weeks is not a long time for recovery. I honestly thought I would be all better. Not sure what I was thinking!

Thank you so much for getting back to me, I don't feel so alone anymore. I can feel myself getting more and more depressed and now I have an outlet. No one really understands, as much as they feel they do, unless you've gone through it.

Thanks again,
Kristen

Krsiten,

glad to offer support. Though I haven't had a fusion at this time, I know others that have, and some recover more quickly than others.

Some of it can depend on how the surgery was done, but most of it is because we are all individuals and we all respond to surgery and post op differently.

Doctors give us the statistical information on recovery, as that is the best they can really do. They can not determine how each of us will recover on an individual basis.

The burning pain you are feeling sounds like it is nerve pain. It is not uncommon for those nerves to start to act up a few weeks post op.

The nerves are very angry that they have been moved around during surgery, had compression removed from them and now they have to work again and recover from both compression and surgery.

They are going to let you know how angry they really are and start to act up as they heal and regenerate.

Be sure to tell you doctor about that burning nerve pain. He/she may want to add some medication for you for the nerve pain. Either neurontin or lyrica to help ease the pain for you.

He/she may also add a medrol pack, which is a decreasing dose of steroids to help ease the pain for you.

Narcotic meds are not going to help relieve nerve pain.

It may also be that the pain meds your surgeon gave you are not enough or the correct ones for you and your pain meds need to be changed.

I would also ask your doctor why he wants a bone growth stimulator for you. That is usually not given unless there is a high concern that the patient will have a problem with fusing post op.

Donor bone fuses very well.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Fran

I had a double spinal fusion (s4 s5) January 5th. I am happy to find I am not the only one frustrated by the length of time it takes to feel better. I am in no way ready to go back to work. I can walk very slowly. I can get dressed, shower, sit with proper support. Bending is very hard if not impossible. I have driven a few blocks. Getting in and out of the car is very hard. I don't think I was prepared for the length of recovery and the pain associated with recovery. I wonder how long it will be before I can go on vacation, walk the beach and not feel pain. The surgery was a last ditch effort on my part to get rid of the pain which has plagued me for 10 years.

Perhaps someone could enlighten me on when I can walk at a normal pace without pain. Please. In general how long does the full healing process take. Maybe a time line?

It can take a full year to recover from a spinal fusion.

You should not be bending in any way, shape or form, 4 weeks post spinal fusion.

No turning, no twisting, no bending, no stooping, no lifting more than 5 pounds for quite a few months.

Much of what you may be feeling in pain is the nerves that are very angry after surgery.

It can take quite a bit of time for them to relax, and start to heal. Many times, the nerve pain can get worse before it gets better.

You might want to try some plastic bags on the seat of the car to help you slide in and out of the seat.

Walking short distances in a mall is a good idea.

You might also ask if one of the nerve meds, lyrica or neurontin might ease some of your pain and a muscle relaxer.

People heal at different rates of time and 1-2 months post spinal fusion, is still very early out to be thinking of going back to work.

Since both of you are having so many questions about your individual progress, they should be addressed by your spinal surgeon.

But, it sounds like to me that you are both being very impatient to return to normal activity. Patience is the name of the game now, and I know from personal experience, it is not easy.

Talk with your spinal surgeons, have a list of all your questions, including all that you asked here and have him/her address every one of them

Good luck

Fran

Hi all,
I had a L5 S1 spinal fusion October 31, 2008 I must say that the first 3 months really suck. The pain and burning is the worst but I can tell you that it will get better. My neurologist had me walking 3 miles a day come week 4 after surgery. I am now off my muscle relaxers and pain pills. I only have to take advil in the morning and at night. It is a long road but oh so worth it. Your body will tell you when you do too much too fast. I still get some occasional numbness down my right leg and foot and pain around my top pin on my right side. Heat and advil work wonders.
My sister also had the same surgery by a different Dr. 2 days before I did and she is still having issues with pain. We all recover at different rates so hang in and let your body do all the hard work until Physical Therapy starts that is.

I am still in tremendous pain from my surgery. I had a 2nd one in May, 08 to push back a cage that was slipping out from my spine causing pain down my leg. Now, I am awaiting a 3rd operation for spinal fluid leakage. I am dependent on my medication to navigate thru the day. My back goes into spasm very easily upon any activity and is causing my days in bed unless it is absolutely necessary I go out.
Is there anyone out there that has chronic pain like this post-op over a year? I am extremely tired all the time due to this chronic pain and it has consumed my thinking making me anxious if I have to go anywhere or do anything.
I also have curviture which complicates my recovery and I wonder if I will ever be pain free or is this going to be my way of living for the future.

I had my surgery feb 25th and I am frustrated as well. Glad to see that I am not the only one. Every time I try and stop taking the percocet, I end up paying for it the next day. I'm young, I'm only in my late 30's and I expected that I would at least be off the pain meds by now. I had L4-S1 fusion. I do the eliptical every day for an hour. I feel ok when I do that, but when I walk on the tread mill it hurts. I just want to know when this is going to be over...I know that I won't be able to go back to my job for some time, but I want to at least know that it will be worth it down the road!! I had both discs ruptured, on vertebrae shifted, and only slight sciatic pain, no leg numbness etc. I just want to know that I'm not going crazy here!

