How long did it take you to heal from surgery?

[KBear]

As many of us know, healing times vary greatly from person to person and are there are many factors to healing. So, I would like to do an informal survey of healing times. I think this will be helpful to show that there is a very wide range of 'normal'.

Here are the questions (if you want just copy these and put your answers beside or under the questions)

1. What surgery did you have? What level(s)?


2. How long were you in pain prior to surgery?


3. What are your pain levels before surgery? What were you pain levels now


4. How long until you felt you had healed completely? (or reached the maximum relief you were going to get)


5. What percentage of improvement do you feel you received from surgery?


6. What medication are you on? Or how long into healing did you wean? (not sure if this is real clear, but trying to find out if when people report no pain, are the completely off medications or still taking medications)


7. Do you feel your surgery was a success?


8. Would you have your surgery again?


9. Anything that you did that you feel helped your recovery go quicker?


10. Anything that you did that you feel made your recovery take longer?


11. What was your diagnosis prior to surgery?

Here is a link to the survey Greg started about driving after surgery How long after surgery until you can drive

[KBear]

1. What surgery did you have? What level(s)?
Active L L4/5

2. How long were you in pain prior to surgery?
3 years & 2 months

3. What are your pain levels before surgery? What were you pain levels now
Prior to surgery- 9-10/10 constantly Now- 0-3/10

4. How long until you felt you had healed completely? (or reached the maximum relief you were going to get)
I still am not healed completely, but really felt I turned a corner at the 1 year mark

5. What percentage of improvement do you feel you received from surgery?
70%

6. What medication are you on? Or how long into healing did you wean? (not sure if this is real clear, but trying to find out if when people report no pain, are the completely off medications or still taking medications)
At 11 months post op began weaning off of morphine, Lyrica, Cymbalta and Hydrocodone. Dramatically reduced my medications and am now on Hydrocodone 7.5/325- 2 or 3 times a day and nothing else

7. Do you feel your surgery was a success?
Absolutely

8. Would you have your surgery again?
Absolutely without a second thought, best thing I did

9. Anything that you did that you feel helped your recovery go quicker?
Having lots of help. Arranged for my kids to be taken care of for the first 6 weeks, where I never had them alone. My husband, friends and family did all the cleaning, cooking and chores. Rested frequently and walked when I could.

10. Anything that you did that you feel made your recovery take longer?
I think I began weaning too quickly, which caused me to be in more pain, which led me to do less activity, and it became a vicious cycle.

11. What was your diagnosis before surgery?
Grade 4 tear through L4/5, protruding and touching the spinal cord. The disc was completely black on imaging, degenerative disc disease

[Greg]

I know my recovery experience has just started and very early on but I thought it might be a nice addition for those wondering what the beginning is like.





1. What surgery did you have? What level(s)?

• Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) on L4-S1 (L4/L5 & L5/S1)

2. How long were you in pain prior to surgery?

• Pain started 8 years ago but the last 3 it became serious with the last year becoming life altering and the worst

3. What are your pain levels before surgery? What were you pain levels now (0-10)

• Before surgery was a constant no 6/7 but typically went up to 9/10 depending on the day and medication. Medication never took the pain below a 3/4
• After surgery (It's been 9 days) I think I hover around a 4/5 but it really fluctuates and depends on how much activity I do and how much rest I have in between. Up until day 6 all the pain was in the stomach so I felt no back pain (THANK ) but at day 6 it pretty much went away and now I feel the back pain again

4. How long until you felt you had healed completely? (or reached the maximum relief you were going to get)

• In progress, but at Day 9 I could take care of myself with no help if I absolutely had to...but i would recommend at least 2 weeks of assistance. I dont use the walker anymore, just the cane and can walk up to a mile a day (several shorter walks)

5. What percentage of improvement do you feel you received from surgery?

• Before the stomach pain went away I said 100% improvement because for the first time in 8 years MY BACK DIDNT HURT. I feel I have about a 50-60% improvement so far but thats only because my back hurts some (and surgery was 9 days ago)....which I know is because all the work they did. It will go away soon and then I can say a lot more of an improvement.

6. What medication are you on? Or how long into healing did you wean? (not sure if this is real clear, but trying to find out if when people report no pain, are the completely off medications or still taking medications)

• 20mg Oxycontin, take 2 every 8 hours
• Oxycodone 5 mg, take 2 every 4-6 hours
• Remeron (Trazadone) 15mg at bedtime to sleep
• Melatonin 600mcg (This is OTC) Sleeping aod when I am out of Remeron

7. Do you feel your surgery was a success?

• ABSOLUTELY.....although it might be too soon to give the official :thumpup: but even though the pain I feel is kind of like my normal pain it is much lower down the spine. I have no reason to believe it wasnt a success because I spent a couple years researching and becoming an expert on my condition and possible treatments. I tried every possible treatment (conservative) before I even thought about surgery. So I knew going into that hospital the the choice I made was 100% the best and only option for me. Theres no way it cant fail, and thats the mindframe one should be in because if you dont think it will work, your brain will trck you and make you think it didnt work.....BE POSITIVE AND HAVE CONFIDENCE.

