Lumbar L5-S1 (Freedom Lumbar Disc Replacement) - Plano, TX

[chasswen]

take at least 6 weeks your body will need it. and that isnt long at all.
chuck

[dbalkema]

Ok, so I have to share this.

Dr. Guyer has put me on Hydrocodine for pain since I got out of the hospital last Thursday. I didn't realize just how much pain I have been masking until this morning when I woke up. I have been taking it around the clock every 4 hours. So, I have been setting my alarm at night to wake up when I need to. I took pain killers at 8 PM last night, 12 AM, and was suppose to take them at 4 AM. I must have slept through the alarm at 4 because I woke up at 7:55 am this morning in tears not being able to move at all because of the pain that was radiating from hip to hip and and stomach and back area. LOTS of pain.

Last night, I was also experiencing some twitching from waist down. It just feels like jolts or short bursts of spasms. Yesterday is the first day I actually noticied it. I think I was scaring my wife a little bit as well.

I have actually been very good since I have been out of the hospital. I have only been getting out of bed to use the restroom and take a shower. I don't think I am over doing it at all. Just a little worried about the spasms.

Has anyone else experienced spasms before after ADR surgery?

[dshobbies]

i believe muscle spasms are very common after this surgery. Aside my my thigh, whenever I overdo, I still get muscle spasms in my back and of all places, my shin. Your muscles have been though a lot and don't know what's going on. They also tighten up when going into protection mode and they are screaming... what do we do

A good muscle relaxer may help in addition to or as your surgical pain subsides, instead of pain meds.

A little walking may also help rebuild those muscles slowly.

Good luck, Dale

[Terry Allen Blackburn]

Muscle spasms are normal after a surgery that involved cutting through muscle. Your body is healing and, spasms are muscle's nerves firing causing an involuntary response. My stitches used to feel like they were going to rip out I spasm'd so hard after surgery. They also had me on Valium to control the spasms. I agree with everyone else to give yourself time before you go back to work. I am an executive of a large company and basically have a desk job. I went back to work two months to the date of having 4 level ADR Surgery. I would not risk such an awesome gift. Your insurance may not cover any continuing care due to your surgery not being approved to begin with. You cannot afford to mess with a good thing.

Hang in there.

Terry Newton

[dbalkema]

OK, just wanted to update everyone,

I have somewhat over done it the past 2 days. I have gotten up too much and moved around too much. Right now, I have a little pain in my hip and groin area and my right leg is aching a bit.

So..... All I can say is for the next couple of days I am chained to my bed. I certainly don't want to cause any more nerve damage than what I may already have.

I'll try to post an update as something comes up!

Thanks,
Dan

[dshobbies]

We warn and we nag... slow and steady wins the race! But I guess we all need to find out the hard way, too thrilled with our new found freedoms.

Don't let the bumps in the road get you down. Most often, that's all they are.

Good luck, Dale

[Kathy]

I'm so happy for you. That's great that you had surgery and got the Freedom Disc. If I would have gotten into the trial, I was hoping for the Freedom Disc as well; sounds like you wanted that one too. Wishing you a super fast recovery. I can't wait to have surgery, I guess that's how you know that you are bad enough for surgery, when you are excited to have it! I honestly can't remember what it is like to be pain free and have energy, I know I used to be that way; but just can't picture it. Praying for many pain free days ahead,
Kathy