I agree, you never accept that kind of an opinion or unprofessional comment from a doctor. They are suppose to help you feel and get better, not make you feel worse. This is long but follow it through, it will provide you with good information, I just had a discetomy done with spinal fusion. Did you have an mri done?
Back in september of this year, I injured my back l5-s1 lifting something heavy at work into a vehicle.
An mri was done, but not until 4 weeks after my injury. The findings were: right paracentral protrusion at the l5-s1 with impingement of the nerve on the right side. I was already in therapy, so the doctor ordered traction sessions to be done as part of it. I also had a series of epidural blocks done, and I agree they are pretty much useless.
All seemed to be going well in therapy, until one traction session, the table came back together and I knew something was very wrong. I had to be sent to the hospital, where a new mri was done. The disc had herniated, impinging the nerve to the point that I could barely stand up at all. The doctor informed me that surgery had to be done to relieve the pressure on my nerve before further damage was done.
I had a discetomy done on 12/06/03 with fusion to help support the disc. The pain after surgery is quite incredible, be prepared for it. You will most likely have great difficulty moving yourself at all for a day or two. They provide you with medications to help control your pain. I was in the hospital for 5 days recovering. If you experience constipation, it is totally normal. The medications will do that to you.
The day after surgery, a therapist will most likely come by to see you, and yes he or she will make you get up out of bed. The faster you are able to the quicker the recovery process will begin. By the third day, I was fairly mobile but slow to move around. She required me to use a walker to keep my balance. By the 5th day, I was ready to head home. The therapists requirements for me was that I was able to walk at least 1800 feet, with no walker and go up and down 10 steps.
Here it is 3 weeks later, I just started back to therapy today. My ability to move around has gotten much better. I negotiate my stairs at home a few times a day, one step at a time. Getting in and out of bed and finding a comfortable sleeping spot is about the most difficult thing, followed by putting on socks and shoes. Bending is limited. Sitting is much easier, though I try to limit it to 1.5 hours or it becomes uncomfortable.
The incision area is totally closed up and healing well. The doctor will not allow you to shower for about 2 weeks after the surgery since that area can not get wet while healing. These are some of the things I am experiencing, but you may or many not have trouble with them at all.
Whatever you do, do not give up hope and do not accept that doctors answer, get another opinion. I wish you the best in a speedy recovery =-). Sorry I am very long with my post, but I hope it helps you.
