Back surgery - bi lateral discectomy anyone?

[iVari]

Hi everyone

I had back surgery yesterday on my L4-L5 for a badly ruptured disk. Yesterday all seemed good, but I was given plenty of morphine and other pills and then sent home. I didn't sleep very well last night and was somewhat restless, but not in bad pain.

Today is a totally different ball game. I'm really stiff in my lower back area, can't really move it at all and the incision area is quiet sore. I'm getting up and walking around the house very slowly and can sit down for a short time. The only chair that I am able to get on and off is my computer chair lol.

Anyway, I was wondering if any of you have had a similar surgery and would like to know roughly how long before the stiffness and pain eased up. I'm having a really hard time trying to lay in bed, can not be on my back and my hips really ache after about a 1/2 an hour. I do have some pain meds (Vicodine) but feel sick when I take them. I'm a bit of a mess today and feeling very down and teary. Just looking for some encouraging words

 

[technovapir]

Hi Ivari! I haven't had that surgery, but wanted to offer up my sympathies...I did have knee surgery a few years ago, and the vicodin made me very sick. They switched me to percoset & also gave me some anti naseau (sp?) drugs. Once I got on those, It was almost heaven on Earth...
Anyway...Hope your day gets easier. I'd give you a hug, but it'd probably just hurt!

 

[iVari]

Thank you so much techno . I never thought to ask about anti nausea drugs, I'll call the dr's office in the morning and see if they will prescribe some. Thanks again, I really appreciate you taking the time to post and for sending good wishes (((HUGS)))... cyber hugs don't hurt

 

[technovapir]

Glad I could help. It sucks to be in pain. By the way, a nurse friend told me that antihistimines like benedryl or dramamine will stop nausea too, but it'll knock you out. Just thought I'd pass that along in case you can't get a prescription.
In the mean time, I hope you can find a funny movie or something to take your mind off it for awhile. I think they send people home way too quickly after these things.

I do wish I'd had e-cigs when I had my knee surgury. I was stuck in bed dying for a smoke. I finally was so crazed that my dear husband "let" me carefully smoke in bed for a couple of days. After that he carried (dragged) me out to the deck to get my fix.
To hear him tell the story, HE suffered more than ME during the recovery. Maybe a little true...

 

[technovapir]

HEY IVari!! Are you feeling any better yet? I hope you are!

 

[iVari]

Hi
So sorry that I missed your post, I'd forgotten where I posted this.
Yes, I'm doing much better and getting about fairly well. I'm completely off pain meds and feel better because of that. The pain is not bad, it's more soreness and stiffness than anything else. I get lots of 'zinger' type sensations where the nerves are starting to rejuvenate.

Hopefully I can start driving again this week .

Thank you so much for checking in!!!

 

[Supersquint]

I have protruding discs at L4-L5 and L5-S1 and have friends that have the same and have had surgery. I hate to tell you but it will take a good four months for it to get back to good (according to their results). Take it easy, don't over do it. Let me know how it goes, I want the surgery (haven't been able to play golf or do a lot of other things since it got really bad in 08) but the neuro and phys med guys don't wanna do it. They prefer to keep me on the morphine and the spinals.

 

[iVari]

I have protruding discs at L4-L5 and L5-S1 and have friends that have the same and have had surgery. I hate to tell you but it will take a good four months for it to get back to good (according to their results). Take it easy, don't over do it. Let me know how it goes, I want the surgery (haven't been able to play golf or do a lot of other things since it got really bad in 08) but the neuro and phys med guys don't wanna do it. They prefer to keep me on the morphine and the spinals.

I'm really sorry to hear that you have back troubles , it is a very difficult thing to deal with. I was also at the point where I could not do most things, golf included. The sciatic pain had become very bad and I also had been through the spinal epidurals (no help from the spinals).

I really do hope you can find some relief soon. Have you had a recent MRI to see how things are in there? Pain management only goes so far and I found that I just built up a resistance to pain meds anyway.

I'm about a week and a half since the surgery now and doing ok, it's much easier to walk and sleep now . I can wash dishes and do all the basic house chores. I'll be back to work in a week and hoping that goes good, I'm a cook, so on my feet for long hours :s

 

[Supersquint]

Glad to hear that it's going so well for you!! MRI was a few months back, it seems that I am getting some hip displasia (ball joint separating from the socket) so we started the steroid shots into the hip joints and that helps a lot but still not enough to golf or work or do most MAN things (like work on my Jeep) or whatever. My care is through the VA so they prefer the drug 'em and forget 'em route. I am constantly working on them though. I will get the discs fused or caged or something soon, if it takes an act of Congress

Take care,

SS

 

[SilverBear]

I will get the discs fused or caged or something soon...

Just an FYI... anything that involves bone grafts will require that you be off nicotine for at least 6 full months. It is that requirement that saved me from a knee-jerk/emergency fusion back in '05. I swear, that neurosurgeon was SALIVATING at the thought of just digging in... until he heard that I smoke. Then, I became this unclean pariah that deserved everything bad in the world to drop down upon me.

Taking it easy, modifying body mechanics and slowing down resulted in the problem going away (for now) for me. Everyone is different, yes.

 

[Steel]

Just an FYI... anything that involves bone grafts will require that you be off nicotine for at least 6 full months. It is that requirement that saved me from a knee-jerk/emergency fusion back in '05. I swear, that neurosurgeon was SALIVATING at the thought of just digging in... until he heard that I smoke. Then, I became this unclean pariah that deserved everything bad in the world to drop down upon me.

Taking it easy, modifying body mechanics and slowing down resulted in the problem going away (for now) for me. Everyone is different, yes.

Really? I had orhtopedic surgery on my wrist (motorcycle accident) Where they put in a plate and 6 screws to keep the end of my radius in place while it healed. Anyway, the surgeon said that bone grafts were a possibility and he knew that I smoked.

As far as the pain pills... my bones were so mad at me, even taking twice the prescribed amount of vicodin didn't really help. And the worst part was they gave me a nerve block at my shoulder for the surgery and after, but the bones started aching long before the block wore off. It was horrible. This was in december. Still haven't gotten the full range back. One word of advice, DO THE PT!

 

[Supersquint]

Just an FYI... anything that involves bone grafts will require that you be off nicotine for at least 6 full months......

Well, that just ain't gonna happen! If I quit nicotine, the entire southeast will lose a large portion of its oxygen thieves, with the epicenter being the greater Orlando area and possibly reaching as far north as Atlanta and definitely south to Miami. I'm sure some would applaud the loss...it is probably better for all if I continue to vape!

 

[SilverBear]

Anyway, the surgeon said that bone grafts were a possibility and he knew that I smoked.

It could be that spinal fusions are a bit more touchy and restrictive due to the possibility of failure and what a break during healing may cause.

I was in hospital five days simply for pain management... that's how bad it was. (Hell, my 79-year-old Dad had triple bypass: in on Thursday, home on Saturday.) As mentioned, this surgeon turned EXTREMELY ugly when he found out I smoked. The six-month wait could have been his own way of getting back at me.

Here's something that does support the suggestion of being nicotine free, however, pre-fusion:
Reasons to Quit Smoking Before Spinal Fusion

 

[Saphirsis]

The way you describe that surgeon, SilverBear, I think I'd have lit up just to keep him away!