Hi Friend

I had Spinal fusion last year ... it does get better, and you've got to excersise (gently) just so your muscles get used to the difference.
Try and get the flat of your back on the ground gently bend your knees, place feet on the ground. Gently rock your knees side to side .... do this 10 times and then rest for 5-10 mins. repeat it .... do it whilst Eastenders is on !! When standing, place hands on hips and gently circle the hips around, do this 5 times, then go in the opposite direction....don't forget to rest inbetween each action until this motion gets easier ..
keep in touch, and we'll get thru this together. x
Angie

I had 360 spinal fusion L4-L5 with Cage, screws and rods on June 9th. I went back to work (desk job) on July 2nd, I am now starting my second week back to work today and things are going well. I still have some muscle stiffness and up until 4 days ago had a moderate pain in the lower right back. Then all of a sudden, one day I woke up and THAT pain was totally gone. weird.

I still get pretty tired and wore out when I do anything physical, and had my wife totally chew my a$$ yesterday cuz I mowed and edged the yard.

I try to be active (I walk the halls at work every hour on the hour just to stay loose) and on the weekends, I walk at least 30 minutes in the morning and afternoon on my treadmill.

My doc has said I am the exception though because I did approx 6 months of physical therapy before my surgery. I think that helped me bounce back extremely fast.. I had a Microdiscectomy 3 years ago and that "minor" surgery took me twice as long to get back to work.

Hang in there... You went through a MAJOR surgery... It takes time to recover, and every instance is different. Like I said... I had a bunch of my pain go away overnight. I wish the same for you...

Jason

Thank you both for your replies, I am starting Physio this week so I will wait for them to give the exercises as I cant get on the floor yet !!!!!!

By God Jason, you seem to be like an overnight success story !!!! July this year !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I am struggling to stay up and mine was 31st of May, 2007. I have hired a threadmill which wont be here till the end of the month, but the weather is so so bad I really need to improve on the walking. I have been going out in the lashing rain, thunder on Sunday the neighbours must think I am mad....

You said you were active before surgery I was'nt Iwas more in the bed than out, could'nt walk either.

Thanks again for the replies.

Hi Friend

I'm still not sure if you are a male or female !!!
I got my self back to work after 6 weeks, I wasn't allowed to drive
for that amount of time after the op .... I must admit, I think I went back to quickly, however, I have a supportive boss, so she's on my side !!
I too get told off for overdoing the odd housework etc .. and my hubby does his fair share about the house, and comes shopping with me, (which most men hate) Keep active, however, don't overdo it ... you've got to get used to YOUR limits ..... After a year now after the op, I feel a lot stronger, and I don't get tired so quickly now .... and I'm off the painkillers, so I can now have my glass of wine ! Recovery is a long process, but you got to keep active, even if it is walking to the corner shop and back ..... keep in touch, keep your chin up too !!! X Angie

Hi Angie,

I'm female, thanks for replying. Yesterday I had a good day spent 3 hours up longest ever. I go for a walk every hour so I am trying to keep as active as I can. Boy its hard. Everyone I seem to chat to seems to be good and back to normal after the 6 weeks, but I suspose I have seen a good change this week. If I was more comfortable sitting I could stay up longer, so as soon as that improves I should please God be much better.
Great to talk to you. I went for coffee this morning 2nd time out, it was brilliant, and now I am at home trying to pass the time up !!!
Talk soon, and advice please pass on .........

Hi Friend

I'm so pleased that it seems to be getting easier, but again I stress, not to overdo it, it is a girlie thing to just get on with the odd housework, and I too overdo it, but I suffer all the next day. I'm a lot stronger now, and it is over a year since I had the op. I went to Portsmouth today, with my job, I did a lot of walking about, and standing around listening to all my Divers gripes (I work for the Royal Navy and Royal Engineers -Underwater Crew). I enjoy my job, so I was glad to get back to it. I think they were glad to see me back too The thing is to keep a big smile on your face, I'm a fighter, so I won't let anything get me down, although I sit and have a good cry at times, I get it out of my system, and then I'm all good again. Do you have support of family, friends, hubby kids or anything like that ? Don't forget to get them doing thier bit whilst you recover, even if it is going shopping with you, or helping with the laundry.
It won't hurt them When it's time to relax, make sure that you get comfortable, and put some low music on, I don't know why, but muscles seem to like it ....... when sitting (which you still have trouble with) make sure you got lots of cushions and pillows supporting your back and legs. Try it anyway, it may help you get a bit more comfortable. Keep smiling Friend, and keep in touch, you know I am here if you need a bit of moral support if things get tough. TTFN Angie

Hello-I have not had a fusion myself but I worked in Spine-ortho and neurosurg, and now work in non-operative spine. Please give yourself the time you need to recover from a major surgery. You already have the most important thing going for you-the desire to get better and the inspiration to do so. It will come in time, and your eagernes to improve will help keep you fit and healthy, which will decrease the chances of having additional surgery. Give yourself a break-it sounds like you are doing great. The walking is really a wonderful exercise for you to do. As soon as you can get into the water, water therapy or even just hanging onto the side of the pool and kicking is a great rehab exercise! Good luck-you are doing great!

Back in the mid 80's I had a cervical fusion for a colapsed vertebrae. It colapsed duriing an exercise class....the doctor (when I finally went in with the pain) told me I had technically been walking around with a broken neck for two weeks...

I had a fusion and it was a tough recovery....I had some nerve damage, but over time I recovered about 95% of my function. It took me 10 weeks to go back to work. You are about where I was at 5 weeks...I could get up and sit and walk about for a couple of hours, but I would have to lay back down for a few hours before I could do it again. I have to admit...some of the pain at times, when the nerves that were compressed before, started coming back alive.....was unbelievable...however...you must remind yourself that you will get better and better...and you MUST do your level best to do the range of motion excercises your doctor recommends. It will hurt...but each time it will hurt less.

No two people recover the same...so don't let a timeline give you cause for depression. It was also strange in my case....I had a very slow recovery at first...but, during the 10th week....I started feeling better really fast.

Also know...that your back will never be perfect....you will have a couple of times during the years after... that you will have some back pain (even people with no serious condition have pain now and then)...don't let that scare or stop you from life. When those episodes occure...follow your doctors care and keep remembering...it will get better.

If there is but one bit of advice....keep moving...when you give into the pain of recovery...other tissues, muscles, and tendons...will get weaker and weaker...and then you will only cause more strain to be added to the surgical site....take your pain meds, get up...grit your teeth...and move...you can make it...you will make it...but at this point the recovery is primarily up to you. (And watch funny movies and tv shows...laughter really does heal.)

Best of luck...hang in there.