C

hi, my surgery was on feb 11th, 2008. i was told by the dr that it could be 3 to 6 month recovery for pain and discomfort but up to a year before i resume normal activity with losing 5 to 15% of back mobility.

it took almost 2 months for the leg pain to go away and i was told it was normal.

on my post op visit my xrays showed no fusion so they gave me a bone stimulator. it is a small and almost like a back brace that when on helps the bone growth. i have had it only for a few weeks and not even sure if it works.

my dr said that most patients are already in therapy and driving. there is no way i can do either. i still use what the hospital gave me to help put socks and shoes on and the gadget to pick up things or to reach high places.

they tell me to be sure to follow what the call the "BLT" no bending, no lifting and no twisting".

i am frustrated and semi depressed as well but we need to find something we can do to occupy our bed/couch time to keep our minds off not only the pain but the inability to function as we normally would.

smokers are higher risk for major complications so if anyone who had this surgery smokes needs to quit, i am still trying.

i can honestly say that i am worse now than prior to the surgery but i know in time things will get better.

spring is here so lets be happy that we can enjoy it instead of being at work. i try to take my laptop outside on nice days or sit by on open window. dr states that the more oxygen you can get the fusion to work faster.

i wish you all the best and remember that depression is a part of recovery. i am now seeing a physcotheraist to help me through it. also keep in mind that pain meds alter your way of thinking.

bj

Thanks everyone for your posts. I am having surgery on August 27th at 7:30 am. it is intrumental on my L5 i believe. I have to say im kinda nervous after reading these posts. I hope you all are doing well. It sounds like I'm going to need friends after this lol... Shane

Hi All

I had a spinal fusion at S1 in 2005, followed by a double disc replacement at L3/4 and L4/5 the following year. Both operations were successful in their own right, although the first operation only put extra pressure on the discs above it, resulting in my need for the second op. Subsequent MRI scans have show the second operation to have been successful, with both replacement discs sitting where they should be. I have had subsequent facet joint injections with no effect.

Unfortunately, what no one ever explained to me was that there was a condition called Chronic Pain Syndrome. A condition that affects the nervous system that causes the sufferer to feel pain even after the underlying reason may have been fixed by surgery. This condition can affect anyone and is not just limited to back pain. I have just finished a 4week residential pain management course at St Thomas’s hospital in London, during which all this was explained in some detail. The simple fact is that once your nervous system has been affect in this way, there is no cure and it becomes a permanent condition. My lower back pain has worsened over the last three years, I have not been able to work, and have experienced a slow deterioration. The prescribed treatment is controlled pain relief, exercise, relaxation and body stretching.

Obviously I guess I am one of the unlucky ones, and am only now just reading about people who have had unsuccessful surgeries, pre op everything I ready pointed to most successful outcomes. It did take a good six to nine moths to recover from both my ops, although I did return to my office job 4 months after my disc replacements. Everything was sort of OK for about 10 months, when all of a sudden just reaching to open the back door, it was as if someone had just flipped a switch and turned on a permanent and nagging lower back pain. Ever since this pain has been made worse by any prolonged walking, standing, sitting, and can be made significantly worse for days on end by the most simplest or smallest movement. I have to wear a tens machine, whenever I go out, but most of the time I am limited to staying near the home.

I am sure that this is not the type of thing that most people undergoing or have had surgery, but I wish someone had explained this condition and the risks involved pre-op.

If anyone would like to know more about this, or has had a similar experience I would like to hear from them.

Gary

I had a fusion of L3-L4-L5 after a compression fracture of L4 in an accident. My surgery was 2-25-09. I had lots of other injuries, so it was about a week after the surgery before I was able to walk again. At a little over two months after the surgery, I am feeling a lot better. I am able to walk about 3 miles and ride the exersize bike for about a 1/2 hour. I am getting some of my back strength back, but am not going to push it until I get the go ahead from my doctor. I am frustrated that I am feeling better, but still having to take it easy to allow the bones time to heal. All things considered I think the procedure was a success and am looking forward to being able to get back to my life.

I had a double lumbar fusion on May 9, 2008 and I still have terrible pain. Just how long does it take for the pain to go away. Sitting still hurts and I still have trouble sleeping. I am still taking pain meds and muscle relaxants. This truly sucks!

