[Micodiscectomy, Laminectomy & Laser Decompression] I'm feeling uncomfortable! (6 weeks post-op, laminectomy of L3 - 5)

[Rob at home]

Hi All
This is my first post and I do wish that I had seen this forum sooner.
Follow a 'slipped disk' in my thirties and 20 years of irregular back pain I finally succumbed to major lumbar pain on my third day of starting work on the 2012 Olympic project at Stratford. I'm sure that you have heard this so many times: strong painkilllers; diclofenac; intolerable pain; not taking time off; not being referred to a specialist by your GP etc. etc.
I finally saw a speciallist via private health care who diagnosed through MRI degeneration of L3, L4 & L5.
I underwent a laminectomy of L3 - 5 at the end of Jan (6 weeks today) and having seen the specialist early this week and the physio today, it appears that I will be recovering for a further 4 weeks (10 weeks off work). Although I can walk well, and the back pain is almost gone (at last I hope), I still cannot sit properly without feeling discomfort in my lower back and my upper body and shoulders ache like hell. The best relief is laying flat on the bed or on my side.

Today the physio started a new upperbody strengthing regime which even though was short, just appears to have knocked the stuffing out of me! The physio has recommended that sitting on a pilates ball will help.

Has anyone been through this awful guilty feeling of being off work, having a very active mind yet feeling not pain, but uncomfortable. I can't play guitar yet ( I still can't bend) and I haven't sat with my family to watch TV for as long as I have been home as I can't sit for long in a chair.

How long does it last? Can you recommend anything??

Am I expecting too much after 6 weeks??

I didn't think that the recovery would take this long but what do I know.

Rob

[KBear]

Welcome to the forum and sorry you have to be here. Yes, you are expecting too much. 6 weeks post-surgery is waaaay early. I was the exact same way, thinking that since I was young, I'd be as good as new in 2 or 3 months. Boy was I wrong! I'm a few weeks shy of a year post op ADR on L4/5 and am just now feeling more 'normal'. I have no experience with what you have had done; but 6 weeks is early regardless of what they do to you. I know it sucks not being able to do what you want to do and being stuck; but you only get one chance at healing... take it easy! (pot calling the kettle black here- LOL)

[ajj1001]

Has anyone been through this awful guilty feeling of being off work, having a very active mind yet feeling not pain, but uncomfortable. I can't play guitar yet ( I still can't bend) and I haven't sat with my family to watch TV for as long as I have been home as I can't sit for long in a chair.

How long does it last? Can you recommend anything??

Am I expecting too much after 6 weeks??

I didn't think that the recovery would take this long but what do I know.

Rob

Hiya. It took me ages to sit after my fusion. I got 3 inch cushions to put on an armchair to help me get up and down. I find sitting semi reclined with pillows supporting me with my legs up best. IIts trial and error to find what works for you. 'm sure you will soon start to ease off. Does some warmth on the area help?

6 weeks is still early days after any spine surgery. Hang in there.

alison x

[Rob at home]

Hi
Thanks for your support.
I have tried cushions which help buts inadequate back support that worries me - its difficult to describe. Its almost a fear of wanting to relax which means keeping the muscles in the lower back ridged. that why I prefer laying on the bed where my back feels supported.

I think that I need to relax more and let the healing process take place.

Rob

[Cindylou]

Welcome Rob, and sorry you are having a rough go of it. Hurry up and wait, yeah? That's what it feels like when the body needs the necessary time to heal. Our bodies are really such amazing machines when you think about it. Then we get sliced open to correct whatever the problem is, and for some goofy reason (and believe me, you are not alone on this) we just "expect" to jump back into the land of the living, doing whatever we did before. I would have assumed you were type A, American....whe are always in a rush, but it looks like you hail from Europe, so that kills that assumption. I always believed you Europeans knew how to relax more than us on this side of the pond. I think you hit the nail on the head in your last sentence: I think that I need to relax more and let the healing process take place. Hang in there....it's hard. Can you watch movies in bed? A good book? If you cannot sit with the family and watch TV, make them come to you. Perhaps you could play a game of cards, or Scrabble, maybe checkers....depending on the age of your kiddos. Glad you found us.

[Justin]

Hi Rob,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society!

I'll echo what others have said--you are still very early post-op. It took me a good 6 months to turn the corner after my L4-L5 laminotomy when I was 17.

Very light stretching and walking as much as you can are great after spine surgery. Once again, welcome and I wish you the very best.

[Dave]

Hey Rob, welcome to SPS. The ever growing and most informative forum on the net.

I have not had a laminectomy yet, but my plant manager just under went a three level, 3 weeks ago and he feels like crap. He was under the assumption that he would be off for a week and I told him he was nuts. Well it looks like at least another week or two before they will even consider releasing him to come back. As it is he has a plush office job, but that doesn't matter to the doc.

What I can advise is let your body tell you how things are going, not your mind. Relax and heal well because you do not want to over do things and end up back under the scalpel.

Once again welcome and please keep us posted on how you are doing. Your story will help countless folks later on down the road.

[scduggan]

Dear Rob,
Welcome! We are glad you are here. This forum will help you SO MUCH. I am only two weeks post surgery and I can tell already that I will be just like you. You are doing GREAT! This is quite a roller coaster, huh? We are thinking of you!
CD

[Rob at home]

Hi CD
Thanks for response and you are doing well at 2 weeks post op to using a computer/laptop which is a great window to the world when you can't do very much.

I had a mile and half walk today which was good but the new physio regime is very tiring.

Having contacted the forum for the first time yesterday and having conversed with the some of the forum members I had a really good nights sleep.

Keep up the good work and speedy recovery.

Rob