[Rehabilitation / Postoperative Spine Surgery Questions] Seeking advice about post surgery

[jeanie]

I met with the surgeon on Friday and the operation is set for 12-27-10 :laminectomy and fusion of L5-S1,2 and 3. I'll be in the hospital 4 days and then home. Any suggestions as to what made post surgery go smoother would be greatly appreciated. (Do I need a raised toilet seat? ) I felt exhausted after seeing the doctor. I swing between fear and relief, with brief forays into denial. Meanwhile we are moving our office at the end of the year, so I am packing and getting my clients (I am a psychiatric social worker) ready for the move and my absence for a month -- I hope only a month! Anyone have thoughts about the length of time before returning to work? I appreciate all the wisdom and support I feel on this site! Thanks.

Jeanie

[ajj1001]

Hi Jeanie

Here is a link to a good thread with alot of information

Spine Surgery Recovery: "Must Have" Items & Postoperative Tips

alison x

[Justin]

I met with the surgeon on Friday and the operation is set for 12-27-10 :laminectomy and fusion of L5-S1,2 and 3. I'll be in the hospital 4 days and then home. Any suggestions as to what made post surgery go smoother would be greatly appreciated. (Do I need a raised toilet seat? ) I felt exhausted after seeing the doctor. I swing between fear and relief, with brief forays into denial. Meanwhile we are moving our office at the end of the year, so I am packing and getting my clients (I am a psychiatric social worker) ready for the move and my absence for a month -- I hope only a month! Anyone have thoughts about the length of time before returning to work? I appreciate all the wisdom and support I feel on this site! Thanks.

Jeanie

Hi Jeanie,

Alison provided you with a great link above about Post-operative Tips. In terms of recovery time for a multilevel fusion, 4 weeks of recovery time would be cutting it close. I know most multilevel fusion patients are told that 6 to 8 weeks is the minimum of recovery time before returning to work.

With a spinal fusion, one has to be careful post-op to ensure that the fusion between the vertebral bodies "takes." The inherent healing process / growth of bone takes time. During your initial recovery, your surgeon should give you some instructions on the "Dos and Don'ts" after spine surgery. These instructions usually include the following (here's just a few examples): avoid lower-level bending (bending to tie your shoes), twisting, or significant flexion or extension of your spine.

Good luck!

[Cindylou]

Hi Jeanie, Just wanted to wish you the very best on your approaching surgery. There's a ton of valuable info in that thread that Alison directed you to. December 27th here you come! What a great New Year present to yourself. Cindylou

[Gilbert P]

Hi Jeanie

I wish you the best on your upcoming surgery

Who and were are you having your procedure?

Keep us posted when you can

Yes you will need a seat booster with handles.

Gil

[jeanie]

Thank you all so much for the wisdom. I am having the surgery done at Kaiser in San Diego by Jonathan Roper. I will keep in contact as I think I need to whine a bit before the surgery and maybe a round of fear and trembling. I know you all are great at giving support and I appreciate that so much!

[fumo24]

Hi Jeanie- looks like we are in the same boat, Hope it went well, im about a month behind you so would like to hear how your doing...good luck

[jeanie]

The surgery was on the 27th and I was in the hospital until 31 December. The surgeon, Dr. Roper, thought it went very well. He did not have to take any extra bone from my own hip, so that was good. He said the rods and screws went in and held tight, and he said he thought my nerves were healthy enough to do some regeneration.
I knew this was going to happen, but it was shocking to be out of bed the next day. Physical therapy came three times a day while I was in the hospital. I live on the third floor so they taught me how to climb stairs. It was painful, but doable.
My husband rented a hospital bed for the first floor which we used for about 4 nights and I was very grateful for it. I also could not have done without the toilet seat with handles. We ordered another one for the upstairs, because my husband's back was getting sore caring the darn thing up and down. I still lay down in the hospital bed occasionally when I'm downstairs, we have it for a month.
To me the most remarkable thing was that the surgeon told me to remove the bandages of the wound once I got home, as there were too many germs in the hospital. He said I could take a shower whenever I wanted. This was more mobility and less restriction than I had expected. I have a walker which is essential. I try to do different things during the day, sitting, standing and walking. I went outside and walked down the block, but that made me feel unsteady because of all the palm seeds on our sidewalk.
I am exceedingly tired. I do an activity or chore and then I want to lie down. But every day I feel much stronger and more capable. The pain is there, but it feels different from the pain before. There is no pain shooting down my leg, and I'm much more steady on my feet. Even walking up and down stairs, I feel less pain than before. Which is not to say that there's no pain however. I thought I would be able to take care of myself, as it has been almost 2 weeks, but I'm still pretty dependent. But every day is better.
Thank you for asking, and I would love to hear how things are going for you as time passes.

[KBear]

Jeanie- All of that sounds very normal, so hope that's some comfort. I remember I was so tired all the time, I just wanted to sleep. I would do a couple of small tasks and be exhausted. I also had to have lots of help caring for myself for a few weeks. I used the raised toilet for awhile, don't remember quite how long. Keep taking it easy, you only get one shot at recovery. Best of Luck, Kathy

[jeanie]

Thank you Kathy, the reassurance helps me so much.