Been Lurking... Thought I'd finally appear

**Pbchoclovr** · 07-27-2011, 09:43 PM

I've been lurking around for the past 4 or 5 months just reading all the posts and gathering information. I wanted to thank everyone here on the forum for their posts. You all were most helpful in my journey. I am now 5 weeks post surgery for a fusion of the L4/L5 space due to DDD. This really wasn't my first option. I really, really wanted an ADR because my mom has been through this 3 times and now lives in horrible pain with a pain pump. But after much research and several consultations later, I knew it probably wasn't going to happen. Apparently, I'm not a candidate for ADR due to too much arthritis in my spine. So fusion it is. I chose to go with Dr. Daniel Sciubba at Johns Hopkins for my surgery. I couldn't have been happier with my choice. He is absolutely wonderful!! The only real pain I have now is from the incision site and I'm waiting for that to go away.... and waiting ... and waiting!

I know it's going to be a while. Anyway... thank you all for this site and for sharing your experiences!

Linda

**ajj1001** · 07-28-2011, 02:54 AM

hi and welcome, it's good to have you hear. glad to hear your surgery went well.

alison x

**Gilbert P** · 07-28-2011, 11:34 AM

Hi Linda

Surgery incision pain if that is all of your pain you will do great,
I am four weeks out and still in pain but no pain meds Levels are O.K.

Keep us posted

Gil

**KBear** · 07-28-2011, 05:06 PM

Welcome and it sounds like you are doing good for so short of a time since surgery. Even though fusion wasn't your first choice, your surgeon did you a favor by letting you know you weren't a candidate for ADR. When people who shouldn't have ADR have it, there can be disastrous results. Best of luck and we are here if you need anything.
Kathy

**Pbchoclovr** · 07-28-2011, 11:22 PM

Thanks for the welcome! I think part my successful progress is because I'm still fully medicated. That and I really do try to follow the no bending, lifting, twisting rule. ( 3 more weeks of that.) I've tried to get off some the the "harder stuff" but I'm just not ready. My surgeon was a little surprised I had tried to self reduce this early, even making note of it in his progress notes in my chart. At this point, I firmly believe..."Drugs are our friends!" I really can't wait, though, for the day when I can get off all these meds. My kitchen counter looks like a pharmacy. I'm sure you all can relate!

**ajj1001** · 07-29-2011, 02:59 AM

keeping comfy and taking the tablets is a good idea, do you have any idea how the fusion is going? you say that no blt is lifted in 3 weeks so u guess its going well.

**KBear** · 07-29-2011, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by Pbchoclovr

Thanks for the welcome! I think part my successful progress is because I'm still fully medicated. That and I really do try to follow the no bending, lifting, twisting rule. ( 3 more weeks of that.) I've tried to get off some the the "harder stuff" but I'm just not ready. My surgeon was a little surprised I had tried to self reduce this early, even making note of it in his progress notes in my chart. At this point, I firmly believe..."Drugs are our friends!" I really can't wait, though, for the day when I can get off all these meds. My kitchen counter looks like a pharmacy. I'm sure you all can relate!

I was in the grocery store one day with a friend and a man walks by and says Hi to me and asks how I'm doing. When he walked away my friend asked who that was.... Yup, it was my pharmacist. LOL I'd have to go as much now that I'm all better, but they all know me as soon as I come in, only a few ask for my last name to find my scripts.

**Pbchoclovr** · 07-29-2011, 11:09 PM

Ajj1001, from my one month follow up appointment, the surgeon feels I'm doing well. At that point, he said he wanted me to keep up the no blt rule for another 4 weeks. I'm hoping he lifts it at that point. That was two weeks ago and I see him again in 2 weeks with my first xray. I'll know better at that point. For the most part, I've only got pain at the incision site. Mostly, stiff muscles and low back pain. It's at it's worst when I don't take the meds or when I go to stand up and my back muscles freeze up. I do have isolated spasms in my legs. Not sure if it's related to the incision site or the strain on my legs muscles trying to adhere to the blt rule. I'm leaning toward the second, since the spasms aren't consistent. It's not the same as the pain I was in prior to surgery.

KBear, I get so many prescriptions filled, the pharmacy staff also all know me by name. I almost never have to even give them my name. When I left the hospital, my friend and aunt were driving me home and we needed to stop off at the pharmacy to get one of my pain meds filled. My friend and aunt wanted to go in and do it for me. I just wanted to go home, so I told them, "No, I'll do it. If you do it, we'll be here at least 30 -40 minutes waiting to get it filled." I hobbled in and the tech was all concerned. I looked all pitiful (not an act) and she wanted to know what was wrong. I still had my hospital bracelets on. End result,I was bumped to the front of the line and walked out within 10 minutes and even had time to pick up a few things I'd forgotten for my 4th of July dinner! My friends were shocked! Sometimes it pays to be on a first name basis with the pharmasict.