Post-fusion - couches and chairs?

**nolonger_superman** · 03-03-2011, 10:19 PM

Hi everyone. Tomorrow will be 6 weeks post-op(L4, L5, S1 fusion). Generally speaking, I feel great. Obviously bending/twisting/lifting is a no-no. My question is, how long until I can expect to be able to use my couches and chairs again? The furniture in my house is not conducive to back surgery as it is soft and cushy. The only places I can really sit are kitchen chairs and my computer chair, and even then not for more than 30 or 40 minutes obviously. Clearly this is different for everyone, but I'm curious how long it took for everyone.

This really limits my methods of keeping busy as it means no TV since the TV near a bed doesn't have cable -- only a Roku box that streams netflix / hulu.

Short rant. I'm so sick of walking -- inside my house at that! I wish I could do some other form of exercise. I probably walk easily 2 or 3+ miles a day just around my house. I live on a huge hill and I have been instructed not to walk uphill or to use my recumbent bike by my doctor. I am so incredibly bored as I feel like I've read the entire Kindle library at this point. End of Rant.

**ajj1001** · 03-04-2011, 02:53 AM

yup the recovery is very tedious, my sitting time was very limited for a long time. I have an adjustable bed that reclined in alot in between my times moving about. alot of people use reclining garden chairs so they can comfy downstairs.

**Jan P** · 03-08-2011, 11:01 PM

I am just 3 months and 1 week post plif L4/L5/S1 and can offer you my experience.

Up until about 2 1/2 months, I had a dining room chair (with arms) brought into the TV great room, with a thin bed pillow behind for support. It was higher than our couches and recliner. I have finally graduated to our newer lazyboy couch - but still need a pillow behind me - I cannot use the recliner function as yet. The lazyboy recliner chair is to low so I don't even attempt to sit in that. We do not have a TV in the bedroom, so watching it there wasn't an option. Lots of crossword puzzles and music...........

I can look back so easily at the 6 week mark - when I was starting to feel somewhat normal and yet I wasn't. Everything was so limiting. I was so bored walking around the house (or in my case - laps around the driveway). I know for me, to think that I had another 6 weeks seemed almost unbearable - so just take one week at a time. It seemed like an eternity, but somehow I have gotten to/past 12 weeks, you will too. Hang in there!

Sounds like you are doing really well in your recovery.
Jan

**Cindylou** · 03-08-2011, 11:40 PM

Yes, I do agree with Jan, nolonger_superman. Break it up in small chunks, like a week at a time, or you'll just drive yourself batty.

Probably already have, right?! It is such a slow, tedious recovery....and a number of us have done it before you. Doesn't make it any easier, but you'll get through it. Wish I had more suggestions.... it's a shame you can't figure out a TV solution for yourself, as that can really kill a lot of hours pretty fast, you know? Especially if you are a movie buff. Oh, brother, I wasn't much help. Hang in there. The good news is you are feeling great. Hold on to the positives. You'll make it.

Cindylou

**jeanie** · 03-10-2011, 03:34 PM

I am 2 1/2 mos post 3 fusions. We rented a hospital bed for the living room, and that was fantastic! We just returned it and I was sorry to see it go. I can sit in the recliner chair for the space of an hour of television. I work in the morning, in a recliner chair-- I'm a psychotherapist. I get up and walk around in between clients. But in the afternoon I have to go home and lie down in bed and sleep, I'm absolutely exhausted after lunch. Then I can get back up and go to work for a few more hours in the evening. It's amazing to me how tired I am. But my good news is that the pain that I had before the surgery is completely gone. I have pain in the surgical site still, pain in that area, and it is worse in the evening. But I'm still so relieved not to have to live my life in such great pain.