2Months Post-op L5/S1 Fusion Nerve Issues

[cls]

Thanks everyone for your input.

Guymontag you are absolutely right about the elliptical trainer, my PT said they are no-nos for awhile. She said this on my first appointment which was 3 weeks post op and I forgot why she said not to use it but it was definitely off limits. I agree with you about over doing anything - it's hard to define overdue after surgery because it seems like we all have our own thresholds. Phylly, I will do an EMG in 6 to 8 months if I my right leg stops improving but the good news is that I am regaining strength in this leg!!!! The new concern are the flare ups in my left leg and the new LBP. I saw my NS yesterday and he said that my MRI did not show any nerve compression and my CAT scan revealed that I am fusing. ALL GOOD NEWS! (I read on the MRI report that there is fluid by my SI and around the "disc" space - my NS did not think this was causing the problems but I wonder if it is a contributing factor). He did not have an explanation for the new nerve issues but thinks that I have some inflammation hypersensitivity. As far as the LBP I pointed to the area and he said that it could be my SI joint. I asked if it could be the hardware and he said that it also could be causing the pain. Here are some of the options that he gave me. Get a hardware block, SI injection, see a rheumatologist, see a neurologist. He certainly did not brush me off but I think he has done what he can for me at this point. I do think that he is right about the inflammation. Now that I am cleared to take NSAIDs I came home after my appointment at 5:30pm and inhaled 3 Advil. Usually by this time of day I am hurting and absolutely need to lay down but I had to go my son's school for his presentation and sit through 90 kids presenting their "Night of Notables". I actually made it through two hours and could actually walk out of the place when it was over. Thank God for NSAIDs!!

Phylly- hang in there and let me know if you make any progress with the piriformis issues. Hopefully the cortisone kicks in!

ImpossibleOne- Good to hear from you and even better that you "have not been around" much, to me it means that you are on the mend. I'll email you later.

[Nairek]

CLS,

You may notice that as times goes on, you are able to sit a little longer & walk a little further. At 1 month out from my fusion I was still in pain & had to lay down a lot throughout the day. At 2 months out from my fusion, I was in Florida climbing in & out of the car looking at houses. We must have looked at 35 houses in 2 1/2 days. I was amazed that I was able to get out of bed the next day & walk! At 3 months out, I was able to sit for long periods of time & not be in much pain.

I have noticed though that over the last week, I have been having weird nerve like issues in the right buttock & leg again. I'm wondering if it's from pulling my 1 leg up onto my other knee to put my socks on. My leg muscles are so tight it's not even funny. My OS cleared me to go to P/T 3 weeks ago but I told him that I have a treadmill & stationary bike @ home. I have been bad though & haven't been doing either. I've just been so beat after work that I crash on the couch & fall asleep. He told me that I could do the elliptical as well now. In theory, that is suppose to be better on the spine.

I know that I have an appointment with my pain mgmt. doc coming up. I'll have to mention the weird leg thing going on now. I'm still dealing with tenderness in my abdomen at the incision site. I can't believe that I am still dealing with that 3 1/2 months out from surgery.

I hope that you are feeling better. I will be moving at the end of June, so things are getting nuttier than usual around here. I'll try to keep in touch with you to see how you're doing.

Karin

[cls]

Karin,
I don't know how you get through a whole day of work. I simply cannot sit for more than an hour without pain. Next week I will be 3 months post-op and it seems like I am about a month behind everyone else who has had L5/S1 fusions. My pain is no where near my incision it is lower back and bum. I think I have a big problem with inflammation as my lower back muscles are tender to the touch. I think I will just have to wait this out and continue with Advil, icing and PT. I am so sorry about your incision site pain. I know what that is like with two previous surgeries. It took me a whole year before those nerves calmed down/regenerated. I sure hope this will not be the case for you. I know it is unpleasant but my previous PT said to gently massage this area to keep the scar tissue from forming plus it gets your nerves used to touch and then your jeans, etc. will not bother you as much. When is your big move day? You must be excited to leave the cold NE? If you can't get a workout in at home then at least go for a walk after work. As tired as you must be it will reinvigorate you

[Nairek]

CLS,

I won't lie, some days are better than others. It has been very rainy in NY for the past 2 weeks. I don't usually do well when it rains since the surgery. Weird thing was that I was hurting this morning & the sun was out. I guess there's no rhyme or reason sometimes.

I'm sorry to hear that you are still dealing with so much pain & discomfort. You mention how your lower back muscles are tender to the touch. I STILL have that problem. I've had that for well over 10 years now. As time has passed it has gotten progressively worse. I wish I knew the cause of this. I had prayed that the surgery would end it & am sad that it hasn't. Unfortunately OTC pain relievers don't work for me anymore. I've built up a tolerance due to 20 years of migraines

I'll try massaging the incision site to see if this helps the nerves. I don't think it would hurt to see if it helps ease my pain at this point.

We are looking to move at the end of June. We are pretty excited & I am of course nervous about moving away from my doctors so soon after surgery. I have to see if I can get referrals to doctors in SW Florida. The interesting part will be seeing who will accept NYS Worker's Comp as payment.

It may seem that you are not healing as quickly as you would like. I know that you know this, each person heals at a different rate. Some faster than others. I think a lot of it depends on how bad things were before the surgery. If I recall correctly, you had more severe issues than I did. This may be why you are recovering more slowly.

I've been told that it takes time to heal. I'm impatient. I want results now, not later LOL. It will all work out. If it means that it will take a little longer, then so be it. Just hang in there. We'll get thru the tough times!

[Michelle Maree]

YES!!!! The elliptical trainer had a lot to do with my flare up that never ended. I guess my disc or facets werent healthy enough to handle the force or something. But i will not use another one as long as I live......God i miss the Gym though

[cls]

In just the last two weeks I have noticed some very nice improvements in my nerve pain and leg weakness. My right leg has significantly improved and I am now cane free! My activity level has increased dramatically but along with this I still get episodes of numbness and and nerve pain. The nerve pain and numbness comes on at the end of the day or an hour after a long walk or after sitting or standing for too long. The first few hours of each day are generally pain free and without nerve flare ups. I'm hoping that as I progress through the healing process, I will have fewer episodes of nerve issues.

[dshobbies]

CLS,

You have every reason to believe your nerve pain will just get better and better. What did your doctor say?

BTW, B vitamins, esp B12 are beneficial with nerve issues.

My fingers are crossed, Dale