One month post surgery

**piedoc** · 01-07-2012, 09:15 AM

December 7th 2011 a day that will really live in infamy

. Approximately one month post surgery with minimal pain, had significant adverse reactions to narcotic pain meds while in hospital so discontinued when discharged. Despite surgeons assurance that I would receive 2 weeks of inpatient physical therapy (I have no support system at home) I was discharged to my home with no PT, and wound care every other day. At two week post-op visit was told I could drive and to return for followup in two months. I have noted little increase in lower extremity strength to date and have no frame of reference to determine if this is the maximum strength and endurance that I can expect. I am now able to walk erect, but preop bowel and bladder issues have demonstrated only minimal improvement. Overall experience while inpatient was truly disappointing, I found the nursing staff to be overly concerned with their portable computers and little concerned about patients, I felt as if my prescence prevented them from performing their job

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**ajj1001** · 01-07-2012, 09:30 AM

Welcome to the forum, it sounds like you have had a pretty horrible time. You should start to see improvements from 3 months post op onwards but if you are concerned then you should seek a medical opinion now. Driving 2 weeks after a fusion sounds pretty soon, I've just started to try driving 3 months post op but my legs aren't strong enough yet.

**piedoc** · 01-08-2012, 04:52 PM

Thanks ajj1001 I have been increasingly frustrated by the lack of improvement regarding my leg strength. I experience this deep gnawing muscular pain in my quads after walking, I suspect my expectations have been unrealistic. Your reference to the three month postop period gives me a frame of reference. Thanks again.

**Kimberly** · 01-09-2012, 10:14 AM

Hello and

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I had a two-level fusion (L4-S1) and I also did not begin to drive until about the 3 month mark. My physical therapy also did not begin until I hit the 3 month mark.

At 2 weeks I was working hard at things like walking, showering, getting dressed and staying awake long enough to hold a conversation :-)

Hang in there. It gets better but it is a loooooong sloooooow process.

Kimberly

**Justin** · 01-09-2012, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by piedoc

Thanks ajj1001 I have been increasingly frustrated by the lack of improvement regarding my leg strength. I experience this deep gnawing muscular pain in my quads after walking, I suspect my expectations have been unrealistic. Your reference to the three month postop period gives me a frame of reference. Thanks again.

Hi Piedoc,

Welcome to the Forum.

Congratulations on being on the other side of surgery. You are still very early post-op and regaining strength in your lower extremities will take a good amount of time. Recovery is, unfortunately, not an overnight process. Hopefully, you will be able to be in a formal physical therapy program, as it will greatly help regain your strength and help with your overall recovery.

Please keep us posted and, if possible, keep updating this thread as a record for you to look back a in few months to see how far you have (will) come.

Good luck!