Here are the coping strategies I have learned after a March 20,2009 fusion at L5/S1 and an L4/L5 artificial disk:
1. Most of my pain 2 weeks post op was coming from muscles that were all knotted up.
when I effectgively atretched them, the pain subsided significantly. I do a piriformis stretch by, face down on soft surface, cross one leg under the other, and slowly,m controlled by my arms, lower the upper body until I feel the piriformis' resistance and then hold til it loosens.
repeat other side.
2. next strategy: I discovered that 6 - 10 GRAMS of vitamin C a day and 20,000 to 40,000 IU of vitqamin
A makes a huge difference in the sense of strength I felt in my core/ (these are in addition to other vitamins: B complex, ginger and bromelain for inflammation - etc.)
3. Next: I think there is really something to the idea of homeopathic meds after all! G o to the health food store and get a homeopathic called "arnica montana" 30X and take four every hour until you start to feel better. It really helped me with pain.best prices non all these are at swanson vitamins on internet
4. Next strategy - invest in 4 good quality cooling pads from walmart - the cold is powerful and
will help, even will help heal as it reduces inflammation.
5. Next strategy -go to the web site for a leg lift support pillow - great investment because it increases the effectiveness of your lay down time (you'd better be laying down during the day!!)
most folks will do well with an 8 incher - they are on sale now!!
6. TAke care of your intestines if your having pain meds! you just don't bneed another medical issue!!
7. get with a good physical therapist - who knows you and will listen - really listen!!
8. If you can't sleep, take a few benadryl )it has dyphenhydramine and will put you to sleep -don't take it and drive please -that causes problems!)

I'mm 9 weeks post op and right there with you guys!!! I'm pullin' for ya!!
Joan

Kristen,
I had what the Doctors call "Cages" in my L4,L5 & S1, I am so sorry to say that this was done back over 11 years and I am in so much pain I cry on a daily basis and am so sick and tired of having to take pain meds. I had the surgery to stop the meds.

I have went to another doctor and they did a 5 minute look and said I was ok.

Who do I turn to, it is not in my mind I promise. I am at the end of my wits and do not know where to turn. I have went and made numerous purchases of braces just to keep my back straight so I can do things around my home, but sadly the next day I can barely move.

Has anyone ever had them removed and if so what did the doctors use after taking them out?

Please help me, my marriage is failing due to me not being able to drive for more than an hour or get on a plain, so much more to list...

I was that when the doctors started the cage fusion that it was a trial experiment? Has anyone else heard this?

Hi to you all, I had two back op's one in 1992 and another in 1993. First i had what i called number 8 wire coz it looked like a 8. Next op he took it out and fussed my back and placed a metal plate in. Since then i have suffered with Chronic pain, Numbness from waist down on left side,incontinence both bladder and bowel.Stabbing pains in top of legs have had 3 prednisone injections in each not allowed anymore so they cant do nothing. Also have a gratting and locking up sensation in left groin that really really hurts and almost drops me on the spot.I have only been like this since last operation when surgeon said he had to cut all the nerve endings and just hoped they would regrow. Well guess they never i dont know but know i have had enuff of living with this pain.Can anyone tell me why it is like this and will i ever be pain free. No because the Specialist says the op was butchered and there is nothing that can be done.Now at 58 my disc is collapsing just above fusion, lovely and sorry we cant do a thing. Thanx for comming go have a good life. Well maybe someone got a hint. I also smoke Marajana and it does help. Thanx for listening, Judzz

I feel for every one still in pain after a fusion because I'm there myself. I had my fusion on L5 L4 and S1 and it was 2 years ago and I still feel like crap. They told me that everything was put back nicely and it all fused well and gee"JUST Cant understand why i feel so bad still". They said I had a 15 percent chance of feeling worse and really think I do.
What really kills me , is after my surgery they figured I would be "all better" so they lowered my pain med doses and that was dumb. My legs and hips and into my feet feel so bad. I get an epidural every 3 months but it wears out after 6 weeks and for the next 6 weeks I'm miserable. I've discovered a lot of things to do sitting down or else I would go crazy. I was always super fit and skinny and now I can't even walk in the grocery store. BUT WHAT'S WORRYING ME NOW, IS THAT MY HIP AND LOWER BACK ARE CLICKING WHEN I WALK. DOES ANY ONE HAVE ANY IDEAS WHAT THAT COULD BE? SORRY TO WHINE SO BUT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO REALLY UNDERSTAND ARE OTHERS IN MY SHOES...EM

The thing about fusions they only tackle the symptoms and you need to treat the twist ir tilt in your spine to stop the cause irritating the discs. The docs may not have told you that but it really does require attention

Good luck,

Steve , I really appreciate your attention and advice...How does one treat the twist or tilt in ones back. My problem wasn't with my discs, I was born with my L5 in two parts (spondalolithesis) and was an athlete all my life until I couldn't do it any more, about 6 years ago ,I'm 50 now. I messed up my back by playing tennis, hockey, skiing, etc and the bones were crushing my spinal cord roots. So they put the rods in to keep it from slipping any more and fortify it. I spent from the age of 17 to now in pain. The fusion did make my back sturdy but my pain isn't gone. The dr said that after all those years of the nerves being squashed that they're probably permanently damaged, and they show that with those nasty nerve tests, the ones where they stick long needles into your legs...those are AWFUL! But if you have or any one any other suggestions I'm open for them. I had a laminectomy first and tried everything from accupuncture to you name it before I had the fusion. Neurotin and Lyrica worked for me but I gained 25 lbs in a month with each one and decided I hated being sleepy all the time. So any other suggestions. I started the entire ordeal in great shape weighing 130lbs with 18% body fat at the age of 45. Now I'm the most miserable because I'm 156 with no muscle left and I'm miserable when I just get up to wash the dishes. IT SUCKS>>>sorry to whine ...again. Em