8. Would you have your surgery again?

• I hope not but i'm pretty sure I would

9. Anything that you did that you feel helped your recovery go quicker?

• CONFIDENCE, CONFIDENCE, AND CONFIDENCE. You need to believe it will work or it wont! And listening to the advice of others, being prepared with all the essential tools. The walker, cane, back scratcher, long handle scrub brush, long handle shoe horn, the sock putter on thingy. Having all those things made it to where I didnt have to bend, lift or twist (BLT) to do anything. Having someone with you for the 1st couple weeks makes the biggest difference in the world. You need to rest, not wash dishes or laundry.

10. Anything that you did that you feel made your recovery take longer?

• Overdoing it. Just because you dont hurt and can move around doesnt mean you should. Your body needs rest and will kick your @$$ if you dont let it do that.....ie, lots of pain!

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions of just want to talk. I am here for anyone who needs me whether it has to do with your spine or not, I am here to help

Below is a link to abother survery about how long it took before you were able to drive after sugery

How long after surgery until you can drive

[ajj1001]

Will do two, one for each spine surgery

1. What surgery did you have? What level(s)?
2 level adr, L4/L5, L5/S1 Charite disc
2. How long were you in pain prior to surgery?
2 years
3. What are your pain levels before surgery? What were you pain levels now
8/10, after recovery 0/10
4. How long until you felt you had healed completely? (or reached the maximum relief you were going to get)
2 years
5. What percentage of improvement do you feel you received from surgery?
90%
6. What medication are you on? Or how long into healing did you wean? (not sure if this is real clear, but trying to find out if when people report no pain, are the completely off medications or still taking medications)
None after recovery
7. Do you feel your surgery was a success?
Yes
8. Would you have your surgery again?
Yes
9. Anything that you did that you feel helped your recovery go quicker?
Being helped around the house (cleaner, family). Swimming as the first rehab
10. Anything that you did that you feel made your recovery take longer?
I took a long time to heal from anterior approach and it took me 5 months before I was able to start rehab but this meant when I did start it I was ready to do it.


1. What surgery did you have? What level(s)?
Instrumented fusion L5/S1 over charite adr
2. How long were you in pain prior to surgery?
2 years
3. What are your pain levels before surgery? What were you pain levels now
9/10 now 7/10
4. How long until you felt you had healed completely? (or reached the maximum relief you were going to get)
not healed completely, 1 year post op now
5. What percentage of improvement do you feel you received from surgery?
20%
6. What medication are you on? Or how long into healing did you wean? (not sure if this is real clear, but trying to find out if when people report no pain, are the completely off medications or still taking medications)
on the same meds as before the op, gabapentin, paracetemol, codeine, tramadol
7. Do you feel your surgery was a success?
No, some small improvements
8. Would you have your surgery again?
No
9. Anything that you did that you feel helped your recovery go quicker?
Not recovered!
10. Anything that you did that you feel made your recovery take longer?
Not fusing so limited on activities, took a long time to get an appointment with physio so didn't get anymore exercises I could do

[KBear]

I went back and added a question #11 to find out the pre-op diagnosis.

[dalhousie]

Had 2 separate major spine surgeries so here are my 2 sets of answers.

1. What surgery did you have? What level(s)?
ALIF @ L1/2.
2. How long were you in pain prior to surgery?
12 years!!
3. What are your pain levels before surgery? What were you pain levels now
8/10 if not in frequent flare up mode. Now 0/10
4. How long until you felt yo.u had healed completely? (or reached the maximum relief you were going to get)
2 years but kept improving up to 2 1/2 years post op.
5. What percentage of improvement do you feel you received from surgery?
90%.
6. What medication are you on? Or how long into healing did you wean? (not sure if this is real clear, but trying to find out if when people report no pain, are the completely off medications or still taking medications)
None after recovery. After working flat out at university for 9 months did take night time Paracetamol 1g/Codeine 60mg for 4 weeks 'till exams were over.
7. Do you feel your surgery was a success?
Absolutely.
8. Would you have your surgery again?
Definitely.
9. Anything that you did that you feel helped your recovery go quicker?
Lived on my own & not much help so struggled with recovery.
10. Anything that you did that you feel made your recovery take longer?
Got carried away with my progress in the gym & pushed myself too much - got stuck in the overdo/underdo cycle. Had to start back at square 1 again which took me a long time to build up again.
11. What was your diagnosis prior to surgery?
MRI 18 months prior to surgery showed: Significant dehydrated disc space narrowing with marginal lipping. Showed up black on MRI.

