4 months post op Hybrid

[Hooch]

Hi

I'm 4 months post op l5s1 fusion l4l5 adr.

I'm still having a lot of pain on activity. I do a lot of core work and physio but my spine still cant accept much load without generating strong pain. Can walk maybe 2-3km, swim a bit with a pull buoy.

I dunno, sometimes feels like my facets are going into too much extension and may be part of pain as they complain, so continuing to work on posture. Really really hope they are not part of the problem.

Otherwise fusion could just still be quite painful.

Has anyone had similar ops, fusion etc, can give me some feedback on how they found this longer term part of recovery?

I really have difficulty and like everyone just want to be free of this horrible stuff and well again, but I know that is not always realistic. I'm hoping it will continue to gradually improve over the months, bit by bit.

Thanks for any feedback,
Chris.

[dshobbies]

Taking it slow is the best way to go.

I don't know the severity of your pain but fusion takes longer to heal than ADRs and they can take their sweet time too. I had complications so am not a good guestimate but it took 2 years before I was 'good'.

From info posted on forums, it appears some do quite well quickly and others can take their time. If you're going to do well, you will - when, that's another question? I hope it's sooner rather than later.

Dale

[Maria]

You're trying to push yourself too much too quickly? I know you want to get over it as quickly as possible or back to your regular self ASAP however your body will take it's own time to do what it's going to do.

Of course I've not had fusion or ADR even tho I was recommended to have the same surgery as you~ so I'm just throwing out my own recovery experiece from discectomies re surgical experience and all the post surgical recoveries I've read about over the years when I was thinking of having more surgery and even when not (something like nearly 10 years now).

Sounds like you're doing the right stuff, just be kind to your body in it's recovery. Slow and steady. Hopefully you'll get there sooner than later.

[Hooch]

Well I looked at my pelvic alignment and I was spending a bit of time in extension, overloading my facets Im pretty sure. I dunno, it just seems to go there very naturally since the op so I'm working at holding it more neutral. Certainly a lot less pain, just going to have to focus hard on keeping it around there.

[Maria]

Chris,
I had erased something I wrote about trying to stay in neutral position w/o any extraneous movements (flexion/extension/twisting) until you're feeling better so I'd imagine that neutral is good if it seems to take the load off. Also wondering about pelvic tilting to bring you into that position (ever so slightly perhaps back flat up against wall and slightly bent knees).

Flexion is what bothers me when something bothers me altho extension would do so as well if exaggerated for any amount of time such as in certain stance. Pelvis forward (at least on one side w/one leg out and one slightly back) and swayback sometimes when holding my dog as I'm strongly using my lower abs. to stabilize while holding this 20lb seemingly big baby. Not good.

[mmglobal]

How are you swimming? If extension is a problem and you are using crawl or breast stroke, that may be flaring you up???

Does flexion relieve what you percieve as 'facet pain'? Does prayer stretch provide relief?

Mark