1. What surgery did you have? What level(s)?
ADR activ L @ L4/5.
2. How long were you in pain prior to surgery?
18 months.
3. What are your pain levels before surgery? What were you pain levels now
8/10. Now 3/10.
4. How long until you felt you had healed completely? (or reached the maximum relief you were going to get)
Not healed completely - 14 months post op & still a way to go.
5. What percentage of improvement do you feel you received from surgery?
70% (Still have nerve pain)
6. What medication are you on? Or how long into healing did you wean? (not sure if this is real clear, but trying to find out if when people report no pain, are the completely off medications or still taking medications)
Lyrica 75mg, Amitriptyline 30mg, Paracetamol 1g/Codeine 60mg.
7. Do you feel your surgery was a success?
Yes but not fully recovered still expecting more improvement.
8. Would you have your surgery again?
Yes.
9. Anything that you did that you feel helped your recovery go quicker?
Not recovered.
10. Anything that you did that you feel made your recovery take longer?
Significantly overdid the housework & got stuck in the overdo/underdo cycle. Result: lost significant progress I'd achieved in the gym & had to start back at square 1 again which will take a long time to build up again.
11. What was your diagnosis prior to surgery?
MRI & post discography CT showed: Small defect extending posteriorly from the nucleus consistent with a small defect within the annulus. Minor dehydration & bulge. Mild DDD.

[Fuzzy]

1. What surgery did you have? What level(s)?

lumbar Stalif l5/s1 and adr active-l at l4/l5

2. How long were you in pain prior to surgery?

10 years continuelly worsening over time.

3. What are your pain levels before surgery? What were you pain levels now

up to 10/10

4. How long until you felt you had healed completely? (or reached the maximum relief you were going to get)

1.5 years

5. What percentage of improvement do you feel you received from surgery?

pain, 90% neuropathy 10 percent.


6. What medication are you on? Or how long into healing did you wean? (not sure if this is real clear, but trying to find out if when people report no pain, are the completely off medications or still taking medications)
hydrcontin to ibuprofen depending on pain levels. unfortunately again due to cervical pain. My lumbarpain is at ibuprofen levels.


7. Do you feel your surgery was a success?
YES. I was tough but worth it. Find a top surgeon.


8. Would you have your surgery again?
a resounding YES

9. Anything that you did that you feel helped your recovery go quicker?
exercise


10. Anything that you did that you feel made your recovery take longer?
did not take enough pain meds to keep painlevels down so could keep up activity.


11. What was your diagnosis prior to surgery?
DDD, 3 levels.

[Susanna]

Will do two, one for each spine surgery

1. What surgery did you have? What level(s)?
Instrumented fusion L5/S1 over charite adr
2. How long were you in pain prior to surgery?
2 years
3. What are your pain levels before surgery? What were you pain levels now
9/10 now 7/10
4. How long until you felt you had healed completely? (or reached the maximum relief you were going to get)
not healed completely, 1 year post op now
5. What percentage of improvement do you feel you received from surgery?
20%
6. What medication are you on? Or how long into healing did you wean? (not sure if this is real clear, but trying to find out if when people report no pain, are the completely off medications or still taking medications)
on the same meds as before the op, gabapentin, paracetemol, codeine, tramadol
7. Do you feel your surgery was a success?
No, some small improvements
8. Would you have your surgery again?
No
9. Anything that you did that you feel helped your recovery go quicker?
Not recovered!
10. Anything that you did that you feel made your recovery take longer?
Not fusing so limited on activities, took a long time to get an appointment with physio so didn't get anymore exercises I could do

I'm confused by this. Are you saying that the surgery after all was not successful? or just at that level L5/S1? And if it was just at this level, would you have fused this level instead?

Thanks
Susanna

[ajj1001]

I'm confused by this. Are you saying that the surgery after all was not successful? or just at that level L5/S1? And if it was just at this level, would you have fused this level instead?

Thanks
Susanna

I know its a bit confusing! I had a complete recovery with just some residual nerve damage in my right leg. I regained bowel and bladder control. I was able to return to work full time, do a degree, look after my children. I regard my ADR surgery as a success. It was not a long lived success but I would repeat the surgery even knowing what I know now. Having endured recovery from both ops the adr recovery was much easier even though the anterior approach took far more out of me at the time.

Its an unknown what result a hybrid surgery would have given me and it wasn't an option.

[Susanna]

So since you had your ADR, did you do something that has set off another area in your back? You don't have anything to leak out in the area of the ADR to cause the prolapse. Have you had another MRI? What has the Dr. said? Do they feel that your ADR has failed?

